My mom and dad looked at each other. "Time to go or we'll be late!" I quickly interjected.
"I almost forgot," Alexander said, awkwardly standing up. "Raven, this is for you."
He handed me the flowered box.
"Thank you!" I smiled anxiously and tore it open, revealing a gorgeous red rose corsage. "It's beautiful!" I gave my mom and dad a look of "See? I told you so."
"How lovely!" my mom gushed.
I held the corsage over my heart as Alexander tried to pin it on. He fumbled out of nervousness.
"Ouch!"
"Did I stick you?" he asked.
"My finger got pricked, but it's okay."
He stared intensely at the drop of blood on the tip of my finger.
My mom stepped between us with a tissue she grabbed from the coffee table.
"It's nothing, Mom, just a little blood. I'm okay." I quickly stuck the pricked finger in my mouth.
"We better go," I said.
"Paul!" my mom pleaded.
But my dad knew better. There was nothing he could do. "Don't forget the coat" was all he said.
I grabbed the coat and Alexander's hand and dragged him out the door, afraid my mom would try to ward him off by making the sign of the cross. We could hear dance music from the parking lot. No red Camaro anywhere. We were safe--for now.
"Don't forget your jacket," Alexander reminded me as I stepped out of the car.
"You'll have to keep me warm." I winked, leaving it on the backseat.
Two cheerleaders dressed for arctic temperatures stared at us with looks of horror.
I led Alexander away and we paused outside the main entrance. Alexander was like a child, inquisitive and nervous. He looked at the building with interest, like he'd never seen a school before.
"We don't have to go inside," I offered.
"No, that's okay," he said, squeezing my fingers.
Two jocks in the hallway stopped talking the instant they saw us and stared.
"You can pick up your eyeballs off the floor now," I said as I led Alexander past the gawkers.
Alexander examined everything: the Snow Ball signs, the bulletin board announcements, the trophy case. He ran his hand against the lockers, touching the cold metal. "It's just like on TV!"
"Haven't you ever been in a school?" I wondered.
"No."
"Gosh! You're the luckiest guy in the world. You never had to eat a school lunch. Your intestines must be in great shape!" "But if I went here we would have met sooner."
I hugged him close underneath the same Snow Ball banner that Trevor and I had argued beneath the day before.
Monica Havers and Jodie Carter passed us and did a double take. I thought their eyes were going to bulge right out of their pom- pom heads.