Chapter 12

Erica

My phone buzzes for what feels like the hundredth time this evening, but that's to be expected with everyone getting ready for the ball.

I pick it up, slightly disappointed to find that it's not Rupert messaging me even though I know he doesn't really have a reason to.

I open up the message, smiling to see that Mandy has sent me a photo of her in her dress with the markings on her back completely on display. I'm not exactly sure what they mean, but they have something to do with her succubi side, and judging from her comments when we were dress shopping, she hasn't really shown them off like this before.

I type out a quick reply telling her that she looks great and that I'll see her at the ball and drop my phone onto the bed so I can continue getting ready.

The pink dress from my sister's shop is hanging over my wardrobe door and I run my hand down the fabric. It's going to look great on me, and I'll feel even better knowing that I helped Danielle in order to get it.

I can't believe that after weeks of work, the ball is actually here, though there's a part of me that wishes there was still prep time so I could spend more time with Rupert, but that's probably something I'm better off not dwelling on, especially when I don't know what it means for either me, or for the future of our friendship.

A knock sounds on my door, becoming a welcome distraction from the direction of my thoughts.

"Come in," I call.

It opens to reveal Nini and Asher, both of them still in their loungewear, though Nini's hair is already neatly pinned up.

"What's up?" I ask my flatmates.

"You're on the ball committee, right?" Nini asks.

"Mmhmm."

"Great." She looks at Asher.

He sighs. "We were wondering if it's true that there are going to be mocktails there?"

"Oh, yeah, absolutely." Though with the mishap with the cocktails, I still haven't tasted any of them. "I didn't realise you didn't drink."

He sighs. "It's not that I don't drink, it's that the finale of our cheer competition is coming up and we're under strict instructions from Zara not to drink."

"Zara's your captain, right?" I ask, remembering something Mandy said.

"Yep, Zara the ice queen," Nini murmurs.

"Surely she'll let you drink for one night," I say.

"It's not that she won't let us, it's that she'll give us this look when we turn up to practise tomorrow morning. And then she'll put us through the most punishing warm-up imaginable," Asher says.

"I never realised cheerleading was so intense."

"It's competitive cheer," Nini says. "It's strict, and sometimes the captains can be slave drivers, but it's worth it in the end."

"Oh yeah, when we lift that trophy next week, it's going to be the highlight of my year," Asher says. "So mocktails it is for us tonight."

"Then you're in luck, a few of us made sure they were put on the menu."

"Great, thanks, Erica. We'll let the others know," Asher says even as Nini pulls out her phone to type the message. I suppose that'll look good for the mocktail numbers if the entire Sapphire Sparks cheer squad is going to be drinking them, and that will mean that we get them again next year. I'm going to count that as a win.

"Oh, is that your dress for tonight?" Nini asks, gesturing towards it.

"Yes."

"It's gorgeous, it's going to look great on you," she says. "Don't you think, Asher?"

"Oh yeah, definitely."

"Thanks," I respond, smiling broadly. "I got it from my sister's shop."

"Oh, yeah, I got my dress from her too, she has such a great selection," Nini says.

"We should make sure to get a photo of us both so I can send it to her," I say, knowing Danielle will love that. Nothing makes her happier than seeing people having a good time in the dresses she helped them choose.

My phone buzzes, and the two of them take it as their cue to leave. I wave goodbye to them, though it'll only be temporary considering my flatmates are all going to the ball together, and me with them.

The fact I don't have a date didn't bother me before tonight, but now there's a small lingering voice in the back of my head that feels like it's telling me I should be going with someone specific, but I'm trying to ignore it.

I open up my phone, my heart skipping a beat as I see that it's from Rupert.

I click on the message, surprised to find a photo of a bow tie next to the bouncy ball I gave him. How did you know it would match?

I laugh, even though he can't hear me, before typing out a response. Maybe your tastes are just easy to guess.

You might be onto something there. I should bring the bouncy ball for luck.

If you do, this one might end up lost too, especially if you have a few drinks. I hit send without thinking. Maybe it's not a good idea to remind him of the way our friendship broke down, but it's too late now.

Hmm, good point.

I stare at the screen, not entirely sure what I'm supposed to reply to him. We've not been messaging much, mostly because we haven't really needed to with the ball prep meetings. But if we want to continue whatever our friendship is once the summer holidays start, we're going to have to work on our messaging skills.

I set my phone down. I don't have anything particularly interesting to say back to him, so I'm going to leave it until I do. There's no point in just saying nothing.

Instead, I focus on getting ready, while trying not to think too much about the fact I'll get to see him at the ball soon, or that he'll probably look great in a suit.