One Perfect Year at Stevenson High

Chapter 32

The semester was over and winter break had arrived. Adora let Glimmer and Bow shuttle her to the mall so they could shop for the party. Again, Glimmer insisted on playing Adora's personal stylist, and by now Adora knew better than to argue. Besides, Adora wasn't ashamed to admit that Glimmer had better taste than she did, so she let her friend treat her like a dress-up doll without complaint.

An hour later with their outfits in hand, the Best Friend Squad hurried back to Glimmer's house to get ready. Giddy and excited, Adora changed quickly into the clothes Glimmer had picked for her—a fitted black top with a wide neck and long sleeves, to be worn with a tight pair of high-waisted jeans and finished with cute high-heeled ankle boots—and spent the rest of the time stressing over whether to wear her hair up or down.

"I want to look nice, but not like I'm trying too hard," she explained. "Does that make sense?"

"This is literally the first time I've seen you worry about how you look," Glimmer said, grinning as she brushed on some aggressively glittery eye shadow. "Hoping to get someone's attention tonight?"

Adora's mouth fell open. From across the room, Bow chuckled.

"Don't listen to her, Adora," he said, catching her eye in the reflection of Glimmer's floor-length mirror where he was admiring his new cropped hoodie. "Why don't you try wearing your hair half up? It's like the best of both worlds!"

She gave it a shot, pulling the top half of her hair into an effortless knot at the back of her head and leaving the rest to cascade down her shoulders like a waterfall of molten gold.

Glimmer gave her an approving nod. "Crisis averted. Should we head out?"

They grabbed their coats and rushed down the stairs to the great foyer of Glimmer's home.

"Mom! Dad! We're leaving now!" Glimmer shouted, her hand already on the door knob.

Mrs. and Mr. Moon swept in from the kitchen. Glimmer's dad was home for the holidays, and he smiled warmly at his daughter and her friends.

"You kids have fun tonight," he said, his hands planted on his hips.

"But not too much fun," Mrs. Moon added with a sharp look. "I expect you all to be responsible."

"Don't worry, ma'am," Bow said. He twirled his car keys around his finger with a flourish. "I'm DDing tonight."

Mrs. Moon raised a single, perfectly arched eyebrow. "Not that your services should be necessary, right?"

Bow shrank back and let out an awkward laugh. "Er, of course, ma'am."

This seemed to satisfy her. Glimmer's mom planted a kiss on her daughter's cheek and reminded the three of them to be home by midnight. Mr. Moon hovered by the door, watching as his wife retreated back into the kitchen.

"I know you'll all make good choices tonight," he said, speaking in a low voice and keeping an eye on the doorway to the kitchen. "But if you do decide to, say, enjoy the host's 'refreshments', just remember that you can call me anytime. I'll come pick you kids up, no questions asked."

Glimmer snorted a laugh and gave him a tight hug. "Got it. Thanks, Dad."

Mr. Moon squeezed her back. "I mean it — I don't mind." He looked at Bow. "I'd rather you wake me up in the middle of the night than drive drunk."

"Dad!" Glimmer admonished.

Bow responded with a salute. "I'll have everyone home by midnight in one piece, you have my word."

At last, Glimmer was able to extricate herself from her father's grip and the friends hustled out the door to pile into Bow's car. Adora scooched into the middle seat and leaned forward.