Page 8 of The Wrong Prom Date

Evan grinned and leaned over me to give Hayley a high-five. I shook my head at the two of them. There was really no hope for either one of them.

“On to the next order of business,” Principal Green said, raising her voice and shooting a deliberate look in our direction. Hayley and Evan both shrunk under her stare, and I wasn’t surprised. Their high-five hadn’t exactly been subtle.

“We have some exciting news to share with you today,” the principal continued. “For the rest of this semester, Lincoln High will be hosting a special guest student.”

The students around me seemed to wake up at her announcement, and whispers filled the gym as people tried to guess what she meant. Was it an exchange student? If so, why make such a fuss over them? I glanced between Hayley and Evan who both looked equally as confused.

“They will be attending classes with you all, and it’s important they be treated just like any other student at Lincoln High.”

Such a dramatic announcement didn’t seem like the way any old student would be introduced. The kids in the bleachers were whispering even louder now, and everyone was starting to crane their necks and scan the gym to see where the mystery student might appear from.

“Please remember to treat our guest with courtesy and respect.” Principal Green was really on a roll now. Her voice was filled with an enthusiasm that had been sorely lacking earlier, and she had to keep speaking louder to be heard over the murmurs of curiosity that were gaining momentum throughout the room. Who the hell was this person?

“So, with that in mind, I’d like to introduce Lincoln High’s newest addition…” She waved toward the gym doors, and in stepped the new student. He didn’t look like any of the students sitting around me though. He was tall and muscular with messy dark hair that looked like he’d been running his hands through it just before entering the room. He was wearing reflective sunglasses, but he slowly removed them to reveal the most intense green eyes I’d ever seen. A gasp caught in my throat as I recognized him. It was Liam Black.TheLiam Black.

I wasn’t the only one who seemed to realize that Hollywood’s most notorious bad boy had entered the room, and within moments of his appearance, the students around me went wild. Chaos erupted as a series of high-pitched screams echoed through the gym. Some kids were jumping up on their seats and yelling out his name; others had taken their phones out and were videoing the whole thing.

I felt frozen to the spot as I watched him walk across the room though. He was wearing a dark T-shirt that stretched suggestively over his pecs, and expensive jeans that hugged his thighs. He had a leather jacket slung over his shoulder like he didn’t have a care in the world, and his lips lifted in an amused smirk as he surveyed the room of screaming fans.

There were plenty of good-looking guys at Lincoln High, but there was something about Liam’s presence that was powerful and magnetic. It felt like a king had entered the room, and I had to remind myself that he was just a guy. A really, really hot guy.

Evan had grabbed hold of my arm and was squeezing it so tightly I was starting to lose all feeling in my hand.

“Do you know who that is?” he hissed, finally drawing his gaze away from the Hollywood star who had just entered our midst. Evan was really struggling to maintain his cool. Then again, he’d been obsessed with Liam for as long as I could remember.

“No, Evan, I’ve got no idea,” I said, my voice thick with sarcasm.

“It’s Liam Black,” he said, as though the entire room wasn’t already chanting his name. As I watched my best friend, it felt a little like observing a kettle that was about to hit boiling point, and I kept waiting to see if steam would suddenly erupt from the top of Evan’s head. I figured we’d reached that point when he and Hayley started jumping up and down in a flurry of excitement.

“Can you believe he’s at our school? Like, right here. In our presence,” Hayley squealed. “My sister is going to die of jealousy when she hears about this.”

“Your sister is going to die? I’m dying and I’m here,” Evan replied. He stood up on his tiptoes to get a better look at Liam. With all the commotion in the bleachers, it was almost impossible to see him now. It felt like the school was about to riot.

“Why do you think he’s come to Lincoln?” I asked.

“You’re focusing on the wrong thing there, Teags,” Evan replied, still trying to catch a glimpse of Liam. “The more important question is: do you think I’ll be able to get his autograph?”

“Not sure I like your chances.” He was going to have to battle through at least a hundred other kids if he wanted an autograph right now.

“Everyone, please be seated,” Principal Green yelled into the microphone.

No one paid her any attention though. They were all too busy trying to get Liam’s attention. It wasn’t until Coach Barnett took control of the microphone and shouted for quiet that the student body began to fall back into their seats. He was probably the only teacher who could strike fear into the heart of every student in the gym, and he stood on the stage scowling at us all until he was content everyone had settled. Most kids were probably worried he’d make them run laps in PE if they didn’t comply, and knowing Coach Barnett, he probably would.

Now that my vision wasn’t blocked by the bobbing heads of excited teens, I could see Liam standing next to the principal. He seemed so calm as he surveyed the masses before him, and I had no idea how he remained so relaxed despite the display he just witnessed. It was like he’d been locked in a cage of rabid monkeys and he wasn’t the least bit concerned that there was a desperate look in their eyes and froth coming from their mouths. He probably dealt with that kind of thing every day though.

Principal Green murmured her thanks to the coach before taking the microphone off him. She didn’t seem nearly as composed as Liam, and her eyes were a little wild after the commotion surrounding the Hollywood star’s arrival. I bet she was wondering why she’d agreed to all this in the first place.

“Liam would like to say a few words,” the principal said.

“Thank you, Principal Green.” He took the microphone from her and started smiling at the audience. I heard several girls sigh at the sight, and I could understand why. His smile softened his chiseled features, making him look even more beautiful, if that were possible.

“This can’t be real,” I muttered.

“Oh, it’s real,” Evan replied. “Do you need me to pinch you?”

“I don’t need—” Evan didn’t wait for my response and tried to pinch my arm. I swatted his hand away before he managed to get hold of any skin. “Don’t pinch me. I know I’m awake.”

“I don’t. Pinch me instead,” Hayley said to him.

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