Page 71 of Reckless At Raleigh High
Shrugging, I suddenly feel out of sorts. “I thought about renting a limo for the evening and having someone drive us to the school, but I couldn’t make myself do it. So Cam gave me the keys to the Nova, and…well…” I gesture to her car, as if the sight of it alone is all the explanation she needs. The gleaming new cherry red paint job speaks for itself. She can’t see the brand new chromed out engine block from here, though. Or the newly upholstered leather seats.
“Oh my god. Alex, this is…” Silver covers her mouth as heads for a closer inspection. She bends, marveling at the new interior, shaking her head. “This must have taken you forever.”
I grunt, kicking the toe of my new, polished shoes against the curb. “Hate to admit it, but Zander might have helped out. Just a little.” They make TV shows about car restorations like this. Zander and I worked way faster than any of those hacks could have. We didn’t eat, and we didn’t sleep. We went through a couple of cases of PBR afterward, but that didn’t count.
“I love it,” Silver whispers.
“You’re not sad that we got rid of the black?”
“No way! The red is to die for.”
“So…you’re telling me you wanna take this thing for a test spin? Or would my queen likemeto chauffeur her to the ball?”
“Are you kidding me, Moretti? Gimme those keys. I’m driving.”
* * *
Silver
I’m still spinning out over the car when we walk into Raleigh High. The whole school has been decked out and decorated, with silver, gold and black balloons all over the place. Karen, Principal Darhower’s assistant, is dressed in a sparkling blue floor length gown that’s transformed her from dowdy admin worker to glamorous Bond girl; I almost can’t believe she’s the same woman. She ushers the arriving students into the gymnasium, taking our tickets and telling us to line up for the school photographer, who’s taking shots of everyone in front of a huge black and white shutter design—one of the most iconic James Bond images ever created. Students stand in the open circle, back-to-back with their dates, making finger guns and posing goofily as their pictures are taken. Thankfully Alex sees the look on my face and leads me right past the whole mess, guiding me to the punch table.
“Doubt it’s been spiked yet,” he says morosely. “Still. You want some?”
He fills up a red solo cup for me, pouring one for himself, too. Zander arrives before either of us have managed to taste and see if anyone has covertly added any tequila. “This party sucks,” he announces, pulling unhappily at the black tie around his neck. He’s wearing a suit that rivals Alex’s—also black, with a slight metallic blue sheen to it. He almost looks as handsome as the guy standing next to me. Almost.
“The music’s terrible. They’ve already played Diamonds Are Forever a thousand fucking times. They’re gonna run out of Bond theme songs before ten at this rate.”
The gym’s packed with kids in over the top dresses and suits of every color and style. By one of the massive PA speakers, Micha Williams is wearing a pale grey suit and a bald cap, with a stuffed white cat jammed firmly under his arm. Obviously, he chose the villain route and came dressed as Blofeld. My respect for him triples on sight.
“Some of the jocks have been hitting rails in the bathroom. There was a fight in the parking lot. One of your fellow cheerleaders broke a heel, Silver, and Darhower kicked a couple out for fucking in the janitor’s closet. You guys haven’t missed much. I’m feeling a little robbed. Bellingham’s prom would have been far more exciting than this snooze fest.”
“If you’d transferred back there like I told you to, you could have gone,” Alex reminds him.
Zander pulls a face. “Graduating from Raleigh looks a lot better on college applications. And besides, you would have missed me too much.”
For once, Alex doesn’t volley a snarky retort back at him. He sighs heavily instead. “Where’s Halliday?”
“How should I know?”
“Uhh…because she’s yourdate?” Alex replies. ‘
I still can’t believe Zander asked Hal to come to prom with him. I definitely can’t believe she said yes. Under Kacey’s rule, Halliday would never have agreed to come to a major school event with a guy like Zander. Goes to show how much things have changed around here.
“Fine, fine, you’re right. I should probably go find her. She’s so fucking hot tonight, she’s probably got eight guys hitting on her right now, anyway. Maybe I’ll have to defend her honor and knock a few of ’em out.” He sounds way too excited by the prospect.
On our own again, Alex offers me his hand as the song changes to something upbeat and bouncy. “Oh boy. You wanna dance?” I ask.
He’s devilishly handsome as he smirks, slowly shaking his head. “I only have one dance in me,Argento, and I’m saving it for another day. No, I wanna steal you away for a second, if that’s all right with you?”
His dark eyes burn into me like brands, intense and fierce, and my heart backflips. Jesus Christ, the way he looks at me is too fucking much. “Lead the way.”
There are chaperones guarding the fire escape at the back of the gym, so we have to lie to Ms. Gilcrest and tell her we’re heading to the bathroom in order to leave. Before I know it, Alex has set off at a jog, laughing, dragging me along behind him down the hallway. When we arrive at his locker, he places his hands on my shoulders, positioning me so that my back’s up against the cool metal. It’s much calmer here; gentle strains of music from the gym float down the corridor, but it’s quiet enough that I can feel my own pulse thundering in my ears.
I never thought I’d get to have this. Prom was a rite of passage I thought I wasn’t going to get to experience. After everything that’s gone down over the past year, I assumed I’d be boycotting the night, curled up on the sofa at home in my sweats, shoving popcorn into my face as I watched a movie while everyone else partied the night away. Alex made this possible, though. He made me want to come here tonight, to be by his side. He’s made prom perfect.
“Close your eyes, Parisi,” he says, dipping down to bury his face in the crook of my neck for a moment. His hot breath skates over my skin, and the back of my neck breaks out in goosebumps.
“Shit, Alex…” I close my eyes, reveling in the feel of him pressing up against my body. I want him to kiss me properly. I need his mouth on mine. His hands on my naked flesh. If Darhower hadn’t already booted a couple out for screwing on school property, I’d be trying to find the closest janitor’s closet myself right now. Alex looks so good in his suit that my immediate response it to try and get him out of it.
