Winter's Idolatry

oing to the

cker and turned to face my two

frustration behind her eyes. She had been trying to

ents, Preslie had already started browsing for dresses and mentally plan

nce it held to her. I liked that she could look forward to such

t it was app

ing she wanted. She was as excited as a young child high off of sugar. A

we clashed. She just wanted me to love the

ld never

ith narrowed eyes but also a grin. My friends were

thing so—minor and otherwise point

cliched high school experiences—dances

't one of t

rnally damaged

just a p

m too in

Perhaps, all

ng up for spirit days, dressing accordingly when there was a big footba

d. She wiggled her eyebrows at me—as if what she

upidity I found in her statement. "Every dance we have is inve

ch is always better than the spring one

bread." I rolled my eyes, sighing at my weak comebac

hallway, avoiding my eye contact. She didn't

emories, hence why a single school dance was so important. Personally, I found it ridiculous bu

d her eyebrows at me, challenge in her eyes. Her

pushing myself off the lockers and starting to walk

Friday night. What else would you much rather do anyway?" Ocean t

I don't know—anything but spending time in a cramped room with the fake p

. Throw in it being a school

gone to plenty of school dances in the past—due to Preslie's pleas. I knew

e enjoyed because they had to remain 'famil

dequate, maybe. McDonalds

ged to spike it. With the security at our preten

Find an excuse to dance with your math-class-crush y

even know

would lose sleep over missing. The ov

Come on, Eliza! Cute guys in suits—and us in fancy dress

will not cause the world to stop spinning." I swun

to come?" Ocean finally decided to ta

ly before stopping in front of Presli

uld see the mischief and challenge behind her eyes as

sis

ips. "Say, if Dallas Roland came up to you—and he ask

behind her eyes. Sh

e guy in our grade, maybe even in our whole school. Stereot

stupid thing Preslie must have ever said. "I would say no fa

d but then sighed and sto

e get back to my back and fo

ked an eyebrow. "You—you w

l look. "Would it be more convincing if I

I completely understand why every girl in the school wants a chance to stand a foot

hat's the point in consuming yourself into a fantasy? I would

who enjoys attention f

in a guy who—in a guy. Much less, a golden b

l the other girls in the school who did. I wasn't going to set unr

ste of time. It requ

at was it. We weren't friends and we never spo

d. "I just want you to come s

run for governor and lose to John

when a voice spoke but th

Eliza?" River snarled, a coc

e had been e

emy in high school—River V

happened to find myself my personal Regina George. I never would understand why she hates

nce merely

"The only thing I would be scared of would be—God forbid, my heel breaking! Or

t amused. "You sh

n." Her minion frien

raised my eyebrows. "Right? I was th

k in heels, or fit in any dress.

ing. I wonder if it gave her

nts were standing around and

ad that

it was entertaining enough for her

preciate the little bit of entertainmen

w well you know me! Ho

number two named Sue, glared at me

to give the world another joyful reason to continue to

is it really, Eliza?" She tilted her head to the side and looked at me

t I am doing just fine but I do appreciate y

nge in her eyes. "Because you don't even want Dallas R

." Rachel muttered

were doing something. T

my face—something that hardly existed

derstand the point. I didn't understand wh

ridiculous bickering? Did River have nothing better to do? Was she threatened or s

the importance to such st

is drama and concern for these little things—like the ball

some overrated guy. Is that really s

st a guy. Why

g over because someone didn't mel

upi

only things in his line of sight were cheerleaders and rich girls, girls who

to each other—but somehow, River was finding it relevant enoug

ce with him anyway." River laughed her manic laugh. She

growing tired of this conversation.

n dismissal. "You're just—such a

it. She was calling me pa

. Such an i

ough my head. "Good luck getting any guy,

at gnomes are real creatures. How did this conversatio

s conversation ever will be." With one last insincere smile, I turned around. This co

d standing just a few feet away from me. His eyes were lit with genuine amusement. He didn't seem surprised

f desperation for enter

d. He smirked a

stening. He wa

y had noticed Dallas standing there;

whole school seeming as quiet as flowers, not

stunned seeing him standing ther

frankly, incre

ic conversation where he was t

get embarrassed but t

eyes shooting daggers thr

he uncomfortable silence that dra

do you say, Eliza? Will you