Free Prom Queen, The (Life at Kingston High Book #3) by Melody Carlson Page B

Megan’s closet and tossing out what looked like nearly half of Megan’s clothes. “And don’t you dare give those things to Arianna either,” Belinda warned.
    Megan laughed. “Don’t worry. Arianna wouldn’t want them.”
    “Now let’s go back to my closet. Even my castoff clothes are better than most of the things you’ve been wearing.”
    Megan tried not to be offended. “You know, Belinda,” she said calmly as Belinda began handing her items of clothing. “I think I’ve spent more time on my inner self than I have on my outer self. I used to think that was good.”
    “It’s good if you want to become a nun.” Belinda laughed.
    With an armload of clothes and a whole lot more of Belinda’s wardrobe advice, Megan suddenly found herself feeling overwhelmed. More than ever, she wished she were at youth group tonight. At youth group, she usually ended up feeling better about herself. Right now she felt blurry and buried—and not just in clothes either.
    “Maybe I’m in over my head,” she confessed as they were sorting and hanging the clothes in Megan’s reorganized closet. “You told me before that I wasn’t the prom queen type. Maybe I really am delusional.”
    Belinda firmly shook her head. “No, after spending time with you tonight, I honestly think you can do this, Megan.”
    “Really?”
    Belinda put a hand on her shoulder. “I do. You’re changing. I think if you keep working at this, if you really set your heart on achieving it and keep thinking positively, you can do this.”
    “It’s a lot of work.”
    “I know.”
    They spent the rest of the evening looking at dresses, shoes, and hairstyles online. Belinda was slowly getting the choices narrowed down, and her plan was for the two of them to go shopping next weekend.
    “But what about my weight?” Megan asked. “I wanted to lose at least five pounds by prom.”
    “If we find a dress, and that’s a big if, we’ll make sure it’s a little on the snug side. If you lose more than five pounds, which would be great, you can always have it taken in.”
    “ More than five pounds?” Megan knew she’d be lucky to lose five.
    Belinda pulled up a website with the latest diet plan. “If you follow this, you could easily lose ten pounds by prom,” she assured her.
    “I’ll print it out,” Megan told her. “Thanks.”
    It was late by the time Megan went to bed, but she knew that it had been time well spent. She hadn’t been very close to Belinda. Not since they were little girls, playing with Barbies. And never in her life had Megan felt so truly thankful for her older sister’s help. Tonight she realized that Belinda really was one in a million, and not only did Megan feel blessed to have such a sister—she did not want to let her down!

8
    M egan had heard it said that it took two weeks to change a habit, but two weeks after her decision to run for prom queen, she felt like a totally new person. And she wasn’t the only one to notice the change.
    “Something about you is different.”
    Megan was surprised to see Jack Speers in the lunch line behind her. She had known Jack for several years. Like her, he was in choir, but unlike her, he was known as a singing sensation. He had a baritone voice that landed him the best solos in choral concerts. But right now, Jack was staring at her—almost as if seeing her for the first time.
    “Did you say something to me?” Megan asked him.
    He twisted his mouth to one side. “I can’t put my finger on it, but I’ve noticed it lately. Something about you is different.”
    “Different good? Or different bad?” She removed a straw from the dispenser.
    He grinned. “Different good .”
    “Thanks. I’ll take that as a compliment.”
    “It is a compliment.”
    “Are you trying out for the spring musical?” she asked as she moved forward in the line. It was the only small talk she could think of, but she wanted to keep this conversation going.
    “I wasn’t really planning on it, but