The main picture was of Homecoming Court the year before.
She'd been the Junior Princess.
Standing with Elliot in the sexiest little cheer outfit I'd ever seen. It wasn't something I should probably have noticed, but I did. Her smile was huge, the crown on her head nearly falling over as Elliot's hand helped keep it on her head. His smile matched hers, it was disgusting, like a kick to the gut.
And then I saw the trophies.
So many trophies for the cheerleading squad.
And at least three for Dani for competitive cheerleading.
Back flips, pyramids, group photos. She was gorgeous in all of them; the girl in the pictures wasn't the girl I'd been spending time with. It was as if she was a completely different person.
"I miss her," Dani whispered. "I don't think I've ever said that out loud. Maybe I've been afraid if I said it, it would make my reality that much more cemented in my mind, make it last or something." She hung her head; pieces of blonde hair covered her face so I couldn't read her expression.
"I don't," I whispered. "I refuse to miss a ghost, someone I never knew."
Her shoulders slumped.
"But I do have another confession." I pulled her hair back. "I miss you. The you I know now."
She didn't say anything.
"Look, Dani, I—"
"There you are!" A voice I kind of wanted to forget existed screeched down the halls. "Jay said where to find you."
Note to self: Kill Jaymeson later.
Jo-Jo slinked down the hall, her heels like a hammer to my skull. "So, good news! I got on a few episodes of that scary, fairy tale show that films in Portland, so I came down to Seaside for the weekend."
How in the hell was that good news?
"Great, well…" I forced a smile. "… I have to work, so enjoy Seaside."
"Whoa!" Jo-Jo gripped my bicep, her eyes glued to the muscle before she squeezed then leaned toward me. "I thought we could hang out tonight."
"I have a thing," I lied.
"Actually," Dani piped up, "your schedule's pretty clear. Should I make reservations for you guys somewhere?"
I purposefully stepped backward onto Dani's foot.
She yelped then pushed me off. "So where are you staying, Jo-Jo?"
"Oh…" Jo-Jo shrugged. "… hopefully at Hotel de la Lincoln." This was followed by screeching laughter.
I felt my entire body go rigid with dread as parts of my anatomy went completely limp.
"Wow," Dani croaked. "Okay then. I'll just finish the rest of the stuff on your list then get out of your way, Linc. Glad you won't be bored, with Jo-Jo to hang with you."
Damn it, she had heard me.
Dani walked off. I watched as her Converse faded from my view, and then the gym door slammed behind her.
"I thought she couldn't hear?"
Dear God, people really needed to learn the difference between muteness and deafness.
I jerked away from Jo-Jo. "I'm probably needed back onset."
"Yay! I'll watch." She looped her arm in mine, and I briefly contemplated gnawing my own arm off so that I could get free.
Instead, I said, "Can't wait," in the driest, most sarcastic tone I could muster, which to her must have been a declaration of undying love, since she let out another squeal and pulled me closer.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Dani
"WHOA, SLOW DOWN THERE." ZANE SLID my can of Coke Zero away and sat on my lap. How the hell had he found me on my balcony, and why did he always insist on invading my personal space? Ugh, first thing tomorrow, I was buying him a pack of shirts.
"Uffff." I pushed at his back. "Why are you so heavy?"
"I work on my fitness," he teased. "Also, not moving until you tell me why there's two empty cans in the trash and a third sitting here like you're trying to get drunk off caffeine, Splenda, and caramel coloring."
"Am I boring?" I asked, genuinely curious if that was what my life had come to — from life of the party to the party-ending sad girl.
"All the time," he said seriously. "But I like torture, so I hang out with you anyway."
"You have no friends," I pointed out.
He opened his mouth.
"And the marshmallow bunnies don't count. We already discussed this."
He grinned shamelessly. "You're no fun."
"See!" I yelled.
Rolling his eyes, Zane grabbed my hands and kissed them. "I've known you, what? Three days?"
"Feels like years," I grumbled, reaching for my can.
He swatted my hand out of the way and stood.
"What?" I stared at his tall form.
"You miss Lincoln, right?"
"No," I lied, my cheeks heating.
"Up you go, Pinocchio." He hefted me to my feet. "Night on the town. We're crashing whatever date-from-hell Lincoln's on, and I'm going to steal the girl."
"Jo-Jo?" I burst out laughing. "You don't want to do that, believe me."
"I've had dates with worse." Zane ran his hands through his dark hair. "Trust me, Linc may be fresh meat, but I'm newer meat. Ergo, I steal the girl, and leave you time with the guy."
"So he can what?" I whispered. "Reject me again?"
"The girl has a point." Zane tapped his chin. "Or we could grab ice cream downtown, do a strategic walk-by of the restaurant, then go to bed early like winners."