Invitation

The next day at school, Gunner and Faith were waiting for Palmer once again at the entrance. Gunner was leaning against his truck while Faith was in front of him with her hands folded on her chest.

“Come on, Faith. Why don’t you accept and go out with me? There is a barn party on Saturday and I would love it if you were my date,” he pleaded while she looked away, not paying attention to him. Faith wanted to accept the invitation, but she wanted him to work a little harder for it. 

“I’m actually going with a guy from the rodeo,” she said, turning around so he couldn’t see the smirk on her face. All she needed was a reaction, and it seemed like she was going to get it.

“Who is it? I want to know,” he said, his voice sounded a bit upset. Faith had to press her lips to hold back a laugh and when she was serious enough, she turned back around to face him.

“You don’t know him, he likes to be on the down low and no one really knows much about him. He is very handsome though, he’s in college already,” she lied, but when Gunner was about to say something else, Palmer arrived. Faith looked at him and she noticed how upset he was. He slammed the door of his truck and stomped away.

“What got his knickers in a twist?” Palmer asked, making Faith shrug her shoulders, “what did you say to him?”

“Nothing. He’s just upset because he invited me to the barn party and I said I couldn’t go with him.” Palmer looked at her friend and raised an eyebrow, knowing there was something else she was not saying. Faith looked at her and let out a loud exhale.

“I might have told him I was going with this cute cowboy from the rodeo, a college boy.”

Palmer laughed at her friend’s tactic to make Gunner jealous, but she had to plan a way for them to stop this game they both had with each other, or more like Faith. He would not wait a moment longer.

“We better go in, or we’ll get in trouble with the teachers,” Palmer said and they both headed with their arms linked towards their first class. As they approached Faith’s classroom, they noticed Christopher sitting on his desk already, reading a book.

“You didn’t tell me he was in your first class,” Palmer said, getting a sheepish smile from Faith in return.  

“It must have slipped my mind, sorry. Let’s go say hi before you go to your classroom.” 

They both approached Christopher and sat right next to him, looking at him with puppy eyes as Palmer put her hands on her chin. 

“Good morning!” Faith said as he looked up and tried to hide his face behind that same book he was reading the other day. Palmer raised her hand and brought the book down to look at his face. 

“Why are you hiding? We just want to talk to you, it would be nice if you let us,” Palmer pitched in with a smile that had Christopher looking at her in awe. That smile was genuine and different from the one she had shown him.

“Oh, I have an idea! Why don’t we invite him to the party? He can go as your date, Palmer,” Faith said, making Christopher choke. 

“Come on, Faith. Don’t scare him away. Although inviting him is a great idea. What do you think, Christopher?” Palmer asked him and he just opened his eyes wide.

If he wanted them to like him, he would have to give them a chance, but their extroversion was a bit too much for him. He was afraid he couldn’t keep up with them. But it looked like they were the only ones willing to hang out with him.

“I want to go,” he whispered, making the girls look at him with their eyebrows raised.

“What was that?” Palmer asked. Christopher lifted his head and took a deep breath while he worried his lip.

“I said I want to go. Maybe getting out of my house would be good for me, if I get to come with you.”

“Of course! That’s why we’re inviting you, we would be happy to have you,” Faith said, shooting a big smile towards him to try to make him comfortable. The bell rang. Palmer quickly got out of the chair and without saying goodbye she ran out the classroom to make it on time to her own class, making Christopher let out a small laugh.

“You are laughing,” Faith said, excitedly. Christopher quickly got serious and went back to his book until the teacher walked in. She was hopeful that between Palmer and her, they would bring him out of his shell. 

An hour had gone by and the class was over. Christopher grabbed his backpack and walked out with Faith following behind. 

“So, Chris. Can I call you Chris?” she asked. He nodded.

“I was thinking, maybe you can join us for lunch. I’m sure Palmer would love to have you at our table.”

He didn’t think it was a good idea, but Faith didn’t let him talk when she grabbed him by the arm and pulled him towards their next class. Faith was Palmer’s friend for sure and they were willing to pull out his limbs just for him to spend some time with them. 

~~~~~~

It was finally lunch time, every student’s favorite time of the day. But today was even more exciting since it was the day where they would be spoiled with some steak and mashed potatoes, so everyone rushed to get to the cafeteria.

Palmer and Gunner were already at their table waiting for Faith, but they didn’t expect for her to walk in, dragging Christopher. 

“Oh, poor guy,” Gunner said with a sympathetic smile, making Palmer laugh. 

Faith and Christopher arrived at the table and Palmer greeted them before they sat down. Gunner had already picked Faith’s lunch. A steak salad with extra lettuce and light on the dressing, just how she liked it.

Faith had moved to town a few years back and just like Christopher, she used to be from the city. Her mom met her stepdad back in Chicago and they fell in love, so he offered for her to move here, where his home was, and also start fresh. She was grateful for it, a change had done her good and she went from a rebel spoiled girl, to a humble one. 

“We didn’t know you were going to join us, but come on, let’s get your lunch,” Palmer said, getting up from the bench.

“That’s okay, I am not hungry,” Christopher replied, nervously, putting his hand in his pockets.

“Nonsense, come on,” Palmer insisted.

Faith leaned towards him, “If I was you, I would go. She doesn’t take no for an answer.” 

No kidding, he thought. Christopher got off the bench and followed Palmer to the food line. As they were picking the food, he realized he didn’t bring money to pay for his lunch. At the register, Palmer looked at him with her eyebrows raised.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“I forgot my lunch money,” he replied, ashamed.

“That’s okay. I got you covered, only because you are talking just a little more this time. But you can do better at it, just have some fun,” she whispered the last part and he nodded, giving her a faint and nervous smile. After finally taking their food, they walked back to the table and sat down to enjoy their lunch.

“So, we have to go shopping for the barn party. I’m sure our friend Chris here would look good in a flannel shirt and jeans,” Faith said, making Gunner jealous as he narrowed his eyes at her.

“Yeah, he would look good in that, maybe for Palmer?” he mentioned. Palmer looked at Gunner with her eyes wide open and apologized to Christopher on their behalf.

“What is your problem, Gunner?” Faith asked, looking at him with her arms folded on her chest. 

“Nothing, or maybe the rodeo cowboy can tell you what’s my problem,” he replied. Palmer shook her head. Her friends were acting childish in her opinion.

“Gunner, she’s not going anywhere with anyone. So feel free to take her there,” she said, earning a glare from Faith and a kick on her shin from under the table, making her hiss in pain. 

“Okay, we all agree to go shopping this Friday after school for Saturday. Are you up for it, Chris?” Palmer asked, getting Christopher’s attention, who had his head down until she mentioned his name.

“Um…” he said, looking at Faith and remembering what she told him earlier, “okay. I just need to let my mom know I’ll be late from school.”

“Perfect! So this Friday we will all meet at the entrance and we’ll take Gunner’s truck.” 

Gunner groaned because he knew going shopping with the girls would mean the bed of his truck would be full of shopping bags and he would have to end up carrying it all himself. But at least he’d have Christopher to help him, so he couldn’t complain. It would definitely be a fun trip.