Chapter Twenty-Three

Wren

My jaw dropped as I watched Fuller make his way to the DJ booth. He had on the tightest black pants I’d ever seen, and he wore this billowy black shirt that was open at the chest. Hudson, who was at his side, was wearing a Deadpool costume. I shot a glance at Dae and Brandon. They both shrugged.

I’m outta here. If this was Fuller about to pull off some over-the-top ridiculous stunt, I didn’t need to see it. I took a step to the side, planning to sneak out the back of the gym without being noticed, but stopped when Jenna Marie linked her arm through mine.

“I think you’re going to want to stay for this,” she whispered with an encouraging smile on her face.

The DJ cut off the song that was playing. “Sorry for the interruption, Magnolia Valley Cougars, but we have a special announcement that will only take a few moments. If everyone could please turn their attention to the stage, that would be great. Thank you!”

My heart started to hammer in my chest. I wanted to turn and run, but my feet stayed cemented to the gym floor.

Fuller grabbed a wireless microphone and put his hand in the air. A moment later, blinding floodlights were aimed at him.

“Um, wow. Those are bright.” He held his hand up, peering into the crowd. “All right, some of you may not recognize me in this outfit, but it’s me, your varsity basketball captain, Fuller James.”

He swung what appeared to be a homemade sword in the air, waving it back and forth. Are those Nerds boxes? What is he doing?

The crowd emitted a mixture of gasps and laughter.

“I’m here tonight, dressed up as Westley from The Princess Bride, for several reasons. The first is to admit that I’m a complete jerk.” The crowd fell silent. “I was failing AP and too embarrassed to admit that I needed help. Principal Davis and Coach Carter found out and told me if I didn’t bring my grade up, I wouldn’t be able to play basketball.”

My chest rose and fell quickly. Even though my classmates booed loudly, I suddenly felt like it was just Fuller and me in the gym.

Fuller waved his sword. “No, don’t boo. It was my fault. I’d been so focused on basketball and training that I wasn’t putting in the effort. Plus, I was being an asshole. On and off the court. I thought I was untouchable. So I made a terrible decision. I made a bet with a teammate to cover up the fact that I was failing and that Wren Carter had been assigned to tutor me until I brought my grade back up.”

A sophomore in front of me shouted, “Is that a rodent of unusual size in your pants?”

Someone behind me whistled, while other students in the crowd howled with laughter.

My throat went dry.

“I’d disappointed Coach big-time. He didn’t want me to tell anyone about the tutoring, because he was afraid that it could throw the rest of the guys off their game. The bet helped me cover all of that up.

“Instead of taking it like a man, I bet my friend that I could trick Wren into becoming my girlfriend. He said that would be too easy to pretend, so he and I came up with three stupid steps, proof that we were hanging out, witnessed PDA, and Wren had to come to the first game as my girlfriend, wearing my varsity jacket.”

The crowd fell silent. I could feel people staring at me, but I didn’t dare take my eyes off Fuller. I was afraid that if I did, I’d either burst into tears or throw up.

“Once I completed all three steps, the plan was to break up with Wren after the season opener, in the parking lot. If I won, my friend would have to ask her to this dance and give me his Deadpool comic book collection. He’s my little brother’s favorite superhero.”

I gulped and glanced around me. What is he doing? Is he trying to embarrass me even more? The humiliation was almost too much to handle. I’d already started mentally preparing for my exit. There was a door in the corner of the gym that led to the tennis courts. As long as it wasn’t locked, I could cut through and make it to the parking lot in about thirty seconds.

“You’re an asshole,” someone shouted from the crowd.

Surprisingly, a bunch of my classmates nodded in agreement.

“You’re right. I am an asshole. From the very first day I spent with Wren, something inside me started to change. I realized I was a cocky jerk who belittled people and bossed them around. My behavior was unacceptable. Through tough talk and setting high expectations, Wren showed me that I could not only turn my grades around, but I could also become a better person. On top of that, Wren Carter is the smartest, kindest, and most beautiful person I’ve ever met.”

A group of girls in the front row let out a collective “Aw.”

“The second reason I’m dressed like this is because I have another confession. Before I got to know Wren, I made fun of her. I was a bully. I called her by a terrible nickname. I should have known better back in seventh grade, but I didn’t. I thought being popular was more important. Kind of like I thought being the best basketball player in the history of Magnolia Valley was more important than passing my classes. I thought I could ride the ‘Fuller “the Jock” James’ wave this year and skate by without putting in any effort.”

The crowd booed again.

“I know, I definitely didn’t have my priorities straight. But, thanks to a bit of luck and a handful of mashed potatoes, I got to know Wren Carter, and you know what? I fell for her, hard. But then I screwed up. I didn’t come clean with her, and she found out about the bet at the game last week.”

Brandon placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder and whispered, “You okay?”

I stole a glance at my best friend. “I…I’m not sure.”

“If you want to leave, just say the word, okay?”

Nodding, I turned back toward the stage.

Fuller took a deep breath and exhaled. “After she found out, she wouldn’t talk to me or respond to my text messages, and she even blocked me on Instagram. Not that I blame her. My actions hurt her. Desperate for her forgiveness and willing to do anything to win her back, my little brother and I came up with a plan.”

Jenna Marie took my hand. My heart pounded so intensely I was sure she could hear it.

Hudson waved to the crowd in his Deadpool costume. People around us clapped and hollered.

“Wren told me once that her favorite movies were The Princess Bride and Say Anything. After I made a complete ass of myself, I sat down with my little bro and watched them both. Then, I read the The Princess Bride book. Well, I listened to it, but you get the gist. Tonight, I’m dressed up as Westley. He goes through hell and back for the woman he loves. I’m willing to do the same for Wren.”

My hand flew to my chest. Love? Did he just say love?

TyShaun came on stage and handed him an old boom box.

“In her other favorite movie, there’s a grand sweeping gesture.” He hoisted the boom box up over his head with one hand and gestured toward the DJ with the other. A few seconds later, “In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel started blasting out of the massive speakers on either side of the stage.

Tears welled up in the corners of my eyes, and my breath caught in my chest.

Marc handed Hudson a huge stack of poster boards. Fuller’s little brother tilted them toward the crowd.

Fuller began reading them, one at a time. “Wren, I’m sorry. I acted like a complete jerk.”

Hudson let the first poster fall to the floor of the stage. “A HUGE jerk,” he shouted.

Several people in the crowd laughed.

“Correction, Hudson is right. I behaved like a huge jerk.” Fuller nodded at his little brother. “Wren, I didn’t take your feelings into consideration when I made the bet, and by the time I knew I’d done something stupid, I was too scared to come to you with the truth.”

Hudson let the poster fall.

“I made the biggest mistake and I regret my actions more than anything.”

Fuller stared out into the sea of people, and even though I doubted he could make out anyone’s faces due to the spotlight shining brightly on him, it felt like he was looking directly at me. A warm sensation spread through my chest.

“Wren Carter, I know I don’t deserve you.” Fuller’s voice cracked with emotion. “But I had to get up here and tell you and everyone here tonight that I’m sorry.”

Hudson let the last poster fall, revealing the final message.

Gasps and applause broke out from the audience.

“I have one thing left to say. To be honest, I’ve never said it to anyone before.” Fuller paused, his chest rising and falling. “Wren Carter, I love you.”

My classmates erupted into wild cheers.

Heart slamming, I looked at Dae and Brandon. They both gave me a quick nod and genuine smiles. Were they in on all of this? How could they have kept it a secret from me?

Fuller’s voice drew my attention back toward the stage. “If there’s any way, deep in your heart, that you can forgive me, Wren, I promise, from this point forward, I’ll always be honest with you, no matter what.”

Girls around me dabbed at their eyes with tissues while some of the guys from the basketball team started chanting, “Wren. Wren. Wren.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat and took a step forward. The crowd went berserk as I continued to make my way toward the stage.

Fuller squinted and held out his hand, trying to block the bright light. He didn’t have a clue that I was almost to the stage.

Knees trembling, I climbed the steps. That’s when he turned around, our eyes locking. “You did all this for me?”

“Yes.” He took my hand in his and pulled me into his arms. “I am so sorry, Wren.”

The cheers were deafening.

Fuller took a step back, setting the boom box down and letting the microphone fall to his side. “Wow. You look beautiful.”

A hush fell over the students in the audience.

My eyes were glossy and my heart was beating so fast it felt like it was going to spring out of my chest. “Did you really mean what you said?”

“Every single word.”

As if we were the only two in the gym, I reached up toward Fuller’s face and touched his mask. “I can’t believe you dressed up as Westley.”

He brought his hand to mine and let it slide down his face, stopping at his shoulder. “Wren, I love you, and I’d do anything for you. Absolutely anything.”

A murmur of excitement fell over our classmates, who’d crowded around the stage.

“Will you give me a second chance?” His palms were damp.

Anxiety coupled with pure bliss coursed through my body as I looped my hands around his neck. “Fuller James, I’ll give you another chance. But under one condition…”

I beckoned him closer. As he leaned down, I whispered my terms into his ear.

He pulled away, lips parted. “Seriously? That’s your condition?”

I grinned and shrugged. “It’s your call.”

Fuller leaned down and whispered into my ear, “As you wish.”