Page 19 of Bad Moon Rising

I hold my breath as Chase’s smile broadens.

“I was hoping I could ask you to the dance,” he says softly. “As…um…my date.”

Everything stops. Call me melodramatic, but I swear it feels as if a meteorite crashes to earth and obliterates everything along the way. My heart turns to lead in my chest and nose-dives directly into my stomach, sluicing around the meager contents from my unfinished lunch. Thready bursts of air escape me as I wonder how pretty Chase would look with a black and blue eye.

Across from me, Orion isn’t faring much better. He’s gripping his pencil so tightly, I’m honestly surprised it doesn’t snap. His eyes are flinty beneath his glasses as he glares at Chase.

And Lily?

She appears stunned. A delicate blush crawls up her neck and cheeks, and her eyes widen. She begins to twirl a strand of her hair around her finger, as she always does when she’s nervous. For a brief, brief moment, her gaze flicks in my direction, a question I can’t quite decipher radiating from her eyes. Just as quickly, she does the same to Orion, but he’s aggressively doodling in his notebook and doesn’t see it.

But I do.

What does it mean?

What does she want me to say?

Does she want me to tell her no? To beg her not to go with him to the dance? Does she want me to take her?

Or does she simply want my approval the way a best friend would? Is that all she sees me as? A friend? A…shudder…brother-figure? Gag. Vomit. Ew.

I can’t read the expression on her face now any more than I could a few minutes ago. Instead of interjecting the way I so desperately want to, I remain silent, my lips compressed in a straight line.

Daisy sighs heavily, a sound I can hear in my soul, and finally focuses her attention back on Chase. The smile she gifts him is soft and unsure but also genuine. Maybe even relieved?

Fuck, this girl is going to be the death of me.

“I would love to, Chase. Th-thank you for asking me.” There’s something in her tone I can’t quite read. Begrudging acceptance, perhaps? Anger?

Why the fuck is she so confusing?

Chase smiles like he won the lottery. “Great! I’ll, um, text you the details, okay?”

“Sure.”

Is it just me, or does she not sound as thrilled with the arrangement as he does? Or is that only my wistful fantasies?

Chase smiles again, stutters out another awkward thank you, and then turns around. He’s so preoccupied with Daisy that he doesn’t notice the second woman until he’s practically on top of her.

“Oh, shit!” he curses, but the girl spins with an agility that shouldn’t be natural in a high school student, easily staying on her feet.

I recognize her from a few of my classes. What was her name? Bella? Bianca? I’m sure it starts with a B…

“Oh my gosh, Becka, are you okay?” Daisy asks in alarm, already on her feet.

Becka smirks and smooths down the tuft of hair on the top of her pixie cut. “I’m fine.” She turns towards Chase and narrows her eyes. “But you should watch where you’re going.” And with those parting words, she turns on her heel and stomps out of the cafeteria.

But I can’t stop staring at her.

Because the name on the library card?

Leeway.

And Becka’s last name?

I exchange a wary glance with Orion, who bites down on his lower lip hard enough to draw blood.

I think we just found our werewolf.

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