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The night of the dance I was full of nerves

A huge part ofoff, especially since he nixed the whole carpool idea froht the dress and Dee had done an outstanding jobme look pretty

My hair had been curled and twisted up, exposingover my temples and rested on littery stuff in my hair, so when I turned, my hair shimmered My eyes were a wariven them I was also pretty sure she’d applied fake eyelashes, becauseor thick Her final touch before she rushed off to loss she painted onthem a perfect shade of ruby

I inspected myself in theat a stranger, and I made a mental note to wearthe moment she saw me

"Ohrab e her this moment

I waited until she returned and took a dozen pictures Dressed in her nursing scrubs, she looked kind of funny snapping pictures

"Now this Si "You never talked about hi ave me a motherly look "Whatever happened with the boy next door - Dae out with hied That was a conversation I couldn’t even begin to broach with my mom

"Uh, we’re frenemies"

"What?" Her brows puckered

"Nothing," I sighed, glancing at lefaintly, he said "We’re friends"

"Well, that’s a sha down an errant curl "He seemed like such a nice boy"

Daeine from outside ended our conversation Iout Good Lord

Simon’s truck was the size of a subo to dinner like Dee was talking about?"up the camera for another round of shots

Since Simon had nixed the carpool idea, I’d nixed the dinner Siat the dance seemed stupid Not to mention he had the tickets

I didn’t answer as I went to the door and opened it Simon stood there, dressed in a tux I was sort of surprised they had ones that fit him

His eyes, which seemed a little bleary, drifted down me in a way that turned my skin the color ofout a corsage that went arounde, I stepped aside and let Si Moets her looks fro into the Ice Queen Simon had not made a fan "Aren’t you kind"

I slunk over to his side as I slipped rateful it was not one that had to be pinned on Siood-naturedly, wrapping his ar for the caot" Mo with a lacy black shawl She draped it over my shoulders "This will keep you war it closer, ine The dress had see onso much skin

Mom pulled me aside while Siet ho in Winchester tonight" She glanced out the door, frowning "But I can leave if need be"

"Mo her cheek "I love you"

"Love you, too" She ushered eous"

Before the tears could fill her eyes again, I fled the house Getting in the truck required strategic cli I was surprised that I didn’t need a stepladder

"Man, you do look hot" Simon popped a breathdriveway

I hoped he wasn’t planning to use those breath mints later "Thanks You look nice, too" That was the extent of our conversation

Turns out Si The ride to school was long and aard, and I was gripping the edges of my shawl like there was no tolanced over, smiled, and popped another breath et to the dance

When we arrived in the parking lot, I found out why he was popping so many breath mints

Simon pulled a silver flask fro He offered it toThis was already starting off great I declined the offer, alreadydidn’t bothernot to care, he shoved it back in his jacket "Hold on I’ll help you get down" Well, that was nice of hi how in the world I was supposed to get down He opened the door and I smiled

"Thank you"

"Did you want to keep your purse in here?" he asked

Oh, hell no I shook le from my wrist Simon took my hand and helped me down froainst his thick chest

"Are you okay?" he asked, snore the icky feeling building in my stomach

Outside, I could hear the steady thued-over doors, and Si

"I’o to the dance with ed with the harsh s to mean it I placed o in"

S, he slid his arms away One of his hands slipped down my back, over the curve of my hip I stiffened and told myself it was an accident It had to be He surely didn’t just cop a feel like that We hadn’t even danced yet

The gymnasius of fall foliage hung fros and covered the doors

There were pumpkins and cornucopia horns full of leaves stacked in the corners and lining the stage

As soon as we stepped inside, ere surrounded by Siave Sih five or clap on the back It was like now they could tell I had boobs, I was suddenly cool Boys could be so juvenile While they passed around the flask Sis with the other guys’ dates They were all cheerleaders Yawn

I scanned the crowd, spying Lesa with her date "I’ll be right back"

Before Simon could stop me, I darted off toward her She turned when her date nodded in eous" I had to yell to be heard over theand then pulled back "Is he behaving himself?"

"So far Do you mind?" I placed my shawl and clutch on their table when she shook her head "They did a nice job on this" Lesa nodded "Still a gyhed "It has that smell"

That was true Carissa quickly joined us, tugging both of us out onto the dance floor uys I didn’tplain-out stupid

Lesa danced like a double-jointed hooker, and I think Carissa did the running liirls a quick wave, I made listening under the dazzling lights "Hey" I stopped short, ht s of dancers "Is everything okay?" I took her hand, squeezing it

"Have you been crying?"

"No No!" She wiped under her eye with her free hand, using her pinky "It’s just thatI don’t think Adao with me, and I’m not sure I want to even be here And it’s" She shook her head and pulled her hand free

"Anyway, you look great! That dress is to die for!" My heart went out to her It didn’t seeo out with Especially considering every rew up together, itto the dance with her brother "Hey," I said, getting an idea "We can bail on this if you want Go get movies and eat ice creaht? We can rent Braveheart You love that ain as she pulledto enjoy ourselves here How’s your date?"

I glanced around, not seeing him "Probably drunk somewhere"

"Oh no" She brushed a strand of hair back