Winter's Idolatry

ng the ball-willingly and not alone, bu

t my locker with extr

a kid. I knew this situation was very amusing to

n there." He grinned cheekily and swung his arm aro

head. "The world is in desperate need of all you

e both sat down in the cafeteria. "In serio

arting to sense a headache forming. "I'll probably regr

at me as if he were trying t

ou said he w

rom my bag. "I still think that. I just

tly?" Dom inquired, his

date. I just needed them all to shut up." I shrugged. "In the moment, it seemed like it would get everyone

t that b

sit out of this ball, on

d show them I was capable of suiting up and a

of joy to put River in her place-

o to a stupid ball

anything to them." Dom sa

off. "It was the first time I got to witness Ri

hen sighed. "River does need to get put in her place b

n and frankly, I'd much rather visit

pression on River's face if she fou

l drama is

sounded as her and Ocean joine

Ocean

erful girls who smiled manically. I wish

friends and I. They were loud, energetic, jovial souls

rsome, careless-frankly,

d in their world

d over the table, a giddy smile on he

knew very well how much I would hate the i

k I'll let my mom grab some

cean looked baffled.

go to the ball. You mustn't have expected me to a

a dress." Pr

my water in its bottle. "I c

t. "Your old ones are too small-and

because I was spending my lun

m my cousin." I snipped

"Alya is our age. It would fit you well-

iled widely, nodding.

ago that we would meet them at the mall after school." She smiled sheepishly. I could see t

sunk back into her seat, sending me a sympathe

up. He gave my shoulder a reassurin

liza." Preslie grinned at me before

do you think y

rking lot. She ran over to me, standing in f

th people

perated. "All of the glass in the worl

eyes. "I am going to carpool with you

atly. "I was not p

obviously aware I

ted, looking at

oo

my car?" I gave her a tired look seeing

ore realizing. "Oh. Yes." She stepped out the

his ball?" I really did want

ho weren't as misanthropic as me were fond

excitement-it was som

g her elegant dress and twirling around with the cute boy s

, cocky teenagers, greasy finger

ne. I almost envied that. "These are the little joys in life, Liza. You won't remem

dances a year-we'v

u." Preslie dramatically sighed and leaned further back in the seat of my ca

njoy the

ago, at the mall. To my surprise, a third character ac

probably know him." Dallas tilt

ss together." Pres

et up today so he tagge

e nudged me lightly, fo

I know her." Orion glanced at m

shifted on my feet. "Shall we

aning his head down towards me.

y doubt that is any

m lip. "I thought out bond wa

s to the nuclear bombs too?" I quirked

s he walked beside me. "So, you don't

d Dallas, walking further behi

ed to come,

oughtfully.

my eyes. "Because all women are supposed to love the ide

reed to go to the ball-I assumed it was something y

ow why agreed but this-it

, his eyes glinting. "W

ested, curious. That w

ily members as they walked, arms filled with shopping bags. "I don't know. Something-lowkey. Perh

a table, drinking the stale tasting punch and tiredly watch the swaying, gri

ide in thought, an amused smil

eet as I walked, staring

with warmth. "You have a-nice voice." He coughed into h

his-compliment? I opened my mouth to speak, th

as new

know wh

his head at himself. Redness crept up the side

s words. "It was-oddly honest. If only

nt of amusement and maybe delight ling

I cocked my head to the side. "People call me many t

ook. "Oh, God-no. I meant that in a good way,

it as an insult. I get it." I was slightly abashed, yet oddly flatter

od way. I think." He squinted his eyes un

Preslie came over, linking her ar

ed quietly as she continued to drag me.

narrowing. "Since when have you ever ca

he subject before she could pester me. This ball ord

appeared, smirking down a

you men to come dress shopping?" I crossed my arm

n at me with the same firmness. "I do

which dress I should wear to the ball

ps me breathing." He

d not li

ce, he started

t thing I wanted to do was buy a dress for an event I didn't

-Ri

make River all the more smug and arrogant

uld Pr

ie skid over to me, speaking o

s?" I grumb

you were being quite pleasant. With Dallas-oh b

ose. My patience was running thin. "Quite an obser

I was growing more and more annoy

suspiciously, ignoring my

es feelings at the sight of someone. This was the first time I've talked to hi

y this on," she handed it to me. "It doesn't take long

him-however, cereal, I do like. Can we ge

nter with Dallas the way you do. He's cute, he's smart and he's your date." She gla

ou're dealing with before you catch feelings. H

asn

omething I chased in my life. High school relationships seemed so pointless

s. "You could appreciate the effort he's putting in. He was the one who asked

as going

in he was getting out of it. It was nothing mor

a date." I s

guys found

orld when he interrupted Preslie and I. This conv

ridic

boy, I was wrong. Trying on dresses was t

show - seeing as they had come all the way here and need

ooms in a bright yellow dress

ht," Dall

the pink floral dress she had tried on. I shook my head firmly

nice way to tell me how terribly ugly the

" Jago sta

change-room wall. I did not think I would be able to do this

that went down to the ground. The back was open-rev

ooked stunned. "

in the full length mirror. Since I was att

led lightly, nodding

es were sincere. "Colour suits you. I like it too, for what it

y shoulders to drop. "Finally." I headed bac

u're her date. W

o explain the frustra

opinion. I liked this dress and regardless

llas just-irks me

waiting for him to give his darn approval-or whatever. "My

ack of his neck. "It's good. I mean-I like it. It's better than the other ones. I like it-I said that already." He sputt

affled look. W

ing to

rm to the cashier counter. He kept picking different ties, wanting to fin

, sweets?" He smirked at me,

hird world war to start before I

y." He

y think-he's

m the registers but he grabbed my arm. I tur

in a manner as if he had just to

aperone to help y

flat look, no

he tie and we left the

looped her arm through mine as w

was w

I were a three year old that she had to exp

the same look. I parted ways

, walking over to me and giving

too m

persistent

. "She's impossi

eslie who seemed to be in a deep conversation with Dall

going to

s we walked. "My parents-they help organize these t

m either loved it-loved the dressing up and suits and fancy watc

. "They aren't

eared by my side once a

replied

ows pulled toget

cau

He continued

led deeply. "Because I don't need a

ut the look lasted less than a second befo

sest thing I cam find to oxygen. I d

mile. "Wit looks better o

" Orion glanced between the two o

laugh in his face for even assuming tha

iving him an odd look. What the hell

e placed a hand over his heart,

han-Bush becoming pres

y stand being

to-just get away as soon as poss

or a bit. Thanks though." She shot me

Dallas leaned int

f me, taking a

slight smile. "

quick dash to