Chapter Forty-Four

Bailey

The ballroom looks amazing, giant paper clocks and calendar pages hanging on the walls for the It’s the End of the World as We Know It theme.

The deejay plays great music, and I’m glad to see that my date can actually dance. Every few songs, I grab my camera and walk around the dance floor, then I move to the outskirts of the room for some candid shots. Eli and Nora, who came with us on the bus, are sitting close together at our table. They’re so nice and seem so happy. I see Caleb walking away from the bar with two drinks in his hand. He came with us on the bus too, dateless. He sees me and walks over. I still feel terrible about what happened, but it doesn’t seem to bother him.

“Hey, Bailey,” he says a bright smile on his face. “You having fun?”

“Yeah.” I nod. “I am. You?”

“Sure. Of course. I get to dance with anyone I want and don’t have to worry about a date. It’s kinda cool.” I almost believe him, but I suspect he’d like to be here with someone who means something more.

“I gotta go,” he says. “Save me a dance?”

“Yes, I will,” I say and put the camera to my eye, focus it on the dance floor. There, at the edge, I see Alex smiling and beckoning me over with a finger. I grin.

“Dance with me, Spielberg?”

“Of course, Mr. Trust Fund.”

He sweeps me into his arms, and we move toward the center of the dance floor. I’m still holding the camera, but he’s going to have to get used to that. I have goals. So does he. He’s decided to major in Psychology. He thinks maybe someday he’ll be a family counselor, maybe a part-time Love Guru.

The opening drums of the prom theme song starts to play, then the crazy lyrics start to come fast and furious, and I’m right where I should be, in his arms.

He pulls me close, and we slow dance to this fast song, and I know that I really love this boy with all my heart.

We sway, no longer secret friends, but it still feels like we’re the only two people here. I have never been so happy, the whole night, the whole world, the whole universe, stretched out in front of us, with endless possibilities.

It’s the end of the world as we know it.

And I feel fine.

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