I know he isn’t asking me, but I can’t stop myself from saying, “I have no idea.”
Bradley stalks away, and she comes back happier than I’ve seen her in a while. She drops down onto her seat, and moans loud as she takes a mouth of pancakes, and so many people are staring right at her. Even a few of the Harkwrights. It has to be the noises she’s making.
“D, what is going on? I wasn’t expecting you to be so friendly toward him.” I tilt my head in his direction, and she laughs softly, prettily.
“Oh, Lu. I am just feeling so good right now. I get to go clothes shopping, dancing, and I have you back in my life. What could be better? Besides, I meant it, I know he likes to dance and Seven is no twinkle toes. Believe me, you will not want to miss the dance. If Tucker won’t take you shopping, maybe see if you can tag along with me and Maddox. He has offered to be my chaperone for the occasion,” she winks, and I can’t stop smiling.
“So, is Maddox taking you to the dance?” I ask, and she laughs loud and carefree this time.
“No, babe. He isn’t taking me. But, there may be an Assembly next week after the dance has been and gone. So, try not to pass out when the announcement is made.” She tucks back into her food, and I just sit here. I’m slightly in awe of how well she is handling everything. She may well be my new role model, after mom, of course.
We put our plates away once we’re done, and leave the mess hall, but not before Tucker and Maddox can catch up to us.
“I take it she’s told you about the dance?” Tucker asks, and I simply nod.
“We’ll be going shopping on Friday, once classes are over. So you’ll have an outfit for Saturday. It was a spur-of-the-moment thing. The dance isn’t usually held until closer to the end of the academic year, but Sir is mixing things up a bit.”
“Is it going to be another masquerade?” I ask, and Daria shakes her head with a knowing smile on her face.
“Not exactly, I mean we can wear a mask if we want to, but this year is going to be a little different. It’s all to do with the seven deadly sins, and the more sinful your dress, the better,” he says against my ear. My mind races at his word, and the sensations he’s stirring within me.
“We’ll leave you girls to do whatever shit you girls do. See you tonight, Tiny One.” He gives me a tongue tangling kiss before he and Maddox walk away.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say he had it bad for you, homegirl.”
If only D, if only.
We head off to the pool and swim a few laps, and her smile fades for a moment when Jake appears, but it soon returns. I wish I could say the same for myself, I just can’t be happy when he’s around.
“Daria, Luna, how’s it going?”
“It’s going well, we were just talking about the dance,” she says cheerily, but it sounds a little forced. At least, it does to me.
“Don’t remind me, Fourteen won’t stop talking about it. What is it with you girls and dances? I just don’t see the appeal,” he says easily, as he swims circles around us.
“That’s because it doesn’t involve water. I still think you were a fish in a former life.”
“That would have been sweet, I do prefer the water to dry land.” He laughs, and my stomach twists. I can’t be around him, but I can’t just get up and leave either. It isn’t fair to D, and I’m trying so hard to be a better friend.
“Well, we better be going. We’ve got to get changed before our next class.” She gives him a little wave, before heading to the ledge, and pulling herself up.
“See you around, Luna,” he calls, and I can’t stop my spine from stiffening. I throw him a half assed wave and then follow D to the changing rooms. She has no idea how much I need this.
Friday is finally here, and I am more than ready to get out of here for a little while. All anyone can talk about is the finals, and we’ll be starting our mock exams soon, and our final papers before the real tests begin. I’m so scared I’m going to choke, and I just need to get out of my head for a little while.
D meets me down by the stairs, and she can’t seem to stop bouncing on the balls of her feet.
“Will you calm down? It’s just shopping.” I laugh, and she sticks her tongue out at me.
“I couldn’t have said it better myself.” Her back goes ramrod straight, before she relaxes, and turns to talk to Jake.
“What are you doing here?”
“Well, Fourteen needs to get a dress, so we thought we would tag along. Tucker said there’ll be more than enough room.” Great, just what I need. To be stuck in a car with him. Hopefully, they won’t go into the same shops as us.
Tucker and Maddox arrive, and we head out to the car waiting for us. I don’t know where we’re going for our clothes, but hopefully, it won’t take too long to get there.
“Everything okay?” Tucker asks as he slips his phone away.
“Yea, everything is fine.” I don’t sound convincing even to my own ears, I just hope he won’t push me on the matter.
We drive for ten minutes before we come to a stop. And that can mean only one thing. We’re shopping in the town of Harkwright.
We climb out of the car and walk into the shop that Ms. Vanderbilt took me to when I had to select some clothes. Tucker heads straight over to the counter, and my eyes fall onto the girl who was nothing but kind to me. I can’t stop myself from walking over to her, I’m not going to hug her or anything, but I have to say hello.
She turns and smiles at me, before walking over to a rail with dresses already hanging up on it.
“I was hoping it would be you. I can’t believe how different you look.”
“Is that a good thing?” I ask, as I bite down on my lower lip.
“Definitely a good thing, I told you a few pounds would do you wonders,” she says with a wink, and I laugh while nodding my agreement.
“So, we were told they have to be sinful, without giving too much away. This is the best I could come up with, that I thought would suit you. So, go on. Try them on and let me see what I have to work with.” She gives me another wink, and I disappear into the changing room.
I strip out of my pleated skirt and crop top and put on the first dress on the pile. It’s red, with a black lace overlay. The back dips down almost to my ass, and the front goes to my belly button. Yeah, that’s a hard pass from me. The girls come in, and both shake their heads vehemently, and Daria starts trying on her own dresses.
“I still don’t know your name,” I say, as I lay the dress down, and pick up the next one.
“It’s Shay, and that one doesn’t work for you either.”
I take a look in the mirror, and I quite like it. It’s completely backless, except from the lace across my shoulders. The front cuts across my chest and falls down in a straight line to the floor.
“No, Luna, you can’t wear that. It isn’t sinful enough,” D says, as she twirls around, and my jaw hits the floor.
It’s a pale pink halter neck dress, with another neckline that drops down past her belly button. I have no idea how it’s staying in place, but I’d like to believe that it’s magic. The back is made up of sheer lace, and it falls to the ground like a waterfall.