Take Me Tomorrow by Shannon A. Thompson

front of me with a wagging tail. He yawned.
    “Hey, Argos,” I whispered . My father hadn’t even left a note.
    I began to run a hand through my hair when the hairspray prevented me. I laid my hand on the tough curls and sighed dramatically once again. Argos plopped down, curiously blinking at me. “What are you looking at?” I spoke to him, and he groaned before he slid back to the floor for another nap. I couldn’t help but smile before I walked away.
    I made my way through the entry hallway and refused to stare at myself in the mirror we hung up only a year prior. The makeover Lily had forced upon me over an hour ago felt unnatural.
    My normally frizzy, out-of-control curls were smoothed into perfect ringlets. My eyelashes were longer and darker, and my usually gray eyes appeared blue against the navy dress that I wore. My legs were freezing, a nd I could feel the makeup that had been splattered onto my complexion, even though it didn’t look like it. Even I had to admit that Lily had softened my rough exterior.
    My dress was beautiful, rising to my shoulders with thin, braided straps, while the neckline swooped low enough to show off my necklace. Lily told me it was an old dress of hers, but I couldn’t help but suspect that she had bought it specifically for me. We weren’t exactly the same size, and it was hard to imagine her wearing something so neutral. This dress was simple. Lily sparkled with dramatic colors anytime she had the chance. It was one of the reasons she constantly complained about our school uniforms.
    I shook my h ead, feeling my heavy curls as I faced the door. I didn’t want to think about how I looked or about the boy Lily was introducing me to. I had enough to think about, but Anthony’s name shook my nerves, and I held my mother’s silver necklace.
    I leaned back to look at the clock over the sink. It was nine. The sun was already setting, and my skin tingled with excitement. It was one night that curfew didn’t matter, and even though I had broken curfew recently, the rush of nighttime excited me. For once, I was honestly thrilled for Homecoming. I was ready to go out, meet new people, and ignore all of the recent drama that had happened the past couple of days.
    I was ready to forget.
    When I opened the front door, the cold night rushed over my exposed skin. I shivered, goose bumps crawled up my legs, and I wrapped my arms around myself, adjusting to the weather. I closed my eyes and grasped the doorknob behind me. Lyn would be returning from work any moment to drive me. I would jump into the Jeep and play with Falo until I arrived at the party. Then, I would have a fantastic night.
    The ringing phone shattered my fantasy.
    I jumped at the sudden sound as headlights flew over the front yard. Lyn’s Jeep rolled up the long driveway, and I held my breath as the answering machine picked up the last minute phone call.
    Music pumped through the static noise. “Sophia,” a male shouted over the chaos, and nerves twisted my stomach. “Sophia, it ’s Broden.” He sounded frantic. “I really need you to pick up, Sophia. You better be home,” he paused as I dug my fingernails into the wood. “Please, be home.”
    I felt the betrayal from Tuesday boil inside me. Broden had chosen Noah over me, and all I wanted to do was ignore him. In fact, I hadn’t spoken to him in three days, and I had left school early to avoid any contact with Broden, Miles, or Noah.
    Broden sighed as if he sensed me on the other line, and I glanced over as Lyn parked in front of me. “Listen, Sophia,” Broden continued quickly. “If you haven’t left for the party yet, stay home,” he waited again. “Please, stay home.” He hung up.
    I swallowed . Stay home? Stay home from Lily’s Homecoming party? How could Broden expect me to do that? Lily was counting on my attendance, and Broden knew it. Even worse, the music insinuated that he was already there, despite not being allowed to go. Military students did