CHAPTER EIGHT

Scarlet sat in class, fuming. It was so unfair. She wanted to yell at the world. Why couldn’t she just have had thirty more seconds with Blake? Why couldn’t she have had just enough time for him to respond, for him to ask her to the dance? That was all she needed. Then it would have been too late for Vivian—there was nothing she could have said or done. Now, anything could happen.

God, she hated her. More than anything. She literally stole Blake out from under her, with a second left to go.

And even worse, as luck would have it, Scarlet knew that Blake and Vivian had their next class together. Another stroke of bad luck. If they had just separated after that, if Blake had been in Scarlet’s class, then she would have at least had had a chance to set things right. But now Vivian had a full 40 minutes to convince him. Who knew what they were talking about; who knew what she was saying about her. Scarlet felt sure that she wasn’t wasting any time, that somehow she would convince Blake to ask her to the dance. Would he?

The thought burned Scarlet up inside. She kept replaying in her head all the details of her and Blake’s date together. At various points in the movie their elbows and arms had touched, and he hadn’t backed away. Neither had she. She felt that he wanted to be closer; but she also felt that he was really nervous. So was she. She wondered once again if she messed up by introducing him to her family as her “boyfriend.” Maybe she should have just introduced him as “her friend.” But that seemed so awkward and childish, like she was in third grade. Plus, she hadn’t wanted them to look at and treat him like any other friend. She had felt a need to draw a line, to be a bit independent, especially from her dad, who could be super protective.

She wished that she hadn’t been put in that position to begin with, hadn’t been surprised and had to introduce him to everyone. But at the same time, she’d loved having Blake there, and he had seemed like a perfect fit with her family. It had felt so natural.

What would she do if Blake didn’t ask her to the dance? And worse: what if he took Vivian? Scarlet would be so embarrassed in front of all her friends, who just moments before were announcing to the world that they were dating.

“Darryl asked Jasmin to the dance,” Maria whispered from the seat beside her. “Can you believe it? That leaves only me and you without dates.”

Maria must have been reading her mind. Talk of the dance made her stomach drop. The pressure was on, and it was building. Soon, everyone would have a date. Everyone but her.

“So,” Maria whispered. “You’re leaving me in suspense. Did he ask you?”

Scarlet blinked back at her, for a moment wondering what she was talking about. And then she realized. Blake. She wanted to know if Blake had asked her to the dance.

Scarlet shrugged.

“Um…not really. I mean, he started to, but then Vivian showed up.”

“No!” Maria said, eyes opening in disbelief. “What happened?”

“Scarlet and Maria stop speaking right now!” snapped the teacher.

It was another teacher that Scarlet dreaded—her biology teacher. She couldn’t think of any subject more boring, and this teacher was a close second in meanness to her math teacher.

But this time, Scarlet welcomed the rebuke. It gave her a chance to regroup, to not have to answer any more questions. She turned and stared out the window, and zoned out all the way until the bell rang.

Scarlet shuffled quickly out the room, Maria by her side, and the two made their way towards the cafeteria, for lunch. As the halls filled with students, surging towards lunch, the energy increased in the air, and the noise got louder. Scarlet started to get nervous as they approached. Blake would be there. He always was. Would he come up to her? Would he ignore her? Would he be sitting with Vivian?

Worse, had Vivian already asked him to the dance? Scarlet didn’t think so. As much as Vivian wanted to go with him, it would also be awkward for her to ask. That wouldn’t put her in the best light—and it might even backfire.

Scarlet realized this might be her last chance. She had to catch Blake’s attention, had to finish their conversation from earlier. Unless, of course, he showed up with Vivian.

“So tell me what happened?” Maria said. “Was he planning to ask you?”

“I have no idea,” Scarlet snapped back. “Stop asking me.”

Scarlet immediately felt bad; she didn’t mean to snap at her best friend. All this pressure was just getting to her.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean it. I’m just a little stressed, you know?”

Maria nodded gracefully.

“It’s okay. I feel it. I’m stressed, too. I think we’re the last ones that don’t have a date for this thing.”

“What about Julio?” Scarlet asked, suddenly remembering Maria’s ex-boyfriend. “It looks like you guys are talking again.”

“He asked Samantha. Can you believe it? What a pig.”

“I’m sorry,” Scarlet said, meaning it.

Maria shrugged.

“It’s okay. I don’t think I would’ve wanted to go with him anyway. Sometimes you have to let things go, you know what I mean?”

They opened the double doors to the cafeteria, and entered a huge, cavernous room, filled with hundreds of screaming, energetic kids. The tables were packed, and the line for a hot meal wrapped along the wall.

Scarlet spotted Jasmin and Becca sat at a table far across the room, and as she walked over to them, she scanned the room for any signs of Blake or Vivian. There were none. She did, though, notice that Blake was absent from his usual table of friends—and so was Vivian. Not a good sign. Were the two of them together somewhere?

Scarlet sat at her table, her heart thumping, and set down her books.

“Hey guys.”

“Hey.”

“The meatloaf’s good today,” Becca said.

But Scarlet wasn’t hungry. Her heart was fluttering, and she was finding it hard to concentrate. Maria dragged her to the line with her, and she found herself waiting on it with all the others.

“Maybe I just won’t go,” Maria said, as they reached the food and the women heaped huge servings of food on their trays. “I mean, what’s the big deal about a dance anyway? It’s so overblown. It’s just a huge pressure cooker. And it’s always so lame. There’s that bonfire, and most people don’t even dance.”

“I know,” Scarlet agreed.

“I mean, who made up this stupid dance anyway?” Maria continued, as they took their trays and headed back to the table. “It’s like just a big excuse for everyone to see who’s dating who. It’s so aggravating.”

As they headed back, Scarlet saw something that made her heart leap: there, sitting at the table with all the popular girls, was Vivian. As Scarlet walked past, Vivian looked up and glared at her, daggers in her eyes. There was no sign of Blake, anywhere.

That was a good sign. The two of them were not together, and Vivian was pissed. Maybe something went wrong. Clearly, Vivian hadn’t been successful yet; if she had, she’d be sporting a smile. At least now Scarlet had a chance.

Scarlet smiled inwardly to herself as she made her way back to her table with her food, sitting with the others.

She sat there, food untouched, watching the door, as more and more kids streamed in, looking for any sign of Blake. She saw his table, with all his friends, and he still wasn’t there. He had to come in any second. And when he did, she would make room for him, try to get him to sit with her. In fact, she prepared, sliding over.

“What are you doing?” Maria asked, looking at the empty seat as Scarlet slid over.

Scarlet had no time to explain: suddenly, she saw him, walking through the door. Blake looked as cute as ever. He walked in with a big smile on his face, carrying a small bag of lunch, skipping the line. He was walking in her direction, right at her, and as she looked up, their eyes locked. He saw her. She was sure of it.

Scarlet began to get up as Blake walked right for her table. He was only a few feet away and he wasn’t even looking at his guy friends. He was looking at her. Clearly, he was coming to sit with her.

“Blake?” came the voice.

No, Scarlet though. Not again.

Blake stopped, a few feet away, and turned at the harsh voice summoning him.

Vivian stood at the head of the table of girls, gesturing to him at an empty seat beside the head of their table.

“I saved you a seat,” she said.

It was more like a command than a request—and her entire group of friends, in perfect solidarity, all stared at him as one, in such a way that left open no room for refusal. It was a look that said: if you don’t sit here with us now, you are forever banned from the popular group.

Blake stopped. He turned and looked helplessly at Scarlet, and she could see the hesitation in his eyes, see that he didn’t have the willpower to say no. His shining eyes darkened, as he turned reluctantly and made his way, as if in a trance, over to Vivian’s table.

As he sat, Vivian turned and glared at Scarlet, gave her the meanest smile she could, then sat down with Blake.

“That witch,” Maria said, as she watched what happened. “I hate her.”

“Someone should poison her soup,” Jasmin added.

Slowly, Scarlet sat back down, feeling humiliated. Becca reached over and put arm on her shoulder.

“It’s okay girl,” she said. “If he wants her, let him have her. You’re too good for him. And for her. He’ll get exactly what he deserves.”

Scarlet sat there, staring down at her mound of meatloaf, gravy cold, and felt completely numb. She felt her face redden as she felt as if the entire room had witnessed the scene. Vivian had stolen Blake right out from under her, in the most public way, for the second time this morning. She couldn’t help but feel as if her fate with him had been sealed. It was obvious she wasn’t going to the dance at this point.

Scarlet couldn’t help thinking back to the other night, to Blake’s being at her house, to what a good time they’d had together—and she felt even worse. Maybe she didn’t deserve Blake. After all, who was she? She guessed that some people considered her attractive, but in her own mind, at least, she didn’t consider herself to have the looks of a girl like Vivian.

“It’s okay,” Scarlet muttered under her breath.

“It’s not okay,” Jasmin said, angry. “We’re going to find a way to get her back. Just wait and see. She better watch her back.”

“Don’t worry,” Becca said. “There are plenty of fish in the sea. I’m sure there are a ton of guys who’d love to go with you.”

“Guys, it’s fine, really,” Scarlet said. “I’m not a charity case.”

“What about Dave?” Jasmin asked.

Scarlet shook her head. Dave was a nice guy, but she wasn’t attracted to him at all, despite his trying to follow her around whenever he could.

“Dances are overrated anyway,” Scarlet said, softly.

“Exactly my point,” Maria said.

“You’ll feel differently once you meet the right guy,” Becca said.

“OMG, did you guys hear? About the new kid?” Jasmin suddenly said, switching the topic.

They all turned and stared at her. Jasmin had a way of always being on the cutting edge of the latest gossip, and a way of delivering a story that always put people on the edge of their seats. She also had an annoying way of drawing out suspense as long she possibly could, savoring the attention.

“I heard it from Leslie, who heard it from Cindy. Today’s his first day. OMG, he’s supposed to be GORGEOUS. As in drop-dead. He transferred here. Nobody knows from where. He’s from, like, a super-rich family. They’ve got this huge mansion on the river.”

“I heard something about him,” Becca said. “Darlene was talking about him this morning. She said he’s a senior. Tall, really hot.”

“I heard he already has a girlfriend,” chimed in Maria.

“That’s not true. Cindy told me he’s definitely single,” Jasmin said.

“Won’t be long until he’s snatched up,” Becca added.

“My God, do you think he’s going to the dance? You think he already has a date?”

“You kidding? He just got here. How could he? But he will. I hear Vivian’s crowd is already trying to snatch him up. They’ve like already invited him to parties and one of them already asked him—”

Suddenly, the murmuring in the cafeteria grew quiet. Everybody in the room turned, looked towards the door.

There, walking alone through the double doors, was the most beautiful boy Scarlet had ever seen. About six feet tall, with broad shoulders and long-ish brown hair, he had a proud jaw, a straight nose, and large, gray eyes. He had such a proud, noble face, like an ancient Roman warrior. As he strutted into the room, Scarlet felt like he was royalty or something.

He looked too glamorous to be in this room, like he belonged on the cover of a magazine. And he walked with such confidence, he looked like the only man in a room full of boys—though his face looked young, ageless. In fact, there was something to his face, something mysterious, other-worldly. His skin was so polished, so perfect, it looked radiant.

“O—M—G,” Maria whispered to the others, as the chatter in the room slowly picked up again, as the boy strutted across the room, to the food line. “That is BY FAR the hottest guy I’ve ever seen. OMG,” she said again.

As Maria turned back to the table, Scarlet could see she was so flustered, her face had turned bright red. She was sweating. She reached up and wiped her forehead with her hand, then waved herself as if trying to get air. “I think I’m dreaming.”

“You’re not,” Becca said. “I saw it, too.”

“He’s mine,” Maria said. “There is my date.”

“Are you kidding?” Jasmin said. “Every girl in the school’s gonna want him.”

“What are you saying, I can’t compete?” Maria shot back.

“No—I’m just saying—I mean, like, good luck. You might be up against everyone.”

“I’ll find a way,” Maria said.

“How do you know he doesn’t already have a girlfriend?” Becca asked. “I mean, he looks older than everyone. Maybe he’s like dating someone outside of school. Maybe like someone in college or something.”

“I don’t care,” Maria said. “Am I dreaming, or have you never seen a guy that hot in your life?”

They all nodded in agreement, looking over and watching him at the food line. Scarlet could see in their faces they all wished they were dating him, too.

As Scarlet sat there, watching him at the food line, she couldn’t help but feel the same way. There was something about this boy: every move he made, every gesture, was so graceful, so noble. So proud. The way he moved, it was so smooth, so different from everyone around him. And when he smiled back at the serving people, she saw rows of gleaming white teeth, his perfect jaw line, and the most beautiful smile she’d ever seen. For a moment, all thoughts of Blake left her mind.

As he reached the register and paid, he picked up his tray and surveyed the room. Scarlet could see hundreds of eyes staring back at him, then quickly looking away, pretending not to look.

For a second, Scarlet saw him look their way, at her table. And then, for the briefest moment, she thought they locked eyes.

She couldn’t believe it. Her heart started pounding in her chest. Was this really happening?

“Oh my God,” Maria said, “he’s looking at me. Do you see him? He’s looking at me!”

Maria was sitting close to Scarlet, and Scarlet felt certain he was staring at her, not at Maria. But she didn’t have the heart to say anything. And besides, Maria had made it clear how much she wanted this boy, and Maria was her best friend.

So, as smitten as she was, Scarlet forced herself to look away, to look anywhere but at him. She prided herself on being a loyal friend, no matter what.

The boy slowly crossed the room, walking past their table.

“OMG, he’s heading this way,” Maria said, flustered. Scarlet had never seen her that flustered before. She was acting as if she were in the presence of a celebrity.

He walked past their table, and Scarlet made a point to look away, to make sure that their eyes did not meet again. After he passed, she waited several seconds, then glanced over, and looked to see where he went. He sat at an empty table, at the far end of the cafeteria, by himself, his back to all the others.

“Okay, now’s your chance,” Jasmin said to Maria. “He’s sitting there, all alone. Make your move.”

But Maria was totally flustered.

“You crazy?” she said. “Everyone’s watching. I can’t just like walk over there by myself and try to pick him up.”

“Why not?” Jasmin said. “You just said you wanted to.”

Maria slumped.

“What if he like…says no?” she asked. Scarlet could hear how scared she sounded.

“Chicken,” Jasmin goaded.

“I’m not chicken,” she said.

But at the same time, Maria just sat there, frozen, a shade of crimson, too terrified to cross the room and go to him.

Scarlet couldn’t blame her. The entire school would be watching her, and if she got rejected, she would never live it down.

Scarlet couldn’t bear to turn and look at the boy, either. But for a very different reason.

Because, for the first time in her life, Scarlet knew she had just seen the boy that she was destined to be with forever.