“Oh, Richard… no. Just… no.” Her friends burst into giggles. Millie waved vaguely at his clothes, his posture, his existence. “I mean—come on. You know why, right?” The laughter echoed down the hallway long after he backed away. Still, he tried one more time. Amber Lockley didn’t bother pretending to be nice.
She stood with her arms crossed, chin lifted like she was preparing for battle. “You’re asking me?” she said, incredulous. Richard swallowed. “Um… yeah. I thought—” She cut in between, “No.” She didn’t soften it. Didn’t lower her voice. “I’m not ruining my prom night by showing up with you. Do you have any idea what people would say?” Students nearby paused, listening.