The New Boy [boyxboy]

Chapter Twenty-Six

19:56

So after school today Dex was all, ‘We should go shopping.’

                And I was like, ‘For what, ice cream?’

                And he looked at me like I’m totally dense (which I guess I am) and said, ‘No, for suits or tuxedos or whatever you guys wear to dances here. How fancy does it get? Can I wear my Converse or do I have to actually wear proper dress shoes? Cos I’m telling you right now, if we have to wear proper dress shoes, I’ll be dancing barefoot after like half an hour.’

                I shrugged. ‘I dunno, I’ve never been to one before. We should ask Andie I guess, she goes to all of them.’

                ‘Why haven’t you ever been to one?’

                I shrugged. ‘Well before Gary nobody ever asked me and I was too shy to ask anyone else. Then Gary obviously doesn’t like dances – though he does quite like getting dressed up so I’m surprised he never used it as an excuse. Plus Andie always had a date so we couldn’t just come as friends.’

                ‘Oh.’ Dex looked thoughtful. ‘Well screw it then. We’ll wear whatever we want.’

                ‘I was just gonna wear a suit jacket over jeans... You’ve got me all paranoid now though, what if people really do dress up for it?’

                ‘Then we’ll be the mysterious cool kids in the corner who don’t give a fuck,’ Dexter grinned.

                ‘What if everyone comes in street clothes?’

                ‘Then we’ll add some class to the occasion, like sirs.’

                I laughed despite myself and he slipped his hand into mine, dragging me towards the car where Teegan and Andie were already waiting.

                ‘What are you two so happy about?’ Andie demanded, even though she was texting.

                ‘What did Kenneth wear when you guys went to this dance last year?’ I asked her as we all fastened our seatbelts and I turned on the car.

                Andie looked up, surprised. ‘I forgot you’d never been to one of these,’ she commented mildly. Then, without offering any advice, turned to Teegan. ‘You wanna go dress shopping tomorrow?’

                Teegan shrugged. ‘Sure. I want to wear something muslin, and have daisies in my hair.’

                ‘I’m gonna wear a wedding dress, freak Dylan out.’

                ‘Seriously?’

                Andie’s turn to shrug. ‘Sure, why not? He wanted to go out with me so badly, let’s see how he deals with my inner bunny boiler,’ she grinned.

                I glanced at Dex. ‘Let’s just wing it.’

Thursday, November 9th, 2011

DISASTER.

                I am so pissed off. I barely trust myself to speak so instead I’m sitting here moodily, writing in my diary like a girl while the others watch me warily. Dexter looks all penitent and nervous because he thinks I’m mad at him, but I’m not. It wasn’t his fault.