My Soul to Keep - By Sean Hayden Page 0,59

a grey suit and funny looking hat stood by the open rear door, too.

“Nice,” I couldn’t help but say. “Yeah, I think the three of us will fit.”

“I should hope so!” My dad forgot all about Claire and stared at the limo.

“Go check it out, Mr. Sullivan. You should see the inside.”

He didn’t have to be asked twice. I looked down expecting little smoke trails to be floating from where he stood to the door of the limo.

I glanced at Clarisse, and she was staring at the stairs. I turned to see Jessie coming down holding my mom’s arm. Clarisse’s outfit became completely forgotten. I had it bad.

“Wow, Jessica! You look beautiful.”

“Thanks, Claire. Did I hear someone say limo?”

“Yes, you did. Claire’s dad rented one for us.”

“Sweet!”

“I figured you deserved it. Come on, let’s go dance.”

I looked at Clarisse to see what she meant. She gave me a sad smile and stepped outside the front door. I shrugged and met Mom and Jess at the bottom of the stairs. As soon as she touched my arm my stomach started doing strange things I don’t think had to do anything with her outfit.

Chapter 24

We walked into a graveyard. It was really the school gymnasium decorated to look like a cemetery, but it was still creepy. I looked around and counted no less than thirteen zombies dancing on the covered hardwood floor. They were surrounded by seven witches, three devils, and a plethora of costumes ranging from Darth Vader to the devil himself. The three of us looked better than all of them. Huh, I hope they have a costume contest this year.

“I’m going to go get some punch,” I told Jess and Claire.

Claire started laughing. “What is it with school dances, boys, and punch? It’s like genetically encoded for you to ditch your date the moment you get into the dance and go get fruit flavored beverages. I swear boys are morons. You stay here with Jessica. I’ll go get the punch.”

“Thanks, Claire,” Jess said with a musical giggle. I tried to hide behind her. “You were completely wrong about her you know. She’s one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. Except for you of course.”

“Nice save,” I whispered in her ear and kissed it for good measure. She laughed and bent her head to keep me from doing it more. “Oh, somebody’s ticklish!” I buried my face in her neck as she squealed.

“Knock it off, Sullivan.” I looked up and saw Coach Cobb standing in front of us.

“Sorry, sir.” I straightened up but left my arms around Jess.

He nodded and moved on.

“You ready to dance?”

I looked down at Jess in horror. Thank God, she can’t see me. “Um, we have punch coming.”

“Which will be here after we’ve danced a little. Come on, Connor. It is a dance.”

“Oh, yeah.”

I sighed, put on my big-boy pants, and led her out onto the dance floor. I could feel hundreds of eyes on us as we began to move with the music. Okay, Jess started moving with the music. I just fought very hard not to look epileptic. I’m sure I failed miserably.

“You’re a good dancer,” Jess said with a smile.

“You wouldn’t be saying that if you could see me,” I said lightly trying to make a joke. From her frown, I guess I didn’t do such a bang up job. “Sorry, Jess,” I said and kissed her cheek.

“It’s not you. I just really wish I could see you. This is sort of my first dance.”

I nearly stumbled. “Really?”

“Yes, really. Don’t tell me you’ve gone to tons. I’ll call you a liar, Connor Sullivan!”

“Well, no. This is my first one, too.” I said it both to make her feel better and to make her smile. I don’t think she did either of them. She did lean in, wrap her arms around me and begin to sway as the DJ switched to a slower song. She sighed against my chest. I wrapped my arms around her and held her tight. I could feel her start to relax.

“Your heartbeat is slow, but it’s almost making my head bounce back and forth. I always knew you had a big heart.”

“It’s not mine. It’s yours.”

“No, my heartbeat has always been fast. I mean your heart. I’m listening to it.”

“I know what you meant, Jess. I’m saying the heart beating in my chest isn’t mine. It’s yours. I gave it to you.”

A flash of lighting and a loud thunderclap outside shook the gym. Several girls around us gave