Page 104 of A Scandal in Homeroom
Shit. This was me failing at the boyfriend part of things, wasn’t it? I recounted my actions thus far. I’d given her flowers. I’d complimented her on her dress. I’d opened all the doors.
What was I missing?
I didn’t know. I only knew one thing.
“I’m disappointing you,” I said, now disgusted with myself.
“No,” she said quickly. “You couldn’t disappoint me. I just feel like we should be… I don’t know.”
“And now ladies and gentlemen, parents and teens, if I may have your attention?”
The announcement came from an older, white-haired woman wearing a purple, floor-length gown, who was dripping in so many diamonds she didn’t look strong enough to hold all of them up.
“As the Chairwoman of the Haddonfield Historical Society, it is my great honor to welcome you all to this time-treasured tradition.”
“Now there’s some alliteration,” I muttered under my breath, earning me a pinch in my ribs from Irene.
“Also, a special welcome to all those juniors joining us for the first time. Each year, your presence continues to make this special night new and fresh.”
“There. You see, Irene,” I said softly to her. “You’re a breath of fresh air to this stodgy tradition.”
“Didn’t you hear her? It’s a time-treasured tradition.”
Irene had let the r’s roll off her tongue in a way that made me smile. A way that also made me think about her tongue and how I liked it when it was in my mouth. Or the other way around.
“Now, please all of you join us,” the woman continued, “for the annual First Waltz of the Cotillion.”
The violins chirped up with a few opening notes, then the entire quartet began to play Strauss as people took their positions in the center of the room and began to dance.
I couldn’t help it. I found myself bowing to Irene. “May I have this dance, Miss Adler?”
She giggled in a way I’d never heard her do before. Then she curtsied before saying, “You may.”
And it was just like that first time in gym class. I was dancing with the hottest girl in the room. Me. Locke Holmes.
I took the lead and merged us in with all the other couples who were circling the floor. Irene was right in that this was no joke. The people in this room all really did know how to dance. We made our way around the floor several times until the music ended and another waltz began.
“I think I need that punch now,” Irene told me.
Perfect, I thought. We’d taken it all in, danced. Now there would be punch. I could see her moving toward Beth, who was standing near the punch bowl, who looked very pretty in a white dress with off-the-shoulder cap sleeves.
Immediately, the two of them started squeeing as they exclaimed how exciting it all was and how amazing the other one looked.
“Why do they do that?” Fitz asked, as he came up behind me. “Theoh, you look so good. No, you look better.I mean, we don’t do that. You’re wearing a tux. I’m wearing a tux. But we don’t have to go on and on about it.”
“Fitz,” I said. “You wound me. I thought for certain you were going to comment on my bow tie.”
He rolled his eyes then looked out at the room. “Look at him over there. He makes me sick. So freaking smug.”
I could see Fitz was looking in the direction of Mr. Bennet.
“Not for long,” I muttered.
“What does that mean?” Fitz asked.
“You’ll watch over Irene for me while I have a little chat?”
“Locke, now is probably not an ideal time—”
