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I nod and smile so big my cheeks ache.
“When you didn’t call me last night to give me the details, I thought the night must have gone really, really well.” Stephanie wiggles her eyebrows up and down.
I laugh. “Yeah right, you know me better than that.”
Stephanie begins walking towards first period. I follow quickly behind her.
“A freaking puppy?!” Stephanie exclaims loudly. “I still can’t believe it!”
“Shhh, Steph,” I say, looking around. I grab her arm and pull her closer to me. “I don’t want everyone knowing that. I don’t want Jaron and Austin thinking they have to one-up him,” I whisper.
“But isn’t that the whole point? Aren’t they trying to beat each other out to win your hand or something?”
“They are not winning my hand,” I say, dismissing her words with a wave. “Just a date to prom.”
“And possibly your heart,” Stephanie says, batting her eyelashes dramatically and pretending to swoon.
I laugh. “I don’t want the other guys to feel bad,” I say.
Stephanie shrugs. “Why not? Make them feel bad. Who knows, maybe next date you’ll get a pony.”
I laugh.
“But seriously, Em. Ethan gave you that puppy as a stunt, and you know it. I’m sure he posted all about it to improve his ratings and get more people on Team Ethan. If Austin and Jaron don’t know about it already, they will by the end of the day.”
“You’re right,” I say.
Just then a group of freshman girls come running up to me and Stephanie. Steph looks disgusted, as though we were being swarmed by insects.
“We’re all dying to know, what did you name him?” One girl asks.
Stephanie gives me a ‘told you so’ smirk and walks away toward class. “See you at lunch,” she calls.
“I named him Sirius Black,” I say.
The girls all jump up and down, squealing.
“I love it!”
“I can’t believe he gave you a puppy. I would simply die.”
“Are you going to bring Sirius to prom with you?” another girl asks.
I shake my head, trying not to laugh.
It takes another five minutes to get my little fan club to dissipate, and I end up being late to class.
***
I’m super excited for my date with Austin tonight. I have to push all thoughts of Ethan and last night out of my mind. A new day equals a new date. And Austin deserves my full attention.
A smile creeps over my lips every time I think about it. I can’t believe I’m going on a date with Austin! This is the same boy who used to dig in the dirt with me, looking for bugs to study. We used to climb trees together, mostly to escape our families, always seeing who could go the highest. We’d spend hours at the library, reading side by side and suggesting books to each other. Sure, we were nine, but I never thought of him as the dating type. He’s just always been my buddy, Austin.
I stand at my closet staring in. The options are completely overwhelming. I grunt at the array of colors and styles I just don’t understand. How does anyone know what’s going to lookgood together? I open my social media for the first time since the videos leaked and my eyes widen in surprise. I think I had 112 followers just a couple weeks ago. Now I’m nearing half a million. Then I do something I’ve never done before in my entire life. I start a live stream.
“Hey Steve,” I say. “I know most of you saw I had date number one with Ethan last night. I’d like to officially introduce you all to Sirius Black.” I turn the camera towards the adorable puppy sleeping on my bed. He stretches and yawns and the hearts and comments start to blow up.
Then I point the camera into my closet. “I’m currently getting ready for my date with Austin and I need your help. What should I wear?” I slowly move my shirts aside one at a time asking, “this one?”
