Prom Nights from Hell Chapter Nine

He express, Hi.And she said, Ho. God. GOD. Could she full say one normal matter? Thanks Crazy Mouth.He cocked an supercilium at her. I didnt know you were coming to prom.I-changed my mind at the last minute.You look nice.You too. Which was an understatement. He looked like a double stack of cinnamon orchard apple tree pancakes with a side order of bacon and hash browns (extra crispy). Like the best thing Miranda had ever laid eyes on.She felt herself staring at him, then looked away, blushing. thither was a moment of silence. Another one. Dont let it go beyond four seconds, she reminded herself. It had to have been one second already that left three, now two, say something Say- ar you wearing space pants? Miranda asked him.What?How did it sack? Oh, right. She said, Because your privy is exquisite.He gazed at her in that way he had like he was measuring her for a straitjacket. I think- he started, then stopped and seemed to be having trouble talking. Cleared his throat three t imes before finally saying, I think the line is because your hardlyt is out of this world. Oh. That makes a lot more sense. I can see that. See, I read it in this book about how to get guys to like you and they said it was a line that never failed but I got break off in the middle and the line before it was about china-not the country, the kind you eat off of-and that is where the fine part was but I must have gotten them confused. He just unbroken staring at her. She remembered the other advice from the book, when in doubt, make an offer, reached out, grabbed the first thing she could rate her hand on, held it up to his chin, and said, Nuts?He looked like he was about to choke. He cleared his throat a few times, took the nuts from her, put the bowl back on the t competent, stepped toward her so that their noses were almost touching, and said, You read a book about this?Miranda couldnt even hear his heartbeat over the near of her own. Yes, I did. Because understandably I wasnt doing it right. I mean, if you kiss a guy and he pulls away from you and looks at you like your skin just turned to purple slime, clearly you need to spend some time at the self-help section of-You talk more when youre nervous, he said, still standing close to her.No I dont. Thats absurd. Im just trying to explain to you-Do I make you nervous?No. Im not nervous.Youre trembling.Im cold. Im wearing practically zero clothes.His glance went to her lips, then back to her eyes. I noticed.Miranda gulped. Look, I should-He caught her wrist before she could take off. That kiss you gave me was the hottest kiss Ive ever had. I pulled away because I was afraid I wouldnt be able to stop myself from ripping off your clothes. And that didnt seem like the right way to end a first date. I didnt want you to think that was all I was interested in. She stared at him. There was silence again, but this time she didnt worry about how long it went on.Why didnt you tell me? she said finally.I tried to, but every time I saw you afterward you disappeared. I got the feeling you were avoiding me.I didnt want things to be awkward.Yeah, there was nothing awkward about you concealing behind a plant when I came into the dining hall at lunch on Wednesday.I wasnt hiding. I was, um, breathing. You know, oxygen. From the plant. Very oxygenated, that air is.Insert learning ability in oven now.Of course. I should have thought of that.Its a health thing. Not many people know about it.Leave until no longer half BAKED.No, Im sure they-Miranda blurted. Did you really mean that? About liking it when I kissed you?I really did. A lot.Her hands were shaking. She reached up and pulled him toward her.Just as the music went off, the emergency-exit luminousness went on and a tinny voice announced over a loudspeaker, Please make your way to the nearest exit and leave the building immediately.She and pass on were pushed in different directions by the crowd surging to the door, being guided by four men in fu ll body armor. The message kept repeating, but Miranda wasnt hearing it or Ariel West screaming that someone was going to PAY for RUINING her NIGHT or the person saying that dude, this was the sweetest way to end a prom ever, man, he was so high. She was hearing again the one-two-three cha-cha heartbeat of Deputy Reynolds, slightly muffled by body armor. This was no drill.Its us, isnt it? Sibby said, kick over to stand next to Miranda. Thats why those storm-trooper guys are here. For us.Yeah.You were right. I should have stayed hidden. This is my fault. I dont want anyone to get hurt. Ill just turn myself over to these people, and theyll have to let-Miranda interrupted her. After all that? With only three hours left to go? And you, blend-it-like-butter girl? No way. Its not over. We can totally get out of this.She tried to sound confident, but she was terrified. Just what do you think youre doing? U-Suck channel demanded.I have no idea.Sibby looked at her, eyes blazing with hope. D o you mean it? You have a way out?Miranda swallowed, took a deep breath, and said to Sibby, Follow me. To herself Please dont fail.