Red(44)

HAYLIE: :( :( :(

Felicity stuffed her phone back into her pocket, relieved that her torturous evening would be slightly shorter.

When everyone had finished their assigned tasks, Topher turned off the overhead lights and switched on the lanterns, streetlamps, and Christmas lights around the makeshift stage for a test run. Felicity knew she should be pleased by what she’d accomplished—the gym looked every bit as magical as she had hoped—but nothing about prom felt exciting anymore. As Kendall led a round of applause for her, their esteemed designer, she tried to memorize the expressions of respect on her classmates’ faces. She’d need to remember them later, when she was alone on the sidelines, the object of everyone’s pity.

Felicity had seen enough prom movies to know that the preparty primping was supposed to be one of the best parts. She went through all the motions, hoping to feel some of that delicious anticipation bubbling up inside her. But now that she had no date, the whole thing just seemed pointless. When she slipped on her vintage thrift-store dress—black with tiny white polka dots and a full skirt supported by frothy red petticoats—it didn’t make her feel playful and vivacious, as it had the day she bought it. At the time, she had imagined how Brent would react when he saw her in it. But now the only one he’d be reacting to was Gabby.

When Felicity dragged herself into the kitchen to say good-bye to her mom, Ginger gave a dramatic gasp and clasped her hands to her heart. “Oh, baby, look at you! You’re so beautiful!” She grabbed the camera off the kitchen counter and ushered Felicity toward the back door. “Come outside, I need photos!”

Felicity grudgingly followed her mom into the yard and endured a few minutes of posing, trying to cover her sadness with elegance and poise. When the camera battery finally ran out, Ginger hugged her good-bye. “Have a fabulous time,” she said. “Don’t get drunk, don’t do drugs, and don’t get pregnant.”

“Mom, who’s going to get me pregnant? I don’t even have a date.”

“I’m your mother. I have to say it.” Ginger kissed her on the cheek and whispered, “I love you. I know this is hard for you, but you’re doing the right thing. Hold that beautiful head high.” Felicity tried, but it was hard to smile through her dejection.

She arrived at Mamma Leoni’s and parked across the street, in front of the fertility clinic that promised to “make those shy MC1R genes express themselves!” The hostess had already seated Haylie, Ryan, Ivy, and Darren at a table with two empty chairs. Haylie was radiant in a flowing shell-pink dress, an orchid corsage the size of a mango around her wrist. Ivy was decked out in a pin-striped suit with tails, and she and Darren had matching yellow rose boutonnieres. She looked absolutely perfect. Both of the boys seemed fidgety and uncomfortable in their rented tuxes, and looking at them sent a pang of longing through Felicity. She had no doubt Brent would wear his tux as if it were a second skin.

Haylie jumped up with a shriek and pulled Felicity into an enthusiastic hug. “You look amazing!” she squealed. “God, I love that dress so much!”

“Yours too,” Felicity said. “Nice suit, Ives.”

Ivy grinned. “I don’t see why I can’t just wear this for the pageant.”

“Doesn’t she look awesome?” Darren agreed, running his hand through Ivy’s spiky hair. Felicity waited for her to bat his hand away and toss out some clever, snarky comment, but Ivy just looked down at her bread plate and blushed a deep shade of raspberry.

Felicity tried to say hi to Haylie’s date, but Ryan was busy inspecting his salad fork at very close range and didn’t seem to notice that there was a new person at the table. When she leaned closer to see what was so fascinating, she caught a strong whiff of pot, and Ryan’s whole personality suddenly made more sense. Every seven seconds or so, he jerked his head violently to the side to flip his shaggy, rock-star hair across his forehead, and Felicity wondered how long it would take for him to stab himself in the eye. She didn’t see how he was going to make it through the prom court dance without embarrassing Haylie.

“Where’s Brent?” asked Ivy, looking around. “Is he parking the car?”

Felicity shook her head. “Actually … can I talk to you guys alone for a second?”

“Sure.” Haylie shot Ivy a worried glance, then headed for the bathroom at the back of the restaurant. Ivy and Felicity followed her, and the three of them squished into the tiny room.

“What’s going on?” asked Ivy when the door was safely locked behind them.

Felicity swallowed hard. “Brent’s not coming.”

“What do you mean? He’s not coming to dinner, or he’s not going to prom?”

“He’s going to prom. Just not with me.”

Haylie’s eyes widened. “Oh my God, Felicity, did you break up?”

“No, it’s nothing like that. He just has to take someone else. It’s not his fault, it’s this community service thing for an athletic scholarship he wants. Some of the guys are taking brunettes who weren’t invited. I told him it was okay, but I’m just … I’m really sad about it.”

“Wow, that seriously sucks.” Haylie rubbed Felicity’s back. “When did you find out?”

“A few days ago.”

“God, he could have at least given you some warning,” Ivy said. “That’s kind of a dick move. Who does he have to take? Is it someone horrible?”