Александра Адорнетто - Halo

“People don’t exist for your recreation,” I protested. “They’re not a hobby.”

“They are for me. Most are an open book . . . except for you. You puzzle me.”

“Me?” I feigned a laugh. “There’s nothing puzzling about me. I’m just like everyone else.”

“Not quite.” There was Jake being cryptic again. It was getting unsettling.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, but I had to turn my face away so he wouldn’t see the color spreading across my cheeks.

“If you say so.” He let the subject drop just as Alicia and Alexandra timidly approached our desk and waited for Jake to acknowledge them.

“Yes?” he snapped, when he realized they weren’t going to go away. I’d never heard him use such a cutting tone before.

“Are we getting together tonight?” Alicia whispered.

Jake glared at her in exasperation. “Didn’t you get my message?”

“Yes.”

“So what’s the problem?”

“No problem,” she said, looking mortified.

“Then I’ll see you both later,” he said smoothly.

The girls exchanged covert smiles before returning to their seats. Jake shrugged his shoulders in response to my puzzled look as if to say that he was as mystified by their attention as I was.

“Looking forward to Friday?” he asked, changing the subject. “I hear that due to a little sporting mishap you no longer have a partner. It’s a terrible shame pretty boy won’t be able to make it.” His dark eyes shone and his lip curled in a snarl.

“News sure travels fast around here,” I said in a flat voice, choosing to ignore his jibe.

Now that I was dreading rather than anticipating prom night, I didn’t welcome the reminder.

“Who are you taking?” I asked out of politeness.

“I, too, am flying solo.”

“Why? What about your fan club?”

“Fans are only acceptable in small doses.”

I unconsciously let out a deep sigh. “Life’s not very fair, is it?” I was trying my hardest to put a positive spin on things, but it just didn’t seem to be working.

“It doesn’t have to be like that,” Jake said. “I know one would hope to attend such a function on the arm of a beloved, but sometimes one just has to be practical, especially when said beloved is otherwise engaged.”

His exaggerated speech succeeded in making me smile.

“That’s better,” he said. “Gloom just doesn’t suit you.” He straightened in his chair.

“Bethany, I know I’m not your first choice, but would you allow me the honor of accompanying you to the prom to help you out of your current predicament?”

It might have been a genuine gesture, but I didn’t feel comfortable accepting.

“I’m not sure,” I said. “Thanks for offering, but I’d have to discuss it with Xavier first.”

Jake nodded. “Of course. Just know that the offer is on the table should you care to accept it.”

When I broached the subject with Xavier, he didn’t hesitate: “Of course you should go with someone else.”

Xavier was leaning back on the couch, facing the TV. I could tell he was bored—for someone used to being so active, daytime television was a poor substitute. He wore a gray sweatshirt, and his ankle was propped up on a pillow. He looked restless and kept shifting positions. He didn’t complain, but I knew his head was still pounding from the impact of the collision. “It’s a dance,” he continued with a reassuring smile. “You’re going to need a partner seeing as I’m useless to you.”

“Okay,” I said slowly. “And how do you feel about Jake Thorn as my partner?”

“Really?” Xavier’s smile vanished, and his blue eyes narrowed almost indiscernibly.

“There’s something about that kid I don’t like.”

“Well, he’s the one who’s offered.”

Xavier sighed. “Beth, any guy would jump at the chance to be your date.”

“But Jake’s my friend.”

“Are you sure about that?” Xavier asked.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing, just that you haven’t known him for very long. Something about him doesn’t feel right.”

“Xavier . . .” I took his hand and pressed it against my cheek. “It’s just one night.”

“I know, Beth,” he said. “And I want you to have the full prom experience; I just wish it was another guy . . . any other guy.”

“It doesn’t matter who I go with, I’ll still be thinking of you the whole time,” I said.

“That’s good, try and sweet-talk me into this,” Xavier said, but he was smiling now. “If you’re sure about Jake, then go with him. Just don’t act as if he’s me.”

“As if anyone could measure up to you.”

He leaned down to kiss me, and as usual, one kiss wasn’t enough. We fell back onto the couch, my hands running through his hair, his arms locked around my waist, our bodies pressed together. At the same moment we both caught sight of his plastered ankle sticking up at a strange angle and burst into laughter.

Substitute

“Excellent!” said Jake when I told him the news. “We’re going to make a stunning couple.”

“Mmm.” I nodded.

There was still a nagging doubt at the back of my mind, a feeling of foreboding that caused a slight shiver to run down my spine. When I was lying safe in Xavier’s arms, the idea hadn’t seemed so bad, but in the cold light of day I was beginning to regret my decision. I couldn’t explain my uneasiness, so I chose to ignore it. Besides, I couldn’t back out now and disappoint

Jake.

“You won’t regret this,” he said in a silky voice, as if reading my thoughts. “I’ll show you a good time. Shall I pick you up at seven?”

I hesitated a moment before answering. “Make it seven thirty.”

Molly’s jaw dropped in disbelief when she heard about the change of plans.

“What is it with you?” she said, throwing her hands up in exasperation. “You’re just a magnet for the hottest guys in school. I can’t believe you were going to turn him down.”

“He’s not Xavier,” I said sulkily. “It won’t be the same.”

I knew I was starting to sound like a broken record, but my disappointment was overwhelming.

“But Jake’s not a bad substitute!”

I gave Molly a stern look and she sighed.

“I suppose he’ll just have to do,” she amended. “You’ll have to suffer in silence with your male model . . . I feel for you.”

“Oh, stop it, Molly.”

“Seriously, Beth, Jake’s a great guy. Half the girls at school have fallen in love with him.

He’s giving Xavier a run for his money.”

I snorted.

“All right, I know no one can measure up to Xavier Woods in your eyes, but he’d be upset if he thought you weren’t going to enjoy yourself.”

I didn’t try to argue with that.

Knowing that prom fever would hit and hardly anyone in the senior year would turn up for classes, the school had given us Friday afternoon off to get ready. Naturally, nobody could focus on work during the morning and most of the teachers didn’t even bother trying to be heard over the excited chatter that flew around the classrooms.

Molly and her friends had been busy the previous night and showed up at school looking like toasted almonds from their spray tans. They had French manicures and fresh highlights in their hair. Taylah’s hair, which couldn’t possibly get any blonder, was starting to look a little talcum powder white.

When the bell rang at eleven o’clock, Molly grabbed my wrist and hauled me out of the classroom. Her pace didn’t slow, nor did she release me until we were safely strapped into the backseat of Taylah’s car. I could tell from the expressions on their faces that they meant business.