Page 25 of Attractive Forces

“How do you know that?”

“She told Gabby the reason she turned Philips down is because she’s hoping you’ll ask her. She reckons the two of you are a shoo-in for ball king and queen.”

My stomach heaves at the thought. Jen and I trussed up in fancy clothes, dancing in front of everyone, looking like the perfect couple.

Lies.

It would all be lies.

“Has Adam told you about his master plan for after the ball?” Brewer asks as we reach the parking lot.

I rummage for my keys in my pocket. “Nope.”

“Well, you know how the teachers have shut down all hopes for an after-ball?”

“Yeah, I know.”

The after-ball party used to be a rite of passage as much as the ball, but it got out of control a few years ago and the police had to be called.

Principal Martin has threatened that if he hears any rumors about a planned party after the ball, the entire ball will be canceled.

“Adam’s big brother felt sorry for us missing out on an after-ball party, so he’s offered to book a whole lot of hotel rooms on his credit card. You just need to give him a hundred cash to secure a key.” Brewer waggles his eyebrows in the definition of unsubtle.

Meanwhile, my breathing has picked up a notch. “Yeah, I don’t know about that.”

Brewer rolls his eyes. “I know what your dad preaches and all that, but we’ve got to sow these wild oats somehow. And if you’ve got a willing field wanting to be planted—”

“Fuck, Brewer, stop before you do yourself damage, okay?” I open my car door.

Brewer’s smirking. “You might act pious and stuff, but deep down, I know you think about this shit too.”

Yeah, I actually don’t spend any time thinking about having sex with a girl.

I get in my car so I don’t have to answer him.

The next day,I send Jen a message, asking her to meet me by the gym after school.

I’m late getting out of English, so she’s there when I arrive, all fluffy blonde hair and big blue eyes.

“Hey, you,” she says with a giant smile.

“Hey.” I stick my hands into the pockets of my hoodie

This is how it’s supposed to go, right? Rugby captain asks the hottest girl in school to go to the ball. This is the scene that goes back generations, repeated all over New Zealand. It’s like eating fish and chips or playing backyard cricket or making a pavlova.

I wonder if any of the other rugby captains felt the same level of self-loathing as I do right now.

“So, you wanted to talk to me?” Jen’s grin has anticipation laced through it.

I run my hand through my hair. “Um…yeah, I wanted to talk to you about the ball. Like, ask you if you had any plans. And if you didn’t, whether you want to go, like, together.”

I’m sure when this is recounted to her friends, my awkwardness will turn into something cute, some sign of my feelings for her.

At least, I hope so.

“I’d love to go to the ball with you.” Her voice is breathy.

“Okay. Great. And um…Adam’s organizing some of us getting rooms afterward. Not that we have to do anything, but, you know, everyone else is…”