40
Jessica
Prom was tomorrow, and the school was reeling with excitement. Students practically danced around the halls, and it was only eight in the morning. The waxed, tiled floor was covered in sparkles, and the main hallway was draped with paper fans and fluorescent tissue balls. I’d spent thirty minutes trying to figure out the theme, but I couldn’t. Hayworth High looked like the inside of an arts and crafts store.
I didn’t have enough coffee to deal with this.
I shut my locker just as Robb leaned against the one next to mine. “Hey, Jess,” he said, and my eyes darted to the boy behind him. “I have someone I want you to meet—”
“I’m Zac,” the other boy said, positioning his body between us.
He had thick black hair and eyes to match. He was taller than Robb by a couple of inches, and his jawline aged him past high school years. I could see why he made fakes for a living. His clothes seemed to be pressed for intimidation reasons.
“Hi,” I said, barely shaking his hand.
He waved over his button-up shirt. “Private school, right?” He rolled his eyes, but I couldn’t manage a smile. However, he grinned, revealing a set of perfectly straight teeth. I bet he hadn’t even had braces.
“I didn’t catch your name,” he said, allowing his words to linger.
“This is Jess Taylor,” Robb said, and his brown eyes squinted. He knew I was uncomfortable.
I forced a meek smile. “Jess,” I repeated, unsure of why I couldn’t move. I didn’t like him, and I hadn’t given him a chance. What was wrong with me? I prided myself on being open-minded, yet I could feel judgment twist my gut.
“I’m coming to your prom tomorrow,” Zac said, stepping away. He put his hands in his pockets, and I wondered if he’d felt my reluctance to meet him.
I cleared my throat and looked from Robb to him. “I thought only students from our school could go.”
“Other students can with an outside date form,” Robb said, and Zac shrugged.
“Crystal filled mine out,” he said, “and Robb filled out Linda’s.”
I snapped my fingers. “I forgot you said they were coming,” I said. “Where’s Linda?”
Robb shrugged, but Zac’s eyes lit up, showing the first sign of light. “You’ll meet her tomorrow,” he said. “She went to school today.”
I raised my brow. “And you didn’t?”
“Not yet,” he said, winking. “I’m not really into those things.”
Things. Like school was a choice.
I hugged my bag to my chest. “Yet you came here on your day off.”
His smile widened. “I drove Robb,” he said, and Robb shifted his weight from foot to foot.
“I’m getting my car cleaned for tomorrow,” he said. “Couldn’t exactly afford a limo.”
“I think that’s a little extreme anyway,” I said, trying to encourage him. For the first time since knowing Robb, he seemed insecure. I didn’t understand.
“So what guy am I going to have to drag you away from to dance?” Zac asked, and heat rushed over my cheeks. Had he just said that?
Robb hit Zac’s arm. “Come on, man.”
“What?” Zac grinned, not even bothering to move his eyes away from me. “You didn’t tell me the new girl was so pretty.”
“I’m right here,” I said, raising a brow, but his cockiness didn’t subside.
“I know.”
I stared at my feet. I was not in the mood. Not when Shoman was still missing.
Robb hit him again, with more force this time, and Zac swayed, laughing as he grabbed his arm. “Okay. Okay. I’ll leave.” He turned around and waved behind his shoulder. “See you tomorrow, Jess,” he said, and I waited until he disappeared down the hallway.
“I can see why Crystal doesn’t like you bringing people around,” I said, and Robb sighed.
“Sorry about him,” he said. “He’s a nice guy; I promise. He’s just a little forward.”
“A little?”
Robb laughed and fiddled with his shirt. “That’s actually why I brought him in here to meet you,” he said. “I didn’t want any surprises tomorrow, and I definitely didn’t want him upsetting you.” Robb’s smile twitched. “It would make his day if you danced with him once—”
I rolled my eyes and groaned. “Robb.”
“Please,” he said, practically lowering himself to his knees. “The kid may seem confident, but I think he overcompensates.”
“One dance,” I said, trying not to smile. I had to admit that it was flattering. I only felt guilty for Shoman—a guy who didn’t even want me. I knew I had to let him go eventually. But could I? I didn’t know.
“Thanks, Jess,” Robb said, cocking his head to the side as the warning bell rang. “I can walk you to class if you want.”
I shrugged, and we started for my first hour English class. “Where’s Crystal anyway?” I asked. “I half expected her to intervene at any minute.”
“She would’ve if she was here,” he said, chuckling, “but prom is a big deal to her. She stayed home to prepare.”
I shook my head. “That’s a little extreme.”
“If you haven’t noticed,” he said. “She kind of is.”
I giggled, thinking of my best friend. She was always in everyone’s business, and she wasn’t even hesitant about it. If anything, she reveled in it. I normally didn’t enjoy people like her, but there was an innocence to her punk attitude she couldn’t hide. She was sensitive, and I admired that. I could hardly open up at all, and it was nice to know someone who could.
“I’m actually looking forward to tomorrow,” I admitted, wondering if my morning coffee had finally settled in my sleepy veins. I felt energized, and the decorations I had hated minutes before now seemed like a promise that everything was going to go right—even if it was only one night.
“Me, too, Jess,” Robb said. “Me, too.”
Maybe tomorrow would be amazing, and I’d finally let go of Shoman after all. I doubted it. But it was something I could hold on to.