“At least dress a little nicer for your girlfriend,” I scoffed at Harlow as I pulled on my suit jacket, “It’s homecoming!”

“I’m just surprised you went with a suit to be fair,” Harlow laughed, letting me pick lint off the forest green button-down he was wearing.

“Well, it’s glittery, so it’ll shine in the lights. I don’t always wear skirts, and today feels like a masculine day, so here we are,” I shrugged.

Our parents had taken us suit shopping last month, and while Harlow settled on an all black suit with a green shirt and black tie, I picked out two outfits, not knowing how I would feel the day of homecoming. The first was a two-piece set, still black, but the top was a tank top that stopped just above my navel with a floor-length skirt covered in tiny pink flowers. I loved it, but as homecoming got closer, I realized I wanted to save it for my senior year to go to prom with my friends. I opted for the suit I had picked, the entire thing black with rainbow-colored miniscule glitter on the jacket and pants. The tie was black, and I wore a white shirt under it, wanting the suit to be the focus.

We joined our parents in the living room once we were dressed, and as Kieran did Harlow’s hair, Ren helped me put on the earcuff I wanted, a chain connecting to the piercings I had in the lobes. We swapped out, Harlow now getting a lesson on how to dance from Ren as Keiran tried to figure out what to do with my hair.

“Hm,” he muttered, “We could do a twist on either side and pin it back with a simple silver pin to match your earrings. I think I have one from the salon in my travel bag.”

“That would be nice,” I smiled, and Kieran ran off, returning with the hair and makeup bag he used for weddings he was contracted for. “Do you have a wedding this weekend?”

“Tomorrow,” he nodded, getting to work on my hair as I watched in a mirror sitting on the dining table, “I’ll be in Atlanta all day. Be good for your Dad.”

“I have a game at five, will you be there?” Harlow called.

“We will,” Ren smiled, “or at least I will be since it’s an away game and I’m taking you both.”

“I got a new uniform by the way,” I giggled, admiring my hair when Kieran was done as he had left a few pieces on my forehead, the rest cascading around my shoulders or pinned up, “It’s great, Pai. Thank you.”

“Of course. When should I take you?” Kieran kissed my forehead, and I jumped up, getting my phone from the kitchen counter.

“Heather’s parents got a limo for the cheer squad since it’s her senior year, so I need to be at her house by five to take pictures. I think she plans to do this at prom too. We’re going to get dinner, so I can have some money?”

“Sure,” Ren nodded at his wallet, and I picked it up, “Take forty, that should be plenty.”

“Oh, can I have some too? Gracie’s parents are picking me up so I can take her to dinner. They’ll be a few tables away, so when we all finish, they can drop us off at the school,” Harlow bounced happily.

“I want you to pay for Gracie, so take a hundred,” Ren smiled, “You both look fantastic, oh wow. Growing up too fast.”

“We’re almost 16,” Harlow and I said at the same time.

“Still our babies.”

“Gross. Pai, can you take me to Heather’s house? She just texted me that everyone is getting there,” I yawned, shoving my phone in my pocket along with my wallet once I put the money I needed into it.

“Sure, love. We’ll be waiting outside for you at 11.”

“Whoa!” Frankie called as she came into the house, “Look at you!”

“Wait, when’s your homecoming?” Harlow tilted his head.

“Next weekend,” she shrugged, “I have work tonight. I hope you have fun! It’s weird to see you going as Sophomores. I didn’t go until Junior year. Ya know, before the cancer and stuff.”

“Shut up,” I grumbled, “We just want to hangout with our friends.”

“I know. Have fun! Make good choices.”

“Yeah, yeah, Mom,” Harlow rolled his eyes, “Aster, I’ll see you there, okay?”

“For sure. Bye, Dad!”

“Bye, babe,” Ren laughed as I followed Kieran to the garage.

He dropped me off at Heather’s house twenty minutes later and immediately left, not wanting to embarrass me. Our group all shared hugs and started taking photos before heading to an Italian restaurant. We met up with most of the football team there, couples breaking off to sit together, and I took a spot next to Cindy since I was alone and preferred it that way.

“I wish you had a date,” Cindy pouted, poking my nose, her blue eyes filled with disappointment.

“Why? I’ll still have fun,” I smiled, and the seat next to me was suddenly taken. “Ew, no,” I scowled when I realized it was Caleb.

“All the other seats are taken. Just deal with it,” he scoffed.

Two waiters came by to handle our massive group, and Caleb ordered nothing but water, being asked before me. He was clearly embarrassed, and I gathered that he didn’t have any money.

“I’ll take the fettuccine alfredo with chicken and a water,” I smiled, “oh, and an extra plate if possible.”

“Absolutely,” the waiter nodded, moving onto Cindy and Brent.

“Why an extra plate?” Caleb muttered.

“For my breadsticks, I don’t want them getting soggy.”

“Hm.”

The food took a while, all of us talking and laughing, and I kept sneaking glances at Caleb, grateful to find him talking to his friends and ignoring my being next to him. I finally received my pasta and scooped more than half of it onto the second plate, subtly pushing it into Caleb’s arm before I started to eat. He stared at me before accepting it, eating quietly. No one remarked on this; everyone was too busy in their own conversations, and as I scooped another bite into my mouth, Caleb used his napkin to suddenly clean my face, startling me. I kept my thoughts to myself, staring into my bowl of fettuccine, and taking a deep breath once everyone was done eating.

“Thank God,” I whined, climbing into the limo between Heather and Cindy, “Why the hell did Caleb have to sit next to me?”

“All the seats were taken,” Heather shrugged, flipping her tawny brown waves over her shoulder, “At least we got through a meal without the two of you fighting.”

“I didn’t want to embarrass any of you.”

“You’re so sweet to us,” Cindy giggled, blonde curls bouncing, “Here we go!”

The school came into view a bit later, and we filed out, all of them running off to meet up with their boyfriends. I went in alone, showing my ticket, and entered the gym. The thud of the music hit me, lights flashing, and I found Harlow and Gracie dancing together. Gracie was wearing a beautiful, deep green halter dress to match Harlow, her bright ginger hair done in curls and pinned away from her face.

“Hey,” I called over the music, and Gracie hugged me, “You look amazing!”

“So do you! Also, avoid the punch! The dance started twenty minutes ago, and someone already slipped vodka into it!”

“Ah man,” I pouted, “Have fun, I’m gonna go walk around.”

“Be safe,” Harlow nodded, and I waved, leaving my brother and his new girlfriend to dance together.

I walked around the gym, laughing when one of my friends would pull me over to dance for a bit, before leaving to find other people. It felt like hours of dancing with so many people before I climbed onto the bleachers to take a breath.

“I don’t like you,” A familiar voice called from behind me, and I smiled, still watching everyone dance.

“I don’t like you either, Caleb.”

“Then why sit there?”

“Best spot not covered in people. You’re the one tucked up into the darkest corner.”

“Because I don’t want to be here, but my friends made me come.”

“Then why not go hang out with them? I was with mine.”

“They all have their dates and girlfriends, it’s irritating.”

“If you had asked a single girl in the school, they would have said yes,” I looked over my shoulder, and Caleb crossed his arms, putting the bottom of his boot up on the back of the bleacher in front of him, “I’m just saying.”

“I’m sure if you asked any of the guys like you, they’d have said yes.”

“That was almost derogatory, but I know you didn’t mean it that way. You’re a dick, but you aren’t homophobic.”

“That I’m not. I just don’t like you.”

I moved up to sit on the same bench as him, keeping a good distance between us as I leaned against the wall. Caleb never reacted to this, just staring at everyone, and I closed my eyes, feeling tired.

“Hey,” he poked my arm, and I turned my head to look at him, “Why did you share your food with me? I don’t need your damn charity.”

“You looked hungry and didn’t order anything.”

“I don’t like Italian food.”

“You cleaned your plate.”

“I need carbs to stay this big. Doesn’t mean I liked it.”

“I’m guessing you just didn’t have money.”

Caleb growled quietly before huffing, “Whatever. I can’t ask for it where I’m at, so I don’t.”

“Your parents won’t give you money?”

“Don’t live with them.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Is that any of your damn business?” He scowled, and I stood up, planning to leave the bleachers. “I’m in the foster system now,” he whispered, just loud enough that I could hear him, and I froze, “Someone reported my parents to CPS, and I got taken out of their house. I live with a family that was willing to take a teenager, and the state pays my tuition to stay here now, since I live close to the school instead of on a farm. There. Happy?”

“Not really,” I whispered, sitting back down, “CPS only comes if there’s suspected abuse, right?”

“Yes.”

“So your parents…”

“Don’t want to talk about it.”

“I would never make you. I know you don’t like me.”

“I don’t,” he interrupted.

“And I don’t like you either. But we’ve known each other for nearly 10 years. I might make comments, but I will listen.”

“I don’t need you. Go on.”

“Fine,” I started down the bleachers before turning to look at him one last time, “Why did you tell me?”

“Because I know you won’t tell anyone else.”

I nodded and finally walked away, shoving my hands in my pockets.

The rest of the dance passed quickly, and I climbed into the backseat of Kieran’s car with Harlow. I had stopped enjoying myself after talking with Caleb, concerned for him, and breaking another piece of ice from my heart when it came to him. I suddenly didn’t want to tell him I didn’t like him. Caleb was gruff and could be rude, but he wasn’t a bad person. He was someone who needed support and real friends. But I also knew he would never want that from me, and it was best to just kill those thoughts of extending my hand to him.

“How was the dance?” Ren smiled as Kieran pulled away.

“Amazing,” Harlow laughed.

“It was fun,” I nodded, smiling as I did.

“We’re so glad that you enjoyed yourselves.”