21 Proms by David Levithan Read Free Book Online Page B

“I just don’t understand why it’s so important to have a date.”
    Shane always wants what he can’t have, but no way are you going to remind them of that important little tidbit. “I am not going to let you go through that again,” Jen would say. “ How long do you think it would take before he breaks your heart another time?”
    â€œLet her do what she wants,” Kyra cuts in. “It’s her senior prom. She has to make a decision that she’ll be happy with for the rest of her life.”
    Jen snorts. “You make it sound like a tattoo. It’s just a dance.”
    Just a dance? Easy for Jen to say, considering she already went last year with her then-senior boyfriend. “I want the whole shebang,” you announce. “A date. A corsage.” Shane to realize his mistake.
    â€œWe’re going to get ourselves corsages,” Kyra says. “Come on, Drew, are you in?”
    â€œNo, I’m not in. I want to go in a limo.”
    â€œBut the Winnebago has a king-size bed!” Kyra exclaims. “How cool is that?”
    â€œWhat do you need a bed for if none of you even has a date?” you ask.
    â€œJumping,” Kyra says. “And watching movies.”
    â€œMore like napping,” you mutter. “Because that’s how bored I would be in the Winnebago.”
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    You spot Brent and Mandy chatting by the water fountain.
    Uh-oh.
    Calm down. They’re just talking. Nothing to be worried about. Nothing wrong with a little chit and chat.
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    When Brent tells you that he and his friends have rented a limo, you cheer.
    And then you buy The Dress.
    A gorgeous pale pink Nicole Miller dress that makes your mom tear up when you model it for her. She buys you a matching (on sale!) pink wrap because Connecticut nights can be cool in May, and one-inch silver heels that don’t give you much height but will keep you comfy and able to dance all night. You are so not making the same mistake you made at your cousin’s wedding last fall. You wore three-inch strappy heels that gave you blisters the size of your thumbs and forced you to hold on to tabletops for balance.
    Tabletops — and Shane. He was there, holding your hand, showing off his dimples, telling you that you looked beautiful, making you feel beautiful. And special. Until the next week when Jen told you she saw him making out with The Model in the back row of a James Bond movie.
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    You’re on your way home from school when you spot Brent in the passenger seat of Mandy’s car.
    I’m going to be sick , you think.
    You IM him later that night.
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    Drew: What’s the story? Are U and Mandy back together?
    TheMan: no . . .
    You do not like the look of those ellipses. This is not good. Not one bit. What should you do? You decide to pretend that all is normal and that this doesn’t affect prom at all. He is not going to ditch you. They were just talking, right? Right???
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    You’re on your way to Spanish when you spot a whirl of hair: blond (hers) and brown (his). It reminds you of your favorite chocolate-and-vanilla-swirl frozen yogurt. (Not that your prom diet allows for frozen yogurt.) It’s them. And they’re kissing. They’re practically eating each other’s mouths.
    Also not good.
    You try to catch him alone, but he is stapled to Mandy’s mouth for the rest of the day.
    â€œTold you,” Jen says. “There’s still room in the Winnebago.”
    â€œPlease come, it will be awesome!” Kyra squeals. “We are going to have a huge slumber party afterward and watch movies all night!”
    â€œI have a date,” you scoff.
    â€œNot for long,” Jen taunts.
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    You are vigorously doing hundreds when you see the IM:
    TheMan: hey Drew...
    Damn ellipses. You breathe in, breathe out, then type:
    Drew: Yup?
    TheMan: Mandy and I are back together.
    @&$%! You are far too well mannered to type what