Zane: R u asking me to the "senior" prom?
Me: Ha ha
Zane: What time?
Me: Six-ish?
I wait two minutes and thirty-seven seconds. Then my phone beeps.
Zane: I'll be there
I am so glad he can't see me doing my insanely dorky victory dance right now.
Unfortunately, I am not alone like I previously thought. Bill is standing by the refrigerator, and by the horrified look on his face, he's been there a while.
Awesome.
"You don't need to bring a date."
Lauren and I are in our usual lunchtime spot--our favorite bench in the commons. She's eating her turkey sandwich while I work on an essay on Crime and Punishment.
Actually, what I'm really doing is trying to convince her to go to the sweethearts dance with me.
Lauren rolls her eyes and takes a dainty sip from her water bottle. "I don't do dances. Why do you even want me to go? You'll be with Zane."
I can't help the stupid grin on my face. "But you could have your pick of guys to dance with!"
"Wow, a geriatric dream come true." Lauren rolls her eyes. "No, thanks. And didn't you say those old guys were pervs?"
"Not all of them--just Gil and Doc. The rest of them are perfect gentlemen." I point my pen at her. "I'm trying to get you to broaden your horizons, since you won't give the guys here a chance. You know, Chase asked me about you again in math today. He's pretty cute, why don't you just go out with him?"
"Not interested. Just because you're in love, don't go trying to set me up."
"I'm not in love," I swiftly deny. "I'm just tired of that boy harassing me about you every day."
Lauren grimaces in annoyance. She starts to say something, but stops when we someone calls our names.
It's Kim. She's got a worried look on her pretty face as she jogs up to us.
"Hey, do either of you guys have the vocab list for the Spanish quiz today? I totes forgot to study for it!
Lauren checks her backpack and pulls out a paper. She hands it over to Kim, who looks smiles in relief.
"Thanks! You're a lifesaver. I can't fail another quiz! My mom says I can't go to the dance if I don't get at least a B. And I have a super cute costume, too! Are you guys going?" When we shake our heads, she says, "Lauren, I think Chase is going to ask you to go. He keeps asking me if you have a date yet."
I snicker at Lauren's sour voice. "That boy can't take a hint," she growls.
Kim laughs, tossing back her curly hair. "You should go with him. He's cute, and nice!"
"Yeah, Lauren," I join in. "Give the poor guy a chance."
Lauren just gives me "the look." I smirk until Kim turns to me.
"So, Violet, you're not gonna go with your boyfriend?"
"My who?"
"I saw you at the beach with him. He's freaking gorgeous! Is he in college?"
'Oh," I mumble uncomfortably. "He's not really my boyfriend. We just kind of hang out."
"Uh-huh," Kim says disbelievingly. "Well, if I was hanging out with a guy who looked like that, I would be showing him off to everyone. You looked really hot together, like a supermodel couple."
"Yeah, whatever." I laugh. Zane, sure. Me, not so much.
"No, seriously. Oh, I would have come over and said hi, but you two looked pretty busy." She waggles her eyebrows suggestively.
Ugh! I feel a massive blush come on, but it doesn't wipe the huge smile off my face. Well, if anyone had to catch me making out on a beach with Zane, I'm glad it was Kim. She wouldn't go blabbing to the whole school.
But I wonder if she told her brother?
Kim says she'll see us in Spanish and rushes off. I pretend to be working on my essay, but the smug smile probably gives it away what I'm really thinking about. Or who. Whom. Lauren just shakes her head at my ridiculousness.
I don't care. I think...I think I'm going to ask Zane to clarify our relationship.
I just hope I like his answer.
Chapter 18
The day of the dance.
I decide to wear my long gray dress with little white flowers scattered all over it. It's not a sexy dress by any means, because I don't want to offend the residents by looking trashy. I end up putting my hair back in a ponytail when a curling attempt goes awry.
I'm glad Zane's meeting me at Sunset instead of picking me up at Lauren's like usual. I am ridiculously nervous. I screw up Helize's hair so many times, she decides to wear a beret. It's jaunty.
"Will you get me ready for bed tonight?" she asks me for the third time.
I'm squatting in front of her wheelchair, trying to get her leg brace on right. "I don't work today, remember? Today's the sweethearts dance. I came to dance with you."
Helize waves a hand in a "pshaw!" way. "Why would a young beauty like you dance with an old lady like me? Violet, I think you have that on the wrong leg."