Jackie sits in front of me on my bed. “Zara… I know you’re upset about it now but one day you’ll miss these days. You’ll be an adult and life will be crappy and stressful and you’ll miss being in high school. You’ll wish you would have lived every moment to the fullest.”
“I am in high school and life is crappy and stressful right now,” I say. “And what do you know about being an adult? You’re only two years into college!”
She presses her lips together, clearly annoyed that her little pep talk isn’t working. “Just listen, okay? Homecoming is a big deal to our family. I know you think it’s dumb. Maybe it is dumb. But it’s fun. You can’t let one stupid boy ruin this for you. Go to the dance, stand strong, and have a good time with your friends. Get your crown, and then ignore him.”
I take a deep breath. I guess I do want that pathetic crown. I don’t even know why.
I want to wear my pretty dress and I want to walk around looking beautiful thanks to Jackie’s incredible makeup and hair skills.
“You’re right,” I say after a moment. “I can’t let Zane ruin this.”
She smiles. “Great. Now go shower.”
* * *
Krissy meetsme in the parking lot and we walk into the dance together. She doesn’t have a boyfriend or a date, either, so we’re just going as best friends who don’t need some stupid guy on their arm. I tell myself it’s perfect this way. I tell myself I don’t care about Zane and I never did and I’m better off without him.
The school’s gym has been turned into a sparkly, festive dance floor. There are blue and silver balloons and streamers everywhere, showing off our school colors. Loud music pumps from the speakers and the lights are dim, punctuated with spotlights and twinkle lights everywhere. I’ve been to every single homecoming dance since freshman year. They’re all similar, but this one is important. It’s my last homecoming dance.
Tonight, I’ll be queen.
Krissy and I meet up with our friends and we dance and hang out. Tons of people tell me they voted for me. Everything is going great until I see my rival walk in the doors an hour after the dance started.
Andrea looks gorgeous in a white satin dress that’s hugging every inch of her body tightly. Her long hair seems blonder now. Maybe she just came from the salon for fresh highlights. She’s stunning, as always. My heart clenches when I see her.
Then I realize she’s alone.
Hmph. Oh well. Who cares. Maybe Zane is already here, or he’s running late or something. I almost feel bad for. What kind of boyfriend doesn’t take his girlfriend to a dance?
“Stop looking at her,” Krissy says, pulling my arm. “Forget her.”
“I’m fine,” I say. And I actually mean it. Jackie’s speech about being strong must have won me over. I can’t let some guy ruin my night just because he went back to his ex and didn’t tell me about it. I smile at my best friend. “Let’s go dance.”
I do my best to focus on my friends and let the semi-dark room and the blur of bodies dancing obscure everything else. I don’t look for Andrea, and I don’t see her. I don’t see Zane, either.
I have a sneaking suspicion Krissy is doing her best to keep them from our line of sight. Every so often she’ll take my hand and say, “let’s go over here!” and pull me across the dance floor. Fine by me. I am here for myself and no one else.
Eventually, toward the end of the dance, the music stops and our principal walks onto the stage. There’s not a real stage in our gym, but for the dance, they bring in a portable one. It’s decorated with an arch made of silver and blue balloons.
“Now is the time we’ve all be waiting for,” he says into the microphone. “The crowning of our homecoming king and queen!”
People cheer. I feel my cheeks blush because everyone is staring at me, knowing I’m about to win. I swallow my excited nerves and try to visualize which path I’ll take up to the stage when he calls my name. Krissy and I are standing about five people back from the stage, so it’ll be a quick walk. I’m wearing flats so I won’t have to worry about tripping in front of everyone.
This is it.
Everyone listens while our principal talks about the school’s history of homecoming and blah, blah—I can’t focus because I’m too excited. One of the assistant principals, a dark haired woman with light brown skin, stands next to him holding a blue satin pillow that has both the king and queen’s crowns on it. She smiles brightly.
Someone walks on stage and hands two envelopes to the principal.
“Ladies first,” he says, smiling at the crowd. My heart pounds. “Time to find out who your new homecoming queen will be.”
“Hey.”
I freeze. Zane is standing next to me, looking every bit as handsome as I remember only now he’s wearing a black suit. The suit amps up his handsome level to an insane degree. I’m pretty sure you can see his handsomeness from space.
I gulp.Get it together, Zara. Forget him! He sucks!
“Go away.” I tighten my jaw and look back at the stage. It’s ironic that I just told him to go away when we’re about to be standing together on that very stage. I guess that’s why he walked over here. Maybe he wants to walk on stage together and pretend that he’s not a lying jerk.
