Page 66 of Dungeons and Drama

Hoshiko grins and does a graceful spin across the room. “I hope so.”

There’s no need to hope—she chose a blue sequin dress that’s way more formfitting than I thought her mom would allow. It accentuates every detail of her dancer’s body and Lucas is going to pass out when he sees her. As he should.

I brush my palms down my dress and swallow my nerves. I’m starting to wish I had warned Nathan about what I’mwearing instead of keeping it a secret. He must know I would choose something dramatic, but this dress is over the top even for me. There were few options left when Mom and I went shopping a few days ago, but then I saw this one and couldn’t pass it up…although other people obviously could since it was on a deep discount.

It’s a short strapless dress completely covered in dyed pink, blue, and purple ostrich feathers, with a wide neon pink belt cinched at the waist. I paired it with Mom’s bright green heels, because why not, and aftermuchdebate, I kept my hair down in soft waves. I was tempted to put it in a high bun just to spite Nathan, which Hoshiko was in favor of, but…well, I want him to bitterly regret that we’re going as friends. It’s petty and pitiful, but it’s all I have right now.

“I still can’t believe he agreed to go with Sophia,” Hoshiko mutters into the mirror as she messes with her earrings.

“I don’t know why you and Lucas are so shocked about it. Of course he was going to say yes.”

“You haven’t had to sit across the table and watch Nathan for weeks like we have. You don’t know what he looks like when he’s looking at you.No oneis that good of an actor.”

I huff in pretend annoyance. “Not even me?”

She gives me a half-smile. “I love you, but let’s not pretend. When it comes to Nathan, you’re kind of a lousy actress.”

“Ouch! Way to cut out my heart.” I grasp my chest dramatically.

“I know this isn’t how you were hoping homecoming would go, but we’re still going to have an amazing time. We’re wearing beautiful dresses and we get to spend the night dancing together. Tonight is made for us.”

“True. And then we can come back here and analyze every detail. How could it be a bad night?”

“Exactly!”

“The boys are here!” Mom calls from downstairs. Her voice is so excited that she almost sounds like a teenager herself.

Hoshiko and I grin at each other and head for the stairs. For a second, as we descend, it’s like the living room is filled with paparazzi. Way more people than I imagined fill the space and they all have their phones up as they ooh and aah. I spot Hoshiko’s mother, father, and little sister, along with Lucas’s parents and grandparents. Dad stands next to Mom. This is the first time I’ve seen them together since they grounded me. Luckily, they’re both smiling this time.

Lucas takes a step toward Hoshiko and his face is exactly how I imagined it would be—slack-jawed and overwhelmed. I’m so caught up watching them that I don’t notice Nathan until I’m on the bottom step and he’s right in front of me.

“Riley.”

One look at him and I’m light-headed. He’s…devastatingly handsome. More than I thought possible. He’s always been cute with his floppy hair and black-rimmed glasses, but now it’s like he’s a totally different person. I figured he’d wear some khaki pants and a tie he borrowed from his dad, but he’s in asuit.A beautiful dark gray suit that makes him look like he’s going to a movie premiere instead of a high school dance in the middle of Ohio. And his expression…if I didn’t know better, I’d say he was as slack-jawed as Lucas. Maybe even more? As if he can hardly believe it’s me.

“Hey.” My voice comes out as a whisper. “I guess thiswhole time I should have been asking whatyouwere wearing—this suit is amazing. I didn’t even know you owned a button-up shirt.”

He looks down self-consciously. “My mom took me out to get everything. I don’t dress up much.”

“You don’t say.”

He grins ruefully. “You look…Wow. That dress.”

“Yeah.” I rub my hands over the feathers, feeling silly. What was I thinking wearing a dress like this? People are going to make bird jokes all night.

“Do you mind?” He hesitates and reaches out to touch a feather. “Oh, they’re so soft!” He laughs. “I thought it might be itchy or poky or something.”

“It’s pretty unusual, I know. You shouldn’t have expected anything less from me.” I shrug.

“The dress is perfect. You look perfect.”

Our eyes meet and I feel it, that spark that makes me wonder if Hoshiko is right. Does he really think I look perfect? Do friends say things like that to other friends? Then I realize that people are still taking pictures and videos of us, and I step back. “Where’s your mom? I need to compliment her style.”

He rubs the back of his neck awkwardly. “They couldn’t come. You know…work and stuff. I think she felt pretty guilty, which is why she spent so much money on these clothes.”

I glance around the room. Nathan is the only one with no family here. No one to fuss over him or make him pose for photos or talk about how they can’t believe how grown up he looks now. My parents can be overprotective andfrustrating, but they’re always here, no matter what. I took it for granted—the fact that both Mom and Dad came to every performance and event. But standing here, it’s clear that not everyone has that.

I slip my hand into Nathan’s without thinking and squeeze. “Give her my compliments—it’s really cool that shedid that. Now, let’s get these photos finished so we can go eat.”

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