Linger

T H R E E

Upon entering school the next morning, I immediately spotted my friends at our usual spot by the lockers.

"Oh my gosh. You actually did it!!" Sasha bounced up to me with an eager smile. Her eyes lit up as she ran her red fingernails over the sleeve of her black leather jacket I had borrowed.

"I can't believe you actually convinced me," I mumbled with a roll of my eyes yet let out a laugh. 

"Can't believe she actually convinced all of us," Chelsea spoke up next to me. 

I glanced over her red sweater she had paired with jeans. "Cute sweater." I smiled at her as I opened my locker & grabbed the books I needed for my first classes.

"I feel so dumb."

"I think we look cute," Alice said as she turned to us, adjusting the red bow in her long brown hair. "We should match more often!"

"No, we shouldn't!" Chelsea immediately insisted, turning back to her locker. 

"You are so going to get asked first," I told her playfully. 

"Yeah, because my red Converse are so irresistible." She held her foot up, showing her sneakers, causing us all to laugh. 

As we giggled and made more jokes, I couldn't help but glance around the crowded hallways, eager to see a certain face . . .

". . . Mads?"

"Hm?" I quickly turned to Sasha, bringing my hair over my shoulder to cover my neck. 

"Chelsea found this dress. What do you think?" She held up a magazine, opened to a page with countless sparkly gowns of every color.

"Oooh, pretty!" Alice gasped.

"Wait, I have to show you the others." Chelsea grabbed the magazine, hastily flipping through the pages.

"You are going to break every guy's heart in this outfit," Sasha turned to me, running her hand over the leather jacket. 

"I'm just going to scare every guy away," I replied with a laugh, glancing around the crowded hallways.

She raised an eyebrow at me. 

"I feel like everybody's looking at me!" I cried, slamming my locker shut. "Especially with the red lipstick."

"Yeah, 'cause you look hot." 

I gave her a look. 

"We both do." She gave me her perfect smile. 

The bell then sounded through the halls, indicating the start of yet another school day.

"Come on, my little heartbreaker." She reached for my hand. 

I took it, before turning to Chelsea and Alice. "We are so annoying." I rolled my eyes, yet let out a laugh. 

"We'll be annoying with you!!" Alice reached for my hand as she and Chelsea followed us down the hall. 

Various posters promoting tickets for the Winter Formal lined the walls, providing yet another reminder of the big event as we reached the classroom.

"Six weeks is so not enough time to find the perfect dress." Chelsea huffed, casting a glare at the poster. "Think we can sneak this into study hall?" She held up the catalogue. 

"Would Mrs. Karlsson even allow it?" Alice asked as we reached the classroom.

"She doesn't have to know." Sasha gave us a playful smile over her shoulder before she stepped inside and we followed.