Kinsley

Exiting my last class, I see Lilly Reed waiting for Erik by his locker. The brave seventh grader spent a month stalking him so he would take her to the New Sable Christmas charity fundraiser this evening. He didn't want to attend the yearly teen dance with Lilly but didn't want to hurt her feelings, so he told her he was already taking someone else. She went all fatal attraction, annoying him for days, and I assume she's making one last-ditch effort.

He comes out of the restroom, his lips wilting at the sight of her, but as irritated as he is with her, he plasters on a smile and meets her at his locker. I approach them, intending to eavesdrop when Lilly demands his date's name. Erik jerks me toward them. "Speaking of her. I'm taking Kinsley. We've had these plans for months. Haven't we, Kinsley?"

I laugh, and Lilly's large blue eyes narrow with confusion.

Erik squints at me, squeezing my arm before releasing it and grasping my hand. "Tell her!"

Is he serious? If so, I better help him out. I tug in my smile, trying to hold a straight face as I clear my throat. "It's true, Lilly. I've been waiting for this day for ... well, forever."

Lowering her eyes, she turns, muttering, "Whatever... Jerks!" Then she storms down the hallway, her blonde hair bouncing back and forth. I watch her while slipping my arms into my jacket, feeling low. It took courage to ask Erik out; such rejection could stay with her for a while.

Erik pokes me, his voice loaded with guilt as he says, "Let's go. Kade left already. He's walking Everleigh home today."

With a raised brow, I adjust my book bag and let the sarcasm seep from my words. "Did Princess Everleigh finally allow Kade to walk her home?"

Erik slings his backpack over his shoulder, snickering. "I guess."

Everleigh is one of the prettiest girls in school, and she and Kade are the current "it" couple, but because she's not allowed to date, this is a first.

We joke about her wanting to coordinate his outfit colors with hers for the dance and step from the building into the chilly December air. Lilly's boarding a school bus, and I catch Erik looking her way. "I'm sorry to say this, Erik, but that was mean."

He shrugs. "Not if we really go together."

According to him, we right the wrong by making the lie true and attending the dance as a fake couple. It takes me convincing on our way to his house, but I eventually agree with one condition: Amalia comes along because she and I planned on binging Christmas movies since last year's dance was lame.

He nibbles on his lips, holding the door open for me to enter his house, and says, "That's another issue altogether."

After several minutes of begging her, it's as predicted. Amalia won't budge, no matter what we say. "Just go with Erik. Honest, Kinsley. I don't mind at all."

But I'm as stubborn as her. "AMA, get your buns up and dressed. You're your couch's best friend."

Erik throws his head back, laughs, and lifts his hand. "Ten points to Kinsley. That was nice!"

I high-five him, joining in on the laughing. "I thought so."

Amalia's wide grin covers her entire face. "I'm not gonna lie. That was good! Still not going, though."

We wasted ten more minutes on her before giving up so I could go home and dress.

I leave their house disappointed in Amalia. While I am proud of her for broadening her interests with slow-pitch softball last year and cross country this year to help her make the junior varsity softball team, trying to get her to have occasional social fun is exhausting. And as far as dating goes, she's like a bird pecking her way out of a shell, hoping Talan will be the prince standing there when she sets herself free. But Talan goes to Chemawa now, and she can't waste her youth waiting for him to come home just for him to leave again. Well, she could; I just don't think she should. Fifteen is prime dating time. Several good-looking guys have shown an interest in her, but nobody surpasses Talan in her eyes, and she won't waste a minute of her time on them.

When Kade mentioned his crush on Amalia, I was surprised he couldn't see she only had eyes for Talan. I saw the lovesick look in my brother's eyes and couldn't bring myself to tell him he didn't stand a chance. I just promised not to tell Amalia, concluding that what Kade didn't know wouldn't hurt him. He and Talan are clueless, and Amalia is just as unaware. Kade does everything he can for her, like telling her she looks nice and protecting her whenever possible. But she only sees a friend.

Kade doesn't take his non-existent romantic relationship with Amalia to the extreme, though, like how she does with Talan. He'll date someone occasionally, like now, with Everleigh. He said he was waiting for Amalia to notice him, and there was no harm in going out with someone else while he waited. It's probably a guy thing, the difference between them and us. His dating doesn't help Amalia see how he feels about her.

I'm determined to avoid the entire situation, which is no simple task since everyone finds it easy to confide in me. I love Talan like a brother, but my loyalty lies with Kade. I don't want to see anybody hurt, including Amalia. It's best if she doesn't go out with either, so I have no issues hooking her up with another guy.

Tonight is a missed opportunity because Talan is coming home in two days.

On my way to the bedroom, I catch sight of Kade sitting on his bed, slouching and hanging his head. "Is something wrong, Kade?"

He answers me without looking up or turning to face me. "Nothing important. Everleigh thinks we're spending too much time together. She didn't want to break up. She just wanted to go with some high school dude to the dance."

A flood of anger flushes my face. "Are you serious? What a bitch! Get rid of her, Kade!" I say through clenched teeth.

He turns towards me with a furious scowl. "Duh. Do you think I'm an idiot? I told her I don't have time for a girlfriend, anyway. She can do whatever she wants to do. I don't even care."

"You look like you care."

"Ah ... I'll get over it. I just want to be alone. Do you mind, Kinsley?"

I leave Kade's room, holding in my tears for him. He's hurting, and when Kade's hurting, I'm hurting. Everleigh is the first girl he seemed to care about—besides Amalia. A helpful electrical spark flickers through my brain. Amalia! If she goes with Kade to the dance, he'll forget all about hag-zilla. Erik and I are going together; I see no reason they can't do the same, and she still owes me for breaking my principles by inviting Talan to the movies for her and inadvertently betraying my brother.

I call Amalia, prepared to use the "you owe me one" line if needed. Once I tell her what happened, I have no trouble persuading her to come with us. She cares about Kade as much as I care about him.

The prospect of spending alone time with Amalia electrified Kade. I'd never seen him as enthusiastic about attending a dance, and all thoughts of his break-up seemed to vanish before we arrived at the Civic Center.

As we enter the large double doors, loud music bombards my ears. I cover them, taking in the room.

Christmas lights hang from the rafters, and sparkling snowflakes and glittering stars dangle low from the ceiling. Colored strobe lights pulse with the music beat, doing their own dance. The entire gym looks like a wintry prom. The decoration committee outdid themselves this year.

It's also great to see more people than last year. Cliques are standing outside the dance circle, but just a few people are dancing.

The event is open to all teenagers from seventh to twelfth grade in New Sable and its surrounding communities. So, a cluster of high school boys from the reservation are standing in a corner. A particular guy over there has caught my attention multiple times. With any luck, it's where I'll be by the end of the evening. I brush my hands down my tight dress. I don't mind showing off my new curves.

As we are about to split from Erik and Kade to meet with our friends, we agree to share a few dances with our fake dates. This will be important when Lilly and Everleigh show up.

After chatting with the girls for a while, the dance dulls for me just like last year, and the festive Christmas vibe is already losing its spark. Erik and Kade are on the other side of the gym with their friends. Erik catches me staring at them, taps Kade's arm, and speaks to him. They look over at us as they stand, and surprisingly, I'm excited about it.

I nudge Amalia. "Here they come."

"I hope it's a slow song because I'm not in the mood for anything else," she says, her boredom evident as she straightens her posture.

"You've got to shake your booty someday, Ama, and I'm sure those guys looking at you will appreciate it." I tilt my head toward the reservation boys with eyes on us.

She glances at them and tells me they're watching me, not her. I smile because I know one of them is for sure. The one.

Amalia says, "I haven't seen Everleigh yet. I wonder if she's coming after all."

"Who cares? Besides, I might punch her in the face if I see her." I'm not joking, either.

Erik grins as he and Kade weave through the dance crowd, locking his eyes on me like I'm the only girl in the room. It's as if to show me how he treats an actual date. It may be cute, but it's just a waste of our time.

Some girls consider Jaxon the hot brother, a tall, buff football player with deep dimples on his well-defined face and stylish, short, wavy hair. Erik's not Jaxon, but he has his own outstanding qualities. He's brilliant with a boyish charm and doesn't care what others think. This makes him a leader, and though you might not guess it, the boy has mad boxing skills.

A country-sounding romantic number twangs through the speakers.

"Ready?" he asks, reaching for my hand. Beneath the disco ball, I wrap my arms around his neck, expecting him to put his hands around my waist. "What are you doing? This is a two-stepping song," he says. 

"Two-stepping? I never heard of it, so you'll have to show me." He unclasps my hands from his shoulders, positioning us like guitars in one another's arms with one set of our hands intertwined, then instructs me to take two steps forward with one foot, then one step backward with the other, as he walks me through it.

I can bust moves with the best of them, but this dance type makes me feel uncoordinated. I glance at Amalia and Kade. Her arms are wrapped around his neck, and his hands hold her waist like ordinary people. "Why can't we dance like everyone else?"

"Like how? With washing machine moves? Being like everyone is boring. I thought you enjoyed being different."

"Only when the difference looks good." I stumble over his feet, then trip over my own; we stop moving. My face heats because I feel eyes on me from the corner.

"Let's try it again. I'll lead. All you need to do is relax like a rag doll and let me move you." I fall loose, giving in to his strength, and he carries me around the dance floor.

Once I get the hang of it, it's exhilarating. "Where did you learn to dance like this?" I ask.

"I learned it in New Mexico. My class performed it for the school during a Cinco de Mayo celebration. I was in third grade but never forgot how to do it."

He spins me into a twirl as the music cuts. "Nice moves," I say.

"It would surprise you."

His cocky comeback demands I tease him. "Well, you know me. I love surprises."

He chuckles, then says, "Depending on the next song you're on, but you better give as good as you get."

Laughter spills from me as I wonder what I got myself into, yet I'm down for it. Another slow dance begins. "Saved by the crappy DJ," I say, about to leave the floor.

"For now..." He pulls me toward him again, asking for another dance with his expression.

"All right, but we do it the standard way this time," I say.

"You got it."

With my arms around his neck, I lift my eyes to his. Of all of them, only he has his mom's green eyes and dark auburn hair, except his hair is curly. I take back my earlier assessment. Jaxon has nothing on Erik in the looks department. He drops his eyes to mine, spins us around so I can see, and says, "Everleigh's here."

She's on the dance floor; I missed it when she arrived.

I look for Kade and Amalia; they're sitting at our table, close together in a conversation. Amalia strokes her hand down one of the careful braids I weaved into his hair, and I wonder what that's all about. I tell Erik to keep me far away from Everleigh, and he quirks his mouth.

At my suggestion, we dance several more dances, ducking from the dance floor for short breaks opposite Kade and Amalia. It's so Kade can spend more alone time with her, and I'm having a blast giving Erik as good as I get.

A beautiful high school girl named Mia, with creamy dark skin and a slender Coca-Cola body, asks Erik to dance when the DJ makes the last dance announcement: "You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here."

I only know her name because she's always with the hottest guys. Erik's eyes light up with excitement.

"Go ahead, Erik. I'll be at our table when you're done." Mia and I smile at each other before I turn and walk away.

No way ... I slow and place a hand on my forehead as I recognize the feeling brewing deep within me. Horrible jealousy.

Oh, shit! 

Between two-stepping and our versions of America's Next Best Dance Crew, a sudden crush came from nowhere, freaking me out. It's outrageous. I know Erik too well to like him that way. To recover myself from the insanity, I twirl around and look for the high school guy I've been crushing on, only to find him gone.

As I drift toward our table in a stupor, another shocking occurrence freezes me where I am.

To my utter astonishment, Kade and Amalia kiss...