“No.” I say to Tessa, who holds up a dress on a hanger. “I’m not going to that dance, and especially not dressed like that.” Tessa rolls her eyes. 

“This is how you get friends, Lara.” She says, dumping the outfit into my arms, and bending down in the closet to retrieve shoes. 

“I have a friend.” I defend, combing my hair and still being surprised to find that it’s short. It’s been a week and I haven’t gotten over the shock. 

“You can’t have just one friend, Lara.” She says, shoving tiny black heels and black pantyhose into my large stack of clothing. “You need a whole arsenal, so you’re never lonely, ever.” I sigh and pull my school dress off, and put on the dress Tessa picked out. Tessa finds new ways to style my new short hair, and wraps a crimson ribbon around my head. I pull on the pantyhose and put the shoes on, then look in the tiny mirror all of us sisters have to share. 

The dress is a deep red and knee-length, on top of a white,  long-sleeved button up shirt. The skirt flares out very nicely when I twirl upon Tessa’s request. 

“You look perfect!” Tessa cheers, pulling on her blue dress with little white flowers printed on it. Her white leather boots top it off nicely. “Just stay away from the mean boy who cut your hair.” Oh yeah. She still doesn’t know who it is.

“I won’t be within a mile of him.” I promise her. She smiles and takes my arm, walking with me down the road to the school. It just rained, and the clouds still provide a lovely cover. It feels wonderful. Puddles and an overcast sky are the best, and I will do anything to defend that opinion. 

The school gymnasium is decorated with balloons, all of an autumnal color. Various tables around the room have red checker print tablecloths, leaf and apple centerpieces, and warm autumn desserts of all kinds. Apple pie, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, caramel apples, hot cider, and roasted nuts. Tessa finds the Dearing boys in all of this, and leads me over to them, grinning brightly at Henry.

“Hi.” Henry says to me, and I give him a cordial smile. At least he didn’t pat my head this time like I’m a good-luck charm or a baby. Tessa lets go of me, and takes Henry’s arm instead. That annoying little sister stealer! 

“Let’s all eat some dessert together, and then party!” Tessa says, leading me and the Dearing boys over to an empty table and sitting us down. I grab a slice of pumpkin pie and some cider and eat it slowly, looking around. Jack and George lean against the wall, watching the party. Cal and his friends and his girlfriend and her friends are on the other side of the room, thankfully. Tessa picked a good table. 

“Come on, Lara, you’ve got to dance.” Tessa says, shaking me out of my seat. A new song is starting. “Please???” She asks, her hands clasped. 

“Fine.” I say, putting down my cider. 

“Yay!” She says. “I’ll go find you a partner.” She says, turning to go grab a boy to embarrass me with. 

“No wait-“ I say, biting my lip. I don’t need a pity partner to dance with. Tessa doesn’t realize how humiliating it is to have a friend literally force someone to dance with you. 

“I’ll dance with her.” Kendrick, Henry’s older brother says. Tessa grins. 

“Thank you so much.” I whisper to him, as the song starts. “That was embarrassing.”

“No problem.” He says. “So, do you have any pets?” He asks. 

“None. You?” I ask, twirling. Thank goodness I know how to dance, or my embarrassment would only grow. 

“I have a goldfish.” He says. And he’s a very good dancer too. Better than me. 

“Does your goldfish have a name?” I ask, watching my feet to make sure I don’t have any chance of humiliation. 

“No. What should I name it?” He asks.

“Well, think about its personality.” I say. “Then pick a name that matches that.”

“Personality?” Kendrick asks incredulously. “I’m pretty sure my fish doesn’t have a personality. He’s just a fish.”

“Fish have feelings too, you know.” I say. Kendrick laughs. “Name it something random then. Is it a boy or a girl?”

“Girl, I think.” He says, then looks around the room. “Would you be offended if I named it after you?” I laugh. 

“Kendrick, the highest honor you could ever bestow is naming your fish after me. I am delighted.” He smiles. “Lara Junior will be the greatest fish ever.”

“Yes.” He says, with a grin. “Teresa talks about you a lot.”

“Hopefully not that much.” I say. The song ends, and I smile up at Kendrick. “Thanks for dancing with me.”

“My pleasure.” He says, then walks away. I go back to the table, and finish my pumpkin pie. Tessa pressures me to dance, but I ignore her. 

“Come on!” She groans. “At least dance with Jack!”

“Tessa, Jack and I are just friends. And it’s going to stay that way.” I sip my cider. “I’m not going to get romantically involved with anyone, and I’m going to live a nice long life alone.” I straighten my hair ribbon and pop a roasted pecan into my mouth. Tessa rolls her eyes and sighs. 

“Fine.” She says dejectedly, and goes to dance with Henry again. 

“Hi, Lara.” Someone says behind me. I put on a smile and turn to face Jack. 

“Hi. Sit down.” I say, patting the empty seat next to me. Jack hesitantly takes a seat, and smiles awkwardly. 

“I brought a rock for Kelsie’s rock collection.” He starts, then pulls something out of his pocket. “I found it this morning at Turbrook Pond.” He drops it into my hand. The rock is cold to the touch, and is smooth and perfectly round, with purple veins in the gray stone. 

“Wow, she’ll love this.” I say, turning it over in my hand. “I’ll tell her it’s from you.” Jack smiles. “Do you want a caramel apple? I was going to go get one.” I put the rock into my pocket and stand up. 

“Allow me.” He says, getting up too. 

“Oh. Thanks.” I sit back down again. He returns with two caramel apples on sticks. The drippy caramel is nice and warm, so it melts onto my fingers as I eat the apple. 

“You look nice.” Jack says. 

“Thanks.” I reply, awkwardly. “Have you danced much tonight?”

“Not at all. You?” He asks, then takes a bite of his apple. 

“Only once, and I’d like to keep it that way.” I say, then eat a bit of caramel which is, once again, attacking my hand with its sugary stickiness. Jack nods and puts his apple back in the cellophane bag. He stands up.

“I’m not feeling well.” He says. “I’m going to go home.” He leans against the chair, his knuckles white. His eyes are tired and bloodshot.

“Do you need me to walk you?” I ask, putting my apple away.

“No, I’ll be fine. You enjoy the dance.” He replies. You know good and well I won’t enjoy it. Tessa’s going to force me to dance with another pity partner. “Have a good evening, Lara.” He turns and leaves the area, leaving me defenseless to Tessa’s forced dances. I decide to tell Tessa I’m going home early, and stand up to walk over to her, my caramel apple wrapped up, and inside my purse. When I reach where Tessa is dancing with Henry, her face lights up and she lets go of Henry, leading me over to someone against the wall. Please, not another boy to dance with. I silently pray.

“Lara, this is Henry’s friend Todd Palmer.” She says, then turns to Todd. “She’s my sister. You should dance with her.” Tessa, if twin telepathy is really a thing, please listen to me. I think, trying to reach her. Stop it!

“Sure, I’ll dance with her.” Todd says, taking my hand. Kill me now.