"Have the guys arrived?" I asked.

"Not yet, but I can't wait until they do. I'm

sure their costumes will be killer."

"How was Pine Tree?" Abby asked. "I bet one

of those old men might leave you something

when..."

"That's morbid - " Ivy said. "That's not why

Celeste volunteers there."

"I know," Abby said, "but it could be one of

the perks."

Just then the front door burst open and we

could hear Jake and Dylan's voices.

"They're here!" Ivy called. My friends eagerly

headed for the door, swishing their miniskirts, and

I followed, trying not to scrape my heels on her

pristine hardwood floors .

Dylan raced around the grand entryway,

dressed as Superman . He picked up Abby and she

squealed as he pretended to save her.

"And look at your hot outfit!" Jake said with

a twang. He had a piece of straw in his mouth,

carried a stuffed cow, and was barefoot.

Ivy appeared disappointed and confused.

"What are you?" she asked.

"Duh, I'm a Westsider," he proclaimed.

I rolled my eyes.

"You're so ignorant," Ivy whispered, half

horrified. "You're going to embarrass me at my

party."

"Have you been to the Westside?" he asked.

"I know they wear shoes," I said, shaking my

head.

I looked to Ivy for help.

She reached into my purse and pulled out

my eyeliner. She grabbed Jake's chin with one

hand and with the other drew several circles on

his face and quickly colored them in.

"What are you doing?" Jake asked, annoyed.

"Now you are as you should be," Ivy

announced. "A cow!"

Everyone laughed - except, of course, for

Jake.

"Where is Nash?" I asked, anxious to find

him. I was looking forward to seeing what he

wore.

"Parking the car," Dylan said.

I imagined at any minute Nash would be

running into the house dressed as a superhero,

swooping me up in his arms and carrying me off

to safety, or a knight taking me as his princess

and challenging any guest who vied for my

attention to a duel, or even a rock star who'd get

down on one knee and serenade me with a love

song.

Instead, Nash entered Ivy's foyer as he

always did - in jeans and a long-sleeved polo.

"What are you?" I asked.

He checked me out - eyeing my short skirt,

bare legs, and high heels.

"I guess I'm the Big Bad Wolf!" Nash said as

he grabbed me around the waist and pulled me to

him. "Grr," he said with a growl.

The partygoers around us broke out in

laughter, as if Nash were a headlining comedian.

But I didn't think his joke was funny.

I felt awkward and even let down, but I

didn't want my true feelings to spoil the party. I

did my best to disguise my disappointment by

making myself busy and handing out drinks in

Ivy's airplane-hangar-size kitchen.

I watched as Abby and Ivy talked, giggled,

and snuggled with their boyfriends. I was excited

and flushed and giddy many times when I was

with Nash, but I felt something was lacking that

my friends had.

"What's with you?" Nash asked. "You seem

aloof."

"I'm not, I'm just helping Ivy out," I said.

"Ivy's making out with Jake. The only thing

you can be helping her out with now is giving her

an oxygen tank."

It was odd; Nash and I seemed to sense

each other's feelings when those around us

weren't as in tune.

I was attempting to refill the ice when he

took the silver monogrammed bucket from me.

"What's up, Parker?"

"Nothing," I said with a forced smile.

"You're mad that I didn't come in costume?"

he asked.

"I'm not mad..."

"But disappointed."

I shrugged my shoulders.

"I didn't know it meant that much to you,"

he said.

I gazed down at my shoes.

He took my chin and raised it so I was

facing him.

"I guess I should have... it just seems so

silly," he said. He glanced at the crowd, then

back at me. "I don't want to wear a clown wig or

Darth Vader mask. You'd think I'd look

ridiculous."

"You're afraid of what I'd think?" I asked,

surprised.

"I guess. You and everyone else."

"Nash, you are gorgeous," I said. "No matter

what you wore, no one would be laughing at you."

It was funny to me that deep down inside,

the all-star athlete of Legend's Run High still was

insecure.

"Are you just charming me?" I asked.

"Did it work?" he wondered aloud.

I couldn't help but smile.

But before I knew it, Nash kissed me and I

was quickly lost in his lips. At that moment I no

longer cared how he was dressed.