“I’m miserable. I think I’m going to head home.”
“Don’t leave. It’s just started. I bet once you start having fun, you’ll forget all about Reed Lane,” she says, but neither one of us believe that.
“No, really, I’m just a wet blanket,” I mutter, giving her a slight smile.
I wish I had never come. I’m dressed in a red dress that the school had. Basically, parents donated old prom dresses and the school offered them to girls that couldn’t afford their own. There was no way my dad was going to pay for a dress. All of my money was used for buying groceries and helping with household bills. I didn’t complain. My dad might be an asshole, but he did work. It’s just the majority of what he made pays the rent and Mom’s medical expenses. With my luck, this dress once belonged to Chasity Newberg.
“I could go with you,” Katie says, but I’m already shaking my head no.
“Enjoy your night with Jake and don’t worry about me,” I laugh.
“You’re leaving?” Mitch asks as he comes up behind me.
I try to smile at him. After all, none of this is his fault. He’s been really nice to me. I think back and remember how I was attracted to him at first—even more so than Reed. Funny how things change. Everyone from Jake to Katie, and even Reed, all warned me that Mitch was bad news. Maybe I allowed them to get in my head. Right now, it feels like Reed is the bad news.
“Yeah, I’m not the prom type I don’t think,” I laugh, even though nothing is really funny.
“You can’t leave without giving me another dance, Callie. Because of you I had go stag. You owe me really.”
I shake my head. Mitch did ask me to go with him, but I told him no. After the mess with Reed—with whom I’ve not really talked to since that day over a week ago—I just thought it better to stay far away from any boy with the last name Lane. I saw Reed briefly when I got here, but luckily, Mitch saw me and dragged me out onto the dance floor before Reed could approach. I’ve been here an hour and up until ten minutes ago, I’ve felt Reed glaring at me the entire time—like I’ve done something wrong. He went off on me and yet, I’m the bad guy.
“I just don’t feel much like dancing, Mitch.”
“Give me one more dance, please?” he begs, and I don’t want to, but again, he’s been really great to me—especially this last week. He’s filled a small part of the void created now that Reed and I stopped talking.
“One dance,” I finally agree.
“That’s my girl,” he says, and I roll my eyes. I look back at Katie, noticing that she’s watching Mitch closely. Her eyes find mine. I can tell she’s worried, but Mitch has been a perfect gentleman with me. I’m grateful for him. “You look beautiful tonight, Callie,” Mitch murmurs as we start dancing to a slow song blaring through the gym’s speakers. I feel tense. I know I’m holding myself a little stiff, but although Mitch has been great to me, I can’t help the fact that I don’t trust him completely. How horrible does that make me? I will admit, however, that I do believe in him more now than I did. “You need to stop, Callie.”
“Huh?” I ask, looking up at him.
“Callie, you’re looking all around the room for Reed,” he chastises. His words hurt, but only because I can hear the pity in his voice.
“I’m not—”
“Darlin’,” he murmurs.
“That obvious, huh?” I mumble, blushing.
“It is, but maybe that’s just because I know what’s going on. If you like him that much, why don’t you tell him?” he asks, and I let out a sigh.
“It’s too late. He’s seeing Chasity and I mean, we’re friends. I’m the one that told him that’s all I wanted,” I murmur, sounding pitiful.
“So? Tell him you’ve changed your mind.”
“He’s already dating Chasity, Mitch.”
“Listen, I know I sound like an asshole here because I was with Chasity, but she’s not the kind of girl a guy gets serious about. She’s good for one thing and she’s really good at it.”
“Not cheering me up here, Mitch,” I mutter.
“I’m just telling the truth, but you aren’t like her, Callie.”
“I don’t know whether I should be insulted or thankful,” I grumble, making him laugh.
“What I’m trying to say is, you’re the kind of girl a guy wants to keep. You’re special, Callie. Girls like Chasity Newberg can’t hold a candle to you.”
“That’s nice of you to say, Mitch. But just because you might feel that way, it doesn’t mean Reed will.”
“Listen, Callie. I like you.”
“I like you, too,” I tell him, looking up into his eyes and smiling. It sounds weird even to my own ears, but I find I’m telling the truth. I do like Mitch. He’s funny—even charming. He’s been a great friend.