A few days later, the fire alarm rang during U.S. History class. I loved a good fire drill - it disrupted class for the time being, gave us a chance for some fresh air, and allowed Ivy, Abby, and me the freedom to gossip.
The only problem was when the high school performed the drills in a season with plummeting temperatures. It was always on a day when I chose not to drag my coat with me all day and kept it in my locker. The guys didn't seem bothered by not wearing their coats, but I was freezing. Our class lined up outside where the asphalt met the grass. Nash, Dylan, and Jake used the opportunity to throw snowballs.
"Here, you're shivering." Brandon was holding out his coat to me.
I was taken aback at his kind gesture. Nash hadn't even offered to stand next to me. I think I was too cold to answer.
I wanted so badly to be wrapped in Brandon's coat, but I knew if I took it, my friends would freak out - especially Nash. But what my friends and Nash didn't know was that I wanted to use Brandon's coat - not because I was cold, but because it was his coat. It was close to his skin and cloaked him all day long. I knew it would smell good, too - like fabric softener or irresistible cologne or smoke from a fireplace. I wanted to wear it now, wear it all day, wear it forever. It would be the closest I'd be able to get to him again, since our time together in the woods when he saved my life.
Ivy shot me a dirty look. She was protective of me and must have thought Brandon was hitting on me. I could only hope.
Abby yanked my sleeve toward her and the three of us girls huddled together.
"I'll take it," Hayley Phillips, a skater from Riverside, said. She was wearing fingerless gloves, a knit hat, and a long-sleeved thermal henley. She put on Brandon's coat. It swallowed her up like an oversized blanket.
I envied her. At that moment I would have given anything to have been in her skateboarding shoes.
School was closed for the next few days for the Thanksgiving holiday. Since I couldn't see Brandon at school, I was looking forward to Nash's party in the hope that he might show up. Nash lived in the same subdivision as Ivy and Abby. The homes were estates and had as many bathrooms as bedrooms. I spent hours trying to find the perfect outfit. I realized I was dressing up as much for a possible Brandon sighting as I was for Nash.
There was a strong chance Brandon wouldn't show. Not only might it be that he'd gone out of town for the holiday, but if he'd remained in Legend's Run, what did he have to gain by attending? He didn't socialize with any of us or anyone who was coming to the party. He might have thought it was a trick or a potential hazing.
Ivy and I arrived at the party to find Abby already there with Dylan. Jake was talking to several jocks, and Nash was nowhere to be found.
When we headed into the kitchen, I found Nash by the refrigerator. Instead of greeting me with a passionate kiss - which I would have been uncomfortable with anyway - he seemed almost put off by my presence.
"You want me to pour your drinks?" He sighed. "I'm not used to being someone's servant, you know. I thought I did my job when I apologized to that guy. Anyway, I haven't seen him, and I'm crossing my fingers he doesn't show."
"Well, I think pouring me a soda would be a nice gesture," I said, not because I wanted him to be a servant, but because it was the gentlemanly thing to do. "But I can pour my own drink," I finally said.
"Forget it - " Nash said. "I'm not being a good host. What would you ladies like?"
I knew there was a good guy inside of Nash, but sometimes it took a lot of prodding to find him.
I hoped Brandon would arrive at any moment. There was a chance we could all get to know one another and make him feel more comfortable at our school. I knew that our being one big happy clique was near to impossible, but it was my nature to dream.
An hour passed and Brandon still hadn't shown.
"You seem distracted," Ivy said. "This party was your idea. You should be having the most fun."
"I got the best part of the dare," Nash said, chuckling. "Shame that Westsider didn't show. I'm sure we would have been great friends."
Nash headed for the stairs. I didn't even follow him. Instead I sat on the couch and vacantly watched whatever was playing on the TV. The clock ticked on and Nash didn't return. I'd finished my soda hours ago, so I decided to get a bottle of water. I was headed back to the kitchen when I spotted Brandon in the corner of the parlor.
He looked magnetic - more stunning than any other guy there. It wasn't hard for him to look gorgeous - for Brandon it came naturally. It was clear he could have any girl at the party, if one so much as saw beyond his Westsider status. But it didn't seem likely that any of these girls would look past their turned-up noses, and for this, I was almost grateful. He would have been fawned all over by every cheerleader and become just like any other guy on the football or basketball team, possibly just like the one who had invited me - who was supposed to be my boyfriend and wasn't paying me any attention.
Brandon was sitting with Hayley Phillips and a few other skaters whom he must have brought with him. Hayley was talking to her friends, but Brandon wasn't listening to their conversation. I didn't think they were dating - I hoped they weren't. Brandon wasn't really talking to them but rather he appeared like he was observing the crowd, as if he was looking for someone. He didn't notice me watching him.
"We should talk to them," I said when Ivy reached my side.
"Why?" Ivy asked.
"Because they were invited to the party."
"I know it's your nature to be nice to everyone. But really, we don't know them. They seem to be really happy hanging out together. And besides, it's Nash's party, not ours. He's the one who should talk to them."
Then it hit me - what if Brandon did mention our time in the woods? My friends would be very curious why I hadn't mentioned that he was the one who saved me. Maybe I didn't want my friends talking to them - I wasn't sure they would understand why I hadn't told them myself, and I didn't want there to be trouble between Brandon and Nash.
On the other hand, Nash needed to welcome his new guests, just as Ivy said. I scoured the house for him. I went upstairs to find his bedroom door closed. Afraid of what - or who - I might find with him on the other side, I knocked. When no one answered, I opened it. The room was empty. I was relieved.
I finally found Nash downstairs in the media room. He was hanging out on the couch, yucking it up for some of his teammates. Heidi Rosen's legs were draped over his lap.
Brandon wasn't the only one Nash wasn't paying attention to.
Nash saw me standing at the bottom of the stairs. "Hey, Celeste - " he called.
I turned around and left. When I reached the top of the stairs, I bumped into Brandon. I didn't know what to say. I wanted to leave. My so-called boyfriend had disappointed me. I didn't want anyone, much less Brandon, to witness it.
I just wanted to go. I found Ivy and told her what I'd seen. "The thing is, Ivy. I'm not sure that I care," I finally admitted.
"Then you should stay," she encouraged.
"I mean about Nash."
Nash found me as I headed to the front door with my purse and keys in hand.
He tried to stop me.
"Celeste - " Nash said, "where are you going?"
"Out for some fresh air," I said.
"You misinterpreted what you saw," he said. "She was hanging on me, not the other way around."
"Whatever. I don't care. And besides, that's not the issue, Nash. You missed the whole point of this party," I said to him. "It was about our friends. It was about meeting other people. It definitely wasn't supposed to be about Heidi Rosen."
Fortunately the partygoers were focused on their own conversations - except for one person. Brandon was hanging by the foyer and overheard everything.
"Celeste, don't go," Ivy said, running up to us at the door. I pushed past Nash.
I was briskly marching to my car when I sensed someone behind me.
"I'm not staying, Nash," I said.
It wasn't Nash trailing me. It was Brandon.
He stood by my car, the moonlight shining on his face. He was so alluring, my heart raced and I was breathless. It was one thing to see Brandon from across the classroom or hallway, before he saved my life. But since I'd spent so many hours obsessing about him and imagining him kissing me, I was suddenly embarrassed being in his company - as if he knew the romantic thoughts I'd been thinking.
"Leaving so soon?" he asked.
"Uh... yes. I just..."
Now I felt torn. I was the one who put Nash up to inviting Brandon. Nash was ignoring him and now I was leaving.
"Funny. You were the reason I came," he said as if the words had slipped from his lips.
I didn't know what to say. I felt so flattered, awkward, and nervous. I knew I should say something witty back, but all my words escaped me.
I saw Nash looming by the front door.
"I better go," I said. As I got into my car, Nash went back inside.
Brandon watched me as I put the gear into reverse.
I wasn't sure what to do. I was pulled in two directions. I might have been leaving Nash, but I didn't want to leave Brandon.
I turned off the ignition and got out of the car.
"Did you forget something?" Brandon asked.
"I never properly thanked you," I said.
The moon twinkled above and the stars shined brightly. If I were the star of a Hollywood movie, I would have thrown myself into his arms and we would have shared a steamy kiss. But my life was far from a movie. I didn't move, and neither did Brandon.
"Celeste!" Ivy called. She and Abby were running toward me.
Brandon retreated into the darkened shadows of the front yard.
"I thought you already left," Ivy said. "I'm so glad you changed your mind."
"I just forgot something," I said.
"What did you forget?" Abby wondered.
"To thank someone who saved my life."
"I'm not sure what you mean," she said.
"That's okay." I sighed. "It's hard to explain."
"Please don't leave," Ivy begged. "Nash was just being foolish. He's in there sulking. You left him in front of everyone."
I smiled. Normally I didn't seek revenge, but Nash deserved a time-out. He wasn't doting like Jake and Dylan, or chivalrous like Brandon. I didn't want to be anywhere near him and remind myself of his behavior.
"Next time I have servants for a day," I said to Ivy, "I won't waste it on him."
