Lions and Tigers and Boys

by Tawny Stokes

  I glared at Leander.

  “What?” He gave me a bewildered look. “What did I say?” Without answering him, I started back to the school. He followed on my heels. “Are you mad? Why are you mad?”

  “You are maddeningly dumb sometimes.”

  “Hey, didn’t mean to break up young lovers. But I figured I saved you a world of hurt, considering Marvel is looking for you right now and here you are canoodling with your assignment.”

  I stopped in my tracks, Leander bumped into me, then I turned. “Did you get me a sandwich?”

  He handed me an opened sandwich package, only half the sandwich inside. I shook my head at him.

  He shrugged. “What? I got hungry bringing it all the way down to you. I figure it was a toll road tax.”

  I wanted to stay angry with him but couldn’t. He was clueless most days, but basically harmless. I shook my head again. “Dude, sometimes…” I took out the half and munched on it, thankful that at least he remembered not to get tuna.

  “What are you going to do about Marvel?”

  “I don’t know. I can’t not do what he asked me. I hate having to do this to Dani. She’s good. She’s better than Maggie, to be honest. And she needs the scholarship. Maggie certainly doesn’t.”

  “You better not let Maggie hear you say that.”

  “I don’t really care if she does.” I was so over what Maggie thought.

  His eyebrows went up at that, and I stopped to really look at him. “Why are you so concerned about what Maggie thinks all of a sudden?”

  “I’m not. I just never understood why you broke up with her. She’s hot, she’s talented, her family is rich and influential, and oh yeah, she’s hot. What more could you want?”

  I finished my sandwich and thought about that. What more could I want? Well, I wanted to be with someone who wasn’t self-absorbed and insecure all the time. Sure, Maggie could be thoughtful and sweet when she wanted something from you. She could ramp up the charm to 1000 percent if she thought she could get ahead or acquire an item or a favor.

  But I wanted to be with someone of substance. Someone who made me think and feel and laugh. Someone who cared when I told them something I’d never told anyone before. Someone exactly like Dani.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Dani

  When the Friday night before Halloween came, I was both relieved and nervous. Relieved I wasn’t forced to be in the same vicinity as the witch of OZ for a few days but nervous because there was going to be a party in the lyceum, and Cai mentioned in balance class that he would see me there. There was supposed to be food and drinks and dancing. It was the first real social get together of the year. And Anna was so hyped about it, there was no kind way for me to bow out.

  Anna settled the red ribbon and bow in her hair, then took a step back from the full-length mirror we had hung on the back of the door to examine her handiwork. She looked amazing in the short blue and yellow Snow White dress and two-inch wedge shoes. The color made her dark skin look even silkier and soft. She had on just the right amount of makeup to accent her high cheekbones and beautiful big brown eyes. Anna smiled at herself, and rightly so, as she looked fine as hell. Then she turned to me, and all joy and admiration seeped out of her face.

  “You are not wearing that. What happened to the sexy Belle costume?”

  I glanced in the mirror at my T-shirt, hoodie, and slightly ripped jeans. My hair was up in its usual ponytail. “What? I’m comfortable. I’m going as Average Teenage Girl.”

  “Comfortable means lazy and uninterested in meeting anyone cute.”

  “I am uninterested in meeting anyone cute, Anna.” I slumped onto my bed. “I’m only going because you want to go.”

  “What if Cai is there?”

  I grinned despite myself. I hadn’t told Anna everything, but she’d just sort of guessed, especially when I grinned or blushed every time she mentioned him.

  Anna grabbed my arm and pulled me to my feet. “You’re changing into that tiny yellow dress, and you’re putting your hair down in a long sweep just like Princess Belle.”

  “Why?” I whined. “It’s stupid to change for someone.”

  “It’s not about changing. It’s about making an effort to look nice for someone. There is nothing wrong about that. Besides, when you’re looking good, your confidence levels skyrocket. And you might need that to, you know, make your move on Cai.”

  I sighed. There was no arguing with her, especially when she had that determined glint in her eye. I was either going to comply or she was going to get tough. “Fine. Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi. You’re my only hope.”

  She laughed. “You’re kind of a nerd, aren’t you?”

  I’m not sure what gave it away. The Star Wars reference or the plethora of Pokémon socks I had in my drawer.

  An hour later, we were heading toward the lyceum where music already drifted down the corridor from the open doors. Although it was unseasonably warm October weather, there was a slight cool breeze, and it brushed against my bare legs. Anna insisted that the almost too short silky yellow dress looked dynamite on me. I refrained from wearing the heels she wanted me to wear and instead slipped on a pair of cute ballet flats that tied up the ankle.

  Anna styled my hair into a side sweep of silky waves—not sure how she did it, but the end result was, even I had to admit, elegant and smoking hot. I almost looked glamorous, especially after she made me put on mascara, a little blush, and some red lip-gloss.

  Anna was eager to get inside and start mingling. She figured since there were probably only about fifty to seventy male students compared to over a hundred female students, we needed to make it well-known that we were interested and available as soon as possible. I’d never met a more boy-crazy person in my life. She was making an art out of it. I wanted to tell her she definitely came to the wrong school for that specialty.

  When we stepped into the auditorium, it was like stepping back into a junior high dance. Disco lights twirled around on the floor and walls, coming from a huge ball hanging from the ceiling. The DJ was up on the stage, and he even had a cheesy fog machine. The auditorium was decorated with spider webs, tombstones, and vampires in coffins. Tables stacked with punch bowls and snacks lined the back wall. And a line of boys was leaning against one wall, while eager girls lined the other. There were maybe five couples on the floor awkwardly dancing. It was all kinds of awesome.

  I giggled to Anna. “This is so retro, it’s mega cool.”

  “I know, right?” Grinning, she scoped out the talent on the boys’ side. It didn’t take her long to find her first target. He was a lanky sophomore with dark skin and dreads. He had a Captain Jack Sparrow thing going on. I think his name was Antoine, and he was French, like from France not from Canada. Anna patted the short curls on her head, then made a beeline right for him.

  I watched as she pulled Antoine out onto the floor and smiled when they both started dancing, putting everyone else to shame. Anna jumped up and down and screamed, and waved at me. I waved back. Her enthusiasm prompted others to head out onto the floor until I lost her in the exuberant gyrating crowd.

  I made my way to the snack table. I wasn’t one to say no to some delicious brownies or whatever they had going on. Some girls denied themselves the sweet things in life. Not me. There were just too many sweet things. A girl had to have some fun.

  Just as I chose a particularly yummy looking chocolate éclair, Leander popped up beside me, a glass of punch in his hand, looking very animal-like in his lion face paint. “Hello there.”

  I narrowed my eyes at him. “Hi.” I couldn’t figure Leander out. He acted like a player, but sometimes he was genuinely sweet.

  He toasted me with his punch glass then took a sip, using the time to check me out. I could feel his gaze at my feet and traveling upward. “You look very pretty tonight. The Belle of the ball.”

  I smiled despite myself. Maybe he wasn’t such a bad guy. “Thank you.”

  “And now you’re supposed to
say how incredibly handsome I am.”

  I shook my head. But I had to admit he did look cute. He had his usually messy hair up in a cute bun, which totally suited his casual California surfer-boy persona, white muzzle, and cute little black nose and whiskers. “You look nice. Your makeup is really good.”

  “I’ll take that compliment, Dani. Thank you. I did it myself.”

  I was about to ask Leander where Cai was, but thankfully Anna popped in, saving me from embarrassing myself.

  “Leander,” she squealed. “I didn’t think you’d be here.”

  “And why not? It’s a party, isn’t it?” He growled at her and made like he was going to scratch her.

  “I guess. Just doesn’t seem like your thing, you know.”

  “And what’s my thing?” He leaned into her and wriggled his eyebrows suggestively.

  “I don’t know, secret bonfires in the woods with lots of alcohol.”

  He grinned wider. “Anna, you know me so well already.” He swung his arm around her shoulders. “There is, in fact, an after-party near the pool on the far side of the stream. Hope you lovely ladies will be there.”

  He tipped his head to us, then wandered over to the next group of cute girls. I figured it was to invite them as well.

  Anna squeezed my arm. “Oh my God, we have to go.”

  “I don’t know…”

  “It’ll be fun. Please, Dani.” She batted those long eyelashes of hers and gave me a pouty face.

  I sighed. “I don’t even know where the pool is.” I had an inkling, since we all got maps of the campus in our arrival packages, but I had yet to go there. I wasn’t much of a swimmer.

  “I do. I made sure to find out about all the cool places on campus. You know, just in case.” She pulled me into a hug. “Thank you. You’re a good friend. I bet you Cai will be there waiting for you.”

  I smiled, trying not to show how much my heart yearned for that very thing. Although we’d had classes together and that moment by the stream, I felt like there hadn’t been a real chance to “make my move.” I think he liked me. I could see it in the way he looked at me, when he didn’t think I noticed. And when he touched me, even if it was just clutching hands, a jolt of electricity sizzled over me, seared me to the bone.

  We stayed at the dance for another two hours or so, as Anna wanted to get her groove on. I got out on the floor a few times with her and surprisingly had a lot of fun. I’d forgotten what it was like to just let go and let loose with friends. For the past couple of years, especially after making that promise to my mom on her deathbed, it was all about getting better, being better. A better dancer, a better gymnast, better at balancing, better at everything. There was nothing wrong with being focused on something, on a dream or a passion, but sometimes it took over and that was all you thought about, dreamed about. Everything else, including friends and family, faded into the background, became unimportant. Not that I had a ton of friends, because I didn’t. Most teen girls avoided me like the plague. And I think it was because of my mom’s passing. People just didn’t know how to talk to me about it. I wanted to tell them, just talk to me about anything.

  I loved that Anna embraced everything life had to offer with a great big grin.

  Before we headed out into the woods, I made sure we popped back to our dorms and got sweaters. It was a warm evening, but it wouldn’t be in the trees near a stream. I wasn’t so sure about going. I didn’t think the faculty would be pleased that we were partying on campus. And the thing was, they’d have to know. It would be difficult for a bunch of students to be sneaking around the grounds without someone seeing us. But Anna didn’t seem fazed about it, so I tagged along. More to keep her out of trouble than anything, I tried to convince myself.

  But the prospect of seeing Cai filled my mind as we followed the lighted path across the stream bridge and headed toward the Olympic-size pool on the east side of campus. I mean, it would be nice to see him if he was there, but that was definitely not the main reason I was going. I was going for Anna.

  Liar, liar, pants on fire.

  As we got close to the trees, the music got louder, and I could make out a few voices, one of them definitely Leander’s. Anna’s gait got a bit faster through the woods, and I had to rush to keep up. We came through on the other side into a small clearing, where about thirty students, all dressed up, sat around, some on tree stumps, others on a few picnic benches. Music blared from a portable sound system set up on a two stumps put together, and Leander was happily wandering about, filling up red drinking cups with a beer keg strapped on his back like a jet pack.

  Leander spotted us and immediately came over. “Hello, lovely ladies, again.” He handed each of us a cup. “Welcome to the Fun Zone, where only fun is allowed.” He sprayed beer into our cups.

  “You know we’re underage, right?” I said.

  He leaned toward us, all conspiratorial-like. “It’s non-alcoholic beer.” He winked.

  I looked suspiciously into my cup at the fizzy yellow liquid.

  “Oh and just so you know, Cai isn’t here. He, ah, went for a long run.”

  Disappointment flooded me. My face must’ve really fallen, because Leander patted me on the shoulder. He then went on his merry way to fill up other cups and talk to other girls.

  Anna put an arm around me. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine. It’s not a big deal.” Although I wasn’t sure who I was trying to convince, her or me.

  Anna took a sip from her cup, then grimaced. “Leander was right. It’s definitely non-alcoholic.”

  A guy I didn’t know, dressed like Batman, stumbled by, grinning from ear to ear. I thought maybe he got a different cup.

  “Are you sure? How can you tell? Have you had regular beer before?”

  “No, but regular beer couldn’t possibly taste this horrible.”

  I laughed and clinked my plastic cup to hers. I took a baby sip. It tasted horrid to be honest, and I wasn’t going to drink it, but I didn’t toss it away, either. I needed something to do with my hands or I was going to fidget all night.

  “I’m sorry Cai isn’t here.”

  I didn’t look at her but just shook my head. “Doesn’t matter. I didn’t come for him. I came for you, and to meet some other amazing people.” I gestured to the mingling crowd.

  There were a few girls from my dorm here. I recognized the girl who had been in front of me in line for the showers the other morning. She saw me and smiled. I waved at her. Then I spotted Maggie and her crew across the clearing. They were all dressed as sexy witches, which was no big surprise to me. They had set up court on one of the picnic benches and had a string of boys, and a few girls, wrapped around them in a thrall. I could see Anna looking over longingly, especially since Leander was there making everyone laugh.

  I nudged Anna in the side. “Go talk to him.”

  She arched an eyebrow like she didn’t know what I was talking about. “Who?”

  “Leander, you dummy.”

  “He’s already talking to a bunch of people. I don’t want to intrude.”

  “I really don’t think Leander knows the meaning of intrude.” I smiled.

  She chuckled. “Maybe not, but Maggie’s over there, and I know how you feel about her.”

  I glanced at them and watched as Maggie said something and everyone laughed, although it did look like a few of them were fake laughing to appease her. Or at least that was what I was hoping. I didn’t like Maggie, but maybe there was a sliver of goodness in her, and I did want Anna to be happy.

  I nudged her again. “Go. I’m pretty sure Leander likes you.”

  She beamed at that. “Are you sure? What about you?”

  “I’m fine. I’ll just commune with nature.”

  She one-arm hugged me. “You’re the best.”

  “I know.”

  Anna took in a deep breath, then set her shoulders straight and marched across the clearing to the little clique. She started to slow, and I knew she was second-guess
ing herself, but when Leander turned toward her and lit up, that put the bounce back in her step. I had thought maybe he liked her before, but seeing him actually perk up and swivel toward her, I knew that he did. Body language was everything.

  I smiled to myself, then remembered that I was basically alone in the woods with a cup full of undrinkable beer. My smile drooped instantly. I looked around, trying to figure out if there was anyone I could talk to, but everyone seemed busy their little twosomes and threesomes.

  “Hey, Dani.” I turned to see Wesley, from my balance class, walking up to me. He was costumeless.

  “Hey. How are you?”

  He shrugged. “Okay, I guess.” He kind of sounded like Eeyore, Winnie the Pooh’s depressed little donkey friend. Kind of looked like him, too, with that sad, defeated face and droopy eyes.

  I took a sip of my drink because I couldn’t think of what to say. I really didn’t want to be stuck talking to sad Wesley—I’d rather be on my own if those were my only two options.

  “Could you do me a favor?” I said. “If Anna asks about me, could you tell her I went back to the dorm?”

  “Do you want me to walk you back? It’s kinda dark out.”

  I thought it was sweet that he offered, but I would rather not be stuck with him, so I shook my head. “I’m good. Thanks, though.” After dumping my drink onto the ground, I tossed the cup into the trash bin nearby and walked into the trees, hoping to sneak away without a fuss.

  I didn’t have to worry about the fuss thing, because no one else even glanced my way. Not that I was bitter about it.

  I marched through the trees to get to the main path, passing a couple of people as they were making their way to the party. Both girls smiled at me. I kept going and got onto the path, thankful that it was lighted. Although I had refused Wesley’s offer to walk me back to the dorm, now I kind of wished I hadn’t. A cool wave had washed over me, and, shivering, I pulled my cardigan tighter to my body. It didn’t help my legs, and I could feel the goose bumps rising. Leaves rustled in the trees from the light breeze that had kicked up. Usually I loved that sound, but right now it was a bit ominous and had me walking faster than normal.