Free Stay by Chelsea Camaron Page B

butterflies dance in my belly.
    Paul Castillo was a senior at my school, a popular boy, and the pitcher for our baseball team. I didn’t know why he was talking to me. He was cute in that teen boy dreamy way. He had broad shoulders and arms with defined muscles. Watching him a few times at practice last year with his shirt off, I knew he had a full six pack, and although he wasn’t as big as Giano, he didn’t have the bird chest many high school boys did.
    “Homecoming is next month,” he stated.
    I nodded, not understanding why that had brought him to my locker.
    “Do you have a date?”
    “No,” I answered honestly.
    “Wanna go with me?”
    Oh, my … Paul Castillo just asked me to homecoming! This was huge in my teenage life, so why did I not feel excitement? Why was I filled with trepidation, instead?
    Truth be told, I didn’t really feel much like going. High school formalities such as homecoming court, prom, and the likes weren’t really my thing. I would much rather get dressed up and have Giano take me out to dinner like he had every year from my eighth grade formal to each of my high school homecomings since freshman year. I still got the dress, my hair done, and makeup, but instead of spending my evening with a bunch of kids, I got to have the undivided attention of Giancarlo Diamante. Well, for me, that trumped anything any of those kids could have given me any day of the week.
    Last year, Giano went all out, even having a limo pick us up. I wore a cobalt blue, strapless gown with an empire waist, adorned with a silver band under my bodice. My cleavage was top notch with my breasts proudly on display. The cocktail length number also accented my firm, tanned legs.
    Giano wore a black suit with a matching blue shirt to my dress. His lack of a tie allowed me to see a slight patch of his dark chest hair peeking out from the two unbuttoned buttons at the top. His short hair was spiked with gel, giving him a total Hollywood movie star look that had women turning their heads as we exited the car to go to the most upscale restaurant in Jersey. We dined privately, and Giano gave me a diamond tennis bracelet after we finished a dessert of cherry cheesecake. The entire night was magical, one I would never forget.
    Wondering what my stranger would do this year to outdo last left me with little to no desire to actually attend anything at my school. Why go out with a teenage boy when I had a man who would give me his attention and shower me with gifts? It might not be fulfilling my every desire, but who knew what the future would hold for me and my stranger? Look how far we had come already. Why give up something better to have something … normal?
    “Of course she does!” Randi shrieked from behind me, pulling me out of my thoughts. Apparently, she had overheard our conversation and had taken it upon herself to answer for me.
    Paul reached out and ran his hand through my hair before grabbing the back of my head. Firmly, he pulled me to him and planted a quick kiss on my forehead like he had every girl before me. Too bad I wasn’t one of his groupies. I guessed he hadn’t gotten the memo he had picked the wrong girl.
    “Can’t wait. I’ll text you. We can go out one night next week and make our plans.” He winked before walking away and allowing me time to get out of this mess.
    Sure, he was what all the girls thought as hot stuff. Sure, he gave me butterflies, but so did anyone coming near me honestly. Sure, I could go with him, but what did he expect? Out of all the girls in the school, why me?
    I might have had the body of a model and dark hair, dark eyes, and tanned skin, but I was a nobody in our school. I didn’t hang out with the cool kids. I wasn’t on any teams or on the student council. My only friends were Randi and Mandy. What a pathetic person I was compared to so many others. Why did he have to pick me?
    “O.M.G., you hussy! You’ve been holding out on us!” Randi screeched beside me,