Page 112 of Finding Fate

“How much does it add up to?” Tucker asked curiously. Maybe he’d been overstressing for nothing.

Isabel did her best to answer as casually as possible, but she felt the heat rush to her cheeks as she anticipated their reactions.

“About thirteen thousand.”

Jet’s eyes bugged, Tucker coughed in surprise, and Annie cried, “What?!”

She felt her blush darken as she continued. “It would be more, but Annie and I bought the truck, and I’ve had to pay for gas and stuff. I try not to spend too much…” She let her voice trail away at the end and shrugged.

“Thirteen thousand and you’re worried about pricing around!?” Annie commented through the shock. She knew Izzy had money in the savings, but she had no idea it was even close to that much.

“Well, I don’t want to spend all of it, obviously.”

“And this whole time I thought you were babysitting because you loved kids and wanted to help our parents, but you’ve really just been in it for the money,” Jet teased, giving Annie’s waist a reassuring squeeze as she tensed with their nearby classmates stares.

Isabel shot him a look. “I do love kids, Jet, and I was helping out our parents.”

“Sure you were,” he winked. “How much were they paying you anyway?”

“Three hundred per kid each month and about one hundred each over Christmas breaks. And it was a good deal, Jet,” she added before he could argue. “I was making less than minimum wage if you figure up the number of hours I worked.”

“And three hundred a month is cheaper than actual daycare?” Tucker asked incredulously, trying not to worry about whether they’d ever have to send Destiny.

“Much,” Izzy assured them.

They let the subject drop when they reached the front of the line, showing their passes. Izzy went on through as Jet paid for Annie and Tucker to get in. No sooner had they stepped through the entrance to the field did they hear an excited squeal and clicking of heels rushing towards them.

“You’re here!” Emma gushed as she ran up to them in her baby blue dress.

Holding up her hands to prevent collision, Annie gaped when she noticed the matching three-inch heels their over keyed-up friend was running in. “Whoa, Ems. Slow down,” she said worriedly.

“Sorry, I’m just so excited. And nervous…Oh, Annie! You look gorgeous!” Emma cried, finally slowing enough to take in her friend’s appearance. “Oh, you look so much better than me. You’re so going to win.”

“Emma, everyone already voted at school today. What we look like tonight has nothing to do with it. Besides, you look great, too.”

She ran her hands over the lace bodice of her dress covered in crystals that carried through the flowing layers of tulle of her skirt. “You really think so?” she asked nervously, looking herself over.

Annie was doing her best not to laugh. It was hard to imagine why homecoming queen was such a big deal, but as she watched her friend fret over the mundane ceremony, she had no problem sobering, hoping that someone who really did want the title would win. She couldn’t speak for Beverly, but God knew she certainly didn’t want it.

“Absolutely, Ems,” Isabel assured her during Annie’s silent contemplation. “Your dress is amazing. It really brings out your eyes. Ian’s going to love you in it.”

Emma groaned and dropped her head into her hands. “Ugh…no, he won’t.”

“What? Are you insane?” Isabel asked. “Of course he will. Won’t he, guys?” she said, looking from Tucker to Jet for help in reassuring their inexplicably distressed friend.

Jet and Tucker exchanged a look. “Is it safe to complement another girl on her looks?” they wondered, the word trap flashing at them in warning.

“Definitely, Emma. You look great,” Tucker encouraged, deciding if Izzy was the one giving the go ahead, it was safer for him to make the move.

Emma groaned into her hands again but looked up. “No, you don’t get it. Ian won’t think that because he won’t ever get the chance to see me tonight.”

“I’m not following,” Annie replied.

“He called me a few minutes before he was supposed to pick me up. He’s sick with some kind of stomach bug. He sounded awful,” she finished, sounding crushed.

“Well, that sucks.” Even she understood that walking the homecoming ceremony alone would be humiliating.

“Tell me about it,” Emma continued. “And he didn’t exactly leave me much time to find a replacement, ugh… What am I going to do?!”

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