Page 12 of Once Bitten

“Nah, I’m ok, I’m just going to go out for some air. I’ll be right back.”

“Ok, don’t be too long, or else I’ll drag an army of sequins out to come looking for you.”

I gave her a soft smile and pushed myself through the ocean of writhing bodies to the front door.

The cool air hit me like a soft icy cloud pillow to the face.

“Ooofff. Brrr!” I shivered to myself, wrapping my arms around my body.

I walked over to the empty row of benches that faced the school entrance, sitting down rubbing my arms to coax the goose bumps back into my skin. Everything looked so different at night. The front lawn, usually teeming with adolescent bodies trying to make it through the day, now looked like a serene painting. Everything still and airbrushed with silvery paint. Tree branches spread like wooden tentacles out into the dark, hiding generations of high schoolers’ secrets amongst its boughs.

“Hey.” A soft male voice spoke from behind me.

I didn’t need to turn around to know it was Finn.

“Hey.” I replied. Not sure what else there was to say.

“What are you doing out here?” He asked, still standing behind me and the bench.

“Just wanted some air.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Why?”

“Why tell me? I’m your date. You just disappeared.”

“How long did it take for you to notice?”

“I deserved that.” He sighed and turned to go back to the gym. I held my breath, waiting for him to be gone before I could burst into tears. After a few seconds I heard him come back, this time standing in front of me. “Why are you here?” He asked again, looking down at my face.

I looked up at him, confused. “I just told you, I needed som-“

“No, Kara, I mean, why are you here at the prom? With me.”

“You asked me.”

“You didn’t have to say yes.”

It was now or never. I had nothing to lose. Well, except for a ride home. “If you don’t know the answer to that then I guess after ten years of me being friends with your sister, you still don’t know me at all.”

I got up and brushed past him, I wasn’t going to humiliate myself in front of him for another second.

“Wait.” He grabbed my arm.

“Let go of me, Finn.”

“Sorry.” He dropped his hand. “Just stay, ok? Just for one minute. Sit with me for one minute. Then I can take you home if you want.”

There wasn’t any way I could refuse him. I sat on the edge of the bench and he came and sat beside me.

“So, um, have you decided where you’re going next year?”

“Er, yeah, I got into NYU Stern.”

“Wow. I didn’t know that. Congratulations. Wow. So, you’re on your way out, huh?”

“I’ll be back.” I shrugged.