Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

"There may be something there that there wasn't there before..." –Mrs. Potts, Beauty and the Beast

Katie, Sophie, and Danny shoved their way through the throng of people in the hallway. "Damn, did she invite the whole school?" Sophie muttered.

"Let's just try to find Alexia and give her the gifts, socialize for a little, and go."

Katie craned her neck. "Actually, I know that guy." She pointed to a guy surrounded by drunk girls. "He got kicked out of the community college." Danny ignored her, focusing on a curvy brunette girl wearing a Stella McCartney top and jeans, topped off with a crown that screamed "birthday princess." "Found her, and is that her cousin?" She added, noting the older platinum blonde wearing a barely-there skirt and top, also with a crown.

"That explains the college dude," commented Katie wryly. Alexia's cousin, who was eighteen, was a huge partier and slut. The girls, after depositing the presents in the spare room, vowed to check up on each other after twenty minutes.

Well, that went well, Danny thought. She was squished in what she had to assume was the kitchen, alone. Well, she wasn't really alone. There were about fifty people stuffed in the kitchen, who, despite her summers here, Danny didn't know. Katie and Sophie were nowhere to be found. Why had they decided to separate? "Eeep!" Someone fell on top of her; nearly soaking her jeans in what she prayed was only beer. A hand shot out of nowhere and grabbed her, yanking her out of the way.

"Whoa, you okay there?"

"Ehmagawd, thank you! You just saved my-Peter! Hey!" She was startled to see Peter's emerald-green eyes peeking out from underneath his customary green cap.

"We meet again, Danny. Quick, let's get out of here before we get trampled." He pulled her through the people, not stopping until they reached the backyard. She took a breath, grateful for the fresh air.

"Thanks. You saved my life, not to mention my True Religions. Nevertheless, what are you doing here? I didn't think you and Alexia were friends."

"No problem. And we're not exactly close. But, let me put it this way. Alexia has a fascination with me. Hence, the invite." Hence? Who says 'hence' anymore? "Are you and Alexia friends?"

"Me and-? No. We used to be....but now she just invites me to play on the fact that I'm an 'American'," she said, complete with finger quotes. "But I'm just as British as she is." She rolled her eyes. "Seriously, though, I owe you one," she added.

"I'll be sure to take you up on that," Peter replied, eyes twinkling. Suddenly, he grabbed her arm. "Where did you get this dust?" She had sprinkled a tiny amount of the dust she'd found on the balcony on her arms once she'd determined it wasn't some kind of crack or equally dangerous drug.

She shrugged. "I don't know." It was true, she didn't know. "I found it." She didn't want to tell him the truth. It was still hard to trust her judgment of guys, and she knew the sweetest ones could be the ones most likely to rip out your heart and stomp on it. Peter was getting too close for comfort, but there was nothing Danny could do to stop her heart.

"Well, it looks good." He smiled. She had been so overtaken by his charm that she only realized just then that everyone was staring at them.

"Why is everyone staring at us?" She asked nervously, checking her Hollister tank and True Religion jeans were intact. People were barely bothering to hide their stares.