My cheeks flamed. "He just…keeps some stuff here."

"You know, for a girl who seems to know the whole town's secrets, you do one hell of a job at hiding your own."

It was easy to know people's secrets if you watched from the sidelines like I did. People never worried about me overhearing their conversations because to most people in this town, I was invisible.

"Daryl wants me to go to the dance with him," I offered, feeling like I needed to give her something. "Homecoming, I mean."

She twisted around to face me. "As in a date?"

"No." I shook my head. "As friends."

"Uh-huh," she drawled, not looking convinced. "Are you sure about that, Molls? Because the way I catch him looking at you when he thinks no one's watching screams anything but platonic."

"We're just friends," I sighed. "That's all."

"Yeah." She rolled her eyes. "You guys are just friends and I'm Katy freaking Perry."

Thankfully, Mercy's attention switched to something in the back of my closet then, saving me from anymore awkwardness.

"Oh wow! This dress is gorgeous." Dragging a full-length, blood-red, fish-tail style dress from the closet, she held it up to her chest. "I think this is the one."

It definitely was. "You have to wear it."

Guilt filled in her eyes. "But what about you? It still has the price tag on it – oh my fucking god!" she gasped, gaze flicking to the price tag. "Twelve-hundred dollars for a dress? Are you insane?"

"What can I say?" I shrugged. "I have a healthy inheritance and online shopping is my guilty pleasure."

"But you haven't even worn this dress yet, Molls."

"I haven't worn any of the clothes in there," I replied, pointing to the packed rails in my closet.

"Now I feel bad."

"Don't," I told her. "You're right. That dress is gorgeous and it deserves to be worn."

"By you," she pushed.

"No." I shook my head. "I'm an appreciator of beautiful dresses. I don't wear them."

"You are so beautiful," Mercy replied sadly. "Inside and out. I wish you could see that."

"That's what I've been saying," a familiar voice said from behind us.

Startled, I swung around to find Daryl standing in the doorway of my bedroom.

The minute my eyes landed on him, my damn heart went batshit inside of my chest, beating and bucking around like a rave was taking place behind my ribcage.

"Don't mean to interrupt," Daryl offered, looking a little comfortable. "I just, ah…" Clearing his throat, he strode over to my bed and grabbed his wallet off the nightstand. "Got it."

"Hey, D," I called after him. "If you're going to the store after practice, can you grab –"

"Milk? It's already on the list, Molls."

"And some –"

"Captain Crunch," he filled in with a wink.

I blushed. "Yeah."

Smirking to himself, he moved for the door. "See you later, Molls."

"Bye, D," Mercy mimicked in a girly tone of voice.