Free To the Steadfast by Briana Gaitan Page A

close.
    “Studying for my
finals. What are you doing here?”
    “Some of the guys want
to do a funny skit based on Space Odyssey: 2001 , but I’ve never seen it.
Figured I’d watch the movie. The public library is the only place that has it.”
He holds up a DVD. “Wanna watch it with me?”
    “Space Odyssey, sounds
fun,” I say sarcastically. “No thanks.” I tuck my hair behind my ear and hunch
over my books.
    “You seem a little
bummed about something. What’s wrong?”
    “Nothing.” I begin
erasing a formula that I messed up on.
    He covers the front of
my books with his hand, causing me to look up at him. “I know you better than
that. What’s wrong?”
    “Prom is this weekend.”
    “So? You don’t take me
as the type of girl who cares about those types of things.”
    “I don’t, but it looks
fun.”
    “Then go.”
    “Violet and everyone
else are only going to the after party. Plus I don’t have a date.”
    “I’ll be your date.”
    He says it so casually
that I can’t help but laugh. “Really, you don’t have to do that.”
    “It’s okay. My dad is
going to be working in Washington for the next week. My mom is going with him,
so I’ll be home with the house all to myself.”
    I should say no. I
don’t need him to take me on some pity date because no one wanted to ask me,
but I really want to go. I didn’t realize how much until just now. It might be
fun to do something to get my mind off Mischa.
    “Okay, let’s do it.”
    He tosses the DVD back
and forth between his hands. “I feel like I’m in a cheesy rom-com. I’ve just
asked my friend to prom. Are our parents going to be parading us around with
pictures?”
    I make a circle with my
lips and mouth ‘okay’ before speaking.“Don’t have to worry about that. Your dad
scares the crap out of me.”
    “You and me both. So
I’ll pick you up Friday night at six? We can eat first.”
    “Sounds good.”
    After he leaves, I try
and finish my study guide, but I can’t seem to focus. I pack up my backpack and
head home.
    I’m surprised to find
my mom at home when I get there. She ushers me to the stairs the second I walk
in.
    “Where have you been?
We have dinner guests coming any minute and you need to get ready.”
    “Who’s coming?”
    “The Carmikes from next
door, and I need you to be on your best behavior. You just might be able to get
Senator Carmike to write you a letter of recommendation for college.”
    “Joy!” I moan. I take
my time going upstairs, taking delight in my mother’s huffs about how slow I’m
going.
    In no mood to hear any
more of her nitpicking, I pick out the most conservative dress I own and pull
my hair up into a bun. I take my time applying my makeup until the doorbell
rings.
    I put on a fake smile
and walk downstairs.
    “Oh, Dakota! Come say
hi to our neighbors.”
    I walk over to Jim
Carmike and hold out my hand. “Good evening, Senator. How are you?”
    “Doing well. How’s
school?”
    “Just fine.” I turn to
Mrs. Carmike, whom I’ve never met, but have seen from afar, and give her a fake
grin. She looks over me with distaste before taking a sip of the martini in her
hand.
    “I need to sit,” she
mumbles before scurrying off.
    “Dakota does
afterschool tutoring,” my mom announces. I don’t have the heart to tell her I
dropped out of the program months ago.
    I open my mouth to say
something lame when the doorbell rings again. “I’ll just get that,” I say, glad
to get away from them.
    I walk to the door and
pull it open to see Killian standing there in a button-down shirt and slacks.
    “Thank God!” I exclaim,
grabbing him and pulling him into the house. “I can’t be left alone with them
for another moment, and what is with your mom?”
    “She’s in a bad mood.
Correction, she’s in a never-ending bad mood.”
    “Don’t you dare ditch
me! My mom is trying to get your dad to write a letter of recommendation.”
    “Don’t worry. I’ll do
anything for food. Do you even