A Prom to Remember(33)

“Madison lured Otis out of his house.”

“Why would she lure him out of his house?”

Luke scoffed but didn’t answer.

“No, I’m serious. This is a serious question. I don’t understand your use of the word lured here.”

“Neither do I,” Madison said.

“Well, I guess,” Luke said, “she lured him out by offering to go see some dumb movie that I didn’t want to see, so of course he went with her.”

Lizzie looked at Madison. “I didn’t want him to get in trouble. You can even read the texts. I specifically asked if he would get in trouble for going out late.”

Lizzie read the texts. “This is pretty damning evidence that she was not trying to get him in trouble,” she said to Luke.

Luke sat down on the end of Madison’s bed. “I know.”

Lizzie turned to Madison. “And since when are you allowed out so late?”

“My mom was on a date, and I knew she wouldn’t be home until really late.”

“Oh,” Lizzie said. “She did look a little tired when she let me in.”

Madison nodded.

“Anyway,” Lizzie said. “You both realize you’re being ridiculous, right?”

“Yes,” Luke said.

“Yeah,” Madison said.

They both seemed so resigned.

“Hug,” Lizzie demanded.

Madison got up and sat next to Luke, giving him an awkward side hug that lasted all of three seconds.

“Hug like you mean it,” Lizzie said.

This time they hugged full on and Luke rubbed Madison’s back. “I’m sorry,” he said. “Otis has just been really weird lately. Like he doesn’t want to go to the prom with me.”

Madison pulled away from him. “Don’t be silly. Of course he wants to go to the prom with you.”

Luke shrugged.

Lizzie sat down and leaned her head on his shoulder. Madison did the same on his other side.

“Otis likes you a lot, and he wants to go to prom with you,” Lizzie said.

“Thanks, guys,” Luke said. “Now let’s talk about something better. Like how is Mystery Boy, Lizzie?”

“He’s fine,” Lizzie said, sliding to the floor. “But prom is so expensive!”

“Oh,” Madison said. “Otis and I were talking about everyone chipping in and getting a limo.” She turned to Luke. “See! There’s proof he wants to go to the prom with you.”

Luke rolled his eyes. “That’s just proof that he wants a limo.”

“So you’re telling me that I just used the majority of my most recent Hot Potato paycheck to buy a ticket to the prom and now you want me to chip in for a limo?”

“Well, maybe we could just go in Luke’s car,” Madison said.

“I didn’t even know you decided you were going to prom,” Lizzie said.

Madison shrugged. “I need to see what happens with Mystery Boy. Obviously.”

Lizzie smiled and shook her head. “But seriously all this money for one night! Such a waste.”

Luke looked her earnestly. “You’re going to be one of those people who get married at city hall, aren’t you?”

“Yes. It’s financially reasonable. I’ll use the money I would have otherwise spent on a wedding to go to grad school or something.”

“So wise,” Madison said.

Lizzie wasn’t feeling very wise. She felt like she was hemorrhaging money. Hopefully Mystery Boy would be worth it in the end.

“Hey, not to totally change the subject,” Madison said. “But do you guys ever think that Cora Wilson might be into girls?”

“I have never once thought that about Cora Wilson, because she’s been in a relationship with Jamie Fitzpatrick since birth,” Luke said. “But I realize how closed minded that sounds and am therefore open to the discussion.”

“I agree with Luke,” Lizzie said. “On both counts.”

“Well, I would like to discuss this with the group.” Madison grabbed a notebook from her bag. “I have a list I’ve been keeping in biology since we’re lab partners. I think my gaydar is finally starting to work.”





Chapter 16

Cameron

“Do you have the book we need for English?” Landon asked from the door of Cameron’s room.

Cameron turned in his chair to look at his stepbrother. The two boys weren’t friends at school, and when their parents got married last year it didn’t exactly make them friends at home, either. Suffice it to say, this was not a usual occurrence.

Cameron went through his backpack while Landon lingered by the bulletin board on the far side of Cameron’s room, acting very interested in Cameron’s work schedule that was tacked there.

“Here,” Cameron said. Landon walked over and grabbed the novel, practically skipping out of the room without so much as a thank-you.

“Hey, wait,” Cameron said.

Landon turned around.

“Do you think everyone at school hates me?” Cameron asked. It wasn’t exactly what he wanted to say, but the opportunity to talk to Landon about this had never really presented itself before. Landon might actually be able to give him the best, most unbiased answer to this question.