Chapter 28

The next morning, after Nick had stowed his backpack in his locker, Emily took his hand and led him out to the parking lot. “Close your eyes,” she commanded.

“Where are we going?” Nick asked, covering his eyes with his free hand. The toe of his sneaker caught the lip of the doorway, and he stumbled behind her.

She pouted. “My dress?”

Oh, yes, the dress.

They got to Emily’s light-blue, late-model Toyota, when she stopped abruptly and screamed. “My dress! Where’s my dress?”

Nick’s eyes flew open, taking in the open car door with the hanger and plastic cover on the seat. The dress was gone.

Emily began crying and pounding her fist on the hood. “Why? Why would someone take my dress?”

Nick looked around the interior and on the floor. No dress. He opened the trunk. It held a snow scraper, tangled jumper cables, and several school notebooks but no dress.

Nick gathered her close. “We’ll find it, Baby. Maybe it was taken as a joke.”

She hiccupped. “Do you think?”

“Maybe.” But probably not.

“How could anyone do that to me?” she wailed into his shoulder.

Several students stopped.

“What’s wrong?”

“Someone took Em’s dress,” Nick said, motioning with his hand toward the car.

“Oh no!” Tiffany said with a gasp. “Was it that bitch Carmen?”

“I don’t know!” Emily pulled away and wiped her nose on the back of her hand. “What will I wear?”

“I’ve got one you can borrow.” Tiffany rubbed Emily’s arms. “You need to report this to the office.”

Nick kept his arm around her as they reentered the school, and Emily told the principal about the missing dress.

“Was there any damage to your vehicle?”

“No, my car wasn’t locked.”

“I see.” He cleared his throat. “You should always lock your vehicle.”

“We never had to before,” Emily said with a sniff, and a fresh batch of tears welled in her eyes, threatening to roll down her cheeks.

The principal made an all-school announcement. “There has been a theft of a blue prom dress from a car in our parking lot. If anyone has seen the dress, please come to the office. And students, please lock your vehicles in the parking lot.”

As they waited, Bryan appeared. He glared at Nick and patted Emily’s shoulder. “I saw who took your dress.”

“Who?”

“Cat.”

“Cat?” Nick gasped. Why would Cat steal Em’s dress?

“Cat?” the principal said with a frown. “Who’s that?”

“Her first name is really Catherine. Catherine Thomlinson,” Bryan said.

Cat was called to the office. Nick tightened his arm around Emily while they waited for Cat. He imagined this would be a screaming match, with Emily unleashing all her pent-up anger.

Once at the office, Cat stopped in the doorway and looked at Nick, then at Emily’s tear-streaked face, and finally at Bryan. “What’s going on?” she asked.

“Bryan saw you take my dress!” Emily lunged at her. Nick grabbed Emily and held her firmly, while Bryan just looked on with an amused uplifting of his lips.

Just then the custodian came in holding a scrap of blue fabric. “Is this the dress?”

“Yes!” Emily shrieked. “That’s my dress!” Emily pointed at Cat. “You ruined it!” She broke away from Nick and pushed Cat.

“I didn’t touch your dress,” Cat said, sidestepping Emily.

Nick grabbed hold of Emily’s arm and held her back.

“You did too. Bryan saw you!” She twisted in Nick’s arms.

Bryan chuckled, covering his mouth.

“I did no such thing!” Cat said, turning and folding her arms.

“I saw you take it,” Bryan said.

In a flash, Cat whipped around, confronting him with fury in her eyes. “It wasn’t me! For all I know, you did it, Bryan! You’ve always had it in for Nick! You wanted to date Emily, but she chose Nick!”

Bryan laughed, but his neck was red. “You’re one crazy chick, you know?” He waved a finger in her face. “You’ve only been here for a few weeks! What do you know about Nick, Emily, and me?”

“I know plenty.” Cat breathed hard, her nostrils moving in and out.

“Did Reverend tell you that?”

“No, it’s written on your face as plain as day.”

“Let me get everyone’s statement.” The principal yelled and waved around some paper. “Bryan, Cat, and Emily!” The principal clapped. “Your statement—not rumor or gossip—please.” The principal led Cat to his office, pointed for Bryan to go to the conference room, and Emily to a chair outside the office.

“Nick? Did you see anything?” the principal asked. Nick shook his head as he saw a vision of Jean Claude holding a lumpy sack, stealing food for Chaton’s family. Food to keep them alive.

“They have to eat,” he blurted.

The principal frowned. “What did you say?”

“Sorry.” He willed his mind to think clearly. “No, I didn’t see anything. Just here for moral support.” He held his arms at his side.

“I think you need to go to class. I’ll handle this,” the principal said.

Nick went to class, where Gary poked him and asked, “What’s going on?”

“Someone took Emily’s dress.”

Gary gave him a confused look.

“For the dance,” Nick clarified. “Bryan said Cat took it.”

“Oh, man.” Gary ran a hand through his hair. “I bet Em was upset.”

“The janitor found it,” Nick said, trying to keep his voice low.

“Is she happy?”

“No, the dress is ruined.” Nick turned back to the front of the room.

Gary’s mouth hung open. “I bet Emily’s pissed!”

“Big-time!”

****

At lunch, Nick found Emily surrounded by her posse of girlfriends, commiserating about the dress. Plotting their revenge, no doubt.

“Nick!” Emily exclaimed.

“How are you doing?” He put his hands on her shoulders. She leaned back into his chest.

“Better. I’m going to borrow a dress from Tiffany.”

He nodded at Tiffany, mouthing “thanks” over Emily’s head. “Did Cat get suspended?”

“I don’t know.” Emily sat up and quickly turned around. “That bitch. I wish she never enrolled.”

Nick nodded. Change the subject, he told himself. “You’ll look beautiful in Tiffany’s dress.” She would, he thought. Honestly, she’d be beautiful in any dress she chose.

“You’re so sweet!” Emily said, and her friends responded with kissing noises. Emily pretended to be embarrassed, but Nick could tell she was happy.

It was good to see her smile.