In the bathroom, Amanda stood in front of the mirror, checking that her hair stayed up in the bun.
Shannon sat on the sink and poked Amanda’s shoulder. “What in heaven’s name are you doing here with Jake, and what happened to Gabe?”
Amanda opened her clutch and took out the lipstick. “Jake took pity on me. That's all.”
“What the heck are you talking about? Start at the beginning.”
Amanda smacked her lips together and put the tube away. “Gabe’s a jerk. He bailed about an hour before the dance started.”
“Dickwad.” Shannon grabbed Amanda’s purse and took out the lipstick. “Actually it worked out better. I mean, you’re with Jake. Does he know you have that tremendous crush on him?”
Amanda cringed at the idea, looking around the bathroom to make sure no one else heard. She whispered back. “He doesn’t and won’t if I have anything to say about it.” He’d cower at the thought of Amanda drooling over his senior picture. “I'm just enjoying the night. He’ll be back at college anyway, back to his infamous one-night stands.”
“You should tell him.”
“Don’t even think it, Shannon.” Amanda took a deep breath. “Look, I'm having a blast. Let me enjoy this one date with Jake. He doesn’t even see me that way.”
“Maybe he does. You’ll never know unless you say or do something. I mean, he brought you here.” She pushed away from the sink.
“I don’t think so.” Amanda remembered what Jake said before Shannon interrupted. He had that look in his eye. She knew it. She saw him look at other girls like that -- other girls that he ended up making out with. The last girl she saw him kiss was Didi Simmons at a graduation party a few months back. Man! Why did Shannon have to breakup their conversation? She had to find him and pick up where they left off. It was far from over and who knew where it would lead.
Shannon splayed her fingers across Amanda’s blue short gown. “This is awesome, Mandy. Is this the one you designed?”
Her face warmed. Of course her best friend would notice. “Yeah. You really like it?”
“One hundred percent.” She grabbed Amanda’s shoulders. “Now, get out there and be all hot and sexy with that man of yours.”
“He’s not my man.” Amanda walked toward the door. “And I’m far from sexy.”
Amanda giggled and grabbed her friends arm. “Let’s go.”
Shannon opened the bathroom door. “You’re still coming to the party at my house, right?”
“Definitely. Mind if I bring that along?” Amanda nodded toward Jake, who stood on stage with a crown, apparently about to crown the new Homecoming King and Queen. Didi Simmons, last year’s cheerleading squad captain, stood next to him grinning from ear to ear, drool practically spilling from her mouth.
“Oh, yeah. Bring him.” Shannon nodded with a smile. “But leave Didi at home.”