trix

rs," Jus

his eyes dow

comfortabl

I might hav

der his bed, and came back with a p

e up. "Not

ade more sense th

the sneakers,

k. The gown was long e

ir," he s

t abo

ve it

if I d

tion." That easy smi

s ago. I pulled the band out, and my hair fel

or," I

s eyes. "You

ning. I squi

l need a

d. "Coming

ont of me. I looked, and a gasp s

years trying to hide. I barely recognized myself. It had

t yourself all night?" he

t underneath it, it felt like he wa

id, pointing at my hoodie and

This time we walked slowly, and before

o the hollow of the trunk, folding th

d. Then he bur

Wh

He mumbled b

this?" I whispered. His laugh was c

the corner of his eye. "Okay. See

sleeve before

" I asked, stammering. Honestly

ted past me to

ogether?" he asked, a sm

I blurt

s of gold caught the ligh

go in together, thoug

hy should I be bothered when all of this w

in myself

turned to leave, then called over his sho

round the corner. Then I l

unny," I

trunk. The hall glowed red and pink in the

he gown, took a breath, an

that you'd think we wer

could go back. In my whole year at Haneul, I'd only ever spoken to Penelope, who I'd t

ed the crowd, I found him surrounded by a group of

sat down. Luckily, there was a

ctually

ly heard him speak, only wh

justing myself. "A

ike him would join a dare. He never

d I didn't know what to say. Bryan g

I gulped. "Enjoying a party is fine,

let a co

es?" I asked. He kept

that. There has

lowed his gaze

ooks good on

ked toward hi

some into a cup, and passed

emember much, since I wasn't exactly sober. What I d

ice cut in. "When

he first place. Maybe I was being dramatic

added, and I chuckled, and then

oth drunk,"

we, Bryan?" I

ook hi

an said,"

oving over to Bryan. "I'll take him. He doesn

wave as Cruz slung an arm over his s

eling alrigh

ould have seen his face. H

hat caught him off guard, and I chuckled. "I'm no

he'd been talking to earlier.

e the same as ever

un? Or sud

different, and differen

knew I didn't mean a thing to either

e dress?

own at me, t

ook bea

rted c

naged, and he

ever called me that. It was s

said something about Haneul's Valentine tradition, about c

felt it. Liquid ,

ughter turned into echoes, and I knew, I frea

melled like dye. I stood up, my senses

call, but I couldn't

walked in, looking toward t

oze. S

hought he'd say some

e looke

he turned to the girl beside him and starte

ept going. My c

all. Whatever I wore, I was always