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Rebecca kicked off her boots, fell back on her bed, and grabbed one of her black silk pillows to her chest.
As her head swam, her heart went under.
What did he mean when he said he was scared to death? she wondered.
I can't believe I spilled my coffee! But at least I didn't have to answer his question about whether I have a sister.
Was it an accident when his he called me his love?
He said we'd keep a tally on playing duel monsters. Does that mean he's going to ask me out again?
I never want to forget when he kissed on the lips when our date ended.
The phone rang, making Rebecca jump. It rang again. Maybe it's Yami! She rolled over and picked it up. "Hello?"
"Greetings, Madam Head of Decorations," Akiza declared dramatically.
Rebecca had forgotten about Becky and the meeting. She sat up with a jolt. "Hi, Akiza. What's up?"
"The deadliest All Hallows' Ball in history, that's what's up," Akiza replied delightedly.
That All Hallows' Ball? Rebecca wondered.
"I'm supposed to be studying," Akiza barreled on, "but I just couldn't stop thinking of ideas. Like, what if you could have your picture taken with a cutout of some of the characters in Trinity Blood?"
"Trinity Blood?" quavered Rebecca.
"You know, that old anime show."
"Uh-huh," Rebecca admitted. She was starting to feel seriously ill.
"Or I think it would be killer if we had coffins near the entrance, and you could get your picture taken getting out of one, right next to your date getting out of his coffin. Isn't that killer?" Akiza rattled on.
Rebecca was dumbfounded. What did Becky do?
"So?" Akiza asked expectantly. "What do you think?"
"Since when does it matter what I think?" Rebecca asked, a little testily.
"Uh, since you came up with the theme, got elected head of decorations, and agreed to have the ball at your house," Akiza answered matter-of-factly.
WHAT? Rebecca's head pounded. She laid back down on her bed.
"Speaking of which, did you talk to your grandpa yet?" Akiza asked.
"No, I didn't speak to my grandpa yet!" Rebecca answered incredulously.
After a long pause, Akiza said, "Rebecca, are you feeling okay?"
"I... um, I'm sorry, Akiza. I just... have a really grave headache. Can I call you back later?" Rebecca managed, and then she hung up, her hands trembling. I never should have let Becky go to that meeting! she thought in a panic.
But then she thought of Yami. If she hadn't gone through with the switch, she wouldn't have been able to go on the date. In fact, if it weren't for Becky, she might never have spoken to Yami at all.
Rebecca let out a sigh. She rummaged through her purse for her phone. She'd saved her sister's number on it when Becky had borrowed it to call home.
"Hopkins residence," Becky answered perkily.
"It's me," Rebecca said.
"Rebecca! You're home!" Becky squealed excitedly. "I tried to call you like fifteen minutes ago! How was it?"
"It was-" Rebecca stopped. "It was perfect," she said at last. She heard Becky gasp as if she'd just opened a wonderful present.
"I knew it," Becky said softly.
Rebecca was suddenly dying to tell her sister everything: where she and Yami had gone, what he said, how he was, and how he had kissed her at the end of the date. Instead she said, "Don't try to change the subject, Becky. I specifically told you to sit in that meeting and not say anything."
"I know," Becky said sheepishly. "I'm sorry."
"And not only did you not do that but you landed me the job at which I'm guaranteed to be a disaster!"
"You won't be a disaster," Becky protested.
"Oh, come on!" Rebecca cried. "Rebecca Hawkins, head of decorations? I don't like pressure, I don't like most people, and I don't like decorating things."
"But you have great taste," her sister countered.
"Becky, you don't understand. This is the most important event of the whole year for"-she just caught herself in time- "for our community."
"I'll help," offered Becky.
"Thanks, but I think I've had enough of your help," Rebecca said, rubbing her temples. "Besides," she added, "who says my grandfather will go for it?"
"Akiza," Becky answered matter-of-factly. "You never told me your grandfather's an interior designer. Everybody seemed to think it was right up his alley."
Rebecca froaned in frustration. It was true: her grandpa would be utterly delighted. He was always trying to get her to be more involved in the community. "With a name like Rebecca," he was always saying, "you should be getting out and about more."
"I'm really sorry, Rebecca. I completely understand why you're upset. I never should have signed you up for something like this. But Akiza says it's cool to be involved with the ball," Becky said.
"It is," Rebecca admitted. "But I can't do it, Becky. I just can't."
"A few hours ago you said you couldn't go on a date with Yami Muto," argued Becky, "and look how how that turned out."
Rebecca was speechless. She was still trying to come up with a suitable comeback when she heard her grandfather pick up the phone.
"Pardon me, Rebecca," he said politely, "but it is time for dinner."
"I'll be up in a minute, Grandpa," Rebecca answered softly. Her grandpa hung up, and Rebecca sighed. She felt so tired. For a moment she said nothing. "Meet me at Burger World tomorrow at 1:00," she said finally to her sister, "and I'll let you know what my grandpa says."
"Great!" Becky exclaimed on the other end of the phone. "So you'll ask him?"
"I'll see you tomorrow," Rebecca finished.
Head aching, Rebecca hung up and stood to go to dinner. She walked to the bottom of the stairs like a zombie. Then, suddenly, she imagined Yami standing on the landing above her, wearing a dashing black tuxedo and lounging against the banisters as he waited for her. He looked gorgeous, his tri-colored hair and frings framing his tan face as he glanced around, clearly admiring the decorations. His gaze finally came to rest on Rebecca, an adoring look in his eyes.
Rebecca shook the thought from her mind, but she couldn't shake the smile that crept onto her face. She skipped up the stairs to talk to her grandpa.
"This place does quite a business," Becky's father said as Becky climbed out of the car in front of the Burger World Diner.
Apparently, Burger World was even more popular for weekend brunch than it was for burgers after school. The line was out the door. Becky sqeezed inside to see if her sister had already arrived.
Sure enough, Rebecca was sitting at her usual table tucked in the back.
Becky bounded over. "Hey!" she cried.
Rebecca responed with a serious-sounding, "Hello, Becky."
Right away, Becky's hear sank. She sat down, ready to learn that they wouldn't be having the All Hallows' Ball at Rebecca's house after all. "Your grandpa said no, didn't he?" she said with a sigh.
Rebecca shook her head. "He said yes."
"Yes?" Becky cried.
"Yes," Rebecca confirmed, her face breaking into a smile.
"That's awesome!" Becky declared.
"And everything's going to be fine," Rebecca added lightly.
Wait a minute, Becky thought. This doesn't sound like Rebecca. She looked at her sister skeptically. "I thought you said this was a terrible idea."
"I do." Rebecca nodded. "But I've figured out how to fix it."
"You're going to burn me with a stake?" Becky joked.
Rebecca grinned. "Close," she said. "Hereafter, you will pretend to be me for all ball planning meetings and decorating activities."
Becky blinked. "You mean you want to switch again?"
Rebecca nodded.
Suddenly the waitress appeared. Rebecca ordered a burger, and Becky ordered Grilled Chicken Salad with extra chicken.
After the waitress was gone, Becky said, "What happened to 'you'll never make it past my friends'?"
"I'm willing to take that risk," said Rebecca. "Apparently, my friends don't know me very well anyway. Head of decorations?" She rolled her eyes.
Becky thought for a moment. She had to admit, being Rebecca at yesterday's meeting had been great fun.
Rebecca said, "There are only two more meetings, right?"
"Uh-huh, plus the actual decorating before the ball." This could work, she thought.
"Then that's the plan," Rebecca said decisively. She flashed the fake mean squint of hers. "You better make me look good."
"For sure," Becky said distractedly. She was already thinking about how she needed to get started on ideads for the next meeting on Friday.
Friday! she thought with a jolt. "I can't do it!" she blurted. "The meetings are on Fridays, and I have dance pracice on Fridays!"
"I know," said Rebecca, nodding calmly.
"Please, Rebecca. I mean, I know I messed up, but if I don't show at the practices. I'll never make the team!"
"I know," Rebecca repeated.
"I really, really, really, really, really want to be a Domino High dancer," Becky said. "You-"
"Becky," Rebecca interrupted, "I'm going to go to your dance practices for you."
Becky was shocked. "You're kidding," she said at last.
"I'm dead serious," Rebecca replied, and she looked it.
That's a terrible idea! thought Becky. She shook her head briskly. "Talking to a duel monster player at lunch and fooling Bulla is easy compared to dancing, Rebecca. Girls train all year for tryouts. I mean, dancing is totally hard."
"Who made the team in sixth grade?" Rebecca demanded.
The waitress set their food down on the table. "Besides," Rebecca went on, "it's not as if it would be for the actual tryout. You'll still get to make the team all on your own."
Becky hesitated.
Rebecca leaned forward, her burger in one hand. "Becky, you got me into this mess," she said in a low voice. "Now you have to get me out of it."
"But-" Becky began.
"The only butt," interrupted Rebecca, "is going to be yours, in the seat, at those meetings." She took a big bite of her burger.
"But I thought you hated dancing," Becky persisted.
"I do, admitted Rebecca with her mouth full. "But I hate party planning more."
Becky thought about it while she started eating her salad. It was her fault that Rebecca was on the planning committee, and owed it to her sister to make things right. "I'll do it," she said at last, "but only if you'll practice with me every day after school. We're going to train together."
"Absolutely," said Rebecca without hesitating.
"I mean it," Becky said seriously. "You've got to be team material if you're going to pretend to be me."
"You bet," Rebecca agreed.
While Rebecca clearly wasn't fazed, Becky felt like someone was dancing in the pit of her stomach. There was just so much that could go wrong. "Is this what you felt like yesterday after we talked on the phone?" she asked in a small voice.
"Worse," Rebecca answered.
Becky took a deep breath. Here we go, she thought. Then she looked up, all business.
"Okay," she said. "That means we only have four days next week to get you into shape. I'm starting you on a strict program for the rest of the weekend. Give me a pen."
"You're giving me homework?" Rebecca asked incredulously, pulling a pen out of her bag and handing it over.
"Sort of," Becky answered, starting to scribble a list on a napkin. "You have four dance movies to rent and watch before Monday."
End of chapter 7