Eighteen Below Him

ra's

was the kind of energy that made it impossible to focus

out dress codes, music, and the most important question of the night: who would end up with whom. I t

by our lockers. "Did you hear? The

ttered, aiming

d wide across her face

trayed me instantly. I should have whispered

n't, we will drag you there ourselves. And

g?" I asked

around her finger. "Calvin Simms, you, a confi

the strap on my bag. "Y

e observant. You are going to have

alked past the hall. His eyes met mine for half a second before he kept moving. That

eria had transforme

s?" one girl whispered, le

way too hard."

a and Amanda, pretending to be uni

gle enough for this party?" Novia as

oked on my

dering if you are planning

oth. "We are not t

rself that. I have seen the way he looks at

s." I said throu

forward and lowered her voice. "Curious or not, this party is your chance. One week is all

. One week kept repeating in my mind no

y birthday was one week away. The party was tonight. Calvin

he evening, which meant the house was ours to get ready. Novia and Amanda arrived

Novia announced as she s

peration Controlle

being drama

us for it!"

nd lace. Every surface held something dramatic and eye catching. Amanda

it might be too

senior party at the Simms' house.

ith a subtle shimmer and examined herself i

that fit her perfectly. "We look coordinat

esitated. "Fine." I sighed. "But if I

" they said at

irrors, laughing and arguing over palettes. Novia insis

o look like my

she blended carefully. "Yo

an upgrade!

overdone or flashy. I looked sharper and more confident. Ama

"He is going to

if he notices m

identical looks. "

o change my posture and the way I carried myself. Novia adjusted her earrings while Amanda spra

re and looked at one another. We looked

owly, "When we walk in togethe

miled. "

e it was not just nerves. It felt lik

g my clutch. "Let's go

ine, and Amanda grabbed her ke

lassroom tension, and Calvin's smirk all competed for space in my head. One more week u

bout him. I swear it wasn't like this a week ag

made it almost

ore electric, and tonigh