Page 59 of Our Forever Starts Tonight

“Are you really not going to Sadie Hawkins?” Capito asked, swiping the drenched napkins off the table and tossing them with skill into one of the garbage cans nearby. “That’s what sucks. I feel like you and I are actually becomingrealfriends, and I was looking forward to having you there.”

“I told him the same thing,” Hannah said.

I dragged my head up and looked at Capito and he seemed truly sad. It made me feel bad, but also much better. “That’s sweet.”

Hannah glared down at me. “But me begging you to come for the past week isn’t?”

“Of course it is, it’s just that I kind of expected it from you. I wasn’t expecting it from Capito,” I said. “You really want me to come?”

Capito laughed. “Yeah man. Let’s go to the dance. No one who asked me really excited me either, so I’m going stag. We’ll just be two bros at the dance wondering why we can’t have deep, meaningful relationships.”

“Wow. Are you smart or something?” Hannah asked.

Capito leaned in a little bit. “I wanna be a psychologist, but don’t tell Ceradi.”

Hannah and I both smiled, and I chuckled. “How have we missed this whole time that you’re one of us?” It felt like a true relief to know that we weren’t just anomalies.”

“I don’t know, but I’m glad we all figured it out. I hated being in this group before, but now I feel much better.”

Hannah continued to rub my back as she said, “Same.”

“Okay,” I said. “I’ll go to the dance.”

“Yeah?” Capito said. “Alright! I won’t be the only loser!”

“Glad that our years of friendship hold such a persuasive control over you,” Hannah said sarcastically.

I sat up suddenly, and wrapped my arms around her, pulling her in for a hug. “You know I love you. Let’s enjoy the dance together.”

She hugged me back, just shaking her head. “I really can’t stay mad at you.”

“Is this whatrealfriendship feels like?” I asked, smiling at Capito and Hannah. “Because I like it.”

24

Aria

When Arden and I did our big reveal to one another in the living room, we both gasped and then immediately started laughing. Arden had braided her hair and was letting it hang down the side of her head. She had on a fuschia button-up shirt with dark purple suspenders that connected to a pair of black slacks. On her feet, she wore shimmery purple boots and she’d done a light coat of makeup, just enough to give her eyes a matching purple shadow and her lips a dark color similar to the suspenders.

“You look awesome!” I said. “I love it!”

“You said purple so…” She fanned her arms out on either side of herself. “I’m purple.”

“It’s perfect. I couldn’t have put something better together for you if I tried.”

“Well, not compared to you,” Arden said. “I mean, you look drop-dead gorgeous!”

I spun around, letting my purple sleeveless flare dress spin around me. “Thanks!” I had a pair of black platform pumps on and was carrying my items for the night in a black sequined clutch. I pinned one side of my hair back while the other hung down the side of my face. “We areeasilygoing to be the best looking couple there.”

“Oh,” Arden waved her hand in front of her face. “I knew that when you asked me to go with you.”

“Oh wow!” My mom walked into the living room and put her hands up to her mouth. “You two look amazing!”

She had her phone up and was already snapping tons of pics. I skipped most dances in the past because the torment of my bullies was not worth spending a few hours in a hot gym, sweating until I couldn’t breathe, just to listen to music and dance with Lucky, who was my only friend at the time. This time around, though, I was drawn in by the fact that I was a senior in a new school who wanted to make the most of my final high school experiences. And now I had Arden and a whole bunch of other friends that I could enjoy my time with. I was actually feeling like it’d be worth it to go.

For this reason, my mom hadn’t got to enjoy the experience of having her only kid get all dressed up to head out to a dance. She’d been denied the fun of taking pictures and cooing over the date, so she was leaning far in now.

“I’m happy to finally meet you, Arden,” she said, walking up to Arden and pulling her into a big hug, then she looked over at me and raised her eyebrows. “So… is this…?”

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