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"I am." She turns toward the hallway. "Charlie! The girls are ready to go!" Both Nora and I grab our clutches and follow my mom into the living room.
"I want to take a couple pictures before we leave."
I sigh at this, hating the ridiculous picture taking.
"Well, don't you girls look lovely! You'll be the most beautiful girls at the dance!" My dad comes over and presses his lips gently on the crown of my head.
We take some pictures in the living room, since it's too cold outside to stand out there in our dresses. Once we have our coats on, we hop into the Oldsmobile and are off to school.
It's packed by the time we arrive. Cars parked along the curb, doors opening with colorful outfits spilling out. A rainbow of bodies filling up on the sidewalk.
A light snow is falling from the darkening sky, the evening sun setting early this time of year. The flakes are light and powdery, the kind that brush against your skin without actually seeping into you.
I see Travis standing in the hallway, his letterman jacket covering his suit coat. His black trousers fit his slim form nicely. A smile breaks out on his face when he sees me.
"You made it!" He wraps me into a hug when he sees me, and my eyes widen slightly.
Okay.I didn’t realize we were on this friendly of terms.
Beside Travis stands George, Nora's date, another player on the football team. They've been casually flirting this year, although I know Nora's sights have always been on Flynn, Roman's best friend.
We head into the gym, where hundreds of white and blue balloons are hung from the rafters. Streamers dangle down, spinning from the constantly running vents along with shiny decorations. A disco ball hangs from the ceiling, creating glittery triangles to shine all throughout the room.
A boombox sits on a table in the corner of the room withPiano Manby Billy Joel screaming from the speakers. Next to the boombox is another table with a glass bowl filled with a red juice brimming to the top. There's also a platter of cookies and a bowl of chips.
Riveting.
We walk through pools of people; their different colored dresses and outfits making them a vibrant kaleidoscope of colors.
"Want some punch?" Travis shouts over the music.
I nod, clutching my purse with both hands, suddenly feeling a little uneasy.
I miss Roman.
I've only ever gone to dances or school events with him. I'm used to him standing beside me, and I’m so much more comfortable with him. Not that Travis is a bad guy, he just isn't the guy my heart beats inside my chest for.
Roman is.
But I'm so mad at him, and he shouldn't have kept guys from talking to me. Because now I have to spend my time with Travis instead of him, all because he wanted to be a possessive asshole who only thinks about himself.
Though, the thought of Roman seeing me have fun while he stands on the sidelines is a knife to the gut. Hurting Roman isn't something that interests me. Watching the blanket of sadness cover his face shreds my insides.
The gnawing in my abdomen grows, and I rub at my lower stomach, hating the ache that missing Roman does to me.
"Here you go." Travis and George come back with four cups of juice in Styrofoam cups. I take mine and watch as Nora takes hers. We stand on the sidelines, watching everyone dance and have a good time, while we stand there awkwardly.
"Want to dance?" Travis asks me once he's done with his juice.
I look down at my cup, seeing the mostly full cup with watered down punch. It tastes gross, and Travis has a little red mustache on his upper lip from his own drink.
"Sure." I swallow down the sigh that wants to break free and set my cup down on a nearby table. Glancing at Nora, I see her watching me with the same sadness. She wants what she can't have, too. Not only does she like Flynn, but Roman would never let her date him. And she thinks Flynn only looks at her like a sister, anyway.
"You okay?" Nora asks as I’m setting my cup down.
I nod. "You?"
George grabs onto her wrist and pulls her out into the dance floor before she has a chance to respond. We split off, Travis pulling me left and George pulling her right. People are spinning around, dancing with couples or with their friends. Smiles on faces and screams and laughs fill me from every which way.
