"I almost forgot," Alexander said, awkwardly standing up. "Raven, this is for you."
He handed me the flowered box.
"Thank you!" I smiled anxiously and tore it open, revealing a gorgeous red rose corsage. "It's beautiful!" I gave my mom and dad a look of "See? I told you so."
"How lovely!" my mom gushed.
I held the corsage over my heart as Alexander tried to pin it on. He fumbled out of nervousness.
"Ouch!"
"Did I stick you?" he asked.
"My finger got pricked, but it's okay."
He stared intensely at the drop of blood on the tip of my finger.
My mom stepped between us with a tissue she grabbed from the coffee table.
"It's nothing, Mom, just a little blood. I'm okay." I quickly stuck the pricked finger in my mouth.
"We better go," I said.
"Paul!" my mom pleaded.
But my dad knew better. There was nothing he could do. "Don't forget the coat" was all he said.
I grabbed the coat and Alexander's hand and dragged him out the door, afraid my mom would try to ward him off by making the sign of the cross. We could hear dance music from the parking lot. No red Camaro anywhere. We were safe--for now.
"Don't forget your jacket," Alexander reminded me as I stepped out of the car.
"You'll have to keep me warm." I winked, leaving it on the backseat.
Two cheerleaders dressed for arctic temperatures stared at us with looks of horror.
I led Alexander away and we paused outside the main entrance. Alexander was like a child, inquisitive and nervous. He looked at the building with interest, like he'd never seen a school before.
"We don't have to go inside," I offered.
"No, that's okay," he said, squeezing my fingers.
Two jocks in the hallway stopped talking the instant they saw us and stared.
"You can pick up your eyeballs off the floor now," I said as I led Alexander past the gawkers.
Alexander examined everything: the Snow Ball signs, the bulletin board announcements, the trophy case. He ran his hand against the lockers, touching the cold metal. "It's just like on TV!"
"Haven't you ever been in a school?" I wondered.
"No."
"Gosh! You're the luckiest guy in the world. You never had to eat a school lunch. Your intestines must be in great shape!" "But if I went here we would have met sooner."
I hugged him close underneath the same Snow Ball banner that Trevor and I had argued beneath the day before.
Monica Havers and Jodie Carter passed us and did a double take. I thought their eyes were going to bulge right out of their pom- pom heads.
I was ready to fight if they said anything. But I could tell by the pressure on my wrist that Alexander wanted me to remain calm. The girls whispered and giggled to themselves and went on their gossipy way toward the gym.
"Here's where I don't learn chemistry," I said, opening the unlocked door to my chemistry lab. "I usually have to sneak into places. This is a breeze."
"By the way, I've always wanted to know why you snuck in--"
"Look at these!" I interrupted, pointing out the beakers on the lab table. "Lots of mysterious potions and explosions, but that wouldn't bother you, right?"
"I love it!" He was holding a beaker like it was a fine wine.
I pushed him into a desk, then wrote his name on the blackboard.
"Does anybody know the symbol for potassium? Raise your hand."
He raised his hand to the ceiling. "I do!"
"Yes, Alexander?"
"K."
"Correct, you pass the whole year!"
"Miss Madison?" he said, raising his hand again. "Yes?"
"Can you come here for a moment? I think I need some tutoring. Do you think you can help me?"
"But I just gave you an A!"
"It's more along the lines of anatomy."
I stepped over. He pulled me onto his lap and kissed me softly on the mouth.
We heard some giggling girls run past the open door. "We better go," he suggested.
"No, it's okay."
"I don't want you to get expelled. Besides, we have a dance to attend," he said, making us both stand up.
I walked out hand-in-hand with the guy I had the most chemistry with, his name still etched on the blackboard.
As we approached the gym, I could already feel the cold stares. Everyone was looking at Alexander like he had come from another planet and at me like they always looked at me.
Miss Fay, my nosy algebra teacher, was collecting tickets by the door. "I see you arrived at the dance on time, Raven. Too bad you can't do the same for algebra. I've never seen this gentleman at school," she added, scrutinizing Alexander.
"That's because he doesn't go here." Just take the tickets, lady! I skipped the introductions and pulled Alexander inside.
We walked into the Snow Ball. I didn't know if it was because I was with Alexander, or because it was my first dance, but white had never looked so wonderful. Plastic icicles and snowflakes hung from the ceiling, and the floor was covered with powdery snow. Artificial snow softly sprinkled down from the ceiling. Everyone was dressed in shimmering winter dresses or corduroys with sweaters, mittens, scarves, and hats. The blasting air conditioning sent chills through me.
Even the rock band, The Push-ups, fit the theme with their stocking caps and winter boots. Refreshments were set up underneath the scoreboard--snow cones, cider, and hot chocolate.
I could hear whispers, laughs, and gasps as we walked past the bundled-up students. The band, too, was looking at us.
"You want to get some hot chocolate before some senior spikes it?" I asked, trying to distract Alexander from all the attention.
"I'm not thirsty," he replied, watching the dancers.
"I thought you said you were always thirsty?"
The band started to play an electric version of "Winter Wonderland."
"Can I have this dance?" I asked, offering my hand.
I smiled with delight as we walked through the powdered snow to the dance floor.
I was in heaven. I had the best date at the Snow Ball--there was no one more gorgeous than Alexander, and he danced like a dream. We forgot that we were outsiders and thrashed our bodies around like regulars in a trendy club. We danced one song after another without stopping--"Cold As Ice," "Ice Cream," "Frosty the Snowman."
The band started to sing, "I Melt with You." The gym was spinning as tiny powdered snowflakes gently fell on us. Alexander and I screamed with laughter as we tripped over an inebriated soccer snob who was making a snow angel on the floor. When the music stopped, I squeezed Alexander like mad, like this was our own private dance. But of course, we weren't alone, as a familiar voice reminded me.