Page 42 of I Don't Need Your Protection
“Okay,” I say as I take a small bite. My eyes light up. “Oh my gosh, me too!” I stuff the rest of the cookie into my mouth.
“Right?” Sophie says as she grabs a few gummy worms. “We should attend more of these parties just for the food.”
“What happened to Warner?” Raven asks me.
“He’s hanging out with his friends.”
“You don’t want to join them?”
“I don’t know.” I turn to study them. They seem a littleintimidating. I can’t imagine myself walking up to them and chatting to them like we’ve been best friends forever. I’m nowhere that confident.
“I’m sure he’ll hang out with you soon,” Carly assures me. “The night is still young, even though we’re getting older by the minute. Anyone want to dance?”
“Sure,” I say.
“Do we have to?” Sophie asks with a frown.
“You’d rather eat the whole snack table all night?” Carly asks her.
“It’s definitely tempting.”
“I’m game.” Raven tosses her plate into the nearby bin.
The four of us—with a still-frowning Sophie—head to the dance floor and find an empty area. I love to dance, so I waste no time shaking to the beat of the fast-paced song. But like during the dance game on Wednesday, Carly’s dancing is on another level.
“Don’t tell me you were holding back during our dance-off,” I tell her.
“Me holding back?” She clutches her chest like I accused her of accidentally running over my dog. “Never.”
That makes me laugh.
The four of us are having loads of fun dancing—well, except for Sophie. She doesn’t look miserable or anything, she just trips over her feet a few times. I don’t know why she’s so hard on herself—she’s actually much better than she thinks.
“Oh my gosh, how fun is this?” Carly asks as we all hold hands and make a small circle. “You three are the mostprecious people in my life, other than my family. I thought going to this school would be hell for me, but it’s turning out to be the best years of my life.”
“Same,” Raven says with a smile. “I’ve never had friends like you guys.”
“And you, too, Addie,” Sophie tells me. “I know we’ve only been friends for a few days, but it feels like we’ve been best friends forever.”
“Thanks. I feel the same way, too.”
“Show us some of your dance routines,” Sophie tells Carly. “But slowly so I can keep up.”
For the next few minutes, Carly shows us step-by-step how to do her routines. Some of the moves are complex, but for the most part, all of us can keep up.
“See?” Carly nods to Sophie. “You’ve got it.”
“I look like a total dork, though.”
“No you don’t,” I tell her. “And even if you did, who cares? All that matters is that we’re having fun.”
Carly grins. “I like that attitude. It’s not like the other kids here are paying us any attention anyway.”
“Can I cut in?” a familiar male voice asks.
I turn my head and find Warner there. “Hey,” I say.
“I wondered where you disappeared to.”
