Part 16 (1/2)

Nevertheless, in his tux, it was impossible not to notice how gorgeous Sam looked. Unfair, because it reminded me I wasn't exactly indifferent to him. Although, G.o.d knew, I'd tried to be.

As we swayed together, something recognizable sparked between us, but it wasn't love or even l.u.s.t. It was awkwardness. For a split second, Sam seemed as uneasy and uncomfortable as I was, which must've been a first in Glen Forest history.

”Having fun?” I managed to murmur.

”Yep,” he answered, not quite believably, as the music changed to ”Sister Christian” by Night Ranger.

”Um, well...good,” I said, not knowing what else to say.

Comment on the weather or on the number of couples, Jane instructed helpfully.

I smiled.

”What's so funny?” Sam asked, his eyes lighting up a bit, as if the prospect of a joke made dancing with me more bearable.

”Nothing much.”

”So,” he said as he shot a look in Jason and Amanda's direction, ”is Bertignoli behaving himself?”

”Yeah.” I stared into those mocking blue eyes. ”Are you behaving yourself?”

He raised an eyebrow. ”Sure. So far.” Then he did something he'd never done. He winked at me. ”But the night's still young.”

”What? Planning Amanda's deflowering later?”

A dangerous grin played at the corners of his lips. ”Been there, done that, no T-s.h.i.+rts necessary.”

”Great,” I said, noticing the predatory way he looked at me.

He laughed. ”Don't worry, Ellie. There's plenty of sin and debauchery to go around.”

I considered this. I probably shouldn't have said anything, but my inquisitive nature and the strangeness of being in Sam's arms again made me bold. ”Guys don't really want that, though, do they? They want to at least have the illusion of being the pursuer. They don't want a girl who'll give in too easily, right?”

He looked at me, startled, then narrowed his eyes at Jason's dancing form with surprising animosity. ”Depends on the guy.” He returned his gaze to my face. ”And on the girl.”

I didn't answer this time.

Jane tsked loudly and muttered a series of comments that included the phrases ”appalling behaviour” and ”unpardonable lout.”

Sam's grip tightened around my waist. The weight of his fingertips pressed into me-a sensuous, seductive touch-and I felt the smooth glide of his thumb over my knuckles.

He stepped two inches closer as we moved to the melody, and I inhaled his scent. Pure masculinity. And probably his father's cologne. Or, did he buy his own now? The possibility made him seem so grown up. He pulled me closer still, and my heart began to thump. When did the arrogant Sam Blaine turn into someone other than the Brainiac Bad Boy I thought I knew? When did he begin to change into a man?

”Switch dance!” the DJ bellowed.

I stepped back so abruptly I made Terrie's sister, Sabrina, who was dancing near us, jump. Her partner-of-the-moment tripped.

”Sorry,” I said.

He regained his footing, though, and asked, ”Wanna switch?”

”N-Not this time. Thanks.” Walking backward, I skittered away from them, my eyes still trained on Sam's face. ”I need to get some water,” I called out. ”But, uh, you guys have fun.”

Sabrina's partner shrugged and turned toward another couple. Sabrina slanted me an odd look. Sam just raised a brow and the corresponding corner of his lips. I ran off the dance floor, the newest INXS song-”Need You Tonight”-nipping at the heels of my white pumps. Then I hyperventilated in the hall. Alone.

Two minutes later, a familiar male voice whispered in my ear, ”Are you okay, Ellie?”

I looked deep into Jason's warm, brown eyes and found the comfort I'd been seeking. I nodded, and he walked me back into the gym, his arm tenderly draped over my shoulder.

Jason was my friend. Okay, so he didn't fill me with wanton l.u.s.t, but his less-demanding nature took the edge off my loneliness and off the haunting desperation I couldn't seem to let go of.

”When's the crowning of the king and queen?” I glanced at my watch, which read a depressingly early 9:23.

”In an hour. Once that's over we can blow outta here.”

I infused high-voltage warmth into my grin and radiated it at him. ”Sounds like a plan. Maybe we can liven things up then.”

A perilous glint of interest-curiosity, I gathered, mixed with something I couldn't deduce-sparked in his eye. ”You can count on it,” he said.

Later that night, at the city's finest hotel, the Glen Forest Four Seasons, our gang was ”Locked In” for the evening. With the limos gone and parent chaperones at the ready to guard exits, confiscate alcohol and prohibit l.u.s.tful behavior, we were effectively trapped until morning.

Terrie, Sabrina, Krista and I parted company with the guys, agreeing to meet them soon for the Post-Prom Party. We then hopped into an elevator heading toward the girls' floor. With the coast clear, Terrie and Sabrina began whispering about which cover story to tell their parents and how the logistics of the evening ought to play out. It was decided that Terrie and Krista would sneak onto the guys' floor for the night while Sabrina and I would stay in our a.s.signed rooms...but with our dates.

Thirty minutes later we were on the down elevator, and then in the dimly lit Winnebago Room. A strobe light illuminated the parquet floor with dappled streaks of color, and the piped-in strains of ”(I've Had) The Time of My Life” from the Dirty Dancing soundtrack floated above us. The guys spotted us right away and marched in our direction, plastic gla.s.ses of punch in their hands.

Jason handed me one and winked. ”I just fixed it for you.”

I took a sip of the bright red drink and my tongue burned with the distinctive sting of cheap vodka. ”Mmm,” I managed to say before coughing. ”Thanks.”

He grinned. ”You're welcome.” He lowered his voice and added, ”Don't worry. I got enough left to doctor everyone's second gla.s.s, too. Then we can break into Matt's Everclear.”

”Super,” I murmured, forcing myself to take another sip before scanning the room. Couples littered every corner, the watchful eyes of the chaperones darting between them.

I eyed the couples I was with. I didn't know Sabrina and Nate's intimacy status, but Krista and Steve had obviously done it before, as had Terrie and Matt. For the first time ever, I had to admit being a virgin was starting to become more of a liability than an a.s.set. My reputation might be snowy, but was it worth the price of not feeling close to anyone?

A few couples left the room and my field of vision opened up to include Sam and Amanda in the panorama. She nuzzled against him and his hand stroked her swaying dark hair with a gentleness I could detect even from a distance. As I watched them, I felt Jason's strong fingers grasp my hand. He tugged me toward him, and I let him hold me as we stood there, marking time, seeing our friends and the other teens float in and out of the Winnebago Room. Foreigner's ”I Wanna Know What Love Is” came on.

Jason groaned.

”What? You don't like this song?” I asked him.

He blinked and pulled me closer. ”I like it. I just-” He downed the rest of his punch.

”You just what?”

He sighed. ”Is there anywhere we could go to talk, Ellie? It's kinda loud in here.”

I shrugged. ”Sure.”

We told the others we were leaving for a bit. Terrie's grin brightened. I rolled my eyes at her. Steve winked knowingly at us, and I felt Jason's grip on my hand tighten.