my mind blank. I’m close enough to feel the heat of his body, to brush against the bare skin of his arm.
“But hey, it’s the last big party of the year. Might as well go all-out.” He grins down at me, eyes bright and blue. He’s still dressed in his button-down shirt, the sleeves rolled up around his elbows, his tie askew. One lock of his hair falls, out of place but perfect.
I exhale in a tiny shiver.
“It’s Megan, right?”
I can’t speak. I’ve been gazing at him for three hours every week all year, ever since he walked into AP Calc and collapsed gracefully into a chair directly in my eyeline. He’s good with algebra, but shaky on statistical convergence problems. He uses beat-up ball-point pens fished from the depths of a North Face backpack, and prefers those black and red spiral-bound notebooks. I tried using them for a while, in the vain hope that I could strike up a conversation about stationery sometime, but the lines were ruled too wide for my liking, and aside from the same warm smile he gives everyone from lunch ladies to the swooning freshman girls, he’s never so much as spoken to me.
Until now.
“Sure, it’s a great party,” I manage to say, smiling at him. His gaze drifts to my cleavage, for just a split-second, and when he glances back up again, his grin is wider.
Thank you, Bliss.
“Hey, I saw some beers out by the food tables. You want to come hunt them down?”
I nod, and then — to my utter disbelief — he presses a hand against my back and begins to guide me carefully through the room.
My heart sings, and I follow.
“And I know the cabin only has like, four bedrooms, but I figure we can double up. Or draw straws for who gets privacy.” Brianna gives me a scandalous grin, stretching out on the lounge chair. The whole group is hanging down by the pool house with our own music system and stash of the best desserts: the VIP section for what’s already the most exclusive party in town. I relax beside her, finally back where I belong: in the center of things. No angry felons, or dirty parking lots, or humiliating karaoke incidents — just my friends, some great tunes, and a slice of mocha whip truffle cake that the caterer swears is practically fat-free.
Perfection.
Brianna looks out over the party like a princess surveying her kingdom. She’s still in her frothy blue prom gown, but considering how much it cost, I don’t blame her. “I can’t wait for summer vacation. It’s going to rock. No school, no work, just partying twenty-four seven.”
“Hell yes!” I give her a high five.
“Better hope Bliss and Cameron get one of the suites,” Nikki interrupts, taking another gulp straight from her champagne bottle. “’Cause I don’t want you rolling around in the next bed like you did over spring break.”
“Don’t be gross,” I complain. “We were only making out!”
“Sure you were.” Nikki snorts with laughter, elbowing me. I push her away, and she yelps, sliding down onto the floor with a bump. She looks around, blinking, and then giggles.
“She is so wasted. Shotgun I don’t hold her hair back,” I tell Courtney, not even bothering to keep my voice down.
Courtney sighs, perched on the edge of the bench. “But last time, she got puke all over my new shoes.”
“Don’t care!” I say, scooping up some more of the mocha frosting. “Not my problem.”
Brianna keeps chatting about summer plans, but I zone her out, sneaking a look around the party for Meg. It was kind of crappy to just cut her loose, but I don’t know what else I was supposed to do — keep her hanging at my heels all night? She must have known my invite didn’t mean mixing with Brianna and co. Sure, I can work magic with lip gloss and mascara, but that would be more like asking for a miracle. I sigh, not seeing her anywhere around the pool or balcony. She’s probably off in a corner somewhere, looking hot, but still too shy to get out and start having fun. It’s a shame; she was finally starting to loosen up, like being thrown in the deep end back with that security guard made her stop being such a timid wallflower.
Then I catch sight of her up by the patio doors, and my guilt disappears. She’s talking to Tristan, giggling flirtatiously while he stares down her dress, totally smitten. It’s