Page 125 of Fraternizing with the Enemy
“I’m pretty consistent.”
“Not true. Last night wasveryout of character for you.”
“I guess so.” Thinking about last night was strange—another thing that could’ve felt like a dream. The game ended up going into overtime, but Brentwood secured their homecoming game win with a six-point lead. The student section had lit up into deafening screams, and even though I was excited, I couldn’t quite tap into the earth-shaking enthusiasm. Maybe it was because everything that had happened, but when it came to celebrating the win as a Brentwood Babe, it was just… different. I’d been saying that word a lot lately. “Anyway, here are the dresses.”
Maisie thumbed through the fabrics I had laid out on my bed. I’d only found three or four that I thought would look good on her—dresses that were subtle in color but still flattering. She scrunched her nose at the last one. “You think I can pull off pink?”
“I do. I actually think that one would look the best on you.” It’d work the best with her skin tone.
That was enough to convince her to try it on. Sheheaded down the hall to the bathroom, and I sat in my desk chair, drawing my knees to my chest. I wanted to bring up freshman year, but the fear of that conversation still clung to me. It was shameful, but I still pushed it aside, as if I could pretend it never happened to begin with.
When Maisie came back from the bathroom, I instantly knew she didn’t have to try the others on. Judging from the small, pinched smile on her face, she thought so too. It was a soft baby pink that was a bit off-the-shoulder, and the hemline on her fell just above her knees. The tulle underneath the skirt added a bit more volume, which extenuated her waist more, creating a beautiful silhouette on her.
“That’s the one,” I told her, folding my legs. “And you should just keep it, because it looks made for you.”
“I can’t imagine you in this,” Maisie said with a slight chuckle, smoothing a hand down the front.
“I wore it to the basketball homecoming sophomore year.” Jade had wanted us all to wear pink. It was a cute dress, but I’d hated how I’d looked in it. I’d felt frumpy and hideous, even more so beside the perfect way her dress had fit her. “It hasn’t seen the light of day since.”
“Well, you’re right. I think this is the one.” Maisie looked at herself one more time in my full-length mirror before heading back to the doorway. Her steps faltered as she hesitated on the threshold. “You know, Connor’s coming over later,” she began, glancing back. “And Rachel and Ava are coming. I mean, I don’t know if you have a ride planned or anything, but… you could ride with us, if you wanted. To the dance.”
The stilted, awkward, but pure-hearted invitation was soMaisiethat it nearly made my feet kick. Heck, Icould’ve kicked my feet at the fact that she offered it at all. I wanted to say yes solely for that reason. “I don’t even know if I’m going, actually.”
“You have to go,” Maisie protested, eyebrows raised. “They haven’t announced Homecoming Queen. It might be you.”
I chuckled a little, because we both knew who’d win that crown. “The chances are never zero, I guess. But I don’t really care about winning.”
“It’s your senior year,” she said, attacking from a different angle. “You can’t miss your last homecoming dance.”
And that, right there, was probably the winning reason. It was my last homecoming dance at Brentwood High. Maisie was right—I’d regret not going. “Even if I don’t have a date?”
Maisie rolled her eyes. “You don’t need a date.”
“Says the girl who has one.”
She pressed her lips together at that, a sheepish look washing across her face. She hurried from my bedroom then, as if she could escape what she’d said, and I couldn’t help but laugh. Maisie hadn’t changed a bit.
I hopped up from my bed and began putting the other dresses back into my closet. They were all ones, I realized, that Jade had picked out herself. Dresses I’d bought and told her I’d liked, but ones I wouldn’t have picked out myself. Like the pink dress. How long had I been a little doll in Jade’s life that she could make do whatever she wanted? I hadn’t even picked out a dress that she hadn’t approved of first.
I moved back over to my bed and picked up my phone from where it rested amongst my covers. No texts from Jade, from Riley, or anyone in the Top Tier, butthere was one from Logan. We’d been going back and forth on what we were going to do for our next date.
Logan:I don’t know, I think I could school you in that basketball game at the arcade if we tried again
Me:what are you doing tonight?
The doorbell rang ten minutes before eight o’clock.
My heart skipped a beat, and I readjusted the strap of my blue floor-length gown once more, careful not to scratch my skin with the sequins. It was the same dress I’d worn for the Homecoming game yesterday, but I felt worlds lighter putting it on tonight.
After checking my teeth for lipstick one last time in my mirror, I left my bedroom and practically pranced barefoot to the front door. I knew who waited on the other side, and I couldn’t wait to see what he looked like.
Except when I pulled the door open, I didn’t find Logan in a dazzling suit jacket with a blue tie that matched my dress. Instead, he wore a pair of jeans with wrinkles near the hem, and a dark blue sweatshirt that saidBOBCATSon it.
“What are you wearing?” I demanded.
“You’re rubbing off on me,” Logan replied with an almost boyish grin, like a child proud of a drawing they’d done. “It was a little traitorous buying this, but I got it online, so not as painful.”
I, however, was not impressed with his public display of treason. “You’re in jeans. Totally not homecoming attire.”
