“Waste of money.”
“Not on her.” She turned to him. “You know she told us like the first week she came here that she was approached at sixteen to model for the Katy’s Intimates junior catalog. That’s lingerie, in case you didn’t know.”
“Oh, I know all about Katy’s Intimates.”
“I bet you do. But her mother didn’t want her to do it and then they moved to River Remez. She’s still bitter.”
Ben laughed. “I . . . did not know that.”
Lisa smoothed out her dress. “Some of us just have to be happy with the H&M catalog.” She raised her eyebrows and began pointing around the room. “That dress, that dress, and that dress. They’re from Forever 21. That one’s H&M. Those two are Ross Dress for Less—”
“Lisa, you look hot. Let’s get our picture taken.”
They waited in line for the photographer, and when they were done, Ro took Ben’s arm, glaring at Lisa while smiling at the same time. It was a feat. “My turn.”
“Ro—”
“Go ahead,” Lisa said. “You two look nice together.”
“Thank you,” Ben said.
Ro’s whisper was more of a growl. “I hate it when she’s nice. It means she’s planning on fucking you.”
“Will you please stop?”
“She looks like a blow-up doll.”
“You’re nasty.”
She said, “Where’s my corsage?”
“In the trunk of my car.”
“Go get it.”
“I agreed to buy you a corsage that was bigger and better than Lisa’s. Which I did. But I didn’t agree to give it to you so you can embarrass her, which you’ve already done by looking so hot and classy. So you win, Ro. Can we all try to get through this civilly?”
“As long as you agree that I’ve won.”
When it was their turn in front of the camera, Ro turned on the fake wattage. When it was over, Ben said, “It’s no contest, okay.” He kissed her cheek and broke away, trying to find Lisa. But before he could get to her, JD cornered him near the popcorn machine.
“Man, you don’t even have to take anything off,” he said. “Just slam her against the wall and shove it in.”
“You have the soul of a poet.”
“Get it while you can, dude. Girls get hot when you look fly.”
“More penguin than fly.” Ben checked his watch. “How much longer?”
“Around three hours.”
“What the fuck do you do here for three hours?” When JD pulled out a plastic bag filled with dried vegetable material, Ben laughed. “Put it away, dude. You need that scholarship.”
“They wouldn’t have the balls. I’m the finest thing that ever happened to this dump.” He looked around. “I lit up before I got here. Makes the food taste a hell of a lot better. The rest is for the after party. Believe me, Vicks, I’ve got a lot of tricks up my sleeve.” He smiled. “Are you gonna be there?”
“Not a chance.”
“She’s practically flashing you.” He furrowed his brow. “Tell me righteous, dude. Are you gay?”
“Seriously? You’re really asking me that?”
“Then why turn down pussy? Even if it’s not number one pussy, it’s still pussy. And she’s good, dude. She’s certainly had enough experience.”
Ro was walking toward them. Ben smiled. “Have fun at the after party, but wear a condom. Oh right. I forgot. You carry those in your car just in case you want to fuck other guys’ girlfriends.”
“Vicks—”
“I’m just sayin’ . . .” He walked away and went looking for Lisa. She was happily chatting away with Shannon Stork. But she was perceptive. She took one look at his face and excused herself. “You okay?”
“Just bored.”
“Do you wanna dance?”
The music was off-key and earsplittingly loud. “Sure, let’s dance.”
“We can sit it out, Vicks.” She smiled. “Or we can sit out the entire prom.”
“No, no . . .” Ben sighed. “I’m just being a jerk. Sure, let’s dance.”
“Vicks, we can go. All I wanted to do was show up with you. This isn’t my idea of fun either.”
“But they haven’t crowned the king and queen yet.”
“Be still, my beating heart.”
Ben laughed. “Do you really want to leave?”
“I wouldn’t mind some air. It’s kind of stuffy in here.”
“Sounds like a good idea.” Ben paused. “No tokes or snorts or pills, please. I’d like to graduate.”
“I’m clean and sober.”
“Perfect.” When they got outside, Lisa took his hand and started pulling him away from the gym. “Uh, what’s going on?”
“Just come.”
They crossed the quad, walking to the front of the school toward the administration building. “Where are we going exactly?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“I don’t like surprises.”
“Well, you’ll like this one.” She took out a key and opened a door to the administration building. It was deserted and dark, but since there were windows to the parking lot, some lamppost illumination and starlight streamed through.
“Uh, how’d you get a key to the school?”
“I used to have a lot of friends with iffy ethics. Is it my fault that the stupid school never bothers to change their locks? C’mon!” She led him to the stairwell, and in near blackness, they climbed to the second floor.
Ben had a sneaking suspicion where they were going. And when she turned right and left and zigzagged across the hallway, he knew. She stopped right in front of the math supply closet, took out another key, and opened the door.
“Lisa, c’mon.”
“You c’mon.”
“No, this isn’t right.”
“What are you afraid of?” She pushed him into the closet and closed the door. “I know you’re not gay.”
“This isn’t right. It isn’t respectful.”
“I know. It’s very sleazy.” She started fooling around with his tux’s zipper. “Listen to me, Vicks. I’m not doing it for you. I’m doing it for me. It’s important to me to give you a different memory—other than the unfortunate one, okay?”
“Lisa, you don’t have to do this.”
“But I want to do this.” She dropped to her knees, and in a matter of seconds, Ben’s “No, Lisas” became “Oh, Lisas.” It didn’t take long. Five minutes later they were in the dark hallway, alone, silent, and awkward. Instead of feeling relaxed, Ben was tense.
Lisa, on the other hand, was very matter-of-fact. “I need a bathroom. Wait here, okay?”
“I’m not going anywhere.” He was on the floor, sitting against the hallway lockers. When she came out of the bathroom, she called his name.
“Over here.”
She looked around and sat by his side. Her breath had turned minty. She massaged his neck. “You okay?”
“I’m fine.” He was suddenly annoyed. “I’m not a virgin, by the way.”
“I know.”
He turned to face her. “You girls yak with one another?”
“All the time.”
He was quiet. Then he said, “What’d she say about me?”
“That you were big.” She patted his knee. “She wasn’t lying.”
Ben’s face went hot. “What else did she say?”
“Who listened? Ro was rubbing my nose in it because she knew I liked you. Well, the joke’s on her now.” Her eyes held his. “And don’t look so scared. I don’t expect anything from you, Vicks. All I wanted was bragging rights about nailing you.”