Glowy POV

"Today, everyone," says Layla, "is a day where we decide who is worthless. Then, we have a dance. Dresses and suits are made yourselves. No chores for the rest of today."

"I'm good at sewing," Clove whispers, "I'll help you and Rikari."

That, I knew, was the only part she heard. She was distracted by Layla. Sometimes it's so easy to tell. Even though Clove hated Layla, we could tell she also found her hot. There is, truly, nothing gayer than an enemy.

Rikari teased, "Ey, Clovellini, was that the only part you heard?"

"Shut up," Clove says, laughing and sticking a green bean in her nose.

All of a sudden, Layla clears her throat and none of us were laughing anymore. It was time to deem the worthless. Who wasn't going to be here anymore? Which of us were going to survive? We held onto each other tightly but even then, it didn't feel like enough.

"Now, here is our list..."

She gave off a list. None of us were called. I sighed a breath of relief as she got past the K last names, Clove for H, (they eliminated non-redheads too. Crazy!), and Rikari last, after the T names. She said Thompson and poor Rikari almost went into cardiac arrest slash panic attack mode, but she said a different first name.

After that announcement, we finish eating. Not wanting to talk about the amount of people being killed right after this breakfast, we talked about what we were wearing to the dance instead.

"I think I want to wear a suit," says Clove.

"You'd look hot," says Rikari honestly, "Maybe get lAyLAAAA to notice you."

"I hate you," laughs Clove, throwing a green bean at Rikari.

"Why's it only the green beans," I asked.

"Because they're disgusting! What evil beast created this mush," Clove said.

"Whoopsie, the green beans were my job to make," replies Rikari.

Clove laughs and screams, "Are you trying to POISON ME?!?!"

We all laugh and get a couple of looks, and I even notice Layla looking our way, but she leaves us be to talk and laugh. Maybe she didn't have real friends. Did she? I wondered.

"Shut up or I'll throw another poison stick at you."

Huh. I must've zoned out. More ridiculous conversations at our table ensued. I kind of wanted to invite Layla over, but didn't. Although I did notice her looking longingly at us. My question is, why? Why would anyone be looking longingly at a bunch of poor people?

Layla POV

Normally I would never want what Clove has. I have everything I could possibly ask for, all the money in the world. But as I look over there and see her and her friends, it makes me sad. I really want friends now. The guys are not my friends, they never have been. Half of them are/were using me to ask the former girls out. I don't like it. Especially when they were girls I had a secret crush on.

I could never say I liked my crushes though. Why? Cause it's dangerous for me.. and for them, if they like me back. I wish I didn't have to deal with that, but that's the cost. I don't get an entirely perfect life. Nobody does, that's just the way it is. I've always been gay, and now I have to pay the price for that.

"Oh my god, Clove, stop THROWING THE GREEN BEANS AND EAT THEM!!!"

"No because you cooked them WRONG!!!"

I almost laugh, but then I notice the redhead girl from their table is staring at me. For once, her face was not glaring. She actually seemed.. inviting. Like she wanted me to come.

"I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU COOKED THEM COLLD!!"

"I THOUGHT IT SAID 28 degrees!"

"NO!!! It said 285! I saw it and I warned you and you were like YOU BLIND BAT NO IT DOESNT and I was this close to stabbing you with my roll..."

"I'll whack you with one, Clove.. I made them too long-"

"OF COURSE YOU DID RIKARI!!!!"

I laugh at this interaction, quietly, so they keep going. Clove was actually pretty, I realized. I'd just been caught up in myself to notice her. Aw, damn it, did I like someone again? I hoped I didn't. That was dangerous.

I realized with a pang. The dance was today. I could totally ask her.. but would she say yes? And would this be too risky?

"Clove, you're the gayest person we know. Stan Clove. Even if you're a tad.. um.. ditsy and delusional, and a bit short, and a bit-"

"HEY!"

Well there was my answer. She probably would. They went into a Clove rally around the table until a redhead started choking from laughing.

And everyone started screaming! It was so loud, even I was screaming. What was happening? Who was it? Where are they? What is anyone supposed to do right now?

"Dallas!"

"Get help!"

"What was she choking on?"

"Does she need CPR?"

"She looks hot."

I don't know who said that last one, but it sent her food flying out of her throat. We all breathed a sigh of relief. Then Clove went back to talking about her outfit.

"I'm gonna wear a suit. What do y'all want? I'll make it for ya."

She could sew? But the dance was tonight. No way she could do it that quick.

They talked for awhile, said goodbye to the redhead and all of a sudden they started talking, about me.

"I wonder what her deal was, she called me Ricardo."

"RICARDO?! HOW DO YOU MESS UP RIKARI- never mind you messed up the green beans you don't deserve my input."

"UGH- CLOVE IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!"

"ACCIDENT?! I COULD HAVE GOTTEN FOOD POISONING!"

They kept on talking, I would have told them to shut up.. but I was too focused on her.

Wait. What? Oh, shit.

Clove POV

"Man, you need to stop talking about the green beans!"

I would not stop talking about the so-badly-messed-up-by-Rikari green beans. It was as a joke. Really. Although Rikari was a horrible cook, she was my friend. Plus, we all needed a pick-me-up.

So now I walk in, with my secret sewing machine (Something told me I'd need it, and Rae had given me my cloths!!) and started to work on our formal wear. I wanted us to look as amazing as we were. We were going to match, all of us. Me in my suit, and them two in their dresses.

As the dresses and suit are made with my careful hands, I'm careful not to let anything distract me. Not the boys yelling, not Rikari knocking on my door every 4 seconds.. wait, that wasn't Rikari, I could see a snippet of blonde hair. Light blonde hair. Rikari's was light brown, but looked blonde. This was NOT Rikari. I quickly turn it off and go to answer to find the person at the door.. who was Layla.

"Layla," I ask, "what are you doing?"

"Just uh... seeing how you're doing? Anyway, I've got something to ask.."

Her cheeks looked flushed, almost embarrassed. Why? Had the boys told her to do this? Was this a dare?

"Will you go to the dance with me.."

I contemplated this. I didn't know what to say, honest. Layla? Why me? Finally, I decide..

"Sure. Why not?"

"Okay. Thank you."

For the fun of it. And that was.. Weird. I continue to work on our clothes, knowing damn well Layla has something at home she can wear.

Rikari POV

Clove's sewing machine now rumbles again. The 5 minutes it didn't were glorious. I cherished every second, honest. But I knew it was for us. I wonder what she stopped it for. These were the type of things I spent my day worrying about.

I come into her room.

"Hey, why'd you stop sewing for 5 minutes?"

"Oh," said Clove, "well, let's just say I have a date now.."

I yelp, "DEEETAAAAILLSSS! Was it a girl?! Be who you are- For your priiiideee-"

Clove replies, cutting my beautiful singing off, "It might be unsafe for the other person. I don't know why it happened."

I say, "Clo. This is big. You don't have to match with us if you don't want t-"

"No," she says, cutting me off, "I want to."

Did that mean the world to me? Yes. Did I say so? No. But someone finally cared for me, two people maybe, the way that nobody else could, the way that nobody else had. I had friends now. This is the life I was telling my dad about. The life I dreamed of. Yes, I may have gone to school, but nobody liked me.

I walked into school, my first day at Hale Middle. I was scared, yes. Scared for my life. This school was the biggest around, and my dad wasn't about to pay for private school, and our mom died years ago. Me and Alyx. We were alone now with Dad. But Alyx hardly cared about me. She was in 7th and I was in 8th. So we never saw eachother anyway.

All of a sudden, the list is there. A girl's cheering because she's a volunteer, and I realize now the reason and that this is Clove. I check after all the noise. I'd gotten in.. but Alyx hadn't.

Alyx was behind me as I looked.

"I knew this would happen. That's why-"

"No, we're supposed to be together, and why what?"

"Why I didn't sign up," she sighed.

I was in shock. In tears, almost. My own sister had betrayed me in such a way? Why?

"I can't.. I can't believe you!" I said, running off.

"Rikari. Wait. Please. I can explain.."

"I'm done with everyone telling me they can explain. No, Alyx, you can't explain!"

"RIKARI WAIT!"

She was in front of a car. My mouth was wide, my eyes were, too. She was small, the car didn't see her. The last words I ever said to her before I left were those. She's in the hospital now, slowly getting better. But it was all my fault.

I'm teleported back to reality when someone screams, "Mail delivery for Rikari Thompson!"

I hurry to go get it, wondering what it could possibly be.

"Hello," I say, "I'm Rikari. Rikari Thompson. Now may I have my mail?"

"Yes."

I rush to my room, envelope in hand, and open it.

Hey Rikari,

It's Alyx. I'm getting better fast, the doctors say so. I'm sorry I didn't sign up. Dad told me you were gone when I asked to see you. I wish I'd volunteered. I'm sorry.

I hope you're making friends there. You really need to, you didn't make a single one at school. That's my only goal, OK? Make some friends, and even have some fun. I know I'm younger than you, but I'm acting older for your sake and your sake alone.

I love you, big sis. Don't you ever doubt that, okay?

Alyx Thompson

Layla POV

I didn't expect Clove to say yes to me. So now I was in my house, hurriedly picking out dresses.

"Hey, Layla, what are you so excited for?"

"I have a date, mom."

"Who's the lucky girl?"

My mom knew I liked girls. I'd told her two years ago, and at first she wouldn't hear of it. But slowly she became more supportive of who I was, and now she was excited to hear about my date.

"Uh.. Her name's Clove."

"Clove. That sounds beautiful. Didn't you save her from drowning yesterday?"

"Yeah. I did."

"I can't wait to meet her someday, when you work up the words to tell your father."

"I will one day. I promise."

"I don't doubt that, Layla."

I finally found the perfect dress and showed my mother for approval.

"Yes, Layla. That dress is perfect."

It was a dress with gold flecks all over. I agreed, it was perfect. I didn't know what Clove was wearing, and I was a little scared. Only thing I knew is that she wanted to wear a suit. I didn't know what color. But I guess gold could go with everything.

I go back to the barn, not with my dress. We have 3 hours left until the dance, and Mom wanted me to meet her in an hour. This was gonna be stressful, but it was also gonna be fun.

Glowy POV

"I'm finished!"

Clove was finished with our dresses (and her suit), and she told us to all meet in the dinner hall, so she could show us. We all went into the bathrooms and tried them on, and they looked as extravagant as when she first showed us them. We were all squealing.

"Clove," says Rikari, "Are you gonna wear your converse, even though your suit is pink and the shoes are green and they do not match whatsoever?"

"You know it," says Clove.

"We're gonna be the prettiest there," I say.

"You know it, girl," says Clove.

We walk down the stage like it was a runway, and then we just act silly while walking on it. We ended up in heaps of laughter, Clove laughing the loudest of us.

"We're so on fleek I can't even hold it together," says Rikari, which implodes us into more laughter.

"Oh Glowy," Clove says, "Did I tell you I had a date with Layla?"

"NO YOU DIDN'T," I scream, "OUR GAYBY'S GROWING UP, RIKARI!"

We all practically die after that. It was so funny. None of us stopped laughing until it was hair time, and even then giggle fits happened every so often. Good. We needed to stay happy.

Once we were all finished with each other's hair, we showed each other. Clove's brownish black hair in a ponytail, Rikari's dirty blonde, but also brown hair in a braid, and my red hair in a bun.

"Now we REALLY look on fleek," I say, and then we all erupt again. Real friends did this. I didn't need to go to school to find these friends. They were special.

Clove POV

We're all nervous to walk in into the dance hall, even if we looked super good. It was required though, so we step in. Layla wasn't here yet. Probably going to make an extravagant entrance 20 minutes late, quoting 'fashionably late' into literal terms.

So I started to dance with Glowy, and Rikari. Rikari had two left feet, but it was Glowy that was pretty good. I was impressed.

"Girl, I'm scared you might dance better than the Richy-Rich people like Layla," I say.

"Aw, come on, I can't be Better-Than-Layla good, can I," she says.

"Yeah, you can."

All of a sudden the microphone is announcing, "Introducing Layla!"

I was stunned. I couldn't stop staring at her. She was so beautiful in every way. I was afraid that someone as bleak as me could never be noticed by her, but as soon as the spotlights go away from her, nope, there she is running to me.

"I was wondering where you were," she says, "Uhm- wow, you look amazing."

"Thanks, you too."

"Aw, my baby," says Glowy.

"Glowy, shut up or I'll shove another one of Rikari's infamous Poison Sticks up your face," I say.

Layla laughs at that and says, "The green beans were really that bad?"

"YES," I say, offended she'd even asked. I could have got food poisoning from those.

"They're her favorite thing to bash. Rikari is dead inside," says Glowy.

"She didn't even make the rolls that good," Rikari yelled.

"I disagree- they were the best part," says Layla.

"You're JUST SAYING THAT-"

"Hah," I interrupt.

"Hey," says Chase, "What are you doing here?"

"Go away," Layla sneers.

"Yeah, I'm talking to you, Clover. What are you doing here?"

"Whatever I want," I say confidently, "We're required to be here. Might as well have a little fun with it."

"So why are you with Layla?"

"Because I'm not afraid."

"Afraid of what?"

"Being gay."

"I can pull gay people," says Chase.

"No, you really can't," says Layla, "Now leave her alone."

"Leave her alone," Chase mocks.

All of a sudden, Rikari shoves him to the ground.

"You hear it once, and you'll hear it again," says Rikari, "Leave her ALONE!"

"Ew, you support this gay girl?"

"I'm gay," says Layla, "I am, too. And you are friends with me just fine. So it's just because she's Clove, isn't it?"

"Ew. I can't believe you, Layla."

"Then leave, never speak to me again if you 'can't believe me' because I'm gay."

We were fighting, I realize. We were fighting. Like Daniele did with anyone. She didn't even know I was gay for a while. Until I told her. She supported me, luckily. I thought she wouldn't, cause she's a tomboy and all, but she said,

"Hey, kid, I don't care who you like. If it's girls, go kiss girls. I can't stop ya anyway."

I wish there were more people in the world like my dear sister Daniele. I got a letter from her earlier. It read this,

Hey Clove,

It's me, Daniele. Izzy tried to convince me you weren't here, but I know better. I'm not mad at you, heck, I'm proud of ya, kid. I just want you to be OK, you know that. Your younger sister, you know, the dead one, Tyra, she had a peaceful service. I'm sorry you missed it. Happy birthday, because I know I'll miss it in a month. I'm sorry I'm so busy.

Love ya, kid.

Daniele

How'd I react to this letter?

I cried.

I just wanted to go home even though I liked it here.

Rikari POV

I watched Layla dance with Clove all night, but they also danced with other people. I have two left feet, and so I was just doing a little dance. I am vibing. I love it here. I have also eaten a lot. The cake smacks. I wonder who made it. And Glowy was eating with me—the one night redheads were allowed to. She agreed, the cake smacked.

"Man," she said when tasting it for the first time, "This cake is amazing."

"That's what I said," I replied, "Doesn't it smack?!"

Glowy exploded into a giggle fit and said, "Yes. Yes it does."

"Oh my god, Clove looks so AMAZING with Layla, they're like, poppin," I say.

"Never use the word 'poppin' again, would you please, Rikari," said Glowy, giggling.

"This may be the best first day ever," I say.

"No kidding," she says, "Even though this is my second day, Clove's too."

"You talk like you've been here forever," I say.

"It feels like forever sometimes."

"That makes sense."

And it did, indeed, make sense.

Layla POV

The dance was amazing! Now I'm walking out with Clove, hand in hand. Rikari and Glowy are still talking. I really think they're gonna be as close as Clove and Glowy. Maybe even Clove and me? I wouldn't know. I just knew that this night went amazing. Best dance I ever had, that's for sure.

I walk back to the house, say bye to the others, and walk up the hill to the door. I open the door and my mom greets me.

She asks me, "How was it?"

"It was pretty good!"

"Good! Did you have fun with your date?"

"Yeah. She is pretty. You have to meet her."

"I will, one day. Now take off your makeup and dress and go to sleep."

As soon as I wash my face and put on pajamas, I fall asleep thinking of Clove, and how mysterious she truly was, and is.