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darkness.

    Alexander followed closely behind me. When we reached the deck, I headed for the treehouse door, only to find as many locks on it as a New York apartment.
    “Maybe there’s a chimney I can climb down,” I said, frustrated.
    Alexander attempted to jimmy the door. I tried to peek inside the windows, but the curtains were drawn.
    “It’ll just take me a second,” he said confidently. “Then I’ll open the door for you from inside,” Alexander suggested.
    Suddenly we heard the sound of the nerd-mates coming from Henry’s poolside.
    “We’ll have to wait now,” Alexander instructed. He leaned on the treehouse railing, staring out into the backyard, while I mustered up enough courage to bring up the one thing I’d repressed since he’d picked me up.
    I didn’t have much time. The nerd-mates’ voices were getting closer.
    “I have to ask you something…,” I began.
    “Yes?” He gazed at me with his melting chocolate eyes, his silky black hair flopping in his face.
    I took a deep breath. I had no problem searching for ghosts or picnicking in a graveyard, but when it came to laying out my heart, my bravado ceased. And even though Alexander and I’d been dating for a few months, I felt I had more to lose than if I’d just met him.
    “It’s something I know you’ll think is totally lame. Especially after we already went to the Snow Ball and that was a disaster.”
    “Don’t say that. I got to dance with you.”
    The only good memory of that night was Alexander and me clubbing it up in Dullsville’s gymnasium—plastic icicles and snowflakes hanging from the ceiling, fake powdery snow covering the floor, while artificial snow softly sprinkled down from the rafters.
    “So what do you want to ask me?” he continued.
    “I want to know…”
    “Yes?”
    “If you’ll go with me…”
    “Spit it out.”

    “…to prom.”
    Alexander paused, his brow furrowed. Then he brushed his flopping hair away from his face. His silence was punctuated by chirping crickets. It seemed like they were waiting for his answer as much as I was. “But you’re only a sophomore,” he stated, confused.
    I’d fantasized about him responding yes, I’d imagined him saying no. I didn’t envision this.
    “Everyone in high school can attend,” I told him. “Lucky me. Instead of not being asked for two years, I can not be asked for four.”
    “No one invited you?” he asked, shocked, then clearly relieved. “Good, because if some dude stole you away,” he said with a grin, “I’d have way more bite than Jagger and Valentine combined.”
    I shook my head. “You don’t want to go, just say it!” I turned away from him.
    Alexander gently pulled me back toward him. “I thought I’d said yes.”
    “But you didn’t.” I frowned.
    “Raven, I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
    My heart melted. “That’s what I told Becky you’d say!”
    I reached my arms out and gave him a huge hug. He picked me up, swung me around, and gave me a long kiss.
    “Gross!” Billy Boy exclaimed, appearing on the treehouse deck. “What are you two doing here?”

    Alexander released me from our embrace. I straightened out my shirt, flipped my hair back off my shoulder, and wiped my black lips.
    “Have you seen Valentine?” I asked.
    “No, he should be here by now,” Billy Boy replied. “I don’t mean to be rude, but this is not a love fest. New rules…This treehouse is for guys only. No girls allowed.”
    “Henry, can you unlock the locks?” I asked, ignoring my brother’s remarks.

    “So you can make out?” my brother sneered.
    “No, creep. I want to show Alexander the stellar view.”
    “Man, everyone is interested in your treehouse,” Billy said, crossing his arms. “Maybe you should sell tickets.”
    “You’re right,” Henry said. “Of course I’ll let you in, but it’ll cost you.”
    “Cost me?” I scoffed.
    “I get ten percent,” Billy Boy chimed in. “After all, it was my idea.”
    “Five