Chapter 17: Glimmering Coals by Victory Thru Tears
Adam's POV
I spread the gel through my hair evenly, making sure that my part is laser-beam straight. I hear a knock on my door, and straighten my tie one last time. Luis is already gone to pick up his girlfriend, so I know that it can be nobody but Charlie.
He's supposed to meet me after picking up the flowers, and then we were to go meet Taz and Maya. I'm dressed in a nice black suit, as required for the dance. When Eden Hall has an event, they go all out.
I walk to the door and open it.
I wish I were a girl.
Charlie's standing in front of me, a big grin on his face. He's holding two white boxes under his arm, showing me that he's picked up the corsages for our dates. He looks magnificent. Why can't he take me to the dance?
I then remember Maya and Taz, and our bargain. I figure that it's ok—Charlie and I will end up together anyway.
"Hi sweetie," he says. I manage a smile, still shocked by his appearance.
"Hi Cake-eater." He can't resist using that nickname. I guess I look like a regular Eden Hall prep right now.
"Oh, I'm hurt…" I say with a hand over my heart. I turn my attention to the boxes in his hands, before ushering him into my dorm. "Which one's for Maya?"
He shrugs unconcernedly. "Don't know, don't care."
"Hey, you can't have that attitude. Then they'll get mad, and, well… Taz will start yelling again."
Charlie shudders. "Yeah, you're right." He hands me a box, and we start to head towards the girls' dormitory. "I talked to Fulton."
I glance at him, unsure of what he's going to say next.
"He was really great about it. Neither he nor Portman is going to kill us."
I want to believe him, but I really can't. "Charlie, they're mean and vicious. Portman's always… hurting things… and, hey, remember that time when Fulton pushed me into a big pile of garbage?" My voice sounds high-pitched and shaky.
"Adam, you were ten years old. Also, you were a Hawk. And, you were picking on us," he sounds exasperated.
"I was not. McGill and Larson were." We've had this argument before.
"Anyway, the point is that there's nothing for you to be worried about."
I don't say anything.
He stops walking and holds my shoulders. "Adam, come on. Trust me."
I sigh. He always has to use that stupid line of reasoning. Yeah, I do trust him. So yeah, I will believe him.
We reach the girls' room, and Charlie makes me knock. Maya opens the door. She's wearing a long black dress, and her hair looks even more orange than usual. She snorts with laughter upon seeing us.
"Nice suits," she snickers. I see Taz in the background. She's wearing a bright purple dress, almost the same shade as her hair. Every time I see her she reminds me a little bit more of a grape. She catches one glimpse of Charlie, and comes bounding out of the room. She jumps into Charlie's arms.
"Take me! Make a 'normal' woman out of me!"
Maya gives her another look telling her to quiet down. Charlie steps away from Taz, a scowl on his face.
"We don't have to look like dates just yet," he mutters. Taz shrugs, and grabs two white boxes identical to ours. She passes one to Maya, who takes the boutonniere. She pins it on to my shirt, careful not to prick me. I know what to do with my corsage, having watched my older brother do this many times in his own teenage hood.
"Ow! Watch it!" I look over at Charlie and Taz.
"Sorry, sorry…" From the look of her grin, it doesn't seem as if she's sorry at all. She jabs the pin into his chest again.
"Will you stop it?" he yells.
"I said I was sorry…" She keeps on poking him. She's not even trying to look as if she's pinning on his boutonniere.
"Here, just let me do it." Maya takes the pin and flower from her, and efficiently fixes it to Charlie's shirt.
"Thank you," Charlie grumbles, rubbing his chest.
"Stop complaining," Taz says, taking Maya's arm.
"I wasn't talking to you," he shoots back, holding my hand.
We start to walk away from the dormitory.
"You know, this isn't quite right. As much as I'd love to be Taz's date, I'm not." Maya reluctantly moves from her girlfriend's arm and over to mine.
"I'm not touching him," Taz says loudly. We're nearing the hall where the dance is to be.
"Hey, I'm not looking forward to touching you either." Charlie hasn't let go of my hand. I sigh, and shake him off. I can see most of the Ducks standing around outside of the building, waiting for the others to show up.
"Grow up, Conway," I say, smiling.
"This is going to suck," he announces, gingerly setting his arm around the small girl, who mumbles something in Irish.
I don't think it will suck, but it will definitely be interesting.