Ten Things

Ch.15-Angel Tears

Cole

I had been to three homecomings at Heart High School, and they were all terribly lame and sorry excuses for dances. I had zero cause to believe this one would be any better, if for the sole reason that I was attending with Margaret.

"Cole, you look so handsome!" the banshee in question gushed as she climbed into my car. The theme of the dance was something stupid I couldn't remember, but for it Marge wore a blue dress that she emphasized was "sky blue" for some particular reason. I honestly couldn't care less. I just wanted these three or four hours to go by as fast as possible.

"Thanks," I mumbled, and then remembering a reciprocated compliment was due, said, "you look nice, too."

"I know," she quipped, and I rolled my eyes. Right.

I half-listened to her babble on about make-up and dress stores and girls she wasn't talking to tonight for some reason. I almost leapt out of my car and praised Jesus when we arrived at the high school and she finally shut up.

"Come on," she demanded, linking her arm through mine. "They're all just waiting for us to arrive."

One thing with Margaret, she pretty much lives in a fantasy world where everything anybody does is contingent upon her own actions and thoughts. Translation: she feels she's the center of the universe. And anybody who denies that or tries to sensibly and logically prove her wrong might as well be banished from her imaginary kingdom. If it makes her sound insane, it's because it's true. The girl is a few screws loose from a whole machine.

She latched onto me with her talons and dragged me into the school. I didn't go so far as to dig my heels in out of pure refusal to be seen with her, but I didn't exactly go willingly, either. I was just thankful I managed to match my tie with her dress. She was the kind of girl to spontaneously combust over something stupid like that.

Even I had to admit that they did a pretty bang-up job with the decorations this year. White lights were strung throughout the gym, and while you would think it would be tacky, it cast a dim glow throughout that wasn't half-bad. The flooring was white as well. Maybe the theme was "white-out".

"Lauren!" the banshee squealed, running over to meet the other girl hanging off of Jayden. And because Margaret was still attached to me I was hauled along with her. I managed to pry her off of me, sure her nails probably drew blood beneath the sleeve of my white dress shirt.

"How ya holding up?" Jayden asked me. I shrugged.

"Wishing I wasn't here right now, but other than that, you know," I mumbled in response. "It is what it is."

"Right."

I turned to pour some of the available punch in a cup, fleetingly hoping one of the druggie jail-bound students had jokingly slipped something into it. Maybe it would make the night that much more bearable.

"Holy Virgin Mary."

I rolled my eyes at Jayden's phrase. "What now, Jay?"

"Dude, I thought you said you tutor wasn't hot."

I frowned. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Your tutor. That Loving chick. Man, you didn't have to lie if you wanted all that to yourself."

I set the cup down, whirling on him. "Jayden, what the hell are . . . You . . ." my voice trailed off as I saw what he was still staring at. Or, rather, who.

Grace.

Except, it sure has anything didn't look like her.

"Christ," I whispered, eyes travelling down her body. She wore a white dress that molded perfectly to every hidden curve I had never seen, her hair free of that braid she always wore it in. I honestly wasn't sure who the heck I was looking at.