Thirty-Three

Quinn Gets a Happy Ever After

Quinn's POV

The next few days passed in a happy blur. I spent most of my free time outside of school with either Julia or Cody, goofing off and enjoying spirit week at Providence Prep. For twin day on Friday, Cody and I dressed up as Gabriella Montez and Troy Bolton from High School Musical (my idea, not his) since we had nothing better to do and we somewhat resembled the characters. Vanessa, who I thought would make an amazing Sharpay Evans, dressed up as a cheerleader while Shane wore a football uniform.

After spending most of the school day trying to explain to people who I was (most didn't get the hint when I wore red, white, and gold and sang the songs in the hallways between classes), I went back home with Julia long enough to change into Providence Prep spirit clothes for the football game before Cody picked me up.

"You and Cody were so cute today," said Julia as she experimented with layering several leis around her neck--the football game's theme was Hawaiian. "You look just like Vanessa Hudgens and if you squint your eyes enough, he sort of resembles Zac Efron in his younger years."

I straightened my Providence Prep t-shirt and ran a brush through my hair. "You know our costumes were a complete fail, Jules. But you and Andrew pulled off the whole Spiderman and Gwen Stacey act well."

"He just had to wear his mask all day so his blonde hair didn't show," she said, rolling her eyes. "He insisted on being a superhero."

Laughing, I stuck a bandana in my hair to hold back my curls and then slipped on my sneakers. "All ready!" I chirped.

Julia studied me up and down. "You don't look Hawaiian at all," she said, smoothing down her hula skirt. "You look all varsity and school-spirit like."

Despite my explanations that I owned no tropical clothes, Julia kept up this barrage during the whole drive to the game, and she only stopped once we found seats with Cody and Andrew in the bleachers and her boyfriend asked to borrow one of her leis.

"I spent all last weekend hand-making these leis!" she snapped, waving them out of his reach. "You should have bought one at Party City."

I snorted as Andrew began protesting, but at that exact moment the football game started and the quarterback started leading the crowd in some kind of chant.

Football games, I decided, were not my idea of fun. First of all, I could barely see what was going on on the field because I wasn't particularly tall, and all the seniors insisted on standing in the front of the bleachers because they evidently had status. Secondly, the opposing football team was terrible and Providence was even worse, so the action on the field wasn't particularly entertaining. I spent the night under the stadium lights shifting back and forth to keep my legs from falling asleep as I cheered whenever the crowd did and tried to maintain my peppy demeanor. Even the cheerleaders started to lose it by halftime, though, when Providence was losing 21-0.

"I'm going to get soda," I said as the cheerleaders began the halftime stunt show, which I knew would be followed by the presentation of the Homecoming court. "Anyone coming with me?"

To my enormous surprise, Andrew squeezed past Julia, saying, "I actually think I will."

We climbed the bleachers and walked to the concession stand in awkward silence, joining the line which was about five or six people long. Nervously, I adjusted my red bandana and then stared down at my Vans, trying to remember when I'd ever had this much trouble making conversation.

"So, Quinn."

I glanced up quickly and saw that Andrew Summers was looking right at me, his crystal blue eyes a little clouded.

"I really am sorry about everything that happened with us," he continued. "I know I came across as a little harsh when I told you to leave me alone. I probably confused you, because one moment I liked you and suddenly I realized this wasn't really what I wanted at all."

Biting my lip, I stared at him for a few seconds. There was no denying how attractive he was. And he was brilliant and kind and had a bright, bright future ahead of him. But I just wasn't meant to be a part of that future. I'd spent so much time trying to force myself to be with him, and all we'd done was clash.

"It's okay," I said, smiling a little. "The same thing happened to me. It just took me a little longer to realize it. I hope you're happy with Julia."

"Thanks, Quinn." He reached forward and hugged me, and I hugged him back, inhaling deeply because I knew this would be the last time I'd be in his arms and the last time I'd smell his cologne or feel his breathing on my neck.

I could only hope that back at the bleachers, Cody and Julia were also making up.

The concession stand line slowly advanced, and when we reached the front I ordered a Sprite and Andrew got a hot dog. We spent the walk back to the bleachers joking about the lack of skill on the football field and imagining scenarios that would happen at the Homecoming dance the next day, and I was thrilled that all of the tension between us had vanished entirely.

Slowly, the bleachers began to empty, and by the time the fourth quarter started only about a third of the stands were full. I stayed loyally, even though my my legs were exhausted and my contact lenses were beginning to burn in my eyes. In the end, Providence Prep lost to Wilson Day, 45-7.

"Well," I said as the remaining fans dejectedly began to leave the premises, "we can't be too disappointed, because we weren't expecting much to start."

"True," pointed out Julia. Then she checked her watch and said brightly, "It's only nine thirty! Who feels like a McDonald's run?"

I yawned, planning on turning in for the night, but when I saw Julia's hopeful expression I realized she really did want the four of us to go on a double date, even if it was just to a fast food restaurant. "Sounds good!" I said brightly, causing her face to relax into an easy smile.

Cody and Andrew agreed and we all piled into Andrew's Toyota to go to the McDonald's that was only a few minutes from Providence Prep. The restaurant was completely empty, and we got a table in the back after getting our food.

"So. Tomorrow." Andrew bit into a French fry and chewed with his mouth closed before swallowing. "How are we carpooling?"

"I want to drive Quinn, so I don't know about you guys," said Cody. His arm was draped over the top of my chair and he was enjoying a McFlurry with M&M's.

Julia stuck her tongue out at him. "I see how it is," she teased.

At least they'd made up.

We stayed in the restaurant until they shooed us out at eleven o'clock because they were closing, and then we had to go back to Providence to get Cody's car, feeling jittery as we drove because the campus was off-limits after 10:30. Luckily, even though we saw Mr. Townsend's infamous car parked in the lot, nobody caught us, and I returned home just in time for curfew at 11:30.

Before I went to bed, I peeked inside my closet to look at my vibrant purple Homecoming dress. I'd been dreaming of tomorrow night for a really long time, and even though it'd be different than I'd originally thought, I knew for a fact that it would be amazing. I fell asleep with a smile on my face and dozed peacefully, happy dreams filling my thoughts.

~*~*~

The next day at 6:00, I was in the middle of a crisis. My purple dress, which looked even more perfect on me than on the hanger if I did say so myself, did not match the purple heels I'd picked specially for the occasion. I went through my entire closet trying to find a pair of heels that would work, but alas, my stock of high heels was extremely limited and I came up with nothing.

I was about to go to Homecoming in my Converse when Vanessa poked her head in my room. She was wearing a tight-fitted, sleek black dress with sky-high black heels, but somehow she pulled off the look and was stunning.

"What's up?" she asked, leaning against my doorframe. "You're wailing like a dying cat."

Too distraught to be mean to her, I held up my shoes against my dress. "They don't match!" I declared.

"You couldn't have figured that out before you bought the shoes?" she demanded, rolling her eyes lightly. Then she exhaled loudly, as if resigning to something she would have never wanted to stoop low enough to do. "Come into my room. We wear the same size--I'm sure I've got something for you."

"Thank you so much!" I squealed, sounding very unlike myself.

I ended up finding a pair of silver heels which weren't too high for my taste, and I had just enough time to slip them on and fix my jewelry before the doorbell rang, announcing either Cody or Shane's presence. Vanessa and I glanced at each other before smoothing our hair in unison, and no matter how much we argued I knew we were both feeling the same nerves and excitement right then.

"Hey," she said suddenly, bending down to adjust her heels, "thanks for convincing your mom to let me go to that party tonight."

"No problem." And then we smiled at each other, and I felt something shift between us, like we finally actually understood each other.

It turned out Cody was at the door, and he had an enormous bouquet of pink roses which he nearly dropped when I opened the door for him.

"Hi," I said.

He shoved the roses at me before pulling me into a tight hug, burying his nose in my hair. "You're using that shampoo I like," he said.

"That would be my perfume," I said, because he really was clueless.

I could feel him smirking. "Fine," he said. "You look gorgeous, by the way."

When I lifted my head to smile at him, we were so close together I could feel his breath lightly fanning my cheeks. "Thanks," I whispered, trying not to breathe heavily in case I ruined the moment.

"Hey, it's just the truth," he said, taking my hand and swinging the front door open. "What time do I have to have you home by?"

"11:30, same as yesterday."

Cody drove at exactly the right speed limit on the way to Providence Prep, which meant that he really cared because he usually sped by at least five miles per hour. We pulled into the parking lot at exactly 6:52, my heartbeat racing because I'd fantasized about this night over and over and now it was actually here.

"You ready Ramirez?" asked Cody, jogging around to my side of his SUV and yanking open my door.

I took a deep breath and then stepped out onto the pavement, taking his hands and feeling very much like a princess. "Yeah," I said.

The bass of the party was audible even from outside, and Cody and I checked in quickly before making our way to the gym, my heels clicking on the tile floor. The DJ was playing one of my favorite pop songs and I was already bouncing a little on my toes as we stepped into the gym and were immediately immersed in strobe lights, glow sticks, and body-wracking music.

"Now this is a party!" crowed Cody, tugging me in the direction of the center of the dance floor.

"Cody!" I said, tugging away. "Nobody's dancing yet!"

It was true. The dance had only just started, and the few people that were in the gym were still mingling at the sides of the room, creating some of the only light in the room with their glow sticks.

"Someone's got to start," he said, whirling me around so that I was facing him and wrapping his arms around my waist.

We danced through a few songs all by ourselves until a few people started to get the hint, and soon enough we had a small crowd bopping to the beat with us. Vanessa slipped in the doorway with her head rested demurely on Shane's shoulder, and she actually offered me a small smile on her way to greet her friends.

Julia and Andrew joined us about half an hour later, and I was surprised when I didn't even feel a jolt of regret upon seeing Andrew. Considering that he'd been my dream Homecoming date for almost two years, it should have made me sad to see him with someone else, but instead I felt nothing but joy. Everything had turned out perfectly.

Julia had four glow sticks in her hands and was waving them wildly as she bounced up and down to the newest hit rap song, singing along to the words very loudly. Andrew and I exchanged glances that implied we had no idea sweet Julia knew the lyrics to rap songs, but then Cody and I shrugged and joined right in. Andrew resorted to bopping his head to the beat, his shaggy hair flopping.

Eventually the noise in the room got too loud and there were too many people in too small of a space, so I split from our group and went to get some water. The cafeteria, which neighbored the gym, had opened up its soda fountain, and a variety of cupcakes were spread out over the tables for everyone to enjoy. I snatched a miniature vanilla cupcake with pink icing and then filled a plastic cup with tap water, drinking gratefully.

Seconds later, Julia had raced at top speed up to my side, tugging at my arm impatiently.

"What's up, Jules?" I asked, dumping my cup in a nearby trash can and proceeding to lick the icing off my fingers.

She wrinkled her nose, but she must have quickly realized why she'd come in the first place because she started tugging urgently on my hand again. "You have to come into the gym, right now!" she exclaimed.

I followed her, nearly tripping on my heels, but she wouldn't explain why. When I stepped back inside to the extremely hot and sweaty room, I realized a slow song had just begun to filter out of the speakers.

Julia was immediately swept up by Andrew, and they danced gracefully in a slow circle, their eyes locked on each others' romantically. I watched them for a few seconds before someone came up behind me and started tickling me.

"Cody Marlett!" I squealed, whirling around. "That's so unromantic."

"I'm sorry," he said, not looking sorry at all. "How about I make it up to you?"

Rolling my eyes, I wrapped my arms around his neck and let him guide me out onto the dance floor. We swayed in place for a few seconds, both of eyes continuously glancing at the other couples around us as if for guidance.

"You have no idea how to slow dance, do you?" I asked him finally.

He stuck out his tongue at me. "You don't, either."

This was true, but I maintained my dignity by stepping on his dress shoe purposely as we adjusted our position to accommodate an overly enthusiastic couple next to us.

We were about halfway through the song before he slid one of his hands up from around my waist to cup the back of my neck.

"If you don't know how to slow dance, I definitely wouldn't over-complicate things and add a sentimental kiss," I said pointedly, but then he stepped on my the toe of one of my high heels, which caused me to shut up.

"Are you fully conscious?" he asked seriously, his eyes boring deep into mine.

I snorted. "No, Cody, I'm completely unconscious right now and I'm actually sleepwalking, but--"

I was interrupted when his lips crushed against mine, and I completely forgot whatever sarcastic comment I'd been about to spit out. Man, this boy could kiss.

Both of us completely forgot we were supposed to be dancing and he picked me up so that my feet were just barely grazing the floor. I literally couldn't even hear the music as we kissed, a smile threatening to break out across my face.

Slowly, he moved away, setting me back down on my shoes. "Make sure you remember that, Ramirez," he said, rubbing his thumb across my cheek.

I smiled and leaned forward to peck his cheek. "Only if you do, Marlett."

I didn't know about destiny, but I did know that now that I'd gotten here, it was where I was meant to be all along. And who cared about kismet, anyway? The things that came out of the middle of nowhere were always more exciting, anyway.