I love it.
I tell her as much, and she bursts into giggles.
“Thank you. I think Eli got the white half-mask from Phantom of the Opera.” She pouts behind the mask. “We’ll make a great pair.”
I hug her. It’s impulsive. Since when am I the hugging type?
“I know you will,” I say.
Lenora knocks on the door, pushing it open. “Ah, you girls look so pretty! Riley, that mask is gorgeous. We’ve got about fifteen minutes before the boys show up.”
Riley jerks. “Fifteen minutes? Shoot. Len, we didn’t even get to eat anything!” She rushes out the door, down the stairs.
I chuckle, shrugging. I hate to admit it, but as soon as she mentions food, my stomach growls. The week has been an ongoing saga against food. Or for it, depending on the day.
Lenora’s doctor friend came back with her ultrasound machine after I threw up one morning, but she couldn’t find any internal bleeding. Everything else seemed okay.
Riley returns with a plate of crackers and cheese.
Lenora winks. “I bought that yesterday. Just in case.”
“You’re the best.” I grin.
This plate will be gone in a matter of minutes.
She chuckles and raps her knuckles on the door. “You know what? Keep the guys waiting. Anticipation is half of any romance.”
Riley and I exchange a glance. She’s the first to crack, covering her mouth as laughter sneaks out.
“I have a feeling they’d come up and drag us to the dance…” She tips her head back, laughing harder. “Imagine showing up half-dressed!”
“No shoes.” I snort.
We get quiet, sitting on my bed and stuffing the crackers and cheese into our mouths. We haven’t eaten since lunch. Whose idea was that?
“Let’s get dressed.” Riley closes and locks my door, then unwraps her dress from the plastic. “We’re going to dance our butts off.”
“And where did Caleb say we’re going after?”
She rolls her eyes. “The school hosts an after-party. They lock us all in a building with games and stuff. It’s very… well, lame. No alcohol or anything.”
“When do we get let out?”
“Hypothetically, seven in the morning.”
My lips part. “They’d keep us there until seven? A full, what, eight hours?”
She laughs. “Yeah. It’s ridiculous. Hence why we’re not going…”
She turns away from me and strips, quickly sliding her dress on. “Zip me up?”
I venture closer. She has a tattoo on her shoulder blade. It’s the outline of a bird.
I tap it, not bothering to ask, because she immediately sighs.
“Long story.”
“Okay.” I zip her dress and hook the little catch at the top.
She smooths the fabric and spins around.
I love it just as much as when she tried it in the store.
“Your turn.”
What I didn’t think of—that I definitely should’ve—is that this dress is backless. Backless means no bra. My breasts are pretty small, so that isn’t a concern. What is a concern is the fact that Riley brought little sticky circles for my nipples.
It’s embarrassing, but I guess I’d prefer them to showing everyone how cold I am…
I shake my head. “I’m gonna need to figure this out in private.”
She laughs and tosses me the pack. “Have fun.”
I take my dress and the stickies into the bathroom, staring at myself for a minute. I haven’t done my lipstick yet. If I knew what my mask looked like, it could help me decide. Still, I think Lenora might be onto something. The anticipation of finding out is almost unbearable.
Once everything is situated, I slide my dress up over my hips. It has a higher neckline, like a wide crew neck, and the straps over my shoulders are wide. The whole thing dips low in the back, cutting just inches above my tailbone.
It’s dangerous, but I secretly love it. And the beading. I run my fingers over the intricate swirls along my waist. They curl up toward my breasts and down lower, onto the skirt. The dress is seriously perfect.
I cross the hall back into my room, revealing a few different lipsticks. “Since you apparently know what my mask looks like… what color?”
“You’re beautiful.” She plucks the matte red one and holds it up. “This one.”
I raise my eyebrow. “Really.” I was expecting a light pink or a nude.
“Do it.”
“Girls,” Lenora calls. “Caleb and Eli are here!”
That was fast.
Time is picking up speed, hurtling us toward… Social anxiety.
“We got this,” Riley says, grabbing my hands. “Put that lipstick on, and let’s dazzle them.”
I smile. I swore Riley to secrecy about my dress, just in case Caleb decided to interrogate her while I wasn’t around. I’m not too worried about matching him. Something tells me he’ll have that handled.
After my lipstick is in place, Riley and I strap on our heels. She picks up her mask. And… off we go.
“I’m suddenly nervous,” I admit.
She nods. “Want me to go first?”
“Please.”
At the top of the stairs, I lean against the wall and take a few deep breaths. Riley heads down, and the conversation below screeches to a halt.
“Wow,” Eli mutters. His voice has a way of carrying. “You… that’s beautiful.”
I imagine her raising the mask, pouting like she did in my room.
“Where’s Margo?” Caleb asks.
“Oh, she’s coming,” Riley answers.
He grunts.
“Okay, Margo,” I whisper. I shake out my arms and remind myself to keep breathing.
The heels—gold—aren’t tall enough that I’m going to have trouble. But I still feel off balance as I grip the banister and walk down the stairs.
I hit the landing, round the corner, and my eyes lock onto Caleb.
I come closer, and he holds out his hand to me. There’s fire in his eyes, and I break out in goosebumps. There’s no one else in the room—just him and me and the sudden tension between us.
I slip my hand into his.
He smirks at me and squeezes once. His suit is dark, dark blue. And his tie? Spun through with muted gold and royal blue. It’s subtle enough to escape attention at first glance. But I have a feeling that the two of us together will bring the color out.
It’ll send a message that we’re a pair, him and me.
Someone gasps, and his spell is broken.
I blink and realize he and I have crept closer and closer. My chest almost brushes his. I take a step back, but his hand tightens on mine, keeping me from retreating too far.
Fair enough.
Lenora and Robert are by the kitchen, arms wrapped around each other. And Riley and Eli are staring at us like we’re crazy.
“You’re stunning,” Caleb says in my ear.
I blush.
“And later,” he continues, his voice lowering, “I’m going to fuck you senseless in your dress.”
I shake my head. He’s so inappropriate. Yet, my whole body hurts from the way my muscles clench.
“Would you like to see your mask now?” He grins.
I straighten. Anticipation floods through me. “Yes.”