Life in the Fat Lane Read Online Free Page B

great in here, huh? And how about the band?”
    Jett snorted back a laugh. Well, the whole homecoming thing was pretty funny, I had to admit.
    Through the magic of aluminum foil and thousands of tiny white Christmas-tree lights, the high-school gym had been transformed into Moonlight on the River. Danny and the other class officers had picked the theme for the homecoming dance. But the band had been picked by a vote of the entire student body—including that large percentage who thought that homecoming wasthe stupidest idea in human history and would not be caught dead there on a bet.
    By the time the class officers had figured out that voting should have been restricted to homecoming-dance ticket holders only, it was too late.
    It was Moonlight on the River, with the Sex Puppets.
    Jett thought the whole thing was hilarious. But then, he was only at homecoming because I’d wanted to go.
    “The band is great,” I told Danny.
    The Sex Puppets finished one song and began a new ballad. “So, mind if I dance with Lara?” Danny asked Jett.
    Jett held his hands up to Danny. “Hey, man, she can answer for herself.”
    I didn’t know what to say. It felt as if everyone’s eyes were on us, watching to see what I would do.
    I turned to Jett. “Would you mind?”
    He smiled. “I think I can risk it.” He kissed me on the temple and walked away.
    I moved into Danny’s arms. Some people around us started buzzing. Lara and Danny again. What did it mean?
    “This reminds me of old times,” Danny murmured.
    “But you’re with Candy now.”
    “Yeah. And you’re with the brooding
artiste
.”
    “He doesn’t brood.”
    “Yeah, right,” Danny muttered. We danced silently for a minute or so. “I still can’t believe you fell for that.”
    “Danny, let’s not have this conversa—”
    “What, you think he’s so cool, so much better than me?”
    “I don’t think that,” I assured him. “I … I can’t explain it. And I never meant to hurt you.”
    Danny sighed. “Yeah,” he said. “I know.”
    “You look really pretty, Lara,” Amy Caprice said, dancing by with her boyfriend.
    “I love your dress,” I told her. “Good luck tonight.”
    She smiled at me, and Danny pulled me closer. “You really meant that, didn’t you?”
    “Sure,” I said as I tried to mean it. “Maybe I’ll win next year.”
    “You’re the most beautiful, nicest, sweetest girl in this school, and everyone knows it,” Danny said, his voice low. “Hey, I voted for you.”
    I smiled up at him, and he pulled me closer. I closed my eyes and for just a moment enjoyed the comfortable, safe feeling of being in Danny’s arms again. But then the music ended and there was Jett, next to me.
    “So, see you,” Danny said.
    “See you.”
    He walked away into the crowd.
    Jett took me into his arms. “You miss him?”
    “No.”
    “He’s not a bad guy,” Jett said.
    “I know that. But he’s not you.”
    As we swayed to the music I felt Jett’s arms tighten around me. They didn’t feel safe like Danny’s did. They felt like something else I couldn’t name.
    Someone bumped into my back so hard that we stumbled.
    “Sorry,” the girl mumbled.
    It was Patty Asher, the fattest girl in our class. She wore a red velvet dress that fell tentlike over her massive form. She was hurrying toward the gym door.
    “Geez, take up some space, why don’t you!” Lisa yelled after Patty’s retreating form.
    “What a pig!” Blake said.
    “God, did you
see
her?” Lisa asked. “That
dress
! I didn’t know velvet could stretch that far!”
    Some people around us laughed as the Sex Puppets finished their song and took an intermission.
    “Give the girl a break, huh?” Jett said.
    “
Girl?
” Blake echoed. “You mean
tub
! Tub-o’-love, baby!”
    More laughter.
    “Y’all, come on,” I chided them softly.
    Jett turned to Blake. “That make you feel special, putting her down like that?”
    Blake scowled at him. “What’s your