Page 103 of The Darkest Note

“Oh, no one will notice.” Serena waves me off. “We’re not here to stay anyway.”

“That’s easy for you to say,” I mumble. “You look incredible.”

She’s wearing a fluttery pirate shirt with her vintage pants. Her hair’s in a bob and long pearl necklaces fall to her chest.

“Thanks.” She fluffs her hair. “Now let’s go.”

She drags me into the house.

It’s surprisingly chill given the volume of the music. Most of the students are either dancing, standing around talking or drinking in the kitchen.

We walk deeper in. My eyes jump from the vaulted ceilings to the expensive paintings to the lit up pool through the glass balcony. The only thing more dazzling than the decor are the costumes. I have to give it to the rich kids, they know how to dress for a themed party.

“You ready?” Serena grins and holds up her giant purse. Inside are empty food containers.

I start to nod but freeze when I spot Christa and her dance minions in the kitchen. We haven’t crossed paths since she crowded me in the hallway. She’s been out of school ‘recovering’ from her split lip.

If she sees me tonight, I know she’ll make trouble. Her minions have been snarling at me every time we pass in the hallway.

I have a feeling they’ve been holding off on their retribution because of Dutch. Since he told off that jock in the cafeteria, people have been keeping their distance. But now that everyone thinks I dumped him, I’m free game.

“What’s wrong?” Serena asks.

“I think I’m going to wait outside,” I tell her.

“Outside? Why?” she yells to be heard over the music.

I jut my chin in the cheerleaders’ direction.

“Oh.” She bobs her head in understanding. “I’ll come find you.”

While I’m weaving through the dancers in the living room to get as far away from Christa as possible, I feel a hand on my arm.

It’s Babe.

“Hey, you look great,” he says in my ear.

“Thanks.” My first instinct is to brush his hands off me, but I stop myself. I’m squarely in the ‘try something new’ mindset tonight. It’s step two of my plan to burn whatever stupid bridge I thought I’d built with Dutch.

“You look good too,” I add, leaning in close.

He really does. His hair’s combed out into a big afro and he’s wearing shiny disco clothes.

“Thanks.” He does a little turn and shows of his sparkly jacket.

I smile because his grin is infectious. He really is cute.

“Wanna dance?”

I shake my head. “I don’t know. I don’t really…”

But he’s already leading me to the dance floor. “Come on. You know you wanna dance.”

What the hell. We only live once, right?

I follow him without protest, glad that he takes me into the middle of the crowd so it doesn’t feel like everyone is watching me.

The music has a funky beat and the singer croons about ‘good loving’. It’s not what I usually listen to, but I appreciate music in all its forms.