We found the bar—really, it was just a long table and Mr. Henderson dressed up in a tux making some funky looking drinks—and ordered two mocktails, and then went to sit at an empty table on the fringe of the dance floor. Khloe Stemson and the rest of the bitch squad were draped over their dates like cheap throws, but there wasn’t a football player in sight between them.
“I guess they’re still on the outs with Jason and the team.” Flick mused, sipping her liquor-less mojito.
“And the gym team are still in.” I flicked my head over to where Jason had Jenna Jarvis pressed up against the wall, attacking her neck with his mouth.
“She’s a skank,” Flick said coolly.
“Now who sounds jealous?”
“I mean just look at her. She knows he won’t commit, and yet she still throws herself at him at every opportunity.”
“Maybe it’s just sex.”
“Yeah right. Girls don’t have just sex. They tell themselves that to make themselves feel better. But sex for girls comes with feelings. It’s simple biology.”
“Hmm.” I held up a finger. “I had sex without feelings.”
“That’s different.” She screwed up her face. “You’re wired different.”
“Hey.” I swatted her arm. “I could have easily caught feelings for Austin, but after the sex, I realized it wasn’t something I was in any hurry to do again.” I flashed her a playful grin and her sullen expression slipped.
“Was it really that bad?”
“It wasn’t good, that’s for sure.”
“So, why’d you do it?”
“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “I guess I just wanted to get it over with. And Austin had seemed nice at the time. It was so long ago, I’m probably revirginized.”
Flick laughed at that. “We’re a disaster. You’re throwing Cameron death stares because he’s talking to a girl, and I’m sitting here talking about sex when I have barely made it to third base with a guy.” She groaned, dropping her head on the table.
“Come on, it’s not all bad. Maybe you and Jude will...”
“Ladies, you came.” Asher Bennet loomed down over me, a wicked glint in his eye. “And you both look smokin’.”
“Smokin’, really?” I scrunched my nose up. It was a miracle anyone fell for his charm, or lack thereof. Although not even I could deny he looked good in his charcoal dress slacks and crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled up, his dark blond hair mussed up in his typical laid-back Asher Bennet way. “That’s the best you can do?”
“As prickly as ever I see, Raine.”
Flick peeked out from the table, gaping up at him. A slow grin spread over his face. “Me and you, Giles, let’s go.”
“Go? Go where?”
“To fuck in my Jeep, where do you think?”
“Oh my god,” she breathed out, and I thought for a second she might faint.
“Dance floor, Felicity.” Asher flicked his head to the crowd of kids dancing. “Let’s dance.”
“D- dance?” She mouthed at me and I gave her wide eyes.
“Go, it’s what you wanted right? To dance and have fun.” And I had no immediate plans to make a fool of myself in front of our entire class.
Cheeks a deep shade of red, Flick let Asher pull her up and they walked hand-in-hand to the dance floor. Last year, she wouldn’t have looked twice at him or Cameron or my step-brother. But this year, she was different.
Maybe we both were.
I watched on as Asher danced circles—literal circles—around her, but she was laughing, her eyes sparkling with happiness. It didn’t take long before he had the entire dance floor eating out of the palm of his hand and right at the heart of their attention was my best friend, in her crowning moment.
My gaze wandered over to where I’d seen Cameron before. He was alone now, watching Asher and Flick, a strange expression on his face. Feeling brave, I got up and made my way over to him but as I almost reached him, a girl tackle hugged him and he held her affectionately, smiling down at her. The same smile he’d given me more than once. My stomach sank as I ducked into the shadows by the wall, pressing myself flat until the darkness swallowed me whole. What did I think? That I’d come here tonight, and Cameron would actually want to dance with me? To spend time with me? Stupid, stupid girl.
Swallowing my pride, I marched back to my table only to realize Flick was no longer dancing with Asher. I scanned the room when my purse vibrated.
* * *
Toby: what’s up?
* * *
Me: At Homecoming and it kind of sucks
* * *
Toby: You should come party with us... it’s not a football thing, I promise
* * *
Another party with Toby? Did I really want that? My fingers hovered over the reply button and then I was typing.
* * *
Me: Okay
* * *
I hit send before I could chicken out. I didn’t really want to go, but the last thing I wanted to do was stay here and watch Cameron and some girl dance and make out.
Just then, I caught a glimpse of Flick. I rushed over to her, narrowing my gaze when I saw her grim expression. “What happened?” I asked.
“N- Nothing.” She swiped at her makeup, smudging the streaks of mascara across her face.
“Flick, I know you’ve been crying.”
“Not here, okay?” She said, her eyes darting around me as if she was looking for something. Or someone. “Can we just go?”
“Toby texted me, inviting us to a part—”
“That sounds perfect.” She grabbed my hand and started pulling me toward the door.
“Good,” I chuckled. “Because I kind of already said yes.”
I had another message off Toby saying he was in our neighborhood and would be about ten minutes.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” I asked Flick again as she wrapped her arms around herself, refusing to meet my eyes. “Did Asher do something—”
“I’m fine, Hails. I promise.”
“I swear to God, if he hurt you, I’ll kill him.” His interest in my best friend was growing. The only problem was, I couldn’t figure out if it was all a big joke or if he actually liked her. Either way, Asher Bennet would eat her alive, something I had no intention of ever letting happen.
“It’s not Asher.”
“It’s not?”
“No.”
“But it is a guy?” Because my gut told me it was a guy. Something was going on with my best friend, I just didn’t know what.
Her eyes slowly slid to mine, and she pressed her lips together giving a little nod. “But I don’t want to talk about it.”
The fact she didn’t feel like she could talk to me stung. But I hadn’t exactly been upfront about Cameron either. So I offered her a warm smile, and said, “Okay, but when you’re ready, I’ll be here.”
“Thank you.” Flick sniffled. “Ugh, Homecoming sucks.”
“I could have told you that.”