Mer Tales 01 - Everblue

no, it’s good. So, Senior Ball.”
    He said it. He called to talk about the dance. Was Holly right?
    “ Senior Ball,” I echoed like a dummy as my nerves rattled like loose change.
    “ Are you going with anyone?”
    My heart hammered harder. “Um—hadn’t planned on going.”
    “ Really? But you’re nominated for the court.”
    I chuckled nervously. “Funny you’d mention that. I don’t know how that happened.”
    “ You . . . don’t want to be in the court?” His voice sounded confused, like he had no clue why I’d be upset about that. I’m sure in his mind, all girls wanted to be nominated.
    “ I—I’m honored,” I lied. How could I explain to him that I was mortified someone pulled this prank on me?
    “ You should be. It’s not just a popularity contest.”
    Yeah, right. I couldn’t help it. A snort slipped out.
    His sigh sobered me up. “Well, then blame me.”
    “ Why would I blame you?”
    “ I nominated you.”
    “ You . . . what? Why?”
    “ The ballot said to nominate someone who they believed represented the ideal student. Someone who’s kind to everyone, of high character, and scholarly. I immediately thought of you.”
    My mouth opened but only air whooshed out. No snippy comeback, nothing.
    “ See? And even in the admission, you’re humble. I rest my case.”
    I clenched my jaw. “Not fair.”
    “ How’s that not fair?”
    “ I was late to class that morning. I couldn’t remove myself from the ballot,” I stammered.
    “ Exactly.” I heard the grin in his voice and my knees weakened.
    “ Ashlyn, time for dinner.” My mother’s voice floated upstairs—a little more urgent than normal, like this was the second request.
    “ Dinner,” I mumbled.
    “ Do you need to go?”
    No. “Yes.” If it weren’t for the fact that at any second my pesky sister would be barging through my door, I’d ignore my mom and keep this magical conversation going forever.
    “ Can I ask you one last thing before you go?”
    “ Yeah, I guess.” I bored holes into the back of the bedroom door with my eyes, wishing my lock actually worked. Dinner didn’t need to center around the first phone call I’d ever received from a boy. Callahan, unfortunately, needed to get on with it.
    “ I know it’s late, but would you go to the dance with me?”
    The world slowed down as his words fluttered into my ears and the door flew open at the same time. Lucy huffed and perched her hands dramatically on her hips.
    “ She’s on the phone!” she barked down the hall.
    I blinked at my sister and clenched the phone, my hand shaking. The little brat . I made a “knock-it-off” motion by slicing my finger across my throat and fervently pointed for her to leave.
    “ Ash?” I heard Callahan ask, slightly pained.
    “ Ashlynnnn,” Lucy whined at the same time. “Come on. I’m starving.”
    Unable to get Lucy out of my room so I could talk some sense into Callahan, who obviously suffered over his break-up with Brooke, I caved. “Yes. Yes, I’d love to. I have to go, though. Sorry, bye.”
    Lucy rolled her eyes. “About time!” She stormed out of my room.
    I stayed an extra minute, blinking at the contraption that just bridged me into the world I’d only talked about with Tatchi. Was this happening? Did Callahan actually invite me to the dance? As his date? In the mortal words of my best friend, “Holy crawfish!”
    I saved his number in my phone and floated down the stairs to dinner. Elbow to elbow, everyone else swarmed the kitchen counter like ants and loaded up their plates with noodles slathered in tomato sauce, giant meatballs, and salad. I waited in a daze until they finished. Once we settled in our seats at the table, Dad took a moment to say grace before he pronounced we “dig in.”
    “ You seem to be in a good mood,” Mom said to me, after passing the basket of garlic bread to Dad.
    “ Um-hm,” I mumbled with a mouth full of noodles. Though my stomach still played the cha-cha from Callahan’s phone call, I did have an appetite. I pinched my fingers together like a crab to signal I wanted a piece of bread too.
    “ I’m glad to see all my beautiful ladies around the table with me,” Dad said, passing the basket towards me.
    From a choice between a slice and a heel, I snagged the slice before handing it to Lucy. She stuck out her tongue.
    “ There’s more in the oven,” Mom remarked to Lucy after giving me a disappointed look.
    “ Did you say beautiful?” Gran lifted