The next day I was a bundle of nerves. The anxiety of being discovered by Nicolaitan was awful. If he found me, he’d unlock my mind, learn the identities of the Psi Fighters, and the location of our secret Academy. Then we would all be vulnerable. As frightening as that reality was, it was marshmallows and chocolate pudding compared to the sheer terror of choosing an outfit. The Spring Fling was that night, and I had nothing to wear. Fortunately, Kathryn was skilled at all things soirée. She invited me to her house to get ready. I seriously wanted to murder her for telling Bobby things I trusted her with, but I decided to wait. The last thing I needed at the moment was a fight with my BFF. And, to tell the truth, I was terrified to hear her reasons, especially if they confirmed that my most trusted friend in the entire cosmos was untrustworthy. I didn’t know if I could live with that.
“Powder blue,” she said, plucking a dress from her closet. “It brings out your eyes. This is perfect. Delicate, feminine, petite. Asymmetrical hemline to make you appear taller, show a little leg…then just a touch of blush, a hint of eyeliner, a very light eye shadow, and matching lip gloss. Oh, Rin, the poor boy won’t know what hit him.”
By the time we got to the school, my anxiety had subsided a bit. Kathryn had a comfortable confidence with social events that was very calming. Unfortunately, I didn’t. The minute we walked through the double doors, my nerves took over again.
The poorly lit gymnasium was packed, people dancing everywhere. We had arrived fashionably late, although I would have preferred being fashionably later, by, say, a year. As I scanned the gym, searching for signs of Egon, Kathryn began dancing happily beside me, oblivious to my pain, singing along with the music. “…you don’t know you’re BEAUTIFULLLLLLL… Hey, Rin, our men will find us soon!”
I nodded. My mouth was dry. “I don’t feel so good.”
Kathryn laughed. “Oh, you’ll be fine. Such a worrywart. What’s the worst thing that can happen? Oh, never mind…it just did.”
The double doors slammed open. Rubric, Chuckie, and the Red Team sauntered into the gym.
“A meeting of the minds,” Kathryn said. “Don’t they look precious?”
Art Rubric and Chuckie Cuff looked like hit men in their stupid trench coats, but the Red Team looked amazing. Gorgeous hair, expensive jewelry, high heels—Tammy had a low-cut gown with a slit up the side that made her look like a runway model. I was officially jealous. Any black-hearted person who looked that good deserved my wrath.
“What’s Angel wearing?” I asked. “Sleaze Bag by Gucci?”
“Meow, Rin.”
Teachers had positioned themselves around the gym, just like they did during assembly, to feel like they were in control. But we all knew better. It was common knowledge that the teachers hated chaperoning (I can’t imagine why with such model students). Consequently, only the ones with low seniority had to attend, and they were too busy chatting to each other to notice anything the students were doing. Unless there was a nuclear explosion, it was unlikely that they would leave the safety of their seats.
Suddenly, my heart stopped. My lungs seized. “Kathryn, I’m seriously gonna upchuck.”
“Oh, you lucky girl!” Kathryn chirped. “Yours came first!”
Framed by the door, all alone and absolutely beautiful, Egon shimmered in the light like an archangel. Dressed in a blue button-up shirt, he glided into the gym.
The instant Egon crossed the threshold, cretins surrounded him. Tammy Angel flung her beefy arms around his neck. A sudden urge to dismember her filled my kind and loving heart. Egon smiled politely, but didn’t appear to be talking much.
“Ignore her, Rin,” Kathryn said. “She knows he’s with you. She’s being the Alpha, as usual.”
“Are you saying I shouldn’t give away my secret by destroying her in public?”
“I’m saying Egon is a gentleman, and you have nothing to worry about.”
Kathryn was right. Egon scanned the gym as he pried Tammy’s monkey arms from his neck. Then our eyes met, and he broke into the most adorable smile I had ever seen on a human. While Tammy flapped her never-ending jaw, fake-laughing hysterically, Egon brushed by her, his gaze never leaving mine. I chuckled quietly at Tammy’s blank stare when she realized she had been deserted.
“Hi, Rinnie. Hi, Kathryn.”
“Hi, Egon,” Kathryn sang. “Oh, look! Bobby’s here! I’ll leave you two alone.”
“Kathryn, wa—” Panic suddenly bodyslammed every other emotion I owned.
“Hi,” Egon repeated.
“Hi.”
“You look amazing,” Egon said, taking a step back, eying me from head to toe.
“Thank you. I brushed my hair.”
Oh, wow! I had officially destroyed every contender in the Stupidest Response to a Compliment contest. We stood in silence for a few very awkward moments. I decided I was wrong about there being no words to describe how I felt. Discomfort, nausea, regurgitation…those words did a fine job.
“So…I guess you saw Tammy Angel attack me,” Egon said. “I’m sorry, she’s just hard to control. We went out one time, and now I can’t get rid of her.”
“Try flea and tick medicine.”
“Maybe I need a bodyguard.” Egon did a double eyebrow-raise. “Are you interested? I hear you’re better than you admitted.”
“You did?”
“Yeah, Chuckie said he saw you kick some dude’s butt in the park.”