Jo seemed genuinely happy.
The vibe in the car was different on the way to the dance. Natalie felt like she was riding to the dance with a couple and not just a couple of friends. As she sat in the backseat she felt excited for her friends. But she also felt kind of sad. She thought of Matt and wondered what he was doing. Was he thinking of her, too? Or was he totally over it? It just didn’t seem right for them to be apart.
Kevin Rudolf’s “Let It Rock” had just started when they entered the gym. The dance floor was packed and the lighting was dim. The Howl at the Moon decor was the best Natalie had ever seen. Jo had won her battle with the decorations and a gigantic yellow moon with a dark blue background hung in the front of the gym. A witch complete with broomstick dangled in front of the moon. Black lights alternated with dim lights, and her classmates’ teeth and eyes flashed and glowed. In spite of the party mood, Natalie still felt sad. She couldn’t stop thinking about Matt. But what more could she do? She’d given him the column. He had to know how she felt.
Jeremy and Brianna greeted her with hugs. They were dressed as a doctor and a nurse. Jeremy was the nurse. He’d crossed genders and his costume was hilarious. He wore lipstick and a wig, and had stuffed his little nurse dress with fake boobs. Laughing with him felt good.
Jeremy probably knew where Matt was, but she wasn’t about to ask him. That would just be too weird.
“You look great, Nat,” Jeremy said. “And Jo and Vincent?” He pointed to them. They were holding hands. “What’s up with that?” He grinned.
Natalie nodded. “It’s about time, right?”
“I’d say so.”
She danced a few songs with her friends before deciding she needed some fresh air. She felt disappointed, and her headpiece was starting to give her a headache. Part of her knew Matt wouldn’t show up. But she’d been hoping he would. She’d never imagined that his absence would make her so sad. She was heading for the double doors of the gym when a figure appeared in the doorway.
Her heart skipped a beat. She had to move closer just to make sure it was actually him. “Matt?” She hoped she sounded calm and normal. Her heart was pounding so hard she thought it was going to pop right out of her chest.
“Hey, Nat.”
Shock rippled through her veins. She gave him a once-over. He had the Caesar hair, but his attire was more Mark Antony. “You’re…Julius Caeser? Or Mark Antony?”
He shrugged and smiled. “I’m not sure. I just drove around town for three hours looking for one of these, and this was the only one I could find. It wasn’t in the package. I just wanted to match you, Nat.”
“How did you know?”
“Jo told me.”
She laughed and threw her arms around his neck.
“I can’t stop thinking about you,” he whispered.
“Me too.”
They looked at each other beneath the glow of the moon, and in one heartbeat they both leaned in. His kiss felt so warm again, and this time, as she fell into his arms, she knew she didn’t have to pull away.
Twenty
Member: Dragon Guy
Advanced Member
RE: A huge dilemma
So, I’m still waiting. Did you stir up enough drama to make those psychos on The Hills look normal or what?
Member: Glamour Girl
Advanced Member
RE: A huge dilemma
What’s going on, Up All Night? I’m starting to get worried about you. Is everything okay?
Member: Skater Chick
Newbie
RE: A huge dilemma
Hopefully, she’s one of the lucky ones. Hopefully, she had a good outcome and is hanging out with her new man.
“Natalie,” her mother called. “Vincent and Jo are here!”
“Just a sec!” she yelled back.
She could hear her friends chatting with Grandma Jones about the dance, and what dances were like back in her day. Natalie knew she had a few minutes before Matt arrived.
It had been a week since Howl at the Moon, and a lot had changed. She spent almost every free moment she had with Matt, and had neglected Romeohelpme. Today they were going to the beach for lunch with Jo and Vincent. It was the first time they had doubled, and they were all meeting at Natalie’s house. Jo and Vincent were so cute together. Jo had explained that night after the dance that she just felt something inside herself—something that had said, Why not? What was she afraid of? So she’d made the first move with Vincent. They weren’t committed for life, but they were trying things out, and so far it seemed to be going very well.
She heard Matt’s car in the driveway, and she peeked out her window. He was holding a bouquet of sunflowers. God, he was cute. She spun around and quickly hit her keyboard.
Member: Up All Night
Advanced Member
RE: A huge dilemma
All I want to say for now is this. When things are meant to be they always have a way of working out. Happy endings don’t just exist in the movies.
For once, she felt like she knew the answers.
About the Author
Whitney Lyles is the author of Always the Bridesmaid, Here Comes the Bride, First Comes Love, Roommates, and the YA romantic comedy Party Games. She’ll never tell if she had a crush on someone off-limits, but she does admit to some pretty wild Halloween costumes.
Whitney lives with her husband and children in San Diego, California. Visit her on the Web at www.whitneylyles.com or www.myspace.com/whitney_lyles.
Love Off-Limits Page 16