Free Prom Kings and Drama Queens by Dorian Cirrone Page A

there were about four girls in the vicinity. Then I noticed Ariana’s blond hair streaming down her bare, geisha back. Of course, even an outsider like Daniel would be in love with a goddess.
    I was a little disappointed. I thought he’d go for a 90

    brainier girl rather than a Barbie replica.
    “Isn’t she dating Garrett?” The team’s best center was a male version of Ariana, tall and gorgeous.
    “What?” Daniel said. He almost dropped his Goobers. “I’m not talking about Ariana. I’m talking about my sister.”
    “Your sister?”
    “Yeah, I may not be able to stop her from getting drunk, but I can make sure she doesn’t do anything stupid while she is drunk. She’s only fifteen. According to studies her brain isn’t developed enough to make good decisions.”
    “And yours is?” The question popped out of my mouth without thinking. I hadn’t meant to insult Daniel, but he was only seventeen and, after all, he was standing there in a garbage bag stuffed with newspaper.
    How mature could his brain be?
    “Look who’s talking,” he shot back. “I’m not the only ex-con in the room.”
    Lindsay leaned toward us and whispered. “Technically, you’re not ex-cons. You weren’t convicted of anything.”
    Daniel laughed. “I know. I was just having fun with Miss Maturity here.”
    Just as I was trying to think of a good comeback, I felt my grapes jostle. A crowd blew past us and down a hallway.
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    “Where are they all going?” Lindsay said.
    “Chill room,” Daniel said. “You want to see it? It’s really the media room—wide-screen TV, state-of-the-art stereo and speakers.”
    As we started toward the room, I caught a glimpse of Brian, who was finally away from Brandy. Now was my chance to go talk to him. “I’ll be there in a second,” I told Lindsay. “I just want to get a drink.” She glared at me. “Diet Coke,” I assured her. “You guys want one?”
    They shook their heads.
    I maneuvered my way into a spot between Ariana and Brian, whose back was toward me. I tapped him on the shoulder. “Do you know where the Diet Coke is?” He spun around. “Hey, Emily, I was wondering where you were.”
    Be still my balloons. “Really?”
    “Yeah. How do you like the party?”
    “Pretty good so far.”
    “Here,” he said, handing me a glass. “I’ll get the soda.”
    I was sure I wore a stupid grin on my face as I watched him walk toward the kitchen. That is, until a certain Girl Scout took a toothpick off the bar and stuck it into one of my balloons. The warm glow I was feeling was suddenly interrupted by a pop, pop, popping against my back.
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    “Hey, grape juice!” Austin yelled, as Randy and her gangsta boyfriend stuck me again. I suddenly understood the attraction of getting wasted. You didn’t have to try all that hard to amuse yourself.
    True to his Galahad alter ego, Brian appeared with the sodas, just in time to rescue me. He grabbed my elbow. “Let’s get away from these guys.” We walked onto an outdoor patio that overlooked the beach to the east and downtown Fort Lauderdale to the west. “Wow!” I said.
    Brian closed the doors behind us. “Pretty nice, huh?
    It makes the river behind our houses look like a kid’s swimming pool.”
    “But who would Grams dance for if she lived here?” I teased.
    Brian laughed. “The condominium association would probably have her arrested before she even started her dance.” Then suddenly, he grabbed my shoulders and pulled me in front of him.
    “What are you doing?” I cried.
    “Sorry, I just spotted Brandy. I don’t want her to know I’m out here.”
    “Oh,” I said, trying to compose myself. “So I’m just a balloon barrier?”
    He let go of my shoulders. “No,” he said apologet-ically. “I mean, I do want to be away from her, but I also . . .”
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    Awkward silence.
    “But didn’t you come to the party with Brandy?” Why did I bring up her again?
    “No,” he said. “I brought her here, but I didn’t