The Frog and The Beast

The Beast Chapter 3

Word spread quickly that I was taking Kagura to the dance, and when Jenny caught wind of it, she was furious. As expected, she confronted me in her typical, dramatic fashion, her rage palpable.

"What do you think you're doing, taking some goth chick to the dance?!" she raved.

"Relax, babe," I replied, keeping my cool and using my most charming tone. "She's not really going to be my date. It's all an act."

"An act?"

"Just a little joke I'm playing on her. I want to teach her and those other self-righteous freaks a lesson. Kagura walks around this school preaching that looks don't matter, but we all know that if she had the chance, she wouldn't be able to resist the allure of being one of the beautiful people. And guess what? She said yes to being my date. Now, picture this: she tells everyone I'm her date, maybe even believes it and gets a fancy dress. Then I show up at the dance with you. It's classic."

"Oh, Glen, that's just evil," Jenny said, initially horrified as if she had her limits to cruelty. But then a wicked smile spread across her face. "I love it!"

"I thought you would."

"So you're still taking me to the dance, right?"

"Of course. Who else would I take?"

"Fabulous. Très magnifique." She kissed both my cheeks like the French do. Seriously, one trip to Paris and suddenly she's a Francophile. "Now remember, Glen, my dress is going to be magenta, leopard print, so that corsage has to match, and the only flower that will go with it is a purple orchid. Nothing else."

"Sure. I'll get you one."

"Merci beaucoup."

"Oh for God's sake, woman, drop the French act already!" I would have said if she weren't so attractive and I didn't want to get lucky on the night of the dance.

The dance wasn't just the night I would become a prince; it was also the night I intended to finally lose my virginity. Lyon had already bragged about his conquests, and whether it was true or not didn't matter; the whole school believed him, giving him an edge in our friendly rivalry. I had to catch up and fast, and with a real hot chick.

"Are you sure you want to do this tonight? And with Jenny?" Ur asked as she handed me my tuxedo for the dance. "This is a big step, and you're still so young."

"Again, it's none of your business! How do you even know about it?!"

"You're not exactly quiet when you boast to Lyon on the phone about your dating life," she replied, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Especially when you're doing it right in front of me while I'm doing the dishes."

"You have no right to eavesdrop on my conversations!"

"Oh believe me, Mr. Glen, I don't want to hear about your escapades, and I wish you would be more discreet."

"Just ignore it!"

"I try. Trust me, I try. Still, if I may offer some advice—"

"I don't need your advice!" I snatched the tuxedo from her. "Did you get the corsage too?"

"Yes, sir. It's in the fridge. I'll get it."

By the time I finished changing into my tux, Ur returned with a small box containing a flower. But when I opened it, I found a single white rose instead of an orchid.

"What the hell is this?!" I exclaimed, shoving the box under her nose.

She stepped back, her expression calm. "Beautiful, isn't it?"

"Beautiful?! It's a rose! I specifically asked for an orchid! Are you so clueless that you don't know the difference?!"

"I know what an orchid is, but unfortunately, the floral shop was all out. A rose is just as lovely, maybe even more so. I'm sure Jenny will love it."