Poor Mary Ellen Helms. Mom is an alcoholic, Dad has a brain injury, and every bit of responsibility is put on one girl.

The school nerd is what most people saw when they looked at Mary Ellen, until one day he heard her sing.

Grayson Edwards is the school quarterback, but he wasn't rich and spoiled. He worked hard to rebuilt the black 1967 Impala that helps him win the heart of the school nerd.

But as most high school love stories go, the boy must watch from the sidelines when the girl wins the hearts of the world.

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Chapter One

Grayson Edwards

I sat back among my friends in the school auditorium.

"I heard she got class valedictorian." Kathryn said.

"I heard that too, but I also heard she got a record deal." Allison added.

"Who gives a shit? She's useless." Gabe throws in his two cents.

She sat at the piano, and what I heard was nothing less than angelic. The assholes around me started yelling and booing.

"Shut the fuck up!" I snapped.

"Mr. Edward's, visit my office after the show." Great! Screw old man Tucker.

I wasn't distracted for long, because her voice is mesmerizing. The dicks around me scream and yell.

"Nerd, Nerd, Nerd!"

The poor girl bolted off stage crying, and these dicks think it's funny. "You're all assholes!"

I got up and walked out, pissed off at the creeps.

"Mr. Edwards, take a seat." Mr. Tucker said.

"I know it's against the rules to cuss, so just please give me my detention slip so I can get to practice." I said.

"That's not why I called you down here, Mr. Edwards. I called you down here to talk about Miss. Helms."

I cleared my throat. "It wasn't me booing her, I swear."

"That might be the truth today, but that is not the case in years past. You've done your fair share of bullying that girl. She is valedictorian, and I want her to be able to claim that without worrying there will be booing and shaming coming from your friends."

I am so confused. "What can I do about it?"

"Others have grown out of such immaturity, but not your group of friends. If I don't see a difference in all of you, I'm pulling credits, and you don't graduate. Even if it's done during her speech." He said.

"You can't do that, we earned those credits." I protested.

"I can do whatever I want, besides, all of you agreed to it when both you and your parents signed the code of conduct form at the beginning of the year." He secured his threat.

'Am I getting detention or not? I have practice." I said.

"Not this time, but remember, you're the quarterback, and you seem to be the one the others follow. Everything rides on your friends and their conduct. I'll give them each a warning, but after that, it's all up to you." He said. "You're excused."

I am pissed and the team knew it. I took all my frustration out on them during practice. If even one of them steps out of line, I swear I'll beat their asses.

As the days went by, they each were called into the office one by one and given the same warnings.

"That stupid bitch is going to cost me my scholarship." Gabe said, and he is an idiot.

"You're the only one that can manage to screw up your scholarship. All you have to do is keep your distance, and keep your mouth shut." I told him.

"We shouldn't have to be in this situation. It's not our fault the girl is ugly." Carina threw in.

"She's actually never done a thing to any of us. There's no reason to pick on the girl. Just chill out, and we don't have long before graduation." I said.

"She's a freak." Allison mumbled.

"Have you guys ever seen Carrie the movie?" Kathryn said, and everyone shrugged their shoulders.

"Who says we can't plan something graduation night?"

"I don't want anything to do with it." I said.

"You will, or I'll tell coach to test you all for steroids, and you'll lose your state title. All of you will be screwed."

"Why would I care? I don't use them." I said.

"Dude, Jason does, and that will take us all down." Gage said.

"You're a bitch, Katheryn." I spit out.

"Pretend like we broke up and get close to her. That's all you have to do."

I sat up and thought about it most of the night. My education or some girls feelings. It wasn't a hard choice to make, but in the pit of my stomach, I wasn't sure if I could deal with the guilt.

I'm not sure when Mary started to grow her wings, but I hope she keeps it up. She has a lot of talent, and even though I don't even know the girl, I worry what will be the end result of Katheryn's plan?