Free Something Borrowed by Catherine Hapka

disease. I couldn’t stand it anymore.
    â€œWait,” I said. “I didn’t tell you guys the rest. Yeah, Lance and I broke up. But the good news is, I already found a much better guy.”
    â€œReally?” Lissa gasped.
    Camille looked suspicious. “Who is it?” she asked. “You didn’t tell me anything about some great new guy.”
    â€œI don’t tell you everything, sister dear.” I tossed my head, going for a look of playfulconfidence. “It’s a surprise. You guys will just have to wait and find out at the wedding.”
    Camille rolled her eyes. “Whatever,” she muttered. But she was obviously too distracted to waste much energy on me. “Hey, Molly, did you remember to ask your grandmother if I could borrow her antique pearls?”
    â€œShe said yes,” the bridesmaid in question answered, beaming. “Those pearls are going to look so amazing with your dress, Camille!”
    Lissa giggled. “Too bad they aren’t blue!” When several of us gave her confused looks, she giggled again. “You know—something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. The pearls are borrowed and old. But not blue. Get it?”
    I rolled my eyes at Teresa. All the wedding giddiness was making me blue, that was for sure.
    â€œAll right, girls.” Mom glanced at her watch. “Can we keep things moving? Lissa and Mary, why don’t you two go get changed first?”
    As the other bridesmaids started twittering again, Teresa leaned toward me. “Isall the pink going to your head, or what?” she murmured. “Why did you tell them you have some incredible secret date for the wedding?”
    I was already wondering that myself. But what was done was done.
    â€œBecause I do,” I told her. “That is, I will —just as soon as I find the perfect guy to ask.”
    â€œHow’d it go?” Jason asked as we climbed back into his car an hour and a half later. “Did you girls have lots of pink and frilly fun playing dress-up?”
    â€œIt was scintillating,” Teresa answered. “The most exciting thing that happened the entire time was when that girl Molly stepped on her hem.” She shot me a disapproving look. “Oh, wait. Also, there was Ava announcing to the world that she’s bringing some fabulous man of mystery as her date. Too bad he’s totally imaginary.”
    â€œI know, I know,” I moaned. “What was I thinking? Now I have to come up with someone really good, or Camille’s suburban gossip posse will have a fit. To that bunch, getting dumped is a fate worse than death.”
    â€œDon’t let them get to you.” Teresasounded more sympathetic this time. “They’re too focused on their own lives to realize there’s anyone out there who might be a little different from them. No imagination, that’s their problem.”
    I smiled at her gratefully. No matter what she thought of my sometimes impulsive behavior, I knew she was always in my corner.
    â€œIt’s probably just as well that Zoom guy is out of the picture,” Jason said as he put the car into gear. “He was probably a little too edgy for that gang anyway.”
    â€œYeah,” I muttered. But I wasn’t really paying attention. I was too busy scanning my mind for new ideas. “Listen, Teresa. Want to go hang out on campus again on Saturday? I had good luck there last time.”
    â€œWhy bother?” Jason said before Teresa could answer. “I already found you the perfect wedding date.”
    â€œWho?” I glanced at him skeptically. “The counter guy at Burrito Moe’s? I’d prefer someone older than fifteen, thanks.”
    â€œNo. The lead singer of Manayunk Mucus.”
    I rolled my eyes. “Please. I’m trying to have a serious discussion here.”
    â€œI am serious.” He shot me a glance in the rearview. His eyes held