“So,” I said, leaning toward him so he couldhear me over the music. He leaned down toward me. “That teachermade you ask me to dance?” There was no way a guy like thiswouldn’t have multiple girls after him. He had to have been forcedto seek me out.
He chuckled. “Yeah. Sorry. I should havenoticed you before she did.”
I looked at him in question.
“I’m one of ten ambassadors at the school.It’s part of an Honor Society project. We’re supposed to help newstudents feel at home.”
I lifted an eyebrow. “Gotcha.” A ping ofsadness hit me that he hadn’t asked me of his own accord. I quicklypushed that silly idea out of my mind. This was not about me. Itwas about the car thieves. We hadn’t had long to dance before thenext song had started and the changing of dance partners was infull swing. My eyes took everything in, and I counted all thepeople there. Jericho was missing, but the six others I couldrecognize were all there—Gina and Karina, three of the auto shopboys, and the mysterious Mikado.
“Want to dance again?”
I looked out into the crowd--I hadn’t seenthe faces of the other two auto shop boys, but I hoped to uncovertheir identities tonight. Maybe I could catch one of the threeboys’ attention and dance with them. Maybe I’d get some moreinsight into the car thieves before they all disappeared.“Sure.”
After that, I danced with Greg and thenTanner, neither of them were my marks, but both guys were fun andinteresting and kept me near two of my marks. By the end of thesecond dance, Mikado had gone missing. Before the music stopped,the deejay called out, “See ya back in ten for some good olecountry line dancing.”
The group dispersed, and I caught a glimpseof Gina heading for the bathroom. I scanned the crowd and foundKarina heading for the drink table and one of the guys from S-Dub’sclass heading for the men’s room. The other two boys hadscattered about the room. While Karina talked to a few people, Iwalked in her direction. She turned toward the bathroom, but thencarefully detoured to a doorway that led out of the room. She stoodin front of it, holding a cup and drinking with one hand, while theother was behind her back. Was she picking the lock?
I looked away for no more than a fewseconds, and when I turned back, she was gone. Three of the sevenwere now gone. I glanced at my watch monitor and could see Gina hadmade it out of the building and was walking along the side of theschool. Karina’s ragged breathing told me she was running down thehallway she’d just entered and would probably be joining Gina anyminute.
I made my way to the door Karina had goneout. With my back leaning on it, I tried to push it open. It waslocked. I slipped a bobby pin out of my hair and made quick work ofunlocking the door. I pushed on it, ready to disappear for a fewminutes into the hall and give the team an update, when I sawCarson heading my way. I took the pressure off the door and smiledat him, assuming a relaxed posture. I even took a half-step towardhim, letting my hands fall to my sides. I hated not being able tojust follow the girls. It made me feel pretty helpless to stayinside at the dance, and I was curious how they would do. ButHalluis and Jeremy were out there with their eyes on the girls andguys. They would be able to tell me everything.
“You know, if you wanted to dance with meagain tonight, you could have just told me instead of acting thewallflower again.” He gave me a flirtatious look.
“When something works for me, I milk it.”Having him around was so convenient. It was easy not to look out ofplace. I counted the remaining marks with a quick glance around theroom.
He chuckled. “I had a feeling you’re someonewho always gets what she wants.”
“You had a feeling, huh?” I gave hima wry smile and checked for the three guys. They were still there.The one that had headed for the bathroom had returned. “Actually, Iwas hoping to get some fresh air.” I pretended to push on the door.“But they’ve successfully locked us in.”
He grabbed at his heart. “Oh, you wound me.You could have at least played along and boosted my ego.”
“I don’t think you need that, Carson. I havea feeling you’ve got ego to spare.” I tilted my head to theside.
“If you insist on dissing me, I may justhave to show you the real me—lonely and scared.” He made aninsecure face and looked at his feet.
This guy was funny. I liked him, and as muchas I wanted to continue our friendly banter, I wanted to focus onthe girls. From the audio feed in my ear, I could tell they weretogether, running now. Where could they be heading?
I laughed and pushed his shoulder. “I knowand you know that person doesn’t exist, and even if he really did,I’d have to delay our meeting. You see, nature calls.” I whipped myhead in the direction of the bathroom. It was quiet in there, whichwould make it easier to hear the girls.
The deejay’s voice filled the room. “Time toline up, boys and girls. The first of three line dances will startin twenty seconds.”
“Is he serious?” I asked, jaw on the floor.They did country line dances here?
“Totally.”
“What, do
