All I can think of is that she’s sitting alone in the cold at a time she needs someone the most. Her friends are at the dance, her boyfriend seems to have ditched her for Nicki Bowman . . . Even I turned my back in her time of need. How can I let her be alone now?

Me: *hijacks Will from Kitty’s succubus-like embrace to man my chariot* *bribes him with RPG DLC loot*

Zoe: *has no idea what that means* Do you even know where I live?

Me: *assumes Humphrey knows*

Zoe: 1516 Caraway Street. Near the middle school, close to the river.

She lives barely a mile from me. I never knew. I’ll be able to get home easily even if Will can’t drive me, and that plus her giving up her address so easily is all the encouragement I need.

I shove my way back into the gym, hoping I can talk Will into doing what I want. He and Kitty look like they just walked out of the photo booth, and she’s giggling while he jumps to try to reach a heart-shaped foil balloon that’s part of the arch decorating the entryway to the photo area. I roll my eyes. Knowing him, his best intentions of procuring a cute balloon for the girl he likes will result in the destruction of the entire arch.

I hurry over and poke him in the arm.

“I need to talk to you for a minute,” I say, my heart already racing at what I’m about to do.

Kitty gives me a confused look as I drag Will off.

“I promise I’m not trying to cockblock you,” I say, making him blush ten shades of crimson.

“I didn’t assume you were,” he mumbles.

“I think I’m going to skip the after-party,” I say. “Can you drop me off on the way there?”

“At home?” he asks, confused. He knows I’ll usually take any opportunity to be out of the house for a bit.

“Uh, no. Actually, at Zoe Miller’s.”

“What?” He looks at me like I’ve sprouted a second head out of my rib cage. “Are you serious?”

“Completely,” I say.

“Zoe? The person whose friends were total jackasses to you at lunch the other day?” He gestures so broadly I’m half afraid he’s going to accidentally knock me in the head.

“One and the same,” I say, with more confidence than I feel. “But the lunch thing wasn’t her fault. I guess Connor grabbed her phone. She feels really bad about it.”

“Sometimes I can’t even begin to understand you.” He shakes his head.

“Well, I don’t understand you either, since you seem blind to the fact that Kitty has been waiting all night for you to make a move.” I chortle.

My comment makes him smile and blush again.