Drink, Slay, Love

Chapter Twenty Eight

Prom night.

Everyone drove up to the mansion at eight o'clock. Pearl and Evan joined Bethany, Zeke, and Matt, plus half the prom committee in the minivan. Kelli and her date followed. Others arrived in a steady stream of taillights down the narrow, winding driveway. In the minivan no one talked much as they pulled in behind the other prom-goers. Thankfully, Pearl didn't see any limos-they'd done a good job discouraging that complication.

"Sorry about the cat," Bethany said. "We didn't mean it as an insult."

Pearl said, "I don't eat fluff. Or Fluffy."

From the backseat, Tara said, "That was cool what you did for Ashlyn's family." After returning with Evan, Pearl had told Ashlyn and her parents the phrase to say to uninvited vampires. And to prevent non vampiric visitors, she told them to lock their door. In her opinion, it was too little too late.

Everyone fell silent again.

Bethany parked in the gravel lot in front of the mansion. Red, green, and yellow strobe lights flashed through the windows, and disco-ball lights spun by. As she shut off the engine, the beat of the music inside thrummed through the parking lot. Song lyrics were muffled. Without moving, Pearl stared at the mansion.

"Everybody ready?" Zeke asked. Even his normal exuberance felt tamped down.

A stream of prom-goers flowed toward the entrance. Red satin and blue tulle, black gowns and tuxedos . . . A few of the girls hobbled on their high heels as they crossed the gravel. Pearl promised herself that she'd ensure as many of them survived the night as possible. Payment for Brad and for Ashlyn. "Ready," Pearl said.

She reached for the door handle, but Evan said, "Wait!" He hopped out and then swung the door open and held out his hand. "Chivalry, alive and well."

"I am swooning at your feet," Pearl said, but she let her hand rest on his as she stepped out of the minivan. A cool breeze swirled over her skin but didn't budge her hair, thanks to Kelli's enthusiastic use of hair products. Everyone else piled out of the minivan in a flurry of formal wear. Together, they joined the stream of prom-goers.

Tiny white Christmas lights outlined the doorway. They winked and sparkled. The prom committee had interspersed aluminium foil bats in between the lights. At the bottom step, Sana and another member of the track team (Claire) collected car keys to the SUVs and other large vehicles, ostensibly to prevent drunk driving but really to prepare the evacuation vehicles. Bethany silently handed over her key. The mansion's entrance was flanked by Sandy and Donald on one side and Mr. Barstow and a second teacher on the other. Evan nodded to his parents as he passed. Both of them watched Pearl.

"Dude," Matt said behind her and Evan. "You forgot something."

Pearl wondered what they'd forgotten: weapons, common sense?

Stopping on the threshold, Matt handed Evan a clear box with a single rosebud inside it. The bud lay in a nest of lace and green leaves. "It's a corsage," Tara said as she breezed past them into the ballroom. "You wear it on your wrist, and you pretend it doesn't itch like hell."

Evan managed a smile. "I meant to buy you one. I've been preoccupied."

"I'll excuse you this time," Pearl said as Evan slid the corsage onto her wrist. The leaves tickled her skin.

"Whoa," Matt said. "I think she just asked you for a second date."

Pearl opened her mouth to protest but then shut it. Evan was looking at her with his warm eyes. A smile played on his soft lips. "Whatever," she said. She was unlikely to survive the night anyway. She walked into the ballroom with her date in tow.