Page 59 of XO

“Does your dad know you stole his swipe?”

“He’s got a few, he won’t notice this one’s gone.” Taking my hand, he leads me to what I can only assume is a rooftop door. “Ready?”

I swallow hard, nervous, and excited. “I’m ready.”

Jacob pushes open the heavy door, leading me a few steps onto the rooftop before turning to the right.

“My God, Jacob!” I practically squeal, taking a shock-induced step back. “What… what… how did you do all this?” If I were a wide-eyed deer before, my eyes are frisbees now. The rooftop, which would have been a barren concrete structure, has been transformed into a stunning fairy tale…A Midsummer Night’sDreamfairy tale to be exact. The very same that should be at the school prom as we speak.

I laugh—hard. “Jacob… did you…?”

“You worked so hard on the decorations, it seemed a shame for all those assholes to enjoy them and not you.”

I cover a hand over my mouth, giggling at the fabulous ridiculousness of it all. The sculptured mushrooms, giant lanterns, fairy wings, lush greenery, almost everything we’d personally created to outfit the hall for the prom, has now came to life on this very rooftop. Fairy lights cascade above as well as soft pinks and lilac fabric which is draped over concrete pillars. The whole set up is like entering a dreamland Shakespeare himself artfully created. Our favorite songs play in the background, a table for drinks and nibbles set to the side, and most importantly, the giant mushrooms I created line the perimeter of a glittering dancefloor.

“How did you do all this? I mean… how?”

“I had help.”

“Who?”

With a smile, he points to the right.

“Lenny,” I scream bounding over to him. “You’re in on this?”

“I am… because…” His guilty eyes glance sideward as a nervous but excited Nessie rounds the corner. Ecstatic, we both scream before flying into each other’s arms.

“Nessie, I’m so glad we get to spend prom together.”

“Isn’t it beautiful.”

“Did Lenny surprise you, too?”

“Yes, we got here only ten minutes before you.”

We turn to face our boys, who together, have created the best night of our lives, and we get to share it with people we love the most.

“We did have two others helping us, though,” Jacob admits.

I frown because our friends’ circle since getting together is rather limited to the people already standing on the rooftop.

“Anna Davidson helped. She kept the stuff she made for prom and said we could have what you worked on, that way the others didn’t miss out.”

I made a mental note to thank her. We aren’t the closest of friends, but she isn’t in with the in-crowd.

“Who else?”

“Ms. Zagwich.”

“Ms. Zagwich let you take half the props?”What else can possibly shock me tonight?

“She’s your greatest fan, you know, Rosie,” Jacob says warmly. “Other than me, of course.”

I smile sweetly back at him. “Of course.”

“When she asked whether I’d convinced you to come to prom, I told her of my plan, and she swooned over the idea. In fact, I was almost certain she was waiting for her own invite.”

I laugh because that’s just like Ms. Zagwich. Alternative in her own sense, and different to the mold. That’s why she and I get along so well.

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