“You’re right,” he said, eyes cast down. “You did all of that for me.”
I inhaled deeply, ignoring the throbbing pain in my hand. “And that’s why you’re going to do me a favor.”
He looked up quickly, forehead creased. “What?”
“I need you to do something for me. Stop this once and for all and maybe redeem yourself in the process.”
“I don’t need redemption.”
“Every story needs a redemption, Justin, and here?
??s your chance to earn it.”
He nodded, seeming to understand I was giving him a second chance. We wouldn’t be friends anymore but he could at least clean up his mess. “What do you want me to do?”
I smiled, relieved and thankful I didn’t have to push harder. We had a lot to go over to get this right. Every move we made had to be perfect, but before we could start I held up my swollen hand and asked, “Do you have any ice?”
Chapter 25
I twisted, checking myself from all angles in the mirror. Smoothing the full skirt from the waist, I couldn’t hide my pleasure at the simple, beautiful dress. The style was retro—fifties, full taffeta skirt. Tight, strapless bodice. Charcoal, with layers of black and white crinoline underneath.
Amber loaned me this one, determining my other not dramatic enough for the night ahead. She was probably right. Heaven Reeves had proved one thing over the past few months. She isn’t like other girls. No. She was bolder. Stronger. And my winter formal wear should reflect that.
As suspected, my mother not only approved of my dress but also my date. Justin stood in my shabby but tidy living room, in a tight, black suit and skinny black tie holding a bouquet of wildflowers. There was a distinct lack of interest in his eyes; why wouldn’t there be? I wasn’t his type, amazing dress or not.
Amber and Benjamin showed up looking amazing and after a few rounds of obligatory photos, we piled into Ben’s car and drove to the dance.
“Heaven,” Amber said, twisting in the front seat. “You look amazing.”
“You look pretty outstanding yourself,” I told her. Amber’s fashion sense was bold, opting for a solid white halter-top pantsuit. The neckline plunged, but in a classy, sophisticated way. She looked like a 1940s starlet.
“I’m just hoping I don’t spill something.”
I laughed. “You may be testing the gods on that one.”
The dance was at the school, of course. There was no other place to hold it in our tiny town. I'd never been to a dance before, which contributed to the nerves fluttering in my belly. Despite my excitement, everything felt off. Justin’s hand on my elbow felt wrong. I wanted a different experience—a different night with different guys. I wanted to think of ways to gyrate against Oliver while we danced, or how to get Hayden beneath the back row of the folded-up bleachers. I wanted a silly picture with Jackson and a slow dance with Anderson.
Really? Was that too much for a girl to ask?
"Stop it," Amber said, while the boys exchanged our tickets at the table near the front door.
I frowned. "Stop what?"
"All this over-thinking.”
“There’s a lot riding on tonight, Amber. One slip and the whole plan crumbles.”
"Ready?" Justin asked, linking an arm through mine. Once we walked through that door there was no going back.
“I’m ready to get this over with.”
He bent down and whispered in my ear as we walked into the gym. “You know, you really do look beautiful, Heaven.”
“Thank you.” It meant more than it should. Things were still really tense between us. Things were really tense in general.
"Oh look! A disco ball!" I was momentarily surprised at how not-crappy the gym looked. The dance/decoration/Martha Stewart-wannabe committee made the place not smell and feel like Teen Spirit.
The room had been transformed into a winter wonderland. Icicles hung from the ceiling along with twinkling lights. Glittery snowflakes sprinkled across the stage, accented with blue light. I searched the room and slowly, everything clicked in place.