Nate

Thanks to having his skateboard back, Nate arrived at school early for a change. He was grinning like a fool as he approached Camille’s locker. He looked around to make sure the coast was clear. So far so good. Nate set his backpack on the floor and carefully pulled out his supplies, working swiftly to be sure he was finished before Camille arrived.

When he was done, Nate stepped back to admire his handy work. This is gonna work. He snapped a quick photo with his phone and started stuffing things into his backpack. He was almost done when a group of guys in his grade sauntered by. Nate glanced at the clock. Camille would be here any minute. He was in a rush to get out of the way, but one of the guys stopped him.

“Seriously, bro?”

Nate grinned. “Seriously.”

The NOAH student shook his head. “You’re making the rest of us look bad. You know that, right?”

“Sorry, but she’s worth it.” Nate replied.

The boy laughed. “Well, good luck man.”

Cami

Camille rushed down the hall toward her locker. She’d gotten a late start this morning. She still hadn’t replaced her cell phone and the old alarm clock she’d dug out of her closet apparently didn’t work—which she found out the hard way when Poo woke her up with sloppy kisses demanding his breakfast.

Camille hated rushing to get ready. That was always when something went wrong, like her wig glue didn’t set or her eyelashes fell off. She had a strict routine for getting ready to ensure she’d show up at school looking as crisp and pressed as any other NOAH student.

She was so late she decided to drive to school, and kept glancing at her reflection in the rearview mirror to make sure she didn’t forget anything. But her feelings of anxiety only grew as she scurried down the hall. She kept catching strange glances from students. And they weren’t because of her hair color—which was a soft platinum blonde with wavy pink tips today. Everyone at NOAH was used to her colorful wigs and tights by now. So what was the issue?

Camille stopped short when she noticed a cluster of freshman girls in front of her locker. They were giggling and taking photos. It made Camille’s stomach drop. Did someone write something cruel on her locker?

Her first thought was, God, please don’t let Nate see it.

She pushed through the group of girls so she could see what they were gawking at. And when her eyes settled upon her locker, her knees almost gave out. Hundreds of tiny paper butterflies had been arranged to spell the world PROM with a question mark.

Nate.

She walked forward in a trance, feeling like she was in a dream world as she examined the butterflies. On closer inspection, she realized they’d been folded from the pages of a book, just like the one she’d made when she wanted to learn origami in sixth grade.

Nate’s voice suddenly broke through her daze. “I used Gone with the Wind,” he whispered. “Figured you wouldn’t mind since you said people around here read it too much anyway.”

Camille turned toward him. “Nate, you did this?”

“Yeah.” His giant smile dimmed a bit. “Wait, did you not know it was me?”

Of course she knew it was him. How many people did he think were asking her to be their prom date?

But Camille couldn’t seem to form words. Because behind Nate, a group of students were gathering, all watching her like they were waiting for some grand gesture. But this wasn’t a movie. Nate wasn’t going to sweep Camille off her feet and live happily ever after. A happy ending wasn’t in the cards for her, and with so many eyes on her, Camille felt it more than ever.

“So what do ya say?” Nate asked, nodding toward the butterflies.

But Camille barely heard him. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from the Ashleys, who’d just joined the growing mob of students staring at her like she was a circus sideshow. Ashley Dupree was glaring at Camille, and suddenly all she wanted to do was disappear.

“I’m gonna be late for class,” Camille mumbled, and then ran down the hall without looking back.

Nate

Nate paced the lounge during his lunch break waiting for Camille. His stomach had been in knots since the locker incident. He couldn’t stop replaying it in his head. He thought his gesture was romantic as hell, but Cami had run from him like he had the plague. Nate loved that Camille was different from anyone he’d ever met, but it certainly threw him for a loop when it came to asking her out. He kept reminding himself that the ordinary wouldn’t be good enough for Camille. She deserved better. She deserved out of this world. But Nate was having trouble figuring out what exactly that was. Apparently not paper butterflies, moron.

Camille walked into the lounge and Nate hurried over to her.

“Hey, about this morning . . . I thought . . . I don’t know . . . Did I totally freak you out?”

“No, Nate, I’m sorry. It’s not you.”

Nate held up his hands. “You’re not about to give me the ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ speech, are you?”

“But it is me,” Camille protested. “I hate being the center of attention.”

Nate let out a sigh. He was a complete jackass. His prom-posal had pretty much guaranteed the entire school was talking about Camille right now. He should’ve guessed that wouldn’t be her thing. She already told him she didn’t like going to dances or hanging with the in-crowd. She’d basically been screaming ‘I hate attention’ at him, and what did he do? Shine a spotlight on her. Smooth, Nate!

He slumped down in a chair at their usual table, running his hands through his hair in frustration. “So, I’m an idiot.”

Camille joined him. “Nate, you’re not an idiot.”

“Really?”

“Well maybe a little bit,” she teased. “But stupid is your thing, right?”

“Yeah.” Nate gave her a half-hearted smile. “I’m sorry, Cami. I thought it would be romantic.”

“You destroyed a library book and defaced school property for me. That is sorta romantic in a criminal behavior kinda way.”

This time Nate laughed for real. “True. But I guess I can retire Criminal Nate?”

“Yeah. I think that’s a good idea. Besides, I like Regular Nate, just fine.”

Nate perked up. “Did you just admit you like me?”

“Don’t let it go to your head.”

“Too late.” Camille’s words made his chest fizz and pop. It was probably the best thing she could’ve said to him. Game on! “So, what are you doing tonight?”

“Working at Sweet Thang’s.”

“Cool. Ask me what I’m doing tonight.”

She smiled, playing along. “What are you doing tonight, Nate?”

“I have a date tonight.”

Camille froze, her forkful of salad suspended in the air. “Really?”

“Yeah. I met this really cool girl. We went swimming and skateboarding and tonight we have a date at Sweet Thang’s.”

“I take it back,” she said swatting at him. “You are an idiot!”

Both of them were laughing when Ashley Dupree’s syrupy voice interrupted. “What are you two giggling about?”

“Oh, ya know, just our love of Gone with the Wind,” Nate said.

Ashley’s face lit up. “Really? Did you know I was named after one of the characters? I just adore that book.”

Camille nearly choked on her juice with laughter. Nate had to pat her back.

“Yep, us too,” he replied sarcastically.

“Well, what a coincidence. Anyway,” Ashley smiled sweetly. “I was just stopping by to remind you to purchase your prom tickets. Clearly you’re going after that charming prom-posal, right Camille?”

“Actually, not yet,” Nate said, hoping to spare Camille the attention. But Ashley was already glaring in her direction.

“Camille LaRue! Don’t tell me you didn’t say yes to that enchanting proposal?” Ashley scolded.

Nate laughed. “It’s a little game we like to play. Besides, I like a girl who’s hard to get.”

Ashley’s hands were on her hips. “Well, if she won’t go with you, Nathan, I’d be flattered to.”

“Thanks, Ash, but I’m only going to prom if Cami does.”

Ashley huffed, tossing her glossy blonde hair over her shoulder and sashayed away.