Free ICE (The Benders Series) by B.T Hoax Page B

really knew what later meant. Her dates with Jon were generally off-the-cuff with no real planning or prearrangement. But she liked that. For some reason, she never really worried about their relationship, even though it was only a month or so old. It was just…easy.
    But what wasn’t easy was getting prepared for a snow week dance. Despite her previous words, she had decided to attend the festivities with Britney, who of course wouldn’t have taken no for answer anyways. So on this particular evening, Kenna was quite busy. Her hair had been straightened, her make-up applied perfectly, and her outfit picked to perfection. According to her friend, the dance would be casual, and Kenna had a knack for making casual into something quite extraordinary.
    Kenna gave her reflection a brief study in the mirror. She was clad in a long sleeve, light pink, flannel shirt. The girl had observed several girls wearing flannel in school and thought this would be the perfect opportunity to try it herself. Although her predisposition was one of skepticism, she found that she quite liked the look. The light pink brought out her blushed cheeks against her pretty pale skin. And the pattern of the loose flannel had an oddly slimming effect- though she hardly needed one.  The jeggings, of course, clung tightly to her toned legs while the boots hugged firmly to her calves.
    She really was flawless, even if she didn’t think she was.
    Flawless.
    And dateless.
    Kenna’s smile turned into a disappointed frown as she recalled her conversation with Jon.
    “’I’ve served my time,’” she mocked out loud to herself.
    But before she could continue on her self-ensuing rant, a loud honking came from the street below.
    “Is that Brit or what?” her dad called from the floor below. Kenna made her way quickly down the stairs and into the porch where she threw on her jacket.
    “Must be,” she replied. “I thought she wouldn’t be here for another fifteen minutes though. Oh well,” she said out of breath from her sprint. “I’ll be home by midnight!”
    “Yes you will,” her father nodded slipping some money into his daughter’s purse as he handed it to her. “Have fun.”
    When Kenna stepped out into the blackness that was a Minnesota evening, the girl realized that it was not Britney waiting for her, but a white and rusty truck. She practically ran to the vehicle when she recognized who was waiting for her.
    “I thought you weren’t coming?!” The girl practically flew into the truck and beamed as she grabbed Jon’s hand with excitement.
    He quickly jerked it away from her and placed it on the steering wheel. “Eh, I guess I wanted to see you embarrass yourself on the dancefloor after all,” he joked.
    They both smiled as they made their way to the school gymnasium where the dance was being held. Jon even opened the truck door for her as she climbed out, obviously trying to show a more gentlemanly side.
    “Hey, you are wearing a jacket!” Kenna noticed as they walked.
    Jon laughed at the observation. “Yea,” he said pulling it off in the middle of the cold outdoors. “It’s for you to wear. That gym is always freezing.”
    Kenna rolled her eyes but was thrilled to snatch the pull over from the Colewell.
    “Just a heads up,” he warned as he also held open the door to the building, secretly enjoying how much Kenna was enjoying wearing the jacket, “I don’t dance.”
    Kenna rolled her eyes once more. “You have to dance to at least one song. It doesn’t have to be a slow one, just any one,” she countered. “Or I’ll probably cry or something like that.”
    “Maybe,” he half agreed as they walked towards where the music was coming from.
    In a matter of moments, they had come to the snow week dance. Kenna was quickly swept away by Britney and a few other girls while Jon and several other guys stood casually around the food and the punch bowls. Kenna couldn’t help but smile to herself when she glanced down at the