Geek High (22 page)

A
s it turned out, Felicity wasn't awful. In fact, she was pretty good, if a bit tentative as she launched into her first song, ABBA's “Dancing Queen” (Charlie's suggestion, of course).

Snake House, on the other hand, struggled to all play the same song at the same time. But most of the crowd was having so much fun, they didn't seem to notice. Charlie even dragged me out on the dance floor when Felicity and Snake House broke into a recognizable cover of the Killers' “Mr. Brightside.” I danced with Charlie and her date, Mitch—who looked surprisingly cute out of his Grounded uniform—and even Morgan joined us. I could see Finn dancing with Leila…if you could call it dancing. Mostly Finn was just jumping up and down in place, and looking like a total goofball. Even Christopher Frost was there with a date; I saw him leading mousy Angel Baker—a freshman and two-time winner of the state spelling bee—out onto the dance floor.

I tried not to dwell on the fact that even Christopher had a date, while I did not, and instead comforted myself with the knowledge that everyone seemed to be having a ball. Even Felicity eventually got over her inhibitions, and seriously got into her role as Rocker Girl. She started to shimmy her hips and make eyes at her boyfriend, Yale Justin, as she sang.

“Look out, world,” Charlie shouted in my ear. “Next thing you know, Felicity will be auditioning for
American Idol
.”

“I seriously wouldn't be surprised,” I said. “You know she'd love the attention.”

When Felicity and Snake House transitioned into a slower-paced rendition of Coldplay's “Green Eyes,” and all of the couples began pairing up, I turned to leave before I found myself in the embarrassing predicament of being the only partnerless person on the dance floor. Even Morgan had a partner; she was dancing with Yale Justin, although he didn't once take his eyes off of Felicity. And, actually, Morgan didn't take her eyes off of Snake, either. It was almost sweet, I thought.

“Miranda, don't go,” Charlie said. She tried to grab my hand to keep me from leaving the dance floor.

“I don't have a partner,” I said, feeling myself turn red.

“You can dance with Mitch and me,” Charlie offered sweetly. And even though Mitch didn't look thrilled by this idea, he nodded gamely, holding out his hand to me.

“Sure,” he said. “Come on.”

I shook my head. “No, it's okay. I'm thirsty anyway. I'm going to get a soda.”

I turned and walked away before Charlie could talk me out of leaving. I held my head high, and tried not to let it bother me that I was alone. At a dance. While the most romantic song ever written was being played. Standing in a glamorous room full of balloons and twinkle lights, with an amazing view of the river out of the tall glass double doors that lined one side of the room. Nope. I didn't mind at all.

I got my soda and stood to one side, fanning myself with the little jeweled bag and trying to look relieved at being able to take a break, as I watched the dancers. Emmett and Hannah were holding each other close, her head tucked against his shoulder. Charlie was trying to talk Mitch into attempting a goofy sort of a waltz. Finn was rocking stiffly back and forth from one foot to the other, with his hands firmly planted on Leila's hips. Tate Metcalf was spinning Padma Paswan around in a circle. A few of the chaperones were dancing too. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon were gliding along, as were Headmaster Hughes and Miss Tilley, my Latin teacher.

And suddenly, I
did
mind being there alone. I minded a lot. Sure, Nicholas wouldn't have been my dream date, but at least I would have had someone to dance with during the slow songs…instead of having to stand by myself off to one side, feeling like the world's biggest loser. I set down my plastic soda cup and headed for the doors that led out to the deck overlooking the river. At least out there I could be alone, and away from all of the nauseating coupledom.

I opened the doors and stepped out onto the wood porch that wrapped around the Oar Room. I was immediately cooled by the brisk breeze blowing off the water. It was such a beautiful night—the sky was cloudless and dark, except for the moon, which hung low and round off in the distance. The stars were easily visible above, a canopy of tiny lights. And off in the distance, two boats were making their slow progress toward each other along the water. One looked like a party boat, from the lights strung along it from bow to stern.

I walked over to the wooden railing and leaned against it, breathing in the salty air, and tried to focus on the positive. The Snowflake was a success, after all. Everyone was having a good time, and—at the very least—no one was bored to tears by a string of dry academics droning on and on about the need for accelerated programs at the university level, or some other such drivel that we were supposed to care about, but of course didn't. So I wouldn't be the most reviled student at Geek High. In fact, my fellow students might even appreciate what I had accomplished, with the help of my committee, of course.

And who needed a boy to have a good time anyway? Not me. No. I had Girl Power. I'd proven to myself that I could go to a dance on my own, hold my head up high, and have a good time. Feeling better with this pep talk, I took in a deep breath and straightened up. The slow song would be over soon, and then the band was due to take a break, so I'd just hang out with Charlie, Finn, and the others, and have a fine time while I was at it. I turned, and even took a step toward the doors, before I saw him, framed in the doorway. The lights of the dance glowed behind him, sparking against the golden-red highlights in his hair. And I couldn't help inhaling a sharp breath of surprise, as the zing hit me.

It was
Dex
.

“H
i,” Dex said, stepping forward onto the deck. He was wearing a blue blazer over a white shirt and crisply ironed khaki pants. A striped tie hung around his neck. His hands were stuffed casually into his pants pockets.

“Hi,” I said. “What are you doing here?”

And then suddenly I realized: He must have come as someone's date. Disappointment crashed over me. This was too much to deal with. It had been hard enough watching Emmett and Hannah fall for each other. But I couldn't bear seeing Dex pull some other girl into his arms, holding her close as they danced. I just couldn't. I gripped my purse a little more tightly, thankful that it contained my cell phone. As soon as I could get away from Dex, I'd call my dad and have him pick me up.

But then Dex said, “I came to find you.”

I had to work really hard to keep my mouth from dropping open in shock.

“You came…to find…
me
?” I asked slowly, wanting to make sure I'd heard him correctly.

Dex nodded.

“But how did you even know I was here?” I asked.

“Hannah. She called me this afternoon, and told me that your date had fallen through,” Dex said. “She asked me to meet you here.”

“She did?” I asked.

He nodded and smiled crookedly. His entire face seemed to suddenly glow luminously. I smiled back at him, not able to help myself, even as my mind churned with questions. Why had Hannah called him? And why had he come? Was he supposed to be my date? And did he even
want
to be my date, or was he just doing Hannah a favor?

“Sorry about my clothes,” Dex said. “It was too late to rent a tux, and these are the dressiest clothes I own.” He picked up his tie and grinned at it self-deprecatingly. “Except for the tie. That's my dad's.”

“You look”—
amazing, incredible, eminently kissable
—“fine,” I finished weakly.

“Thanks,” Dex said. He stepped forward, so that he was standing only an arm's length away from me. My pulse began to drum loudly, and my stomach fluttered with excitement. He was so close now. So very, very close. I could see how pale his eyelashes were. So pale they were almost silver. I hadn't noticed that before.

“You look really pretty,” he said softly.

And then he reached out and lightly touched my newly smoothed hair. I had to hold my breath so as not to do something incredibly embarrassing, like squeaking with excitement.

Dex gently tugged on a lock of hair. “Your hair's different.”

“I straightened it,” I said, the words sounding creaky.

“It looks nice,” Dex said. He moved forward again, and for one heart-stopping moment I thought he might actually be moving in for a kiss…but then he stepped past me and looked out at the river. The lights from the Yacht Club were reflected on the water, glowing there as though there were lights submerged beneath. The two boats off in the distance had now passed each other, and were chugging off in the opposite direction. Dex turned suddenly to face me, leaning back casually against the railing.

“So what happened to your date?” he asked.

“Who, Nicholas?” I asked. “Oh…he wasn't really a date. I mean, he
was
, but…well. We were just going as friends,” I said.

“Did
he
know that?” Dex asked, so perceptively I blushed.

“I'm not sure,” I admitted.

“So what happened to him?”

“He has chicken pox,” I said.

Dex whistled. “Bad luck,” he said, and he looked at me with a bemused expression that made me think he knew just how brokenhearted I hadn't been that Nicholas had canceled on me. Which nettled me, because, really, it wasn't like I'd wished chicken pox on the poor guy. I crossed my arms and glowered at Dex, which made him grin.

“That's more like it. I hardly recognize you when you're not frowning at me,” he said cheerfully.

I rolled my eyes, but I did uncross my arms. “Seriously…why did you come tonight?” I asked, trying to keep my temper in check.

“I already told you. Hannah said that you needed an escort,” Dex said. As though this explained everything…when, in fact, it explained nothing.

I raised my eyebrows. “You just came here tonight as a favor to Hannah?” I asked, while hoping, hoping, hoping that this wasn't true.

Dex didn't speak for a long moment. “No. I'm not doing Hannah a favor,” he finally said, his voice soft.

He stepped closer to me, so close I had to tip my head back to look up at him. He lifted one hand and rested it gently on the back of my neck, and with his other hand he gently brushed a stray lock of hair away from my cheek. That was when I stopped breathing. I looked up at him, looked right into his pale blue eyes, and then suddenly Dex leaned forward…and kissed me.

If I could have melted into a Miranda-shaped puddle right then and there, I would have. Because the kiss? Was
amazing
. His lips felt warm and deliciously soft pressed against mine, and the feel of his hands—one pressed against my neck, the other gently cupping my cheek—caused goose bumps to spread over my bare arms and shoulders. And all I could think was,
Oh, my gosh…Dex is kissing me. Dex! Is kissing! Me!

And then way, way too soon, he pulled back and looked down at me again.

“That's why,” he said softly.

“Oh,” I said, feeling a little dizzy. He smelled so good, like soap and clean clothes fresh from the dryer.

“I've been wanting to do that for a long time,” Dex said. “I wanted to that night on the beach when we were looking for your greyhound.”

“Why didn't you?” I asked.

Dex smiled, looking almost shy as he smoothed another strand of hair behind my ear. “I wasn't sure you wanted me to.”

“I did!” I exclaimed. “I thought you didn't want to kiss me!”

Tentatively I reached forward and touched his cheek. And I realized how seriously wrong I'd been that day I first met Dex. I definitely
did
have a thing for redheads.

And then Dex leaned forward…and he kissed me again. And I stopped thinking altogether as the zing took over.

Dex held my hand as we walked back into the Oar Room together. I wondered if I looked any different. I certainly
felt
different. I was no longer Miranda, Loser in Love and Poster Girl of the Late Bloomers. I was Miranda, Kissed by Dex McConnell! The excitement filled me like a bubble until I thought I would actually float away with happiness.

Felicity and Snake House were playing another ballad. Or, at least, Felicity was singing a slow song—John Mayer's “Daughters.” Snake House sounded like they were playing some other song entirely.

“Do you want to dance?” Dex asked.

I nodded, and, still holding my hand, Dex led me out to the dance floor. He rested his hands on my waist, and I wrapped my arms up around his neck, and then we were swaying together, holding each other close. My first kiss, followed by my first slow dance. And, even better, both had been with Dex. Dex, with his glittering pale eyes and slow smile. Dex, who had taken up permanent residence in my thoughts ever since I'd first laid eyes on him back in September. It was all so unreal…so amazingly, incredibly, blissfully unreal.

I came out of my happiness haze just long enough to look around the dance floor. I first noticed that Charlie's and Finn's dates, Mitch and Leila, were dancing together. I frowned, and glanced around, and then I saw that Charlie and Finn were dancing together, too. Finn was joking around about something, and Charlie was laughing up at him. I smiled. It was nice to see the two of them getting along for a change. They'd been so hostile toward each other recently. Just past Charlie and Finn, Hannah and Emmett were dancing together. Her head was resting on his shoulder, and his hands were curled around her waist. They looked contented. I was glad, truly happy for them.

The song came to an end, and Felicity leaned forward into the microphone and said, “We're going to take a short break now.” And everyone clapped and cheered for the band. Felicity looked flushed and hot, but she smiled her thanks and gave a little curtsy before heading off the stage and into the arms of her boyfriend, Yale Justin.

Dex and I stepped apart, and we stood grinning at each other for a moment. He finally glanced around, eyeing the refreshment table, which was currently being mobbed by everyone streaming off the dance floor.

“Would you like a soda?” he asked me.

“Yeah, that would be great,” I said.

“Stay here. I'll be right back,” Dex said.

I watched him go, wondering if it was possible to actually burst open from happiness.

“Miranda!”

I turned to see who was calling me. It was Mrs. Gordon. She was wearing a white sweater and a long black skirt, and looked really pretty. Her hair, which usually was half-in, half-out of a bun, even looked nice hanging loosely around her shoulders.

“Hi, Mrs. Gordon,” I said.

“Did you get my e-mail?” she asked.

“No, I didn't. It's been sort of crazy today getting everything ready. I haven't had a chance to check my e-mail,” I said apologetically.

“Actually, I'm glad that I get to tell you in person. I have some fantastic news,” Mrs. Gordon said. She smiled broadly, and her brown eyes were warm with pleasure. “I found out yesterday afternoon…you made it! They chose your story as a finalist for the Winston Creative Writing Contest! You're going to the finals in D.C.!”

“What?” I asked, not sure if I'd heard her right. “Did you say…
Wait
. I'm a
finalist
? My story actually got picked?”

Mrs. Gordon nodded. “Congratulations,” she said, leaning forward and giving me a quick hug. “Let's get together after the winter break to go over the details.”

“Great…thanks,” I said, feeling a little disoriented. But even so, a huge smile stretched across my face.

First Dex, now the writing contest…it was a lot of good news to take in all at once. Or maybe, it was just that I wasn't used to good news. I hadn't had a lot of it lately. First Sadie leaving, and then my run-in with Headmaster Hughes.

Speaking of whom, where did he go? I wondered.

Then I saw him standing off to one side, chatting with the astronomy teacher, Mr. “Call Me Doug” Keegan. As though he could sense my eyes on him, Headmaster Hughes's baldhead swiveled toward me, and he looked at me appraisingly. And then he nodded courteously, signaling his pleasure with how the Snowflake had turned out. I grinned back at him. Even though I was still annoyed that he'd blackmailed me into rejoining Mu Alpha Theta, I couldn't be mad at anyone tonight, the most perfect of nights. Not even at the headmaster.

“Here's your soda,” Dex said, returning to my side and handing over a Coke.

“Thanks,” I said. “And…thanks for coming to find me tonight.”

“Don't mention it,” Dex said, grinning. “I'm glad I came.”

Just then, music began to blare. I looked up and saw that Finn had plugged his iPod into the band's sound system. The room was instantly filled with Fall Out Boy, playing at top decibel.

“Do you want to dance?” Dex asked, tipping his head toward the dance floor, which was filling up again, and holding his hand out to me. He was still smiling at me, and the smile carried up to his pale blue eyes.

I hesitated. I just wanted a moment to take it all in: the dance, the enchantingly beautiful room, all of my classmates swirling around in their black and white gowns, the good news about the writing contest, my trip to London tomorrow. And, of course, Dex. Dex coming to find me…Dex holding me close as we danced…Dex kissing me in the moonlight.

Dex's eyebrows arched up in a question. He was clearly wondering what I was waiting for. I beamed at him.

“Absolutely,” I said. “Let's dance.”