Be Mine (26 page)

“Don't know and don't care,” Natalie said as she held Leo's hand. There had been some stares when they'd arrived together but then they had ended. Not that the stares had bothered her. She didn't care what anyone said. All that mattered was being with Leo.

Mindy Yee, who was standing behind Eden and Natalie, stuck her head between them. “Didn't you hear?”

“Hear what?” Natalie asked.

“You mean you don't know?” Mindy gasped, a look of glee washing over her face as she got ready to drop her bombshell. “Claudia's got chicken pox!”

“No wonder she was scratching like crazy at lunch!” Eden exclaimed.

“No one knows where she could have gotten it,” Mindy said. “Little kids usually get it and I can't see Claudia hanging out with little kids.”

Natalie locked eyes with Leo. They knew exactly where Claudia had gotten the chicken pox. From Bonnie. Because like Claudia, Bonnie also had them. They had found out when they had visited her that afternoon.

“She's home in bed covered with pink calamine lotion,” Mindy said. “I went to see her on my way to the dance. She was
not
happy.”

But it serves her right for being so mean!
Natalie wanted to say.
What goes around comes around.

Eden giggled, clasping a hand over her mouth. Then she started to laugh.

“What's so funny?” Mindy asked.

“Claudia said she wanted to wear pink for Valentine's Day,” Eden chuckled. “And now she is!”

“And the winners for Most Romantic Couple are . . .”

“Think we're going to win?” Will asked Jennifer as they waited to hear which couple's name would be announced.

“I don't know. And it really doesn't matter to me.”

“Why's that?”

Jennifer snuggled closer to Will. “Because I got exactly what I wanted for Valentine's Day.”

“Maybe we'll be competing as Most Romantic next year,” Dexter whispered to Eden as they watched Principal Hicks open the sealed envelope in his hand.

“And the winners are Celia Armstrong and Freddy Keenan!” he announced. Applause broke out as Celia and Freddy walked to the front of the auditorium.

“You think we'll still be together a year from now?” Eden asked Dexter as everyone stepped off to the sides so Celia and Freddy could have the dance floor all to themselves. A romantic song began as they started dancing.

“Are you ready to break up with me already?” Dexter joked.

“Of course not! I just don't need someone else telling me if my boyfriend is romantic,” Eden said, thinking of the bouquet of pink roses and box of chocolates Dexter had given her when he'd come to pick her up that night. “My opinion is the only one that matters.”

“So how am I doing so far?” Dexter asked, leading Eden onto the dance floor as other couples began joining Celia and Freddy.

“I want you to be mine,” Eden said as she stepped into his arms and gave him a kiss.

“All mine.”

“Did you think you'd be dancing with me on Valentine's Day?” Leo asked Natalie.

It was a slow dance and their bodies were close together, Natalie resting her head on Leo's shoulder. She loved the way she felt in his arms. All warm and cozy.

“I didn't,” Natalie said. “But now that I am, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.”

“Did I tell you how great you look?”

“A couple of times.” Natalie was wearing a gold sequined minidress with puffed sleeves and gold high-heeled sandals. From her ears, she wore a pair of dangling gold leaf earrings. “You look pretty spiffy in your suit.”

“I still can't believe we're here together.” Leo stared down at the floor. “I never thought I'd have someone to be mine.”

Natalie placed her hand under Leo's chin, lifting his head up. She looked deep into his eyes. “Believe it.”

And then to prove it, she gave him a kiss.

When there was a break between songs, Jennifer raced over to Violet's side. She'd texted her earlier to tell her that she and Will were dating for real, but Violet hadn't said anything about the latest developments in her own love life. “
Who
is that hunk you're with? Have you been holding out on me? I want details and I want them
now
! You didn't tell me you were coming to the dance and you
didn't
tell me you'd be bringing a date!”

Violet giggled, her blue eyes gleaming with mischief behind her glasses. “That's Gino. He works at Marinelli's with Will.”

“Where did you meet him?”

“Last night I ordered a pizza, and when Gino delivered it, I asked him if he wanted to come with me to the dance. I figured I'd take a page out of your book. What did I have to lose? He said yes! Who knows? If it worked for you, it might work for me!”

The music started again. “Gotta go!” Violet said as she hurried back out onto the dance floor and Gino. “Talk to you later!”

As Jennifer watched Violet and Gino start dancing to a slow song, Will came by her side.

“Feel like another dance?”

Jennifer couldn't get enough of being with Will. She wanted to dance with him all night. She took him by the hand and walked back out onto the dance floor.

“I wish this night would never end!” she exclaimed as she wrapped her arms around Will's neck and leaned into him.

“Having a good time?”

“The best!”

“Can I ask you a question, Jennifer?”

She looked at Will in surprise. “I think that's the first time you've called me by my name. Usually I'm Red.”

“That's only when I'm trying to push your buttons. I know it drives you crazy.”

“And now?”

“I'm being serious.”

“I kind of like it when you call me Red,” Jennifer confessed. “Even if I act like I don't. It makes me feel special.” She gazed up at Will. “So what did you want to ask me?”

“Be mine?”

“Only if you promise to be mine.”

Will pretended to think about it before giving Jennifer a smile. “Deal!” he exclaimed.

And then he sealed it with a kiss.

Take another trip to North Ridge High in

By Sabrina James

Noelle focused her attention on the red velvet bag Mindy was holding. Then she dipped her hand inside, swirling it around the many slips of paper.

Somewhere inside was Charlie's name.

Unless it had already been picked.

Think positive!
Noelle scolded herself.
Positive.
Positive. Positive. Charlie's name is in this bag. It is! It is! It is! And I will pull it out. I will! I will! I will!

Holding her breath, Noelle closed her eyes and reached into the very bottom of the bag, wrapped her fingers around a slip of paper, and pulled it out.