The problem with waiting for something for weeks—
was that eventually—
it arrived.
And somehow, Friday felt both impossibly fast and painfully slow.
Lily spent the entire school day pretending she wasn’t thinking about the Winter Formal.
She failed.
Spectacularly.
Every class seemed longer than usual.
Every clock moved suspiciously slowly.
And every time she glanced out the window, she wondered what the evening would bring.
Emily noticed.
Of course she did.
“You’ve checked the time six times.”
“It’s only been five.”
“It’s been eight.”
Lily sighed.
“This is why I don’t tell you things.”
“You didn’t have to.”
“I have eyes.”
Across the room, Jason was decorating the whiteboard with tiny paper snowflakes.
No one had given him permission.
No one stopped him.
Ryan watched f
