French kiss (32 page)

323

"Please," Hope said sternly. "Just drop it." She looked around to see if anyone was listening. This whole time she'd led Cady to believe that the "stalker" was a guy from her part-time job over at the medical building, but now the cat was out of the bag--with claws.

"Look, I know you're wondering why I didn't tell you before who this guy is," Hope continued. "And the reason I didn't tell you before and why I'm not telling you now is ... well..." Hope clutched at the garnet stones on a delicate silver choker she was wearing.

"Hope," Cady pleaded, reaching for both of Hope's hands. "You can trust me. Are you scared? I really think we should tell someone ..."

Hope looked down at Cady's fingers, now intertwined with her own. Cady's nails were short, with no polish, contrasting starkly with Hope's French manicure. But the two hands fit together nonetheless, like opposing pieces of an interlocking puzzle.

"What's that?" Cady asked, staring at Hope's arm.

Hope looked down. "Nothing," she mumbled. "I bumped into a--"

"Come on. Did
he
do that?" Cady asked. Gently, she pressed her fingertips into Hope's shoulder, and Hope winced dramatically. She'd tried to cover the mark with makeup, but it wasn't hard to tell what lay underneath. This bruise was fresh.

"Hope, talk to me. Now."

"Cady, you have to forget it."

"I can't--"

15

324

"Don't---"

"Fine," Cady said, throwing her hands up in the air. "I won't ask you anything else."

Hope took a deep breath and unbuckled the silver sequined clutch that she'd been carrying and slid out a palm-sized bottle.

"Want some?" Hope asked Cady.

"Hairspray? Uh ... I don't think so."

"Suit yourself."

Hope lifted the bottle and sprayed around her head until every stray hair sat back in place, reprimanded, ready to face the dance. She prided herself on the fact that her hair was always perfect. Hairspray was her force field.

Cady sniffed the air. "Strong stuff," she said. "But it looks pretty good. Maybe I should try a little?" Cady held up a strand of her long dark brown hair and examined it.

Hope lifted the small aerosol bottle and pumped.

"Stop! That stuff really reeks." Cady coughed, fanning the air around her head. She checked her reflection and frowned. "Oh no. Look at me."

"It's not too terrible," Hope said, pasting on a smile. But she knew it wasn't too good either. Cady's hair poked up at the top, and the sides looked like they'd been glued down.

"Maybe he won't notice," Cady said softly, sounding dejected.

"Who won't?" Hope asked.

"You know," Cady said, rolling her eyes.

"Lucas Wheeler."

16

325

Hope saw Cady swallow hard. Cady never liked talking about boys, especially not Lucas, and Hope knew that.

"Look, Hope, we're not prom dates or anything, if that's what you're thinking," Cady said. "Lucas and I said we'd see each other here. That's all."

"That's all?" Hope said.

"Let's quit this, Hope," Cady interrupted. "I know you don't think Lucas is the right guy for me. You've only said that to me like a hundred times. You think he's some kind of freaky loner. I see how you look at him...."

"You do?" Hope said with disbelief.

"Yes, I do." Cady tugged up her bra strap again with determination. "Look, Hope, I know Lucas Wheeler acts a little mysterious, but why do you and everyone else think that makes him some kind of closet ...
fiend
or something? I mean, what would you do if you had to start a new school for senior year? I know I'd die."

"All I'm saying--all I've ever said--is that Lucas isn't the guy you think he is, Cady."

"Come on, Hope. Is anyone?"

"I know you
think
that the two of you are real friends ..." Hope said.

"I don't think. We
are
friends. He gets my music. I can talk to him."

"Like you can talk to me?"

"That's different."

"Incoming!" A girl dressed in a skin-tight black dress shoved Cady out of the way to get to the sink. Cady nearly toppled over.

17

326

"What's your problem?" Hope asked. "What's
your
problem?" The girl scowled. Hope nudged the girl so hard that she fell back against the sink.

"Watch it!" the girl shrieked. "You watch it," Hope said firmly. "You wrecked my dress."

"Who cares?" Hope said.
"What Aid
you say?"

Hope's insides roiled. She wasn't about to let some cow in leather ruin her prom. But before Hope could say anything more, Cady stepped in.

"Come on, let's go," Cady said softly.

The girl backed off and Hope reluctantly followed Cady through the bathroom door.

Prom music pounded hard outside in the hall. Hope glanced around at other seniors decked out in their black and blue and creamy white dupioni silk. Her purple gown stood out in the crowd, although Cady's red dress stood out even more. But was anyone really looking? She searched the crowd for familiar faces.

"This is a good song," Cady said as she moved her hips from side to side. Everything moved except her new helmet hair.

"Oh, look. I see Rich over there by the refreshment table," Hope announced. "I don't see your date, though." She grinned.

"Very funny," Cady said. "I
told
you Lucas is not my date."

18

327

"Yeah, well, good luck," Hope said. "I'm going to go meet up with my other girlfriends now."

"Oh. Will I see you later?"

"I think Emile is having a party at his place. Lots of booze. Lots of noise," Hope said. "I'll be there of course. Will you?"

"I was actually going to Big Cup to play some tunes," Cady said. "But I might show up. Later. It depends."

"Yeah, a lot depends on tonight, doesn't it?"

Hope leaned in and gave Cady a kiss. Her cheek pressed ever-so-gently against Cady's cheek for a brief moment before pulling back.

"Oops, I left a mark," Hope said. Laughing, she took a tissue out of her purse and wiped off the pale, smudged lipstick print she'd left behind.

"So ... stay away from the stalker," Cady said, touching the spot on her cheek where the lipstick had been. "Try to have a good prom."

As she walked away, Hope muttered to herself. "Just don't say I didn't warn you."

19