“Aw, it’ll be Keely’s first time too!” Danielle says, and I slam my foot down on top of hers under the booth. “Ow!” She pulls her foot away.

“Our school doesn’t have a junior prom,” Andrew says, and I silently thank him for trying to rescue me. “So none of us have been yet. But it’s not that big of a deal. “

“Whatever,” Danielle says. “I’ve been three times. You just have to get asked by a senior.”

“Why didn’t you go to your prom?” I ask Dean, eager to latch on to a topic of conversation that isn’t about my inexperience.

“Eh,” he says, letting his lip curl up with the word. “It just wasn’t my thing. I was into this girl in a punk band and they had a big show that night, so I went to that instead. It was way more epic anyway. Our prom was, like, in the gymnasium.”

“Well, you’re in for a treat, James Dean,” Danielle says. “Our prom is badass. Did Keely tell you it’s at the Walcott?”

“That big old hotel on the lake?” he asks. “That place is stuffy as hell.”

“It’s really pretty,” I say, trying to get him excited. “I went there for brunch once and it’s got these amazing high ceilings and old chandeliers. It looks a little bit like Hogwarts.” I can see Dean’s interest waning. “And there are secret passageways,” I add, hoping that will get him. He raises an eyebrow.

“Secret passageways at a prom? Sounds dangerous.” He reaches across the table and takes my hand, running his thumb over the sensitive skin of my palm, and suddenly I’m short of breath. “Who’s going to stop us from sneaking away together?” His words send an excited flutter to my chest, but there’s something uncomfortable there too.

“You guys should just rent a room upstairs for after,” Danielle says. “That’s what everyone is doing.”

“I’m game,” Dean says, a messy grin spreading across his face. “You think we should get a room?” His grip on my hand tightens slightly, and I feel unsteady, like his hand is holding me there in place.

“Yeah,” I say, trying to smile, wondering why I have to try. “We should definitely get a room.”

“Nice,” he says. “I’ll arrange everything.”

I’ll just have to tell my parents I’m sleeping over at Hannah’s or something and hope they believe me.

“Who are you going to prom with?” Andrew asks suddenly, his attention focused on Danielle. His leg brushes against mine again as he shifts in his seat, and I inch away from him.

“What?” Danielle cocks her head to the side, clearly surprised.

“Are you going to prom with anyone yet?”