Pulling out my phone, I typed a quick text.
Just wanted to say hi, hope it’s all going ok? It’s getting kinda weird around here, wish u were here with me. X
I tried to join back in with the conversation that Tom was having with Indie about some movie he’d seen over the weekend but found myself always checking my phone for a response from Ryder. The bell rang, signalling the end of lunch, so I got up and said goodbye to everyone before making my way to class. People smiled and waved at me as I passed them in the hall. I even got a few hellos, which I responded to as confidently as I could. I wasn’t sure why they were taking an interest in me or even acknowledging me, for that matter. Nothing of importance had occurred since the party or since Ryder had left, except for calling Christina a bitch, but that was only the truth.
I checked my phone one last time when I took my seat at the front of the classroom. I was disappointed to see that Ryder still hadn’t replied. Perhaps he’d changed his mind about this whole thing, or maybe he was busy with another girl. After all, I had kept him from his usual activities the past few months. The thought of him spending time with another girl while I was waiting for him to reply and come home made my stomach churn.
“Bailey.” I heard my name. I looked up to see Indie standing at the door to my classroom. Everyone else had gone.
“Wha—” I started to ask, but she cut me off.
“You’re in your own world. School’s over. Let’s go.” She grabbed my books from the table, and I stood up and followed her out.
“So you’re coming tomorrow, right?” Indie asked hopefully after a few minutes of driving in silence.
“No, In. I’m not.” Ryder still wasn’t responding, and I doubted that he’d miraculously make it back in time for tomorrow.
“You have to go. It’s senior prom. Please.” Indie begged as she pulled into my driveway.
“I’m not going to a school dance alone. That really would make me pathetic.” I shook my head and thanked her for the ride. “Have a good night tomorrow.”
With a sad smile, she waved goodbye and pulled out of the driveway.
I didn’t hear from Ryder all that night, and I was beginning to worry something was wrong. He never took this long to reply. Was he okay? Was he ever coming back? Even my mother seemed concerned, asking where he had been and if he was coming back soon.
“I don’t know.” I sniffed, feeling the tears well behind my eyes. I didn’t want to cry. We weren’t even really together, and I was acting like an obsessed girlfriend. “I don’t know anything,” I told her at dinner before excusing myself for bed.
I waited and waited to hear from him. I tried to call as well, but realising how late it had gotten, I hung up quickly as I stared at my phone. Eventually I fell asleep, my phone clutched in my hand, still waiting for his reply.
It came at about three a.m. The sound of a message alert echoed in the dead of the night.
Ryder: Sorry, love. Everything is ok. Wish I was there with u 2. A few more days and I should be home. X
Me: Glad you’re ok. I was worried. See you in a few days x
I tried not to feel disappointed that he wasn’t going to make it to the dance and forced myself to focus on the fact that he would be home in a few days. A few days. I could handle that. Then everything would go back to normal. I’d be happy again.
Chapter Twenty
I stared into the mirror and frowned. I looked like an idiot. All dressed up and no damn date. I was pathetic, and Christina was going to have so much fun with it.
“You look stunning, sweetheart,” my mother said, indicating to my white, Grecian-style dress as she poked her head in my door.
“Thanks.” I gave her a half-hearted smile and slipped on my shoes.
“You’re doing the right thing. Poor Indie.” She shook her head sympathetically.
Indie had called me an hour earlier in tears because Jayden had suddenly called and told her that he couldn’t take her to prom or see her again. Her hair was done, her makeup was done, and she’d even bought herself a beautiful dress just for the night. She was devastated. And in true Indie style, she was more determined than ever to attend the dance solo and have the best night of her life. Hence, I was currently getting ready to go with her. Dateless. Alone. Stag. Pathetic.
“I know.” I grabbed my bag, fluffed my hair, and plastered a fake smile on my face. “Come on before I change my mind.”
My mother dropped me off at the entrance to the school gym and assured me that I would have a fantastic time, even without a date. I wasn’t convinced. I just nodded and shut the door.
Indie was meeting me inside. As I made my way up the wet pavement to the gym doors, the music echoed through the schoolyard, the bass vibrating against the glass windows. Inside looked just as I’d imagined. Balloons and flowers in white, red, and gold were on every table, streamers and lanterns hanging from the ceiling, and glitter floating in the air.
I spotted Indie on the dance floor. I was surprised. I thought she’d have been waiting at a table or by the buffet stuffing her face. As I got closer, I realised she wasn’t dancing alone. She had her arms around a guy’s neck, and it wasn’t Jayden. It was Lincoln. His hands rested on her hips as they swayed to the music together.
“There you are, Indie,” I said when I reached them, giving Linc a strange look. Why was he at our high school dance, and why was he dancing with Indie? It didn’t make sense.
“Bailey, you made it.” She let go of Linc, threw her arms around my neck, and squeezed me tight. “I’m dancing with Linc. Can you believe it?”
“Uh-uh.” I shook my head and glanced back at him. He smiled and politely said hi before excusing himself to go get some food.
“What the hell, Indie?”
“I don’t know what happened. This is like a dream come true,” she gushed, grabbing my hand and leading me over to a table. “I was at home upset because Jayden turned out to be a jerk.”
“There must have been a reason that he stood you up, In. He’s a great guy, I swear.” I felt the need to stick up for Jayden because I knew he wouldn’t have done that to her without a valid reason. He wasn’t a douche like Chace. He was sweet, caring, and kind. Not a jerk.