THE PAST

Anna's words kept racing through her head. Juan might have feelings for her, June, but would he also be willing to turn down his beautiful date, especially when she offered herself to him in the way she had promised? With her pale skin, full lips and blonde, almost white hair she looked like an angel. Who wouldn't want to sleep with her? Emilio had already shown her what they thought about girls. Even before they had ever talked, Juan had already told his friend how he wanted to have sex with her, so there was no doubt in her mind that this girl would also be able to capture his imagination. Especially when June could barely say a word to him; it wouldn't take him long before he realized Anna was much more fun than her.

Taking a deep breath, she looked around. What should she do? If she was being honest, she just wanted to go home and hide herself under the covers, forgetting she had ever seen Anna and Juan together. However, she had come here with Rodey and the distance was too far to walk. Should she take the bus? Maybe Beth could pick her up if she called her? She wished she had listened to her friend and had never come to this place.

A little aimlessly she moved through the crowd, looking for her friends. Luckily Jordy's blue hair stood out; she was talking with some people a little ways away from the dance floor. Her date was nowhere to be seen.

Quickly, she walked towards her friend.

"Hey! I saw you with Juan, right?" A way to wide grin adorned her face.

June sighed. "We talked for a few minutes before his date claimed him again. I couldn't even say a normal sentence to him." Her shoulders dropped. "I don't think she will leave him alone tonight, she's almost glued to him."

Smiling, Jordy tucked a strand of hair behind June's ear. "The only reason that girl is clinging to him so desperately, is because she noticed he can't stop looking at you." She winked. "So you talked a bit? Did he ask you to dance?"

"No," June muttered. "He probably saw that I was as stiff as a wooden doll when I was dancing with your cousin."

A grin spread on Jordy's face. "He didn't dare to ask you? Dude, that's so cute! Well, it isn't that hard to see why; he is probably terrified that he's gonna step on your dress and rip your clothes again – this time with all his classmates around him." Chuckling, she raked a hand through her hair. "And to be honest, I can totally see that happening. I feel kinda stupid for not thinking about it myself; I should have gotten you a dress that only reached your ankles." Her glance went around the room. Suddenly the grin on her face faded away and her eyes widened. Quickly she turned away her head, a hurt expression crossing her face.

"What is it?" June asked.

"Nothing," Jordy said softly.

Her tone however told June otherwise and so she looked too, wondering what on earth could shock her friend. Had she seen her date launching himself at another girl? She didn't see the dreadlocks her friend had described earlier tonight. What she did see though, were two people intensely kissing and pressed up against the wall, the boy's hands eagerly exploring the girl's body.

It took a few seconds before June realized at who she was looking at. In disbelief, she turned her face back to Jordy. "You – you like him?" she asked in shock.

"Well, he isn't very likable," Jordy sighed. "I don't know what it is about him, I just wish that it was me being pushed against the wall by him."

June wrinkled her nose. "Sounds romantic..."

Jordy smirked, but her smile didn't reach her eyes.

"When you asked him to go to prom... That wasn't only to keep him away from Juan, was it?" A little worried she studied her friend's face.

Jordy shrugged her shoulders, smiling sadly. "I guess not. This is just a typical Jordy move: developing feelings for the most untouchable person in school. Well, after Juan of course," she added with a wink. "And maybe I just liked the thought of us having a chance to double date." A smile appeared on her face again, even though it still didn't look truly genuine. "By the way, what did you do with my cousin?"

June felt her cheeks getting hot. Rodey was probably still waiting for her, even though she believed that he could be enjoying himself without her.

"I offered to get us drinks and when I went to the bar, Mateo was standing beside me all of a sudden and before I knew it, he had convinced Juan to come talk to me."

"He did?!" Delighted, she clapped her hands. "Sounds I'm not the only one who is shipping the two of you!"

June sighed softly. Mateo and Jordy could ship them as enthusiastically as they wanted; in the end it would be up to her to learn how to have a normal conversation with Juan. If she couldn't do that then it was hopeless. Her glance fluttered through the room again. Behind a group of dancing girls, she spotted him. Anna was still hanging around his neck, while most other couples were no long as clingy as them. She moved her body in a seductive way, while looking up to him with a glance that surely had to do something to him.

"I think she'll kiss him soon," she sighed.

And right at that moment, as if she had waited until June was looking at them, Anna stood on her toes and kissed him.

June tore her glance away and turned around. She didn't want to see it. She was already about to walk away when Jordy's fingers glided around her wrist.

"Sweetie, please have a little more faith in him. He turned his head away. He's really crazy about you, Junie." Jordy laid a hand against her cheek and looked her straight in the eye. "Why is it so hard for you to believe that he likes you just as much as you like him?"

June bent her head. He was so nice and sweet and unbelievable handsome. That he looked at her at all, was already something she could barely believe. It felt like all their encounters had been nothing but daydreams, ones that have turned into nightmares. "I'm just... boring," she muttered.

Jordy flung her arms around June's neck as if they were slow dancing. "You're not. June, you know me. If you had been boring, I never could have been friends with you – and you know you're my best friend. You're special, June. You are the only one who wants to do karaoke with me, despite the risk of hearing damage, you're the one who's drawing comics to cheer me up and who never sounds annoyed as I call you in the middle of the night after I've had a nightmare. That day I saw you eating in the auditorium all alone, I just felt you were different than the bitches we go to school with, that you would be the best friend anyone could wish for! And I'm pretty sure Juan is feeling that too."

June stared at her friend, not knowing how to respond to her words. A little awkwardly she picked her hair.

Jordy continued impassively. "I know you better than anyone. Go to him, June. Get over your trepidation. You feel bad because someone is dangling around his neck, but all he wishes is that you were the one he's holding."

June bit her lip. "I simply can't," she muttered. "I think my nervousness will make me throw up before I'm even close to him."

"But what is it you are so afraid of?"

Shrugging her shoulders, she stared at the ground. "You know... that I will ruin it again. I just never know what to say to him. It feels like my brain just stops working when he is around. And all those other people around... that isn't helping either."

Jordy's lips curled into a grin. "Then find a quieter place." She wiggled her eyebrows. "Somewhere romantic where you can get your first kiss."

Warm spots crept up her neck. "Don't say things like that..."

"Okay, okay! I got it! You obviously need help. I had already counted on that, but I still hoped you would take charge yourself. But no worries, I got this. Just go outside to get some fresh air for a couple of minutes, I'll make sure Juan comes after you."

"How?" she asked quietly.

"I'll just tell him you are waiting for him." She smirked. "It's about time he's switching up dance partners. I'll make sure Juan knows what to do, as soon as you're outside."

"What do you mean, what to do?" June felt the panic flaming up again. "What are you up to this time?"

Jordy laughed and winked at her. "You'll find out soon enough. Well, I'm going to free JC from that dead weight. Muster up your courage to go outside in a few minutes."

"And your own date?" June tried, while the nerves were circling around her and closing her in.

"He'd smoked a joint that didn't sit well; threw up on himself before we were even inside." She shrugged. "Guess it was meant to happen so I could show off my match making skills." She gave her friend another wink before she disappeared into the crowd.

June sighed softly, her knees were already getting weak. Gathering her courage, she started heading to the door. Halfway she however came across Rodey, who took her hand. "There you are! Had you lost sight of me in the crowd?"

"Uhm, yes," she muttered. "Sorry, uhm, someone else took your drink."

He gave her a forgiving smile. "I'm glad I found you back again. Ready for another dance?"

June swallowed. Not really. She however nodded, lacking the courage to turn him down to spend time with Juan. Just a few minutes, she promised herself. He deserved that after she had kept him waiting for so long.