No Place Like Homecoming

by Dallen, Maggie

  On my very first day, Savannah had informed me of two things. One, she was in this to make money. Not that I’d thought she was dressing up as a princess on the weekends for kicks, but whatever. And two, she’d prefer it if I didn’t tell my buddies at school about what went on at these parties.

  By the way she’d said it one would think that ‘what went on’ at the kids’ parties involved drugs and strippers, not birthday cake and Pin the Tail on the Donkey.

  But again, whatever. I got it. Her business was her business. I could respect that.

  And right now, she’d apparently made it her business to help ease the awkward silence that was Callie right now.

  I’d never seen her so quiet, or blush so much. She was normally animated and chatty, making her friends laugh and throwing out compliments and spreading good cheer like it was her job.

  If I still believed in Santa, I would have been one hundred percent certain this chick was an elf in disguise.

  But right now she was biting her lip and staring at Roman with wide eyes.

  Roman, meanwhile, only had eyes for Savannah as he told her about his new band and how they were still looking for a lead singer. “You should audition.”

  Savannah’s brows arched. “Why would I do that?”

  Roman eyed her from head to toe. “Because you look like you were born for the spotlight.”

  Savannah smirked and cocked a hip. “You’re right. But I definitely wasn’t born to sing.”

  She glanced over at Callie, who giggled at the inside joke. And then she walked over to my little Beauty and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “But Callie, on the other hand…”

  Roman blinked as if he were just now noticing Callie.

  As if she wasn’t glowing with that huge smile and rosy cheeks.

  “You sing?” he asked her.

  She nodded. “Yeah. Yes. I mean, sort of.”

  Savannah rolled her eyes and I did too. I hadn’t been doing these parties for long, but I’d been at a few now and I’d heard her sing. The girl didn’t ‘sort of’ sing. The girl was amazing.

  “She’s awesome.” Savannah said it like she was daring anyone to deny it.

  I was starting to like Savannah more and more. I liked the way she was around Callie, at least. And I liked that she wasn’t swooning over Roman like Callie was.

  My gaze narrowed on Callie. Yup. She had freakin’ stars in her eyes. And she still didn’t seem to notice that I was standing a few feet away watching her.

  Not in a creepy way. I didn’t think. I hoped not.

  I forced myself to look away, watching the party guests arrive as Savannah gushed over Callie’s singing skills.

  “Cool.” Roman didn’t sound as enthusiastic as Savannah, but he did aim that smile at Callie. “You should come to the audition. Friday night. I’ll text you the address.”

  “Yeah, okay,” Callie said. She fidgeted with her skirt as she glanced over at the staging area where Mrs. Messner was motioning for all of us to join her. “I should, um...I should…”

  She darted off before she could finish that sentence and I was left glaring at Roman.

  Why? I wasn’t entirely sure. But best to put the fear of God into him now. Just in case he got ideas.

  He took one look at me, his eyes widened in surprise at my glare, and then he turned to get back to his work.

  I let out a sharp exhale. My job here was done.

  I turned to follow Callie. I wasn’t entirely sure what I was supposed to do as Beast other than follow her around, to be honest. That was all I’d done when Mrs. Messner had made me be the Prince Charming to her Snow White last weekend and everyone had seemed happy with it.

  But when I turned I almost ran smack into Savannah and Isla, who’d apparently finished her makeout session. Isla had her phone out and was taking a picture of me in all my Beastly glory. “What was that for?” I asked.

  Isla eyed the picture and then me. “We saw the way you were watching Callie,” she said.

  Savannah took the phone from Isla to show me the picture. “Blackmail material. If you ever hurt my friend, this will be everywhere.”

  Isla crossed her arms. “And I’ll tell everyone this is how you get your kicks in the bedroom.”

  The both gave me a deadly glare as they shared a fist bump.

  I glared right back at them until they turned to walk away. When they were gone I couldn’t help but laugh.

  Yeah, Savannah was nuts. And Isla was probably certifiable. But if they were willing to blackmail the biggest, baddest football player at Lindale High to protect Callie?

  They were all right by me.

  To keep reading, check out Never Have I Ever Land.

  About the Author

  MAGGIE DALLEN IS a big city girl living in Montana. She writes romantic comedies in a range of genres including young adult, historical, contemporary, and fantasy. An unapologetic addict of all things romance, she loves to connect with fellow avid readers. Subscribe to her newsletter at http://eepurl.com/bFEVsL