Brody led her slowly to the back of the limo, Mina walking on the balls of her feet so as not to damage her heels in the grass. He opened the door to let her slide in. Mina was so short she had a bit of trouble maneuvering up into the limo, especially with the dress. Once she was in, Nan slid in behind her and moved down toward the drink bar. “Look, sparkling cider.” She opened the cider and poured a few glasses.
Mina took the glass and sipped it cautiously, fully aware of Jared’s direct gaze. Nan handed a drink to Brody who put it in a cup holder. As they took off, Nan fiddled with the radio stations and finally found a rock station worth jamming to.
The music seemed a surreal backdrop to the scene in the limo: Nan bobbing her head to the music, Jared sitting against the black leather, brooding silently across from her, and Brody decked out in knives, his bow and arrow parked beside him, studying everyone with an intense look.
“Happy birthday MINA!” Nan yelled out and giggled. Jared’s head flipped to Mina with a look of horror on his face. She supposed she hadn’t told him that the day she’d faced one of the scariest tales would also be her birthday. Not that he’d asked. Mina broke eye contact first and nervously played with a pleat on her skirt.
Her head started to pound from the loud music and she desperately wished the limo would fly to the school, so they could already be there. The limo ride, though beautiful, was unbearably tense. She sighed in relief when the driver turned into the school parking lot and pulled up to drop them off at the entrance. Then she saw the crowd. Over two dozen students were milling around outside, and several started whistling when they saw the stretch limo, knowing only Brody Carmichael could be inside Among them, Savannah White and all her friends.
When Mina and Nan stepped out of the limo behind the two hottest boys in school, Savannah’s smile turned downright ugly. She’d come dressed in light blue, her blonde hair piled high in a bun with a tiara. She was obviously Cinderella, and Pricilla, with her green dress and stuffed frog purse, the princess from “The Princess and the Frog.”
Mina tried not to look Savannah’s way, but she could see her whispering furiously to Pri out of the corner of her eye. She felt sorry for her, for a moment, knowing Brody had once meant something to her, too. But then she heard her snicker, “Little Grimy Hood” as she passed by, and felt all sympathy drain from her mind.
When they arrived at the doors, the security guards did indeed do a pat down and checked all of Brody’s fake knives and arrows. Mina considered asking Jared to make her a weapon later in the night.
Nan and Mina entered the gym and gasped in surprise at the visual wonderland the student council had created, complete with sparkling lights and full-sized set pieces. Rapunzel’s tower had been set up next to the giant gingerbread house and wishing well. Even the bench where Mina and Brody had shared their first kiss now looked as romantic as a fairy tale. Giant gates and an archway sectioned off the areas for pictures, food, and dancing.
Fog machines were hidden around the gym creating misty paths, the colored lights creating ambiance. Even the D.J. was spinning had gotten into the enchanted theme, donning ogre ears and large patchwork clothes.
Dancing on the floor was a visual montage of fairy tale, storybook and mythical animals. A Minotaur was trying to pour punch for a Unicorn. A fawn was dancing with a goose girl maiden. Mina saw various wolves, sheep, and dragons, usually milling about in clusters off the dance floor. Those that weren’t animals had chosen to be a prince, princess or knight. Frank and Steve could be seen pretending to joust, using stick horses and the school’s flags.
D.J. Ogre, his requested moniker for the night, pulled out some slower music, and the dance floor that was hopping began to empty as couples filed on.
“Do you want to dance?” Brody asked.
“I’m not sure you should risk it,” Mina said, flushing bright red.
“It’ll be fine, if you let me lead.” Brody took Mina’s hands and led her onto the floor. He was right, as long as Mina let Brody lead, she didn’t have any problems finding the rhythm or staying away from his feet. It was perhaps the most graceful she’d felt all her life. Of course the dress didn’t hurt.
“See, you’re doing great.” Brody said, encouraging Mina and holding her closer. “You know, I should have thought twice about bringing you here.”
Mina was startled by his words. Was he now realizing that he was ashamed of her? Did she step on his toes? She’d thought that she was doing just fine. “What do you mean?”
“I thought that I could handle bringing you to the dance, but I’m finding that’s not true.” His hands tightened around her waist and he leaned in to whisper in her ear. “Every Steve, Frank and Larry can’t take their eyes off of you.” Brody nodded with his chin toward a crowd of boys, and Mina snuck a quick peek over her shoulder before turning bright pink with embarrassment. He was right, everyone was staring at them.
“Maybe it’s you. You do usually have a lot of people staring at you,” she tried.
“That’s kind, but I doubt that many boys at our school find me so attractive.” As they circled the room, Brody glared at the boys, and a few actually turned away in embarrassment. Some began texting on their phones, while others refused to budge their gaze.
“I’m sorry; I hope I did nothing to embarrass you.”
“Don’t apologize; this is not your fault. You can’t help looking so gorgeous.”
Mina’s cheeks turned pink. When the song began to die down, Brody had finally had enough. “Will you be safe next to Nan? I really want to go talk to those guys.” Brody walked Mina over to Nan, who was talking animatedly to a short boy with glasses.
Once Brody walked away, Nan leaned over and whispered to her. “Can you believe the attention you’re getting? I’ve never seen anything like it.” She nudged Mina and pointed to another group of guys wearing various animal masks.
“Nan, I don’t think they attend our school,” Mina whispered. She was right; there was a completely different group of students that couldn’t or wouldn’t take their eyes off of her. To test a theory, Mina looped her arm through Nan’s and walked over to a food table. They followed at a distance, trying to not draw attention.
“They ARE following you!” Nan mouthed.
“Where’s Brody?” Mina walked back to where she had last seen him, but he was gone. “I have to find Jared!” Mina called out, feeling herself panic. If she couldn’t have Brody by her side, at least she wanted to know where Jared was.
“I don’t know. He danced with me for a few songs, but then he disappeared. Mina, those guys are coming over her.”” Nan nodded with her chin to the group of guys again. They had stopped trying to blend in with the crowd and now moved menacingly toward Mina and Nan.
The tingling sensation began in Mina’s body and she knew it was time. But instead of rising to the occasion, she lost her nerve. “Nan, I have to get out of here.” She began to pull on Nan’s arm, and together they turned and headed for an exit.