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You look different. Beth motioned to my dress. It s
almost& sweet.
From the inflection in her voice, I didn t take that as a
compliment. I felt over exposed in the dress I bought with
Rachel. This is a lot prettier. Besides, it s vintage.
She sniffed. Oh, I guess vintage isn t so bad.
Chanel?
Actually, I don t know who it s by.
Beth waved to someone behind me, and then met my
eyes, with pity. Everyone has an off night.
I guess& what was I supposed to say, that I really
didn t care about the stupid dance? Yeah, that would win
me some major points.
She gave me another pathetically pitying look before
leaving, making an excuse about needing to say hi to
someone super important.
I headed for the door, not making eye contact with
anyone else. This was it. I d officially screwed my social life.
It was finished. Poof. Out from the popular crowd. I might as
well change schools.
Briar, wait.
I turned back to see Alex slipping out of the sea of
writhing bodies. He ran toward me. I knew I had to face him
sooner or later. Might as well get it over with now. My cute
dress seemed pretty repellant, and I was on a roll after
sending Beth running. Hopefully Alex followed her example.
When did you get here?
I shrugged. Not long ago.
He jerked his tie off and shoved it in his pants
pocket. I had to give him credit. He cleaned up nice and
was good looking in his own right. But looks were
deceiving.
Do you want to dance? he asked as a slow song
came on.
Actually, I m going home.
He ran a hand through his hair. I m sorry. Briar, I
never mean to hurt you. Dance with me, please, that s all
I m asking. I just want to talk.
I sighed, knowing that if I danced with him my mother
would find out. She d leave me alone, for a little while.
Fine, one dance. That s all the time you have, and then I m
leaving.
He led me to the dance floor. I rested my hands on
his shoulders, keeping a good amount of space between
us.
Say what you have to say Alex.
Like I said, I m sorry. His hands settled at my waist.
It s just that I get these urges, and I have to remember to
control them.
Did he think I was going to fall for this? Okay.
But I m going to work on it. If I knew when you would
be ready, then it would be easier to wait. His hands
slipped a little lower and I raised my eyebrows.
Ready?
Yeah, I ll wait. I can ignore my needs for a while.
Alex, I can t give you a specific time. I m not ready
now, and I don t know when I will be. When I am ready
though, I can promise you one thing.
What s that? he locked his arms around me and
swooped in for a kiss.
I grimaced, shoving him back. I promise I won t be
ready for you.
Damn it, Briar. He jerked me closer. Our parents
expect this.
I balked at him. What?
After high school we re going to announce our
engagement.
This was more than just about Dartmouth hiring my
dad. This was about a merger. The Walkers and the
Thompsons. It would be front-page society, just like my
mom wanted. We would be family, and then my dad would
get his shot at the big time position he craved.
I m not marrying you. We re too young, for one. And I
can t stand you.
Sorry, our parents have an agreement. He laughed,
trying to kiss me again.
Just to emphasize how serious I was, I kneed him in
the crotch and ran out of the gym.
Chapter 6
W-why do boys have to be such je-jerks? I sobbed,
blowing my nose in a wad of paper towels I d snagged from
the girls bathroom under the stadium bleachers.
Oh, Briar baby. Not all men are jerks. Grandma
said. I d called her as soon as I was in the clear and no one
would hear me talking. The safest place was the football
stadium. No one came out here to do anything, except get
high. And the druggies were slinking in the shadows, far
enough away that I wouldn t be noticed. Some are
bastards that should be castrated and sent to hell, but not
all. I married your grandfather because he was one of the
decent ones.
I sniffed. I kneed Alex in the crotch in front of the wh-
whole school!
She sighed. And I once laughed so hard I peed my
pants at a Yankees game. Life goes on. I am proud of you
for giving the little shit what he deserved.
Thanks. You always know what to say to make me
feel better. I sucked in a breath, wiping my eyes. I can t
believe my parents would do that to me.
Ha, I can. She clicked her teeth together, I think
you should let me take care of talking to your father. I ll give
the little shit a piece of my mind.
Thanks, I said. Can I stay with you until this blows
over?
Of course! My door is always open, you know that.
Now why don t you stop your bawling and go have some
fun? It s not even ten yet.
I groaned. I ll go home.
Why?
Because I don t have any friends, not after what I just
did.
Not even that nice cowboy?
I laughed. Chase?
Sure, you seemed to get along fine together. I ll bet
my bottom teeth that he s nothing like Alex. He s one of the
good ones. The kind of boy who wont grab your ass unless
you ask him to.
I really like him, but I can t call him. I wanted to.
Chase was just nice to be around. I didn t feel like I had to
impress him or that he was judging me. He s going to think
I m a needy crybaby.
Honey, you just described half the women in
America. Give him a call, what have you got to lose?
Nothing. But you could gain a friend. Maybe even a
boyfriend. Before she hung up she made kissy sounds and
told me to start the night over and have fun.
That was easier said than done.
It took me ten minutes to actually work up the nerve to
call him.
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