Death May Disagree

Chapter 24

"I read your letter," Doom says when I've come back to my dorm to gather all my spring formal items. Demi has volunteered to do my hair and makeup at Lambda Theta Alpha, but only if I arrive two hours before our departure time.

"Did Ailing read it, too?" I ask, stuffing my makeup and jewelry box in a bag. "Or am I not allowed to ask?"

As glad as I am with Doom's visit, and with every visit in the past, I don't think I can act normal until the week is over.

"She did, and she was sad to find nothing incriminating," he says. "At first, she thought she did, but the look on Death's face after reading it said it all."

"Aren't Death and Ailing super close friends? She seemed to have so much influence on his decisions before."

Doom smirks. "Ailing doesn't like to be wrong and Death doesn't like to be rushed."

"I see. That's good."

I take my blue sequin dress and its hanger out of my closet, and put on my platform wedge sandals with black ankle straps, trying to get excited for tonight. It's a special night for Demi and her sorority sisters, and for me who isn't a sorority member but can still attend. Demi described the Lambda Theta Alpha Spring Formal to be a lot like prom but with more decision-making power to the students. With that said, the venue for the event will be held near a lake, which sounds unusual but I'm keeping an open mind.

"So did Dominique like the banner?" asks Doom.

The hairs on my arm stand on edge. "Oh yeah. She really liked it. Um- thanks again for helping."

Doom stares deeply into my eyes, searching. I look away from him and into the mirror I've hung in the back of my closet. I pretend to fix my hair for what feels like a long minute, humming nervously to myself. Doom's eyes stay trained on me the whole time.

"She'll be back in May," I finally say, conscious of my time crunch. I turn back to Doom and smile politely. "I've got to go."

Taking my bag in one hand and my dress in the other, I move towards the door without looking at Doom. I feel like I'm leaving him on a bad note, but it feels stuffy and uncomfortable to breathe, like the density of the air became thicker than all the planets combined. Wouldn't it be nice if the physical act of opening the door will make the awkwardness air itself out? I sigh away the wishful thought. I know what I need to do to end things on a better note, and that entails losing my reticence.

"A funny thing happened on the night of Dominique's party. Denise asked Milo to be her date to spring formal," I tell him.

"Did she now? Well, you'd better keep an eye out for her. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer."

Feeling more comfortable, I turn to face Doom. "She's not my enemy. I think she might actually want to be friends."

"Well then, keep her close. Tonight is about fun and friends. Keep close to both." And then Doom disappears.

I make it to Lambda Theta Alpha just as Demi finishes up helping one of her sorority sisters with her hair. I put on my dress before sitting down on Demi's bed, where Demi lays out my makeup and jewelry. She squeals when she sees the blue bracelet her mom gave me and hooks it on my wrist. "Your theme will be butterfly," says Demi, indicating the direction she will take with my hair and makeup. Denise walks in an hour later, dressed in a magenta one-shoulder column gown, by which time my reflection in the mirror can pass off as one of Lambda Theta Alpha's very own sorority members. We chat together until Demi the beautician beautifies herself.

At 8:30pm, a familiar black Audi pulls up in front of the sorority house, and Dustin sticks his head out the driver's side window as he parks. "Ladies," he says flirtatiously. He steps out of the vehicle with a corsage for Denise, an elastic band with white roses and magenta ribbons. Demi flashes her bare wrist at me and jokes about the one job as a date that I forgot to do. I want to cuff her wrist with my butterfly bracelet, but she's wearing a backless red mermaid dress and gold stilettos that would definitely destroy her look. Instead, I blame Dustin for being too sweet and we hop in the Audi and head for the freeway.