A few days later, the fire alarm rang during

U.S. History class. I loved a good fire drill - it

disrupted class for the time being, gave us a

chance for some fresh air, and allowed Ivy, Abby,

and me the freedom to gossip.

The only problem was when the high school

performed the drills in a season with plummeting

temperatures. It was always on a day when I

chose not to drag my coat with me all day and

kept it in my locker. The guys didn't seem

bothered by not wearing their coats, but I was

freezing. Our class lined up outside where the

asphalt met the grass. Nash, Dylan, and Jake

used the opportunity to throw snowballs.

"Here, you're shivering." Brandon was

holding out his coat to me.

I was taken aback at his kind gesture. Nash

hadn't even offered to stand next to me. I think I

was too cold to answer.

I wanted so badly to be wrapped in

Brandon's coat, but I knew if I took it, my friends

would freak out - especially Nash. But what my

friends and Nash didn't know was that I wanted

to use Brandon's coat - not because I was cold,

but because it was his coat. It was close to his

skin and cloaked him all day long. I knew it would

smell good, too - like fabric softener or

irresistible cologne or smoke from a fireplace. I

wanted to wear it now, wear it all day, wear it

forever. It would be the closest I'd be able to get

to him again, since our time together in the

woods when he saved my life.

Ivy shot me a dirty look. She was protective

of me and must have thought Brandon was

hitting on me. I could only hope.

Abby yanked my sleeve toward her and the

three of us girls huddled together.

"I'll take it," Hayley Phillips, a skater from

Riverside, said. She was wearing fingerless

gloves, a knit hat, and a long-sleeved thermal

henley. She put on Brandon's coat. It swallowed

her up like an oversized blanket.

I envied her. At that moment I would have

given anything to have been in her skateboarding

shoes.

School was closed for the next few days for

the Thanksgiving holiday. Since I couldn't see

Brandon at school, I was looking forward to

Nash's party in the hope that he might show up.

Nash lived in the same subdivision as Ivy and

Abby. The homes were estates and had as many

bathrooms as bedrooms. I spent hours trying to

find the perfect outfit. I realized I was dressing up

as much for a possible Brandon sighting as I was

for Nash. There was a strong chance Brandon

wouldn't show. Not only might it be that he'd

gone out of town for the holiday, but if he'd

remained in Legend's Run, what did he have to

gain by attending? He didn't socialize with any of

us or anyone who was coming to the party. He

might have thought it was a trick or a potential

hazing.

Ivy and I arrived at the party to find Abby

already there with Dylan. Jake was talking to

several jocks, and Nash was nowhere to be

found.

When we headed into the kitchen, I found

Nash by the refrigerator. Instead of greeting me

with a passionate kiss - which I would have

been uncomfortable with anyway - he seemed

almost put off by my presence.

"You want me to pour your drinks?" He

sighed. "I'm not used to being someone's

servant, you know. I thought I did my job when I

apologized to that guy. Anyway, I haven't seen

him, and I'm crossing my fingers he doesn't

show."

"Well, I think pouring me a soda would be a

nice gesture," I said, not because I wanted him to

be a servant, but because it was the gentlemanly

thing to do. "But I can pour my own drink," I

finally said.

"Forget it - " Nash said. "I'm not being a

good host. What would you ladies like?"

I knew there was a good guy inside of Nash,

but sometimes it took a lot of prodding to find

him.

I hoped Brandon would arrive at any

moment. There was a chance we could all get to

know one another and make him feel more

comfortable at our school. I knew that our being

one big happy clique was near to impossible, but

it was my nature to dream.

An hour passed and Brandon still hadn't

shown.

"You seem distracted," Ivy said. "This party

was your idea. You should be having the most

fun."

"I got the best part of the dare," Nash said,

chuckling. "Shame that Westsider didn't show.

I'm sure we would have been great friends."

Nash headed for the stairs. I didn't even

follow him. Instead I sat on the couch and

vacantly watched whatever was playing on the

TV. The clock ticked on and Nash didn't return.

I'd finished my soda hours ago, so I decided to

get a bottle of water. I was headed back to the

kitchen when I spotted Brandon in the corner of

the parlor.

He looked magnetic - more stunning than

any other guy there. It wasn't hard for him to

look gorgeous - for Brandon it came naturally. It

was clear he could have any girl at the party, if

one so much as saw beyond his Westsider status.

But it didn't seem likely that any of these girls

would look past their turned-up noses, and for

this, I was almost grateful. He would have been

fawned all over by every cheerleader and become

just like any other guy on the football or

basketball team, possibly just like the one who

had invited me - who was supposed to be my

boyfriend and wasn't paying me any attention.

Brandon was sitting with Hayley Phillips and

a few other skaters whom he must have brought

with him. Hayley was talking to her friends, but

Brandon wasn't listening to their conversation. I

didn't think they were dating - I hoped they

weren't. Brandon wasn't really talking to them

but rather he appeared like he was observing the

crowd, as if he was looking for someone. He

didn't notice me watching him.

"We should talk to them," I said when Ivy

reached my side.

"Why?" Ivy asked.

"Because they were invited to the party."

"I know it's your nature to be nice to

everyone. But really, we don't know them. They

seem to be really happy hanging out together.

And besides, it's Nash's party, not ours. He's the

one who should talk to them."

Then it hit me - what if Brandon did

mention our time in the woods? My friends would

be very curious why I hadn't mentioned that he

was the one who saved me. Maybe I didn't want

my friends talking to them - I wasn't sure they

would understand why I hadn't told them myself,

and I didn't want there to be trouble between

Brandon and Nash.

On the other hand, Nash needed to welcome

his new guests, just as Ivy said. I scoured the

house for him. I went upstairs to find his bedroom

door closed. Afraid of what - or who - I might

find with him on the other side, I knocked. When

no one answered, I opened it. The room was

empty. I was relieved.

I finally found Nash downstairs in the media

room. He was hanging out on the couch, yucking

it up for some of his teammates. Heidi Rosen's

legs were draped over his lap.

Brandon wasn't the only one Nash wasn't

paying attention to.

Nash saw me standing at the bottom of the

stairs. "Hey, Celeste - " he called.

I turned around and left. When I reached the

top of the stairs, I bumped into Brandon. I didn't

know what to say. I wanted to leave. My so-

called boyfriend had disappointed me. I didn't

want anyone, much less Brandon, to witness it.

I just wanted to go. I found Ivy and told her

what I'd seen. "The thing is, Ivy. I'm not sure

that I care," I finally admitted.

"Then you should stay," she encouraged.

"I mean about Nash."

Nash found me as I headed to the front door

with my purse and keys in hand.

He tried to stop me.

"Celeste - " Nash said, "where are you

going?"

"Out for some fresh air," I said.

"You misinterpreted what you saw," he said.

"She was hanging on me, not the other way

around."

"Whatever. I don't care. And besides, that's

not the issue, Nash. You missed the whole point

of this party," I said to him. "It was about our

friends. It was about meeting other people. It

definitely wasn't supposed to be about Heidi

Rosen."

Fortunately the partygoers were focused on

their own conversations - except for one person.

Brandon was hanging by the foyer and overheard

everything.

"Celeste, don't go," Ivy said, running up to

us at the door. I pushed past Nash.

I was briskly marching to my car when I

sensed someone behind me.

"I'm not staying, Nash," I said.

It wasn't Nash trailing me. It was Brandon.

He stood by my car, the moonlight shining

on his face. He was so alluring, my heart raced

and I was breathless. It was one thing to see

Brandon from across the classroom or hallway,

before he saved my life. But since I'd spent so

many hours obsessing about him and imagining

him kissing me, I was suddenly embarrassed

being in his company - as if he knew the

romantic thoughts I'd been thinking.

"Leaving so soon?" he asked.

"Uh... yes. I just..."

Now I felt torn. I was the one who put Nash

up to inviting Brandon. Nash was ignoring him

and now I was leaving.

"Funny. You were the reason I came," he

said as if the words had slipped from his lips.

I didn't know what to say. I felt so flattered,

awkward, and nervous. I knew I should say

something witty back, but all my words escaped

me.

I saw Nash looming by the front door.

"I better go," I said. As I got into my car,

Nash went back inside.

Brandon watched me as I put the gear into

reverse.

I wasn't sure what to do. I was pulled in two

directions. I might have been leaving Nash, but I

didn't want to leave Brandon.

I turned off the ignition and got out of the

car.

"Did you forget something?" Brandon asked.

"I never properly thanked you," I said.

The moon twinkled above and the stars

shined brightly. If I were the star of a Hollywood

movie, I would have thrown myself into his arms

and we would have shared a steamy kiss. But my

life was far from a movie. I didn't move, and

neither did Brandon.

"Celeste!" Ivy called. She and Abby were

running toward me.

Brandon retreated into the darkened

shadows of the front yard.

"I thought you already left," Ivy said. "I'm so

glad you changed your mind."

"I just forgot something," I said.

"What did you forget?" Abby wondered.

"To thank someone who saved my life."

"I'm not sure what you mean," she said.

"That's okay." I sighed. "It's hard to

explain."

"Please don't leave," Ivy begged. "Nash was

just being foolish. He's in there sulking. You left

him in front of everyone."

I smiled. Normally I didn't seek revenge, but

Nash deserved a time-out. He wasn't doting like

Jake and Dylan, or chivalrous like Brandon. I

didn't want to be anywhere near him and remind

myself of his behavior.

"Next time I have servants for a day," I said

to Ivy, "I won't waste it on him."