The school was buzzing the next few days, all any of the senior girls could talk about was the dance on Saturday night, dresses bought, dates secured, limos booked, and the optimistic ones had bravely booked a room at the only motel in town.

“So, what’s the plan for tomorrow night?” Alice said coming up behind me and wrapping her arm around my shoulder.

“Plan?” I replied walking to our table in the cafeteria and sitting down

“Yes, dance night. You in?” she said sitting in the seat beside me “Should be fun.”

“Eric’s picking me up, mom is forcing me to go”

“Excellent, we can all go as a group”

“All of us?” I enquired

“Yeah, you and douche boy, Dana and Harrison, me and Andrew.” She said smiling “It’ll be fun.”

“Dana’s not speaking to me Al, she’s actively ignoring me, not what I’d describe as ‘fun’” I snapped back, “Sorry,” I said, immediately regretting my outburst.

“No problem, look why don’t you try and talk to Dana today? I know for a fact she’s got an extra gym session right now. She should be finished soon.” She said hopefully.

“You think she’ll talk to me?” I asked

“Can’t hurt to try,” she said. Nodding, I got up to go and try to fix things with Dana.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

For ten minutes I’d been waiting in the hall outside the locker room for Dana to emerge. Ten minutes trying to rehearse something, anything, to get Dana back on side. I’d considered begging, pleading, and crying to wondering whether outright lying would be the best option, blaming the whole night on the alcohol and professing undying love for Eric. None of it seemed to matter though, in my mind all options had the same outcome, Dana hating me and walking away.

I was so wrapped up in my mind that I didn’t even notice Dana exiting the door in front of me.

“Tina?”

Looking up I finally knew, honesty was the only option, “Hey Dane, can we talk?”

“I have to get to class,” she said as she passed me and continued down the hall

“Please Dana,” I called after her, “Please, I miss my friend,” I said tears falling down my cheek.