“Ouch!” I yelp, jumping away from my dance partner. Justin Feldman has just stepped on my foot. Again.

“I’m sorry,” he sqeaks, brown eyes swelling with worry. Justin has had a crush on me since the eight grade, and every year since freshman year he asks me to dance. Since we’re seniors now, I’ve decided to oblige him.

I give him a strained grin. “It’s okay, Justin. You know what? I’ve got to go to the bathroom anyway. I’ll see you later though, okay?”

“Okay,” he says sullenly.

Part of me feels bad for what I’m doing to Justin….but the other is interested in the preservation of my feet. The feet win out.

“Heya, babe!” calls Lori, my best friend. Her date hangs adoringly from her arm, admiring her beauty. “How was Feldman?”

“Torture,” I drawl, flopping into a chair. Lori and her date pull up chairs as well.

“Cheer up, Mel. I’m pretty sure Thomason was checking you out…”

“Liar.”

“I swear it!” she cried, blue eyes wide.

I sigh, sinking into the chair. I hate Homecoming.