Read Online The Pledge by Chandra Sparks Taylor - Free Book Online

and what the pearl represented, and she laughed so loud people stopped and looked at us. I guess she liked the attention because she started laughing louder and bent over, slapping the glass counter so hard I thought it would crack. She looked at me after she finally caught her breath with tears in her eyes. “Let me guess, your mother made you join?”
    I pretended to study some earrings so I didn’t have to respond. “Girl, your mother is tripping. I can’t believe she made you join a virgin club. Has she told you anything about sex?”
    â€œYes,” I mumbled, not believing we were having this conversation in the mall.
    She shook her head. “I don’t want to know what she said. Obviously the two of us are going to have to talk so I can school you on the real deal about men. What are you doing tonight?”
    â€œBree and I are going to Spinners,” I said, referring to the skating rink where everyone hung out.
    â€œWell, we’ll do it some other time,” she said. “So which necklace are you going to get?”
    â€œI’ll just wear this one,” I said. “Allen likes the necklace and the fact that I’m a virgin, so that’s all that matters to me.”
    â€œYou told him you’re a virgin?” she asked.
    â€œYeah,” I said.
    â€œAnd he liked it?” she said thoughtfully. “Interesting.”
    Â 
    The night of the homecoming dance, Allen was still pumped because our team had won the homecoming game, and I was excited because despite my dream the first day of school, we had nailed our halftime show.
    I wanted Bree to come over to help me get dressed for my date, but she was out of town with her family, so I asked Candy, the co-captain of the cheerleading squad, to come over since Aunt Dani said she’d meet Allen and me at the restaurant.
    â€œSo are you excited?” Candy asked.
    â€œYes and no,” I said as I stood in the mirror combing my hair.
    â€œWhy yes and no?” Candy asked curiously.
    â€œYes because it’s my first date, and no because I’m so used to being around Allen that I don’t think it will be any different.” I looked at my hair and threw the comb down in frustration.
    It had grown some more, and I felt as though there was nothing I could do with it. I was seriously thinking about getting it cut.
    Candy eased me into the chair in front of my vanity and picked up the comb.
    â€œSo where did you guys decide to go for dinner?” she asked, plugging in a curling iron.
    â€œI have no idea. Allen said he wanted to surprise me,” I said.
    Candy nodded.
    â€œYou really like him, huh?” she said.
    I blushed. “Yeah, I do,” I admitted. “I still can’t believe he likes me. He doesn’t even mind my being in Worth the Wait.”
    â€œWhy would he?” she asked curiously.
    I shrugged. “I don’t know. Some of the girls who are members say their boyfriends have a problem with them being in a virgin club. Have you ever thought about joining?” I asked, realizing I had never asked her.
    She laughed. “I thought about it for a minute, but I decided not to.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œIt just seems to be the in thing right now. I’m secure enough in my virginity not to need a club to back my decision.”
    I nodded. I hadn’t thought about it like that.
    We sat in silence while she worked on my hair before we finally made eye contact in the mirror.
    â€œAre you okay?” I asked. She looked like she had something on her mind.
    â€œSure,” she said, tapping my shoulder to let me know she was done. I looked in the mirror, and my hair looked amazing. Candy had parted it differently, and done it in spiral curls that really complemented my face.
    â€œThis looks great,” I said, getting up to hug her. “Can you help me into my dress?”
    Aunt Dani and I had settled on a navy dress and some matching heels.