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Up on the roof, Sebastian is grinning down at me. He bends over then lifts a giant board in front of him that says:“Caroline Heinz. Would u lick to be my date for Thanksgiving Formal?”
My stomach is a riot of butterflies. Sparklers and streamers and swirling confetti… A total beautiful mess.
Xavier nudges me. “Don’t leave him hangin’, Caro,” he says softly.
“Oh.” I let out a laugh. “Yes.” Then, more loudly, and projecting my voice up toward the roof this time, I call out, “Yes! Yes, Sebastian Murdoch! I would love to go to Thanksgiving Formal with you!”
A huge smile spreads across Seb’s face, and as the crowd erupts into applause, he lets his head fall back, as if he’s totally relieved. Like he was seriously worried I might say no. Then he faces the crowd again and pumps his fist in the air. “Yeah, baby!” he shouts, and everyone cheers. Well, probably not everyone. Probably not the Maddie Jarviks and Justin Tanners and Declan Siverns of this world. But a lot of people do. Xavier puts an arm around me and gives my shoulders a friendly squeeze, and then Jax pulls me into her own much more exuberant hug.
“Alright, everyone! Back to class!” Mrs. Tromely calls down from the roof. “Please, all head to your second period classes now!”
And this time, when I re-enter the building, I have a bunch of people around me. I am no longer a posse of Me, Myself and I.
And I am happy.
I am so, so happy.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Caroline
Sebconvincedtheeventscommittee to make the dance an “Under the Sea” theme.
Okay, so he bribed them. He offered the services of all the Titans to help decorate for the event if they agreed.
For me.
And the dance is everything I never knew I wanted out of a high school experience. Even better than I imagined when I joked about it with Jackie a few weeks ago. I do dance to cheesy nineties tunes, and the sound system is echo-ey and glitchy. And, even decorated to look like a magical under sea wonderland, the gymnasium still stinks of stale sweat and sneakers. Xavier Rockwell empties an entire flask of vodka into the fruit punch and it tastes disgusting, but I still have three glasses of it.
And after the dance, a bunch of us get changed and head to Helicina Cove for the final bonfire party of the year. I squeeze in between Jackie and Xavier on one of the logs people pulled up around the fire, while Seb goes off to get me a drink. A soda, this time. The three glasses of punch were more than enough liquor for me.
Dylan Braun showed up a few minutes ago and there’s a heightened sense of excitement weaving between the mingling party-goers. He hasn’t made an appearance at any social event since his arrival, as far as I know. He definitely wasn’t at the dance. So his presence here now is a huge deal. A bunch of girls hover around the wide rock where he’s standing off to the side by himself. They all jostle each other for a sliver of his attention, even though he looks like he’d rather be left alone. Honestly, he looks like he doesn’t want to be here at all.
And I feel bad for him. Because besides his highly publicized homecoming and having to adjust to living with his new family, Dylan has already been singled out as the new weird kid at SH Prep. And I’ve been there. Done that. Wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. And while everyone else is endlessly gossiping about him, all I can do is hope he finds at least one person—someone like Seb was for me—to help him weather the storm. To help make him feel a little less lonely in a town that can be amazing, but can also feel like living in a glass fishbowl at times. And sometimes, like living in a shark tank.
“Hey, where’d Seb go?” Xave, who is one of the few people not taking part in either the Dylan Braun fawning or bashing, pulls my attention, and I glance around.
Seb left about twenty minutes ago to get my drink and still hasn’t come back.
“Not sure. I’m gonna go find him,” I tell Xave. I wander between the groups of people standing around, asking if anyone has seen Seb, but no one seems to know.
“Worried you can’t hold on to your man, Fish Girl?” Maddie Jarvik slurs. She’s standing by the cooler with a couple of girls I don’t know. Clearly wasted. “I saw him going up to the Shack a little while ago with Scarlett Thiels… Maybe you could start up another super fun club to help you forget about him,” she mocks.
“Go suck on a sea cucumber, Maddie.” I throw back.
Which, okay, is not up there with Maggie’s awesome retorts. But still, the confidence with which I throw it at her shuts her up, long enough, at least, for me to turn and leave, having had the last word. Feeling like I won this round.
Maggs would be proud
I glance up the hill towards the Shack, and my chest tightens. I’m suddenly having serious déjà vu of the football party.
But then I pull myself together. Seb isn’t in the shack fooling around with Scarlett. They’re just friends. Also, he wouldn’t do that.
I trust him.
I make my way up the raised rocky ledge where I usually search the tidepools, and up to the edge of the forest. I falter when I spot someone leaning against a large tree stump. They’re playing candy crush, I can tell from the familiar jingly music and obnoxious crushing sounds.
Scarlett.
