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*“I’ve got errands to run. Cassidy and I are doubling with Elise and Tyson, so Tyson and I have to pick up our tuxes. But I’ll see you tomorrow night. You can rub it in then.”

“Oh.” I wasn’t sure why his answer stung. “Well, why don’t you just concede the bet now then? You know you’re a loser.”

His mouth dropped open. “I’m a what?”

“That wasn’t an insult, just a prediction on the outcome of our bet.”

He shook his head. “Samantha, you’re such a cheater.”

“Tell it to the lobster,” I said, and walked away.

CHAPTER 13

On Saturday I took off work so I could help the rest of the decorating committee turn the PHS cafeteria into a ballroom with ambience. We brought in silk trees and set up a fountain in the corner. We intertwined angel hair and ribbons along the railings. I personally tacked up twinkle lights from one end of the room to the other. I even had my dad come in and help me wire them across the ceiling so they’d look like stars.

At six o’clock Josh picked me up for dinner. He stood in my living room, looking like he’d just stepped off a billboard advertising gorgeous men, and pinned a corsage of pink roses on my dress. Then I fumbled to pin the boutonniere on his lapel without impaling him while my parents took at least a dozen pictures to memorialize the event.

Finally, we left the photo shoot and went to dinner at Basilos. While we ate, I learned Josh was studying premed at college. Very impressive. He’d actually be able to afford that villa in Spain.

He asked me about school, and it’s funny because every once in a while I wanted to complain about the teachers or some of the kids that went to PHS, but I didn’t. I just couldn’t bring myself to. It was like the last two weeks of never insulting anyone had rubbed off on me, and it still felt unnatural to say anything bad about anyone. I was afraid Logan would jump out from somewhere, point a finger at me, and scream, “Aha!”

Logan. He would laugh if he knew what he had done to me with his silly bet. And he’d laugh if he knew I was sitting here with my prom date thinking of him. I’m sure wherever he and Cassidy were, he wasn’t thinking about me.

Josh took a sip of water from his glass, but then instead of picking up his fork again, he smiled over at me. “You’ve really changed since last year.”

“Oh?” This was the part where he would tell me he’d been a fool, that he should have dated me instead of Cassidy—that I wasn’t second-best.

“Last year . . ." He shrugged, as though he wasn’t sure how to explain. “You were so cynical.”

“Cynical?”

“You were always criticizing everyone.”

I stared at him, a terrible lump forming in my stomach.

He must have thought my staring meant I didn’t understand him. “I mean, I’m glad you’ve changed, because being around critical people always makes me nervous. I figure it will only be a matter of time before they start criticizing me.”

I wanted to tell him, You can stop elaborating now. I get it. You thought I insulted people. You probably thought I couldn’t go two weeks without insulting someone.

Logan had been right about me. Oh, that hurt.

So I wouldn’t have to say anything for a moment, I took another bite of my dinner. I tried to console myself with the resolve that I would change. From now on, I’d be a kinder, gentler Samantha. I hadn’t insulted anyone for over two weeks, and I could continue my streak. Then the compliment Josh had paid me would be true. I wanted it to be true.

I smiled back at Josh. “I wouldn’t think you’d have to worry about anyone being critical of you. I mean, what’s to criticize?”

He laughed and said, “You obviously haven’t spent a lot of time talking to Elise about me, have you?”

“Nope.”

He picked up his fork, but then paused. “You guys didn’t really get along last year. I could never figure out why that was.”

The old me would have volunteered several reasons, starting with the fact that I’d heard Elise, on more than one occasion, call me “her royal blondness,” but the new me refrained. I smiled and shrugged like I too thought it was a mystery.

After dinner we drove to the high school for the Cinderella-like portion of the evening. As we went up the school steps I just knew magic awaited us on the dance floor.

Josh would hold me close, look into my eyes, and everything would be perfect.

As we walked into the lobby, music filled the air and I could smell the soft scent of rose petals all around me. Actually, the prom committee had bought a dozen Springtime Bouquet air fresheners and placed them around the room. However the effect was the same—I breathed in the sweet smell of romance.

I took Josh’s arm as we walked toward the dance floor. I had arrived at the ball.

It felt strange to dance to rock music in a formal dress. I almost felt like we should waltz or something; but no one else seemed to feel uneasy, and so after a few minutes I didn’t either.

Usually when I dance with a guy, he looks at me. Josh kept peering around the room.

Probably taking a trip down memory lane. The next song came on, and he still kept glancing around every few seconds. Probably appreciating all the work I’d put into the decorations.

Or maybe he was searching for someone.

I got my answer when Cassidy and Logan walked into the room. Josh’s gaze went to her—and stayed there for several moments.

True, she did look pretty. She wore a flowing baby-blue dress, and her hair was piled on the top of her head with little pink roses tucked in here and there. Sophisticated and innocent. Even Chelsea would be impressed.

Josh was probably only staring at her because she looked so different than she usually did. In a moment his attention would return to me. Certainly.

In the meantime, I stole a glance at Logan. Standing there in his tux, he looked taller, older, handsome. He took Cassidy’s arm, smiled down at her, and led her to the dance floor.

The song ended, and a slow one followed. Josh gently pulled me into his arms. I had been awaiting this moment, but somehow it didn’t make me feel tingly. It just made me feel like we were now in slow-dance position. I kept wondering if he was watching Cassidy over my shoulder.

I tried to change the subject, even though we hadn’t been talking. “I don’t suppose the school is much different than it was when you were here last year.”

“No, not unless the twinkle lights are a permanent addition.”

“Hey, don’t make fun of my twinkle lights. I stood on a ladder for two hours this morning putting those things up.”

He chuckled. “You did a good job with the decorations. You’re very dedicated.

You’ll make a good president.”

“You really think that?”

“Sure.”

“Elise and Cassidy are campaigning for Amy Stock.” I’m not sure why I said this. I suppose I wanted him to know the truth about Cassidy and to stop staring wistfully at her.

Instead, he immediately turned and looked at her again. “Really? Why?”

I wanted to say, Because she isn’t my friend. Because she’s vindictive and mean.

Instead, I shrugged. “I guess it’s just one of those things.”

My friends would truly be disappointed at how far my scathing commentaries had sunk.

Josh squeezed my hand lightly, sympathetically. “I’d vote for you if I could.”

“Thanks.” I felt a little better.

At least I felt a little better until the next time he glanced over at Cassidy. And the next time after that. And the time after that.

By the time we’d danced through a couple more songs, my jaw was clenched so tight I probably looked like the prom version of the nutcracker.

Prince Charming, I was sure, never looked at someone else while he was dancing with Cinderella. I thought back to our conversation at the restaurant. “What could anyone criticize you for, Josh?” I’d asked.