Prom Nights from Hell Chapter Eight

Youre crazy, Sibby said as they walked in. Her piths were pancake-size. You said this would suck. This doesnt suck. This is fantastic.Miranda shuddered. Theyd snuck into the Grand Hall of the Santa Barbara Historical Society by an emergency exit that had been propped open so prom attendees could slip kayoed to get stoned, and glancing rough, Miranda could collect how getting stoned would be super-appealing. The walls of the room had been cover in blue satin with w touch one stars embroidered on it, the four big columns in the middle were draped in red and white ribbons, the control panels off to the placement were covered in American flag-print cloths with fishbowl centerpieces in which the fish had been in some way dyed red and blue, and round the edges major American landmarks such as Mount Rushto a greater extent, the White House, the Statue of Liberty, the Liberty Bell, and the Old Faithful geyser had been reconstructed-out of lolly cubes. Courtesy of Ariel Wests father. Ariel had announced the previous day at assembly that after(prenominal) the prom all the decorations would be donated to the poor hungry people of Santa Barbara who pauperism sugar.Miranda didnt bonk if it was that, the balloons on rubber cords hanging from the ceiling that bounced idly up and down as people passed under them, or foreboding, except she had a distinct queasy seeing.Sibby was in heaven.Remember-most of the guys here came with dates, so correct to be subtle with the Kissing Bandit stuff, Miranda said.Yeah, fine.And if you hear me call to you, you come.Do I look resembling a dog to you? Miranda gave her a peachy glance. Sibby said, Fine, okay, Funkiller.And if you feel like anything weird is going on at all, you- let you know. Ive got it. no(prenominal) you go and imbibe some fun yourself. Oh, right, you probably dont know how. Well, when in doubt, ask yourself, What Would Sibby Do? Can I unsubscribe from that list, please?Sibby was too busy scanning the ro om to respond.Whoa, whos that hot dinner in the loge over there? she asked. The guy in the glasses?Miranda looked around for a hot dinner but all she citeing was Phil Emory. His name is Phillip.Helllllo, Phillip, Sibby said, plotting a direct course for him.Miranda stashed her skate bag underneath a table and stayed close to the wall, between the White House and Old Faithful, partially to storage area Sibby in view and partially to avoid being noniced by any faculty members. Shed changed in the employee bathroom from her work suit into the entirely other thing she had with her, but although it was red, white, and blue, she didnt think back that her Roller Derby identical was really appropriate prom attire. There were two uniforms in her skate bag, a home uniform-white satin halter top and bottom with blue pall and red, white, and blue stripes on the skirt (if you could call something that was five inches enormous and required attached panties to be worn under it a skirt)-a nd an international uniform the same thing, only when in blue. Shed decided white was more formal, but she was pretty sure that wearing it with her black work flats was not helping the look.Shed been standing there for a while, wondering how everyone but her was totally capable of being on a saltation floor without debilitate anyone, when she heard a pair of winks she recognized and saw Kenzi and Beth sliding by dint of the crowd toward her.You came Kenzi said, giving her a big hug. One of the things Miranda love somewhat Kenzi was that she acted like she was on Ecstasy even when she wasnt, parting people that she loved them, hugging them, never embarrassed close to it. Im so glad youre here. It didnt feel right without you. So, are you ready to unshackle yourself from the insecurities of your youth? Ready to own your rising?Kenzi and Beth were flash backed to own anything, Miranda thought. Kenzi was wearing a skin-tight blue backless dress and had gotten a black panther with a blue sapphire eye painted on her back. Beth was in a red satin minidress and had a deluxe snake bracelet with two ruby eyes wrapped around her upper arm (or at least Miranda anticipate they were rubies since Beths parents were two of the biggest photographic film stars in Bollywood). On them, adulthood looked like a totally chill and exciting party with an excellent DJ that you could only get into if you were on the VIP list.Miranda glanced at her skating uniform. I guess I should have known that when the time came to own my future Id be dressed like a member of the Ice Capades B-squad.No way, you look fantastic, Beth said, and Miranda would have assumed she was being sarcastic except that Beth was one of those people who was born without sarcasm.Truly, Kenzi confirmed. Youre heavyset in H2T territory. H2T stood for Hot to Trot. I see great things for your adulthood.And I see a visit to the eye doctor for you, Miranda prophesied. In the distance Miranda saw Sibby pull P hillip Emory onto the dance floor.Miranda turned back to Kenzi. Do you think Im a fun person? Am I a Grandma strict? A funkiller?Grandma Grim? Funkiller? Kenzi repeated. What are you talking about? Did you hit your head at derby practice again?No, Im serious. Am I fun?Yes, Kenzi said solemnly.Yes, Beth agreed.Except when you get all MLAS, Kenzi modified. And when you have your period. And around your birthday. Oh, there was that one time-Forget it. Mirandas eyes drifted to Sibby, who now appeared to be guide a conga line.Im kidding, Kenzi said, turning Mirandas face from the dance floor to hers. Yes, I think you are really fun. I mean, who else would dress up as Magnum P.I. for Halloween?Or think of entertaining the kids on the cancer ward by reenacting Dawsons Creek with Precious Moments figurines? Beth added.Kenzi nodded. Thats right. Even children battling cancer think youre fun. And theyre not the only ones.Something about Kenzis tone when she said the last part do work Miran da worried. What did you do?She was brilliant, Beth said.Now Miranda was even more scared. Tell me.It was nothing, just some research, Kenzi said.What pleasing of research? For the first time Miranda noticed that there was writing up the length of Kenzis arm.Kenzi said, About Will and Ariel. Theyre totally not going out.You asked him?Its called an interview, Kenzi said.No. Oh no. Tell me youre kidding. Sometimes having a roommate who wanted to be a journalist was dangerous.Relax, he didnt suspect a thing. I do it seem like I was making small talk, Kenzi said.She was great, Beth confirmed.Miranda started wishing for trapdoors again.Anyway, I asked him why he thought Ariel asked him to the prom and he said-here Kenzi consulted her arm-To make someone else jealous. So of course I asked who and he went, Anyone. Thats what Ariel thrives on, other peoples jealousy. Isnt that perceptive? Especially for a guy?Hes smart, Beth put in. And nice.Miranda nodded absently, looking for Sibby on t he dance floor. At first she didnt see her but then she spotted her in a dark corner with Phillip. Talking, not kissing. For some reason that make her smile.Look, we made her happy Kenzi said, and she sounded so genuinely pleased that Miranda didnt want to tell her the truth.Thanks for finding all that out, Miranda said. Its-You havent even heard the best part, Kenzi said. I asked why he agreed to go to prom with Ariel if theyre not a couple and he said-glancing at her arm-Because no one made me a better offer. Beth reminded her, With that cute smile.Right, with cute smile. And he looked directly at me when he said it and he was so clearly talking about youClearly. Miranda loved her friends even if they were delusional.Stop gazing at me like Ive been one-stop shopping at the Lobotomy Store, Miranda, Kenzi said. Im completely right. He likes you and hes not taken. Stop thinking and arrest him. Go live ITM.ITM?In the Mo, Beth elaborated.Miranda gaped. No. Way.What? Kenzi asked.Nothin g. Miranda shook her head. Even if hes single, what makes you think Will wants to go out with me?Kenzi squinted at her. Um, breezing past all the loony stuff about how youre nice and smart I have to say because Im your best friend, have you looked in the mirror recently?Ha-ha. Trust me- cheerio Beth said, interrupting her and dragging Kenzi away. See you laterDont forget ITM Kenzi added over her shoulder. Drink a can of manWhere are you- Miranda started to say, then heard a heartbeat close behind her and swung around.Nearly banging her shoulder against Wills chest.