Read Online Forgotten: Seventeen and Homeless by Melody Carlson - Free Book Online

school, Jayden takes me aside. "I need to ask you something before I go to soccer practice."
    "What?" Now, for no explainable reason I'm worried. Does he know something about me? Something I don't want him to know?
    "I wanted to ask you to go to the homecoming dance with me," he says in an almost shy way.
    I nod eagerly. "Sure, I'd love to."
    His serious face breaks into a big smile. "Cool."
    "That's about two weeks away, right?"
    "Yep. The second Friday in October. And if you don't mind, Ethan and Isabella want to go with us."
    "That's awesome. Sounds like fun."
    He leans down and gives me a quick kiss. "Great. Now I have to get to practice. See ya!"
    As he jogs toward the gym, I try to imagine what it'll be like to go to a real dance with my real boyfriend. It feels too good to be true. And naturally, that has me a little worried. But at the same time, I'm too excited to start imagining the worst. Really, don't I deserve to savor this moment? This must be how Cinderella felt when she found out she was going to the ball.

,in still savoring my invitation to the dance when Isabella seems to appear from out of thin air and Bristol is not too far behind her. "Did he ask you yet?" Isabella asks. "Are you going to homecoming?"
    "Yes!" I exclaim. "And he said we're going with you and Ethan."
    Isabella lets out a joyful squeal and hugs me. "I can't wait!"
    "Looks like someone took her happy pill today," Bristol says in a snarky tone.
    "Looks like someone else forgot hers," Isabella shoots back.
    Lily comes over to join us. "What's up?"
    Isabella quickly relays our "good" news, but Lily (like Bristol) just frowns.
    "Can't you at least be happy for us?" Isabella asks.
    "Oh yeah, I'm ecstatic." Lily rolls her eyes.
    "No one's stopping you from going to the dance," Isabella tells her.
    "Right. Except no one asked me." Lily makes a face.
    "Why don't you go with Caleb?" I suggest.
    Lily's mouth twists to one side like she's actually considering this.
    "That's a great idea." Isabella nods.
    "Except that someone should include Caleb in on it," Lily says glumly.
    "Or you could ask him yourself," Bristol teases. "Nothing quite as attractive as a girl who's desperately begging for a date."
    Lily nods. "Yeah, it's a bit pathetic."
    "I know," I tell her. "I have Caleb in history. What if I did some gentle hinting?"
    "Would you do that for me?" Lily looks hopeful.
    "Sure, why not?"
    "And if Caleb agrees, we can all go together," Isabella declares.
    "And we can hire a stretch Hummer to take us," Lily says with enthusiasm.
    "And we'll go to La Bonne for dinner," Isabella adds.
    Now Bristol looks seriously aggravated. "It sounds like you'll all have a delightful time." Then she turns to walk away.
    "Wait," Lily calls after her. "I thought you were riding with me.
    "Oh, if it's not too much trouble," Bristol shoots back. "I'd hate to inconvenience you while you're making all your big plans."
    Lily holds up her hand in a phone shape, mouthing "call me" to Isabella, then takes off to catch up with Bristol.
    "Poor Bristol." Isabella shakes her head.
    "I'm surprised she doesn't find herself a boyfriend," I say as I wait for Isabella to get something from her locker. "I'm sure there are lots of guys who would be glad to go out with her."
    Isabella slams her locker shut, then laughs. "Yeah, lots of guys ... just not the one guy she wants."
    "You mean Jayden?"
    "Duh." Isabella jingles her car keys. "Hey, we could do some dress shopping on our way home if you want."
    "I can't," I say quickly. "My mom's got the flu, and I need to get home to make sure she's okay."
    "Well, maybe I'll drop you off and do a little scouting mission myself."
    "A scouting mission?"
    "For a dress. That way I can pick out the one that's perfect for me, and you and Lily will have to come up with dresses that look good with mine."
    "We have to wear matching dresses?" I frown at her. "Like we're bridesmaids?"
    "Complementary colors and styles." She looks at me like this should be