The Best Laid Plans(86)
“We’re just friends,” I say immediately, the line coming naturally. But her words ignite something in me and suddenly I feel like I’m a hot wire.
“Yeah,” Sophie says. She picks up a blueberry muffin, ripping a bite off the top. Grainy sugar crumbs sprinkle down onto the surface of the table. “I get that now.”
THIRTY
WE HEAD OVER to the table to dump our purses and then grab the guys, pulling the rest of them out onto the dance floor. The song is upbeat and happy and despite everything going on, the fact that everybody in the circle is probably mad at somebody else, none of it matters. This might be the last time we’re all together, one big messed-up group, and I think we’re all feeling the pull of time.
The song changes to something slow and we break apart to dance with our dates. I wrap my arms around Dean’s neck and feel his skin, damp and sticky. He passes me the flask and I take a quick sip. I’m so used to the taste of whiskey at this point I almost like it. Or maybe I’m just trying to convince myself I do.
A fast song starts up and we’re all together again and I throw my arms up in the air and I’m spinning and dizzy and happy. The music slows and we all put our arms around each other so that we’re rocking back and forth in one big circle. And then before I know what’s happening, Chase has snaked an arm around Danielle’s shoulders and they’re dancing alone. I expect her to pull away from him—after all, hasn’t she been pulling away from him every day since my birthday?—but she doesn’t. She’s laughing and pulling him closer.
It’s like we’ve all been waiting to follow her lead, because as soon as she accepts Chase’s dance, we break apart in different directions. Hannah lunges for Dean, pulling him into her, and before I can change my mind, I reach for Andrew. I nod my head in thanks to Hannah, knowing she’s doing me this favor on purpose. She nods back, and in that moment I know that she knows. I don’t have to tell her she’s right.
“Hey,” I say, placing my hands on his shoulders.
“Hey,” he says, and wraps his arms around my lower back. I’m trying to keep a respectable distance between us because everyone is watching, but he moves closer, so I’m forced to wrap my arms around his neck. We’re touching all the way from our hips to our chests. I know it’s wrong to be this close, that I’m only torturing myself, but it feels right to be fitted together like this, like we’re matching puzzle pieces. I rest my head on his chest and wish I were tall enough to brush my lips against the soft skin of his neck. He smells familiar, like cut grass, the same way he smelled when he was over me on his bed, his body covering mine. The music is playing soft and slow around us, but I can barely hear it. All I can hear is my heart beating, the blood rushing in my ears. I know if I pull my head back just slightly, I could kiss him. I keep my head locked on his shoulder so I won’t be tempted. I feel suddenly like I’m about to cry. It was so much easier before I realized I loved him. I want to rewind the last few hours and become that girl again.
“Are you having fun?” The sound of his voice is close enough to tickle my ear. I nod my head and bury my nose into his chest. I’m worried he can sense how I feel, that he can read the truth of it on my face.
“I’m going to miss you,” I say, pulling away from him far enough that we can see each other.
“Collins,” he says softly, reaching a hand up to my cheek. He must notice my eyes are watering. “Are you okay?” His expression makes me want to tell him everything.
“I . . .” The words catch in my throat. I know they’re too powerful, that even though they’re just words, their meaning will change everything. They’re words that can’t be unsaid. Besides, what would be the point?
“Keely,” he says, his thumb brushing lightly against the sensitive skin of my cheek. It’s strange to hear my first name from him, and the sound of it feels intimate and personal, like he’s seeing me naked.
“Drew, I—” I start to speak but the music changes to something fast and wild and the thumping beat feels like a slap. I remember suddenly where we are, the people surrounding us. It feels like I’ve been dunked into the cold water of the lake.
“Did that make you jealous?” Danielle asks Andrew, grinning and pulling on his arm. “If I tell you Chase is a better dancer than you, will you be mad?” Before Andrew can answer, Ava comes flying at us, tripping on her heels and using me as support so she doesn’t fall.
“Want some champagne?” She holds up a new full bottle. I don’t know where she found it and how she hasn’t gotten in trouble yet.
An arm circles my waist and I turn to see Dean behind me. I let myself lean against him, nervous about what he might have seen between Andrew and me. I wonder if Dean can tell how I feel. If he even cares.
“Ava, put that bottle away,” Danielle hisses. “You’re a mess. Where did you even get that?”
Ava takes a long sip. “I pulled it out of your ass.”
Just then the music cuts out and a voice comes over the speakers. “If everyone could take their seats, we’re going to start the crowning in a few minutes.”
Our principal, Mr. Harrison, is on a raised platform at the other end of the ballroom, holding a stack of white envelopes. We all head to our seats. I end up between Dean and Charlie, so I lean as close as I can to Dean and completely ignore Charlie when he asks me if I can hand him a soda. Andrew is across from me with Danielle, so I focus instead on watching Ava and Ryder, who are taking turns with the flask.