Part Three
"This is hopeless," Tam said to his pillow. He was lying face down on his bed after trying on every outfit combination possible. Linh patted his back. "It's going to be okay," Linh exclaimed trying to comfort him. "No it's not!" Tam yelled sounding muffled by his pillow. "Oh, quit being an overdramatic child." "The party's in less than two hours! I have nothing to wear. What do you want me to do? Go to the party naked?" Tam screamed from his pillow. "Please don't do that." Linh groaned. "Tam, what you're wearing doesn't matter as long as you just be yourself and say something nice," "Which one, it's not like I can do both?" He said, rolling over. She groaned "What about these?" "Where did you find those?" Tam said, sitting up. "The back of your closet, why?" "They were there for a reason." "Come on, they're not that bad. They would help you stand out." Linh suggested in a desperate attempt to get Tam to just put some clothes on and stop laying on the bed in his boxers. "That is the exact reason they were there." Tam said as he accidentally rolled off the bed."That's what you get for walking around in your undies!" Linh said cracking up. Tam got up and put on the outfit Linh had picked for him.
Tam and Linh glittered into focus next to Everglen's gate, and waited for their dates to let them in. When Biana opened the gate Tam thought he'd died and went to heaven. Biana looked sooo beautiful! She wore a one-sleeved purple dress with a five-foot train, which perfectly highlighted her scars. Her silky hair framed her wonderful face. "Wow," Tam said under his breath. Fitz stocked up behind her, annoyed that she was spending the night with Tam. "You're sure you want to go with him," Fitz grumbled to Biana "I'm sure," Biana said sweetly.
Tam knew he had to say something but he couldn't think or speak. Open your mouth and compliment her! A tiny voice in his head said. "You look… uh… really….nice." Tam stammered. YOU'RE A COMPLETE IDIOT! "Thanks!" Biana said with the most sincere and beautiful smile Tam had ever seen. Tam glanced at Linh for help but she just gave him a thumbs up. Behind her Fitz was glaring at Tam, sending telepathic threats. "Well… should we go?" Tam asked in a squeaky voice so unlike his own. "Sure, don't want to keep everyone waiting," Biana said as she took Tam's hand and dragged him toward the leapmaster. Tam's heart skipped a beat when Biana's hand closed around his. He could feel his cheeks start to burn. Before long he would surely be as red as a tomato.