Eleventh Grade Burns(54)

Turning to face him, Vlad said, “Vikas? What makes you think it was more than one man?”

Vikas grew quiet for a bit, then gave his shoulder a squeeze before turning to leave the room. “Just a feeling I have, Mahlyenki Dvayol. It most likely means nothing at all.”

Vlad took no comfort in his words, but his tears at last ceased.





22





A TAINTED EVENING


VLAD BUTTONED THE LAST BUTTON on his pewter-colored shirt and sighed. He didn’t much feel like dressing up, and he certainly didn’t feel like going to a dance tonight, least of all this dance, Bathory High’s annual Snow Ball. He slipped on his black vest and smiled at the tiny skull buttons. If nothing else, at least he looked sharp.

Still, he really, really didn’t want to go. Joss and Meredith would be there as a—Vlad gulped—couple. He didn’t need any more reason to avoid the school at all cost. The very idea of those two dancing closely and ignoring the fact that he was once a big part of both of their lives sent a wave of nausea over him. But then ... maybe he hadn’t been a big part of their lives. Maybe they’d just been a big part of his.

Vlad shook his head. He couldn’t start down that path of thinking, or the evening would be a total loss.

With one more glance at his reflection, Vlad walked out of his bedroom and down the stairs to where Nelly was waiting. At the sight of him, she smiled. “You look very handsome. So who’s the lucky girl?”

“Her name is Snow.”

Nelly’s voice took on a tone of mock irritation. “And how come I haven’t heard of her before?”

Vlad did his best to match her inflection with a sarcastic quip. “Because, she lives in Stokerton and I haven’t mentioned her to you.”

“So, when do I get to meet her?” Much to Vlad’s annoyance, Nelly had that I-told-you-you’d-get-over-Meredith look on her face.

“Not tonight”

Nelly’s jaw dropped; she let out a playful gasp. “You are so grounded to your coffin.”

A smile fought its way onto Vlad’s face. It didn’t matter how hard he tried to avoid it or how much he wanted to wallow in his self-induced pit of despair, Nelly could always make him smile.

“I’m meeting her at the dance. October’s giving her a ride.” Vlad opened the front closet and grabbed his coat and shoes.

“Do you want me to drive you? Or would you like to take the car?”

“I’m not ready to drive in the snow yet.” Vlad shuddered. “I’m not sure our neighbor’s mailbox is ready either. Besides ...”

Outside, Henry’s horn honked, so Vlad opened the door and waved. As he slid on his jacket, he smiled at Nelly. “... Henry’s driving me. I’ll be back by midnight, okay?”

She nodded and Vlad walked out the door, closing it behind him. Once he was inside Henry’s car and moving down the road, he grumbled, “I don’t understand how you and October think it’s okay to pressure me into taking Snow to this dance.”

Henry was busy checking his mirrors, speedometer, and blind spot. It was obvious that he was avoiding Vlad’s protests.

Vlad glared. “Dude, you know I’m trying to keep my distance from her and neither one of you are bringing dates.”

Henry chuckled. “Quit whining. We’re doing you a favor. You should’ve seen Snow when I dropped them off at the school.”

“Wait, you drove them? I thought October was picking her up.”

“Yeah, that was the original plan.”

“So, what happened?”

Henry shrugged. “Plans changed.”

“Thank you for explaining that so clearly. So, why didn’t you just bring them over to Nelly’s?”

“Because when a girl looks as hot as Snow looks tonight, you don’t want your parental figure to see.”

Vlad didn’t argue, because for once in his young life, Henry sounded full of wisdom.

The car came to a stop just across the street from the school and, thanks to the chill of late December, it didn’t take long for the boys to make their way inside. The hall was decorated in a thousand different snowflakes. Some dangled from the high arched ceiling; some were pasted onto lockers and walls; some littered the floor. A silver, white, and soft blue path led their way to the gym, at the doors of which stood a girl. A girl Vlad couldn’t take his eyes off.