Page 63 of True to You

Chapter 23

Izzy

At school the next morning, the rumors are swirling. Matt and the rest of ASB counted all the votes, but the reveal isn’t until the afternoon, at the pep rally. As I walk the halls, the whispers keep floating around me.

For the entire week, I’d been surprised time over time, as more and more people kept coming up to me. Telling me they thought it was awesome I was nominated for prom court. Cindy and Veronica went overboard with the posters, but it seemed to actually make people notice me even more. I still can’t believe how many people told me they were voting for me. I’ll have to ask Matt how many votes I actually received after the pep rally.

The thought of asking him about the votes reminds me of everything else. Yes, I like him. But I also know I like the Matt that is into all the same things I am. I like the Matt who didn’t have a care in the world, when he played to the crowd at PopCon, and who loved nerding out over anime. Yes, senior class president Matt is insanely hot and popular and nice, and I like all those things too. But those are all just small facets of who he actually is.

Even if I go to prom with him and nothing else, it might be okay. I might have a great time with him, but I know I wouldn’t be able to talk openly with him. I’d be second guessing stuff I might want to talk about, wondering if it’s a topic he wants to keep private. Just the thought starts annoying me.

But I can’t ignore him either. I’d tried that after he had dinner at my house and I failed miserably. Every time he leaned in close, every time he whispered something to me, that feeling hit me all over again. I melted a little inside, and it takes everything I have to hold my composure and not just wrap him up and find his lips again.

No, Izzy! Stop.

“Today’s the day!” Veronica calls out, catching up to me on our way to first class. “Izzy, the pep rally is going to be totally amazing. I mean, you—” She stops and scans me from head to toe. “What are you wearing?”

I give her a mischievous smile. “Like it?”

“Eh.” She wiggles her fingers. “I mean, cute skinny jeans, but black? And what’s with the baggy red hoodie?”

I look around the hall before opening up my bag, showing her the inside.

“A blond wig?”

I smile, wiggling my eyebrows. “I already put the metal arm in my locker.”

“Metal arm? What are you doing?” Her eyes suddenly pop open. “Red jacket. Blond hair. Metal arm.” She grabs my arm in excitement, lowering her voice. “Are you dressing up for the pep rally?” I nod. “Izzy, that’s crazy. You’re going as that Fullmetal Alchemist character? What’s his name? Albert?”

“Edward. His brother is Alphonse.”

“But, Izzy, this is the prom court. Do you really want to go all cosplay crazy there?”

“Of course.” I zip my bag up, throwing it back over my shoulder. “V, this is who I am. And from the whispers going around, this is why some people voted for me. You don’t think I should?”

“No, it’s not that.” She purses her lips together. “No, you know what, on second thought it’s perfect. You’re right. Let me see under the jacket.”

I unzip the oversized hoodie, showing a tight-fitting black tank top. The metal costume arm will slip over my right arm, just like the character and I have the blond wig to match his hair color.

“Damn, girl, you’re going to make every nerd in school start drooling when they see you.”

“Yeah, right.” I laugh it off, but I’m secretly hoping there’s one particular nerd that notices. As if reading my thoughts, she nudges my shoulder.

“Or are we trying to impress a certain McFanboy?”

“No!” I snap a little too quick, making her laugh. “I’m not trying to impress him. But, okay, I am wondering if he’ll notice.”

Stop it, Izzy.

“Oh, girl, he’ll notice. But …” She pauses, biting a fingernail.

“What?”

“Well, I mean, you told us the ultimatum you threw at him. Do you really think he’ll do it?”

The silence grows between us as we stop at the door of our first class. Reality begins to set in, and maybe it’s for the best. Matt’s so afraid of what people would think of the real him; I honestly don’t think he’ll accept my terms for going to prom. Which means I really need to stop thinking about him so much.

“I don’t know.” I let out a sigh.

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