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Sample Chapter Christmas vacation and New Years was over, and Katie and I got to talking about the upcoming Winter Formal Dance the school has annually in February. For some reason, this winter formal was a very big deal at Fuller Creek Middle School. Being a seventh-grader, I had never really gone to any dances before because in Elementary School they didn’t do things like that. The only type of “Dance” that I have ever been to, was when we went to one of our relatives’ weddings and people danced at the reception. Also we did square-dancing in PE, but I don’t think that counts. As it got closer to this dance, that was all anyone was talking about.
In our second period Social Studies class, Katie and I were working on an assignment, when I brought up the subject. “Katie, so what’s the big deal with this Winter Formal Dance anyway? I don’t understand why it’s such a big deal around here? That is all anyone is talking about.” “I was talking to Becky about the dance, and Becky said it is because it’s a ‘formal dance’ you get dressed up for, and that’s why it’s a big deal. She said it’s all about who you are going to go with, and who is going to be your escort.” “An escort? You mean it has to be a like a date or something?” “No…, but usually everyone picks someone that they like or are going out with or a close friend. Becky said if you go the dance alone, you become one of the ‘Wall People.’” “Wall People? What’s that?” “It’s where all those people who don’t have an Escort sit up against the back wall together. There is always a small group of girls and a group of guys on the back wall.” “Don’t you think all of this dance stuff is dumb?” “I don’t know Jess, it seems like fun to me. In fact, Becky is part of the Dance Committee and she has asked me to help her in planning the theme for the Dance.” “I’ve got a good theme for the dance Katie.” “What’s that?” “How about ‘Planter’s Winter Wonderland.’” “Planter’s Winter Wonderland, what does that mean?” “It’s should be called ‘Planter’s’ because I think you guys are all ‘Nuts!’” Katie just shook her head. “Come on Jess, I think it’s going to be a lot of fun and you get to be all dressed up. Don’t be such a downer about the dance. I bet if you go, you are going to have a great time.” “I didn’t think that ‘church people’ like you went to dances?” “A lot of churches still don’t believe in any kind of dancing at all, but we believe that a formal type of dance like this is okay. I mean, we don’t believe in going to some club or place that they are drinking or dancing too sexy or anything like that.” “I don’t know; I still think this whole dance thing is dumb.”
Katie and I met up again at lunch time and we were about to sit down after getting our food, when Becky and some of her friends called over to her. “Katie, come sit over here with us!” Katie turned and I could tell by the way that she was looked at me, she wanted for me to say it was okay. “Go ahead Katie, that’s cool.” “Are you sure Jess? I don’t want you eat alone or anything.”
“I’m sure Brian will come in a minute, that’s fine go ahead.” It wasn’t long before Derek, Jason and some other guys came and sat next to them. Derek kind of motioned to Katie, like he wanted to talk to her. Katie got up and sat to the side and they were talking alone. I tried not to act like I was that interested in what she was doing, but I couldn’t figure out what Derek wanted to talk to her about. Derek was the one who had started all those false rumors about me and Brian earlier in the year. After they finished talking, Derek shook Katie’s hand and then said something which made Katie laugh.
At the end of the day, I started to walk home from school when Katie caught up to me and started walking with me. I tried not to bring up the subject, but it was bugging me really bad. “So Katie, I saw that you were talking to Derek at lunch, what did that jerk want?” “Don’t say that Jess. I know what he did was wrong, but he was apologizing to me for what he did. He said he was very sorry and even said that he was going to apologize to you.” I thought to myself, “Yeah, he’ll apologize to me, when pigs learn to fly!” “Derek asked me to forgive him, and said he only made up those stories because he kind of likes me and he was jealous of you; because we hang out so much. He seemed really sincere, so I forgave him.” “What? You forgave him for what he did?” “Jess, we are not supposed to pick-and-choose who we forgive and who we don’t. Besides if we don’t forgive, then God won’t forgive us for the bad things we do.” I thought to myself, “There she goes again, why it is when I am upset at something, she always comes up with this Bible stuff and then I can’t be mad anymore.” “I guess it’s good to forgive Katie, but I wouldn’t trust him.” There was a little pause in our conversation, when Katie added, “He also asked me to the Winter Formal Dance.” “What? You’re kidding! You’re not seriously thinking of going with that guy are you?” “I don’t know…, maybe.” When she said that, I really could not believe what I was hearing. “So what did you tell him?” “I told him that I would think about it. I told him I was waiting to see who I would decide to go with.” Now……..I know sometimes that I’m a little dense, but that sounded to me like she had other choices or something. “Who are you waiting to decide to go with, is there someone else?” Katie kind of hesitated, and then said, “Yes…, Steve Taylor asked me too.” “Steve Taylor! You mean Steve Taylor the jock, Steve Taylor who has about fifteen patches on his letterman’s sweater, the Steve Taylor that used to date the head cheerleader of the Eighth-Grade Pep Squad, you mean that Steve Taylor?” “Yes…,” she said hesitantly as she could tell I was getting a little upset by all this. “I don’t know Jess. Why are you getting so upset?
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