Two? She’s never let me out passed twelve? Mom must be smoking the pipe while I’ve been at school. My mouth is open but I close it. I don’t want her to think she is wrong. Let her believe I’m mature enough to come home at two. The truth is, being with Liam, I’m probably not.
Liam cocks an eyebrow. “Very trustworthy, Mrs. Taylor.”
Mom puts the camera down. “Should I not be, Liam?”
“Of course you should,” I interrupt.
She rolls her eyes. “Get out of here before I change my mind.” Liam wraps my arm around the crook of his elbow and escorts me out.
When we get outside, I feel giddy. “Well, my pretend girlfriend, you ready to go get jiggy with it?”
“If you don’t say that ever again, I am.”
He laughs. He holds his hand out and helps me into his Jeep.
“A gentleman,” I say.
“Tell me that at the end of the night.” He smiles and shuts the door. He walks around the Jeep to the driver’s side. I intertwine my fingers and squeeze. I’m nervous. I hate dances, but getting dressed up makes me feel…pretty…wanted.
“Nervous?” Liam asks, starting the engine.
I nod. “I’ve never been. I normally wouldn’t even think about going, but we have to be believable, right?”
“You never went with Hayden and you dated for how long?”
I shake my head. “A while and no I never went.”
This makes him smile. “Did he never ask you?”
I look out the window. “Yeah, but I’m just not a big dancer.”
“So,” Liam coughs, “you told him no?”
I nod. “Pretty much. I faked sick for Homecoming last year, and said I was cramping for prom.” I laugh.
“So, I should feel privileged?” Liam asks, eyebrow rose. His dimple is dented in his cheek. It’s adorable.
“Oh, most surely. It’s a rare gem to get me in a dress, let alone a dance. Write this date down.”
Liam smiles. I feel the warmth of his hand on mine. “No one is watching,” I whisper.
He turns toward me. “It’s good practice.”
When we get to the dance, the entire place is swamped. Oh, shit. It’s like a mad house outside. There are teenagers, taking pictures, strutting around and fixing their dresses.
“Wow, didn’t know so many people come to this,” I say.
“It is homecoming week. Tomorrow is the big game, ya know. It’s kind of a big deal. This is high school. The only good thing that ever happens in high school is the games and dances.”
Yeah, I know. “Oh, God,” I say, breathing in and out.
Liam laughs, reaching over to pat my leg. “Calm down, it’s going to be fine, I swear. Come one.” Liam gets out, comes around and helps me down. I watch all the other couples walk in, whispering in one another ears. “Would you like me to whisper sweet lines in your ear, little bear?”
Yes. “It’s not necessary,” I say.
Liam wraps his arm around my waist. “But, this is right?” His breath is warm on my neck.
“Yes,” I say, breathless. I wonder if he can tell he is making my heart beat like crazy against my ribcage.
He pretends to bow. “Shall we?”
“We shall.”
We walk up to the ticket booth. “I need two tickets,” Liam says, pulling out his wallet. A tall, dark haired boy is sitting behind the desk staring at me. A slow grin crawls up his face.
“You’re Katy, right?”
Liam looks down at me. I nod. “Yes.”
Tall boy laughs.
Ah hell. “What’s so damn funny,” Liam says, snatching the tickets out of his hands.
He raises his hands in surrender. “Nothing, bro. Just joking. Nothing is funny.”
“I didn’t think so,” Liam says, grabbing my hip and pulling me into the gym. “People are never going to grow the hell up are they?” he asks.
I shake my head. Probably not. I don’t even want to know what he was laughing about. I can only imagine.
There are tables full of punch, finger sandwiches, chips and cookies, when we get into the gym. I want to crawl underneath one and hide. The middle of the gym has been transformed into a dance floor, where most of our classmates are grinding on one another.
Liam pulls at the collar of his shirt, his grey eyes darting down to me. “Want some punch,” he asks. “I promise not to spike it.”
“Yes,” I say. “My throat is suddenly very dry. And maybe you should spike it.”
He laughs. “I know exactly what you mean. You grab us some seats and I’ll grab us something to drink.”
I nod. I push my way through the cluster of kids, while my head pounds to the rap music that’s blaring through the gym. No one seems to even know I’m pushing through them, they barely move to let me through. I spot a table and walk quickly, then sit down. I face the dance floor and watch as everyone starts jumping up and down to the ‘shots’ song.