Faking Normal by Courtney C. Stevens Page B

a dose of vitamin C. Soul-healing.
    I check my watch. It’s four o’clock, and I have an hour to get ready before Heather arrives to pick me up. “I gotta go in,” I say.
    “I know. See you tonight.”
    After a quick shower, I dress in my favorite of Kayla’s black dresses. I’m taller, but she’s bigger than I am in places. So I show less boobs and more legs than intended. I’m only moderately pleased with the outfit, so I take extra time with my hair, which means Heather’s horn blows before I finish my nails. I paint the last two toes in a hurry, leaving a dab of silver on the carpet, and slide into a pair of heels, stuff my phone into my clutch, and yell “Bye” to Bodee. Mom has to do her mom bit, looking me over and giving me compliments, before sending me out the door.
    “Smokin’,” Heather says as I wiggle into the front seat of the Malibu.
    “You too.”
    Heather’s wearing a strapless, empire-cut teal dress that makes her eyes look like blue fire. Collie will take one look at it, at her, and try to talk her out of it. And this might be his lucky night. She slides huge pink sunglasses over her flames and says, “That dress says you’re ready to make memories.”
    “Absolutely.” I’m surprised at my own excitement. This morning the dance was an obligation, but now that Bodee’s going and it’s safe, I’m happy to put on the swank, glad to wear the bling.
    “Love these nights. One reason to tolerate high school. I’mso glad you quit band. I’d miss you like crazy tonight if you had to sit with them.” Heather leans her head against mine and holds a camera out at arm’s length to take our self-portrait. We both show our teeth. “The game is going to be awesome. Then the dance. And afterward, there’s a party at Dane’s. I don’t have anywhere to be until Monday morning at seven fifty-five. That’s what I call a weekend, baby.”
    “I’m probably not going to Dane’s,” I say.
    “Buzzkill. Well, we’ll see.” Heather sounds confident. “You know Hayden will want to go.”
    “Hayden’s just going with me tonight to make Janna jealous. They’ll be back together before the end of the dance.”
    Heather looks over her glasses at me. “I think you’re wrong on that one. He likes you.”
    “We’ll see.”
    We run by Liz’s house to take pictures with her before Ray picks her up. Her mom has pizza on the table, and knowing we’ll dance the calories off before the night is over, we eat two slices each. As I glance between Heather and Liz, I realize this is why it’s worth putting up with Hayden. There’s girl energy between us as we stuff our faces and joke and tease one another. And avoid getting grease on our dresses.
    “I’m glad we’re all going together,” Liz says. “We could leave the boys behind, and I’d be okay with it.”
    “Me too,” I agree.
    “Uh-uh, not me. Way too much estrogen. I want me some Collie.”
    “We know,” Liz and I say at the same time.
    “Pretty sure Collie wants you, too,” I say, but no one hears because Ray rings the doorbell.
    “Go on or you’ll miss the kickoff,” Liz says. “We’re right behind you.”
    At the game, the student section is packed with fancy dresses, button-ups and silk ties, and even one powder-blue suit from a donation store. But formality hasn’t stolen our school spirit. The cheers are just as loud and the clapping and stomping just as rowdy as any other Friday night. Kayla and Bodee are higher up, one bleacher below the press box, and my parents are with them. Kayla gives me a thumbs-up for the dress and waves me toward her, but I don’t have enough ambition to climb all those steps in heels.
    “I’ve hardly seen him in anything but a T-shirt,” Heather says as her eyes follow mine.
    Heather’s right. Bodee’s not wearing his usual. I take a second look, and he pops his knuckles and then gives me a little wave. I don’t wave back, but I smile. “It’s Craig’s stuff,” I say, wishing we’d