Chapter 10

When Mel woke up on Saturday morning, the first thing she realized was that it the Homecoming Dance was that night. Mike had asked her to go with him before he had dropped her off last night, and the thought of it excited her so much that she sprang out of bed. She went downstairs and skipped into the kitchen, opening the fridge.

"Hey little sis. It's about time you woke up."

Mel jumped about a foot and spun around, her heart hammering in her chest. "Zack! Don't scare me like that!"

Zack laughed from where he was sitting on the couch. "Sorry Melly, I thought you saw me when you came downstairs."

"No," Mel replied, embarrassed.

"Oh," Zack said, and then he grinned. "Well, I saw you. What made you so happy that you decided to skip around the kitchen?"

"The Homecoming Dance is tonight!" Mel chirped, pulling a carton of orange juice out of the fridge. She set it on the counter and opened one of the cabinets, pulling out a glass.

"Oh yeah, that's right," Zack said, remembering. "I'm guessing you're going with your boyfriend?"
Mel felt a little thrill of happiness run through her. She still wasn't quite used to referring to Mike as her boyfriend, but she loved the fact that he was. "Yep! He is!"

"Am I going to have to give you the talk?" Zack asked.

"The talk?" Mel repeated, clearly confused.

"Yeah, you know, about sex," Zack said simply, his eyes fixed on the TV screen.

Mel's face turned bright red at that, and she squeaked, "What?!"

"Yeah, you know what happens after dances," Zack said, glancing at her for a moment before returning his attention to the TV. "Everyone goes back to their houses and has sex."

"Really?" Mel said, eyes wide. The thought of being with Mike in that way wasn't horrifying. In fact, she actually liked the thought of it. But they had only been together for two weeks, and Mel didn't want Mike thinking that she was easy.

Zack grinned at her. "I'm just kidding, kiddo. Some people do that, but you sure as hell aren't."

"Oh," Mel said, relaxing. She glanced at the clock and gasped, "Eve is going to be here soon!"

That seemed to catch Zack's attention. His head snapped around, and he said, "Eve is coming over here?"

"Yes!" Mel said excitedly. A few days ago she had brought Eve over, and she and Zack and chatted for awhile while Mel had gone to the bathroom. When she came out, the two of them both had huge grins on their faces.

"That's weird," Zack murmured. "I thought I was supposed to pick her up at her house."

Mel stopped halfway up the stairs and turned slowly to look at him. "Wait, what?"

"I was supposed pick Eve up at her house," Zack repeated. "You know, to take her to the dance."

Mel's eyes practically bulged out of her head. "Wait...you're the hot date that she was going on about at lunch?" Yesterday Eve had been talking about the guy who was going to take her, but she had refused to tell them who it was.

A gigantic grin spread across Zack's face. "She called me hot?"

Mel was in shock. It wasn't that the thought of her best friend and her brother dating disturbed her, it was just the fact that she was finding out about it now.

Her head swimming with this new information, Mel went upstairs to her room to get ready for the dance.

When Eve arrived a half hour later, she found Mel in the bathroom, already in her dress and straightening her hair. "Melly, you look so beautiful," she gasped, stopping in the doorway.

Mel was in a short red strapless dress with a sweetheart neckline and a silver sparkly belt. She looked up when she heard Eve's voice and smiled warmly. "You really think so, Eve?"

"I know so," Eve replied. "Mike isn't going to be able to take his eyes off of you. Or his hands."
Mel blushed and then straightened up, putting the flat iron down. "Do you need help getting into your dress, Eve?"

"Yes please," Eve replied, laying out a dress bag on Mel's bed. She unzipped it to reveal a short one-shoulder dark purple dress, with gold sequins sewn to the hem and bodice. Mel thought it was beautiful already, but when she zipped Eve into it it became gorgeous.

"How do I look?" Eve asked, doing a little twirl.

"Gorgeous," Mel said in awe.

Eve smiled, but before she could reply there was a knock on the door.

"Mel," Zack called. "Your boyfriend is here."

Mel's eyes lit up, and she grabbed Eve's hand. "Let's go!"

When they got to the bottom of the stairs, they found Mike and Zack waiting by the door. Mike looked even more handsome than usual in a tux and red tie, and Zack was dressed similarly except for a purple tie. They both looked amazing.

Mel went over to Mike, who gazed at her with a wondrous look in his blue eyes. "Melly..." he breathed. "You look...stunning..."

Mel bit her bottom lip, taking in the sight of him. "You look so handsome."

Mike smiled, and then he held out his hand. "Shall we?"

Mel happily took it, and he led her out the door to his truck.

The dance was being held in the gym of the high school, which had been decorated so well that it didn't even look like a gym anymore. Orange and purple streamers had been hung from the rafters, and purple and orange balloons were everywhere. The back part of the gym held tables and chairs, and the front part was the dance floor. Fast-paced music was playing when Mel, Mike, Zack, and Eve entered, but it wound down to an end and changed to a slow song.

Mike tugged gently on Mel's hand, looking down at her with soft eyes. "Dance with me?"

Mel nodded happily and allowed him to lead her out onto the dance floor, which was now packed with couples. Mike pulled her into his arms, and it was then that she recognized the song that was playing. It was called "Wait for Me" by Theory of a Deadman, and it was one of her favorites.

Apparently it was one of Mike's favorites too, because he was singing the lyrics softly in her ear as they swayed slowly to the music. Mel leaned her head against his chest, feeling so warm and happy. Not only that, but she felt in love. It was a feeling that she had never felt before, but she really, really liked it.