Chapter 1: The Squad

The group of cheerleaders giggled and chattered excitedly as they gathered at April Lozano’s house. She was the head cheerleader, the leader of their squad and always full of ideas for pranks. “This is going to be the best prank ever!” she declared, grinning at her fellow squad members.

“Now we just need a victim,” another cheerleader chimed in eagerly.

“What about your brother?” one of the girls suggested, turning to Mary.

“My brother?” Mary echoed, caught off guard.

“Yes,” April exclaimed, her eyes gleaming mischievously. “He would be perfect for this!”

Mary hesitated, chewing on her bottom lip. “I don’t know ... I mean, he’s my brother.”

“Come on, girl!” April urged, throwing her arm around Mary’s shoulder. “He’s perfect for this! And I’m sure he will laugh afterwards.”

“Exactly,” another cheerleader piped up. “He’ll be grateful to finally be the center of attention.”

Mary wavered for a moment, but then a devilish smile spread across her face. “Alright,” she said confidently. “Let’s do it!”

The room erupted in cheers and high fives as the girls eagerly began planning their epic prank on Mary’s unsuspecting brother.

Bobby Mercer had always been an easy target. With his thick glasses, gangly frame, and penchant for obscure sci-fi references, he embodied every stereotype of a high school outcast. The cheerleaders giggled as they imagined his reaction to suddenly being noticed by one of the most popular girls in school.

“This is going to be epic,” April squealed, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “I’ll start talking to him tomorrow. Maybe I’ll even let him carry my books to class.”

Mary hesitated for a moment, a flicker of doubt crossing her face. “Just ... don’t be too mean to him, okay? He’s still my brother.”

The other girls rolled their eyes. “Come on, Mary, it’s just a prank. He’ll get over it,” Lisa chimed in, twirling a strand of her blonde hair around her finger.

On Monday morning, April was smiling as she waited for Bobby to make his daily walk through the school corridor. The usual bullies who targeted him had been warned to steer clear. As soon as she caught sight of him, she prepared herself for the familiar routine of “accidentally” bumping into him.

“Showtime,” she thought determinedly. She focused intently on her smartphone and made her way towards Bobby, purposely not paying attention to where she was going. And just as planned, they collided with a loud thud. April fell to the ground, feigning injury from the impact.

Bobby’s eyes widened in shock and fear as he looked down at her. He stood frozen for a moment before springing into action and rushing to help her stand up.

April looked at Bobby extended his hand to help her up.

“I’m so sorry,” Bobby said, his cheeks flushing. “Are you okay?”

April giggled, brushing imaginary dust off her skirt. “I’m fine. Maybe even better than fine, now that I’ve run into you.”

Bobby’s eyebrows raised slightly, a shy smile tugging at his lips. “Oh, um, that’s good. I mean, not that you fell, but...”

April twirled a strand of hair around her finger. “You know, Bobby, I was wondering if maybe you’d like to grab a coffee sometime?”

Bobby’s eyes widened, and he rubbed the back of his neck nervously. After a moment’s hesitation, he took a deep breath. “Actually, I think it would be nice, thank you.”

The girls giggle and huddle closer, their ponytails bobbing as they whisper excitedly. April’s eyes gleam with mischief as she outlines the next steps of their prank.

“Tomorrow at lunch, I’ll sit with him and act all shy and flirty. Then during practice, I’ll ‘accidentally’ trip and fall into his arms. He’ll be putty in my hands by the end of the week!”

The other cheerleaders nod approvingly, but Mary still looks uncertain. “What if he really likes you though? Won’t he be crushed when he finds out it’s all a joke?”

April rolls her eyes. “Oh please, Mary. Bobby has had a crush on me forever. This will teach him not to be such a lovesick puppy. Besides, it’s just a harmless prank. He’ll laugh about it later, I’m sure.”

April’s words hung in the air as the cheerleaders’ laughter faded. A flicker of doubt crossed Mary’s face, but she quickly masked it with a smile. The girls dispersed, heading to their respective classes, their whispers and giggles echoing through the hallway.

Later that day, April spotted Bobby by his locker. She sauntered over, her hips swaying deliberately. “Hey, Bobby,” she cooed, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. “I can’t wait for our date on Friday.”

Bobby’s face lit up, his cheeks flushing slightly. “Me neither, April. I’ve been looking forward to it, too.”

As April chatted with Bobby, she caught Mary watching from across the hall, an uneasy expression on her face. April winked at her, then turned back to Bobby, laughing a little too loudly at his joke.

Bobby’s heart soared as he walked home, his cheek still tingling from April’s kiss on his cheek. He couldn’t believe his luck - the most popular girl in school was finally noticing him. He spent the evening daydreaming about their future together, imagining romantic dates and holding hands in the hallways.

Meanwhile, April was sprawled on her bed, giggling as she texted her friends. “He’s totally buying it,” she wrote. “This is going to be epic.”

The next few days were a whirlwind for Bobby. April continued to shower him with attention, laughing at his jokes and touching his arm in the hallways. He felt like he was walking on air, oblivious to the whispers and giggles of his classmates.

The Mercer family gathered around the dinner table on a warm Wednesday afternoon. The scent of roasted chicken and mashed potatoes filled the air, enticing their appetites. Samantha, their mother, smiled at Bobby, her eldest son. “Why are you so happy lately?” she asked curiously.

Bobby couldn’t contain his excitement any longer. “I have a date!” he blurted out, still in disbelief himself.

“A date?” his mother repeated, clearly surprised. “Who is this lucky girl? When did you meet her?”

“She’s April Lozano,” Bobby gushed, unable to hide his grin. “She’s the head cheerleader.”

“The head cheerleader?” Samantha’s tone was incredulous. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, Mom!” Bobby exclaimed. “I can’t believe it either!”

Samantha turned to her daughter, Mary, who was sitting silently with a forced smile on her face. Mary nodded, trying to avoid eye contact as she absentmindedly pushed her peas around on her plate. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment and she prayed that no one could tell.

Bobby went on and on about April, describing how beautiful and funny she was while their mom listened intently, peppering him with questions about their upcoming date.

“So, where are you taking her?” she asked.

“I thought we’d go to that Italian place downtown,” Bobby replies. “You know, the one with the outdoor patio?”

Mary’s fork clatters against her plate. “That’s where Jake took me on our first date,” she blurted out.

The table fell silent. Bobby looked at her, puzzled. “Oh, I didn’t know. We can go somewhere else if—”

“No, it’s fine,” Mary interrupts, standing up abruptly. “I’m not very hungry. I think I’ll go finish my homework.” As she headed upstairs, she hears her mom tell Bobby, “Maybe Mary can give you some tips on what girls like. You two have always been so close.”

In her room, Mary flopped onto her bed and buried her face in her pillow. She knew she should be happy with the prank, but all she felt is a twisting knot in her stomach. She tried to believe that Bobby would laugh at the end, but she was not so sure now.

As the sun rose on Saturday morning, Bobby began his meticulous work of washing and polishing his mom’s car. He wanted it to glisten and gleam in the sunlight, a reflection of the effort he was willing to put in for April. Inside, he carefully tidied up any stray crumbs or bits of trash, making sure every surface was spotless. Excitement and nerves bubbled within him as he thought about spending their date. The day before, he had withdrawn all his hard-earned savings from his bank account, determined to impress her with a special gesture. He had even splurged on a new dress shirt, wanting to look his best for her.

Mary stood in front of her bedroom window, gazing out in silence. She watched as Bobby walked to the car. With his suit crisp and his hair neatly styled, she could almost say that he was handsome. “It’s just a harmless prank,” she whispered to herself, trying to ease the guilt that creeped on her. But as she watched him disappear around the corner, she couldn’t shake off the feeling that this time, things would be different.

April had exceeded herself in her preparation. She was wearing enough makeup to look like she wasn’t wearing makeup. Her long hair was neatly combed in a sleek ponytail that swung gently as she walked, and her dress was a simple yet elegant navy-blue sheath that hugged her curves without being too revealing. A pang of longing struck April as she thought about her mother. She had passed away when April was only ten years old, leaving behind a void that could never be filled. Her father, a busy IT consultant who was always on the road, was rarely home. April often wished her mother could see her now, tall, beautiful, elegant. Her train of thought was abruptly cut off by the sound of Bobby’s car pulling into her driveway. She paused, listening to the low hum of its engine and the crunch of gravel under its tires. Anticipation bubbled within her as she waited for him to make his way to her door. “And so it begins,” she thought.

As they drive into town, Bobby couldn’t help but to look at April. Her golden hair caught the light of the setting sun, and her smile made his heart race. When they arrived to the restaurant, he parked near the entry. He opened April’s door, offering his hand to help her out. As they walked in, he prayed not to trip or spill anything on his new shirt. The maître led them to a cozy corner table, lit by flickering candlelight. Bobby fumbled with the unfamiliar menu, hoping not embarrassing himself.

April seemed impressed, her eyes widening as she looks around the elegant dining room. “This is so fancy, Bobby,” she said, her voice soft and appreciative. “You didn’t have to go to all this trouble.”

Bobby swallowed hard, willing his nerves to settle. “You’re worth it,” he managed to say, immediately feeling foolish for how cheesy it sounded. But April’s smile grows wider, and she reached across the table to squeeze his hand.

As they waited for their meals, April chattered excitedly about her day, her perfectly manicured nails tapping against the crystal wine glass. Bobby nodded along, entranced by her dazzling smile and the way the candlelight dances in her eyes. He barely registered the waiter’s return, setting down a plate overflowing with succulent lobster and truffles before April.

When the waiter placed Bobby’s modest bowl of soup in front of him, April paused mid-sentence, her brow furrowing slightly. “Oh, Bobby,” she cooed, reaching across the table to pat his hand. “Are you sure that’s all you want?”

Bobby smiled. He asked for the cheapest dish because this night was for April. “No, no, this is perfect,” he insisted, lifting a spoonful of thin broth to his lips.