Page 7 of That Secret Something

Tyler? Relief rippled through me, and I opened my eyes. “What did he say?”

She grinned. “He wants to go all the way.”

“Oh my god!” We both erupted into schoolgirl giggles, doing a little dance in the cramped space between the toilet and the door. Lily had been waiting patiently for Tyler to take the next step. She became a raging, horny nightmare at a certain stage of her cycle. This was a good thing for all of humanity.

“Did you wear your lucky underwear?” I asked.

“Of course!” She tapped her hips. “I’ve had them ready for months.”

“Did he say when?”

She shook her head, but the grin stayed on her face. “No, and it doesn’t have to be tonight, either. But I couldn’t hold it in and had to tell you.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s great, Lily. I’m happy for you guys.”

“Come on. Let’s get back.”

We squeezed ourselves through the tiny space and out into the corridor. Only when I heard the music thumping did I remember what I almost did with Rebecca. If Lily hadn’t been linking my arm, my knees might’ve given way.

What if the rumour was already circulating the school, like Kieran’s did? Will Lily disown me? I tried to silence my rampant thoughts, but my mind had a way of running away with itself and making everyday situations a DEFCON 1.

But almost making a move on Lily’s sister wasn’t any ordinary situation.

Unaware and probably daydreaming about finally putting her lucky pants to some use, Lily manoeuvred her way through the crowd. She jutted me with her elbow and pointed to the dance floor where Tyler and Rebecca were leading a few of our classmates in a terrible dance routine. As we got closer, and my eyes focused, I realised it wasn’t any old classmates, but some of the most popular guys on the football team—including the captain, George Beecham—all waving their arms and wiggling their bums in the least cool way possible.

Rebecca really could get people to do anything. She reminded me of a siren, casually leading people to their willing death. Before I could contemplate whether I would follow her into the depths of an ocean, the siren’s green eyes caught mine. She grabbed my hands and pulled me into the ever-growing circle, everyone following the exaggerated routine. Lily joined in, pointing finger guns and disco-dancing with Tyler to her left. The sight was ridiculous.

Pure joy pulsed through me seeing everyone truly enjoy themselves.

I caught the eye of Erica Lundwood, a girl in our geography class who always rubbed Lily the wrong way. They’d fought over grades and boys and stupid things that didn’t seem to matter now. For that moment, Lily and I were part of the in-crowd. The crowd that made Erica Lundwood regard us with jealous eyes and crossed arms. But it didn’t matter. We were having too much fun to care.

Then the music cut out. Groans circulated the hall, and the lights flickered on, blinding everyone out of their dancing bliss.

My own disappointment flooded my veins. My night was over. The prom I’d always dreamed of. Dancing with the hot girl, being with the popular kids, just…having a good time, without my anxiety crippling my system.

Lily squeezed my hand, and I squeezed it back. Her make-up had smudged around her eyelids, but she still glowed. It might have been the alcohol, or the near-kiss with Rebecca, but I’d never felt so euphoric.

Soon, people started exiting the dance floor.

After accepting that there was definitely no more music coming, we followed the crowd out of the auditorium.

“Shall I message Dad to pick us up?” Lily asked as we shuffled down the hallway like cattle.

Rebecca furrowed her eyebrows. “What? No way. We’re going to Beecham’s after-party.”

“George Beecham?” Tyler asked, brushing his curly hair off his forehead.

“Yeah.”

“We can’t just show up uninvited,” Lily said.

She shrugged. “We are invited. He asked me before, and I said we’d go.”

My mind couldn’t process it, either. “To George Beecham’s after-party?” The football captain? Kieran is going to be so pissed.

“Yep.” Rebecca beamed.

I exchanged a worried glance with Lily. A party?

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