"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 pota.s.sium? Raise your hand."
He raised his hand to the ceiling. "I do!"
"Yes, Alexander?"
"K.".
"Correct, you pa.s.s 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 sn.o.b 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.
"Does the asylum know you"ve escaped?" Trevor asked, appearing beside Alexander.
I led Alexander to the refreshment table and grabbed two cherry snow cones.
"Does the warden know you"re here?" Trevor asked, pursuing us.
"Trevor, go away!" I said, shielding Alexander with my body.
"Oh, is the Bride of Frankenstein having PMS?"
"Trevor, enough!" I couldn"t see Alexander"s reaction, but I could feel his hands on my shoulders, drawing me back.
"But this is just the beginning, Raven, just the beginning! Don"t they have dungeon dancing? You have to actually go to school to come to the dances," he said to Alexander. "But I guess in h.e.l.l there are no rules."
"Shut up!" I said. "Don"t you have your own date? Or would that be Matt?" I asked sarcastically.
"Very good. She"s clever," he said to Alexander. "But not too clever. No, my date is over there," he added, pointing to the entrance.
I looked over and saw Becky nervously standing at the door, dressed in a long pleated skirt, pale pink sweater, and long white socks with loafers.
My heart sank to the floor. I felt sick.
"I"ve given her a little makeover," Trevor bragged. "And that"s not all, baby."
"If you touch her, I"ll kill you!" I screamed, lunging for him.
"I haven"t touched her, yet. But there"s time. The dance has just begun."
"Raven, what"s going on?" Alexander demanded, turning me toward him.
Trevor signaled for Becky to come over. She didn"t even look at me as she approached us. Trevor grabbed her hand and kissed her softly on the cheek. I cringed all over and felt nauseated.
"Get off her!" I grabbed her hand and tried to pull her away.
"Raven, is this the guy who"s been ha.s.sling you?" Alexander asked.
"You mean he doesn"t know me? He doesn"t know about us?" Trevor asked proudly.
"There is no "us"!" I tried to explain. "I p.i.s.sed him off because I"m the only girl in school who doesn"t think he"s hot! So now he won"t leave me alone. But Trevor, how dare you involve Becky and Alexander!"
Becky stood with her eyes glued to the floor.
"I think it"s time to leave Raven alone, dude," Alexander said.
"Dude? Now I"m the freakoid"s pal? We can hang out and play soccer? Sorry but there"s a dress code. No fangs and capes. Go back to the cemetery."
"Trevor, enough! I"ll kick you right now!" I threatened.
"It"s okay, Raven," Alexander said. "Let"s go dance."
"Becky, get away from him!" I yelled, not moving. "Becky, say something! Say something already!"
"She"s already said something," Trevor announced. "She"s said a lot. It"s funny how the people in this town talk and can"t shut up when their daddy"s crops might suddenly catch fire from a dropped cigarette," Trevor said, looking straight at me.
He turned to Alexander. "You"ll learn who these rumorholics are sooner than you think!"
I looked at Becky, who was staring at her loafers. "I"m sorry, Raven. I tried to warn you not to come here tonight."
"What"s he talking about?" Alexander wondered.
"Let"s go," I said.
"I"m talking about vampires!" Trevor declared.
"Vampires!" Alexander exclaimed.
"Shut up, Trevor!"
"I"m talking about gossip!"
"What gossip?" Alexander said. "I came here to be with my girlfriend."
"Girlfriend?" Trevor asked, surprised. "Then it"s official. Are you going to spend all of eternity together?"
"Be quiet!" I ordered.
"Tell him why you broke into his house! Tell him what you saw."
"We"re outta here!" I said, starting to go. But Alexander didn"t move.
"Tell him why you threw yourself at him," Trevor continued.
"Don"t say another word, Trevor!"
"Tell him why you went to the cemetery!"
"I said, "Shut up!""
"And why you fainted."
"Shut up!"
"And why you look at yourself in the mirror every hour!"
"What"s he talking about?" Alexander demanded.
"And tell him about this," he said, thrusting the Polaroids of my bite mark at Alexander.
Alexander grabbed the picture and examined it. "What"s this?"
"She used you," Trevor said. "I started a rumor that s...o...b..lled. I had everyone in town believing you were a vampire. The funny thing is, your dear, sweet Raven believed the rumors more than anyone!"
"Shut up!" I screamed and threw my melting snow cone in Trevor"s face.
Trevor laughed as the cherry ice dripped down his cheeks. Alexander stared at the picture.
"What"s going on?" Mr. Harris asked, running over.
Alexander looked at me in disbelief and confusion. He glanced around helplessly as the gawking crowd waited for his reaction. Then he angrily grabbed my hand and pulled me outside. We left the falling snow and went out into drizzling rain.
"Wait!" Becky shouted, running after us.
"What"s going on, Raven?" Alexander demanded, ignoring her. "How does he know you snuck into my house? How does he know about the cemetery? How does he know you fainted? And what"s this?" he asked, shoving the Polaroid at me.
"Alexander, you don"t understand."
"You never told me why you snuck into my house," he said.
I stared at his lonely, deep, soulful eyes. His innocence. His sense of not belonging. What could I say? I couldn"t lie. So I said nothing and just hugged him with all my might.
The photo dropped from his hand. And he pushed me away.
"I want to hear it from you," he demanded.
Tears started to well up. "I went there to disprove the rumors. I wanted to put an end to them! So your family could live in peace."
"So I was just a ghost story to you, that you had to check out?"
"No! No! Becky, tell him it wasn"t like that!"
"It wasn"t!" Becky exclaimed. "She talks about you all the time!"
"I thought you were different, Raven. But you used me. You"re just like everyone else."
Alexander turned away and I grabbed his arm.