Not Such a Good Plan After All

                                    

                                          
Before Warren could ask any more questions, I'd scuttled away to get myself a sandwich.
                          
"Stronghold get back here," he said.
                          
"I'll be over in a sec," I promised, shooing him away.
                          
He rolled his eyes and stalked over to an empty table.
                          
I got my lunch and turned around to see Warren at his table surrounded by not only Layla, but Zach, Ethan and Magenta too. I tried not to laugh as I imagined how uncomfortable he was.
                          
Walking over, I heard Ethan say how badass he felt being sat with Warren. I laughed and set down my tray next to Layla and opposite Zach.
                          
"Let's all buy matching leather jackets, guys. We could even come up with a catchphrase. My vote is for 'Peace Out' stitched across the back," I said, popping a crisp in my mouth.
                          
Warren smirked at me despite being beyond frustrated with everybody else at the table.
                          
"When you told me she sucked at improv, I didn't realise it would be this bad," he pointed at me, nodding his head towards Layla.
                          
I shrugged, taking another crisp; "She panicked."
                          
"I'm already taking someone to homecoming," he growled in Layla's direction.
                          
"You have a date to homecoming?" Magenta asked in disbelief.
                          
"Yes," he grunted.
                          
"I haven't seen any girls walking round in all leather, man. Have any of you?" Zach looked genuinely confused.
                          
"So even Warren Peace is going to homecoming?" Ethan asked excitedly; "I'm definitely going now! We can all sit at the same table!"
                          
"That won't be happening," Warren rounded on him.
                          
"Look," I said calmly, "Clearly nobody knows who you're going to homecoming with, so for all intents and purposes, until we think of another plan, people may as well think it's Layla you're going with. I'm sure your date wouldn't mind, Warren, especially given the situation."
                          
Layla beamed at me, squeezing my hand under the table. Warren looked slightly taken aback, but soon his expression returned to his resting frown.
                          
"If it's good with her, it's good with me," he said, "But if nobody thinks of another plan before homecoming, you and I will have inconveniently decided to go our separate ways," he gestured to Layla.
                          
"And we'll all go as a group instead," I offered, smiling at the table; "Nobody's getting left out, okay?"
                          
There was a small chorus of "yeaaaa Rosie" (Zach), and "that's a good plan" as I nodded my head in victory. We all looked at Warren.
                          
"So this is to get back at Stronghold, right? You don't actually want to go with me?" he clarified to Layla.
                          
"Yeah it's just to get back at Will," she murmured.
                          
"Then I'm in," he smiled, discreetly winking in my direction.
                          
There was a small round of cheers at the table before Warren grabbed his bag and stood up.
                          
"But I won't be renting a tux," he said as he sauntered off.
                          
"Charming," I said, taking a massive bite of my sandwich.
                          
"I wonder who his date is," mused Magenta as she stabbed at her pasta.
                          
"Maybe she doesn't go here?" Ethan suggested.
                          
"I'm sure she's wonderful," added Layla, nudging me ever so slightly.
                          
"So what do you guys have after lunch?" I asked.