Out of the Ashes by Valerie Sherrard Read Free Book Online

quickly added that mine was very pretty too, though I don’t see how she could tell since she wasn’t exactly looking at me. I felt really bad, because I could see how uncomfortable she was and how out-of-place and awkward she was feeling in her big puffy dress. She looked as if she’d rather be anywhere but at the dance.
    We moved on then, Greg and I, making our way through the crowd. I was keeping an eye out for Janebut still hadn’t seen her by the time we finally reached Betts and Graham.
    Betts was in high form to say the least! She was giggling and talking to three or four people at once, tossing out remarks and turning from person to person, her face lit up and glowing with excitement. She squealed and hugged me when we got there.
    â€œOh, isn’t this just the best! I can’t wait until the band goes on stage. Oh! Your dress is perfect! Mine is too severe I think. I should have gone with the mauve one Mom wanted me to get, but this one was just so divine on the model.”
    I’d already seen Betts in her sleek black dress about twenty times and had told her every time that it was great. I was just about to repeat the assurance I’d given on those occasions when Greg spoke up.
    â€œI wouldn’t call it severe. Actually, it’s very elegant.”
    â€œOh, Greg, you’re such a sweetie!” Betts gushed. “Do you really think so?”
    He smiled and nodded but said nothing else. I figured that he’d used up all his ability to pay a compliment with that one remark. Guys aren’t exactly good at offering commentaries on women’s clothes!
    â€œAnd Graham, isn’t Shelby’s dress to die for?”
    Graham laughed at Betts’s enthusiasm, took a deep bow, and told me with considerable exaggeration that my dress was divine. I curtsied back and told him hewas dashing and debonair in his suit.
    â€œOh, poor Greg,” Graham said then in a falsetto voice that made him sound exactly like a girl. “You must be feeling left out.”
    â€œYes, you must Greg,” Betts added, giggling at Graham’s female voice. “But you look really yummy!”
    â€œThat’s exactly what I was thinking earlier when I saw myself in the mirror,” he said deadpan. “I couldn’t help noticing how yummy I was. Thanks for mentioning it, Betts.”
    The band came on then, playing a hard, driving tune. Once the first few brave couples hit the dance floor almost everyone else rushed over to join them. I saw Nick dancing with Kelsey Princeton, who had left her date standing in the corner looking dejected. Nick glanced my way a few times, and it made me feel really awkward. I’m not a very good dancer anyway, but then I haven’t had much practice.
    It wasn’t long before I found out why Nick wasn’t dancing with Jane. Betts cleared it up for me when the band took its first break.
    â€œDid you hear about poor Jane?” she gasped, out of breath from the last dance. “She took a dizzy spell and fell and hurt herself.”
    â€œWhat a shame.” I tried to put something that sounded like sympathy into my voice, but all I could feel was disappointment. Because of my own stupidity,I was stuck with Greg for the evening. There was Nick without a partner, and I was going to miss out on the chance to dance with him.
    Then something else happened that almost spoiled the evening for everyone. The fire alarm sounded, screaming over the music. We all hurried outside the way we always do when there’s a drill, but we knew they’d never have a drill during a dance.
    We stood shivering in the cold for about ten minutes before one of the teachers came out and told us we could return to the auditorium. Once inside, an explanation was given, and we learned that there had been a fire in the wastebasket of the girls’ washroom.
    â€œThis is very serious,” the teacher said sternly. “I assume that someone was smoking