Page 42 of Grown

The Homecoming committee decked out the gym with gold streamers, a million navy-blue balloons, and twinkling red lights. The DJ is positioned on a platformed stage framed in flashing disco lights and speakers.

Hannah and Mackenzie are on the floor, dancing off beat. Shea is near the stage, flirting with some white boy. We catch eyes, and hers flutter away.

Mom only let me come to the dance because of Shea. Mom’s still mad about the video, and Shea seems almostembarrassed by the attention. I’d thought she’d be happy with a semicool sister.

I check my phone. No new messages from Korey.

I text Gab. She’s also had an attitude with me since the video dropped. Which is now at twenty million views. No surprise she couldn’t take off for the dance. I’m used to doing almost everything at school alone since she’s always working, but tonight, I need my wing woman. The stares and murmuring whispers are suffocating. I fidget in my too-tight black dress. Korey told me to buy a size down, to stop hiding my curves.

I check my phone again. Maybe he’s mad at me, too. Mad that I went to the dance, that I didn’t come to the studio instead. Not that Mom would let me near him. If she had her way, I’d never see him again.

The homecoming committee takes the stage. The king and queen are crowned. I yawn, ready to call Mom for a ride home when the DJ scratches in a familiar beat.

“And tonight... we have a special guest!”

A voice sings into another mic, somewhere offstage.

My mouth drops and the beat drops with it. A shaded figure strolls onto the platform before light floods the stage. Cheers cascade as students rush past me onto the dance floor.

It’s Korey.

“How y’all doing tonight? Special friend of mine thought y’all could use a little entertainment!”

My breath hitches. I can’t move. I’m a rock in the middle of a sea of screaming fans.

Korey performs a few lines from his song, shaking hands,slapping fives, taking selfies. The entire school is enamored by his charm, even the teachers. But his eyes are only on me.

When the song is over, he hops offstage and pulls me into a hug. Dozens of phones surround us, the room full of flashing lights.

“Meet me out back,” he whispers, lips grazing my ear.

Chapter 28

Privacy

My hands are sweating as I rush into the bathroom, hoping to find a way to compose myself. I need a distraction, a way to slip out undetected.

Korey Fields. Here, at my school.

I rush straight for the largest stall, and Gab follows me in.

“OMG! What are you doing here?”

“Me?” she snaps. “I just got here. What the hell is HE doing here?”

Gab has on a plum dress and heels, her hair down, draping over her shoulders like a shawl.

“I... don’t know.”

“Don’t bullshit me, Chant! I get off work early and find you likethis!”

I reel back. “Damn, Gab. What’s wrong with you?”

“You know damn well what’s wrong. You’ve been lying to me this whole time! Is that where you snuck off to the other day? Did you lie to me so you could sneak around withhim?”

I bite my lip, feeling like a cornered animal.

Gab’s eyes widen. “Oh God, did you fuck him?”