Elite and Tawdry - Chapter 26

As Tawny walked down the hall, she spotted Maddie, who was staring wistfully at something on the wall.

"What's up, Mads?" Tawny asked.

"This," Maddie said glumly. She pointed at an ornate flyer affixed to the wall, flush with colours of red, orange and brown.

Tawny read the flyer. "'Ivoree Gates Annual Autumnal Social'? What's that?"

"Only one of the most high-profile, prestigious events of the school year," Maddie said. "And my worst nightmare."

Tawny frowned. "Why's that?"

"Because I never have a date!" groaned Maddie. "It's a real who's-who sort of event, and there's no better way to feel like a nobody than to not have a plus one."

"No one's ever asked you to be your date?" asked Tawny.

"Uh...actually," Maddie said, her eyes going to the floor, "No. That's not allowed. It's a Sadie Hawkins dance."

Tawny blinked. "Sadie...Hawkins...?"

"It means the girls have to ask the guys out..." muttered Maddie.

They continued together down the hall. "Girls ask the guys..." mused Tawny. "So that means...you've been dateless by choice."

Maddie nodded.

Tawny pressed on. "Is it because you're shy? Do you not think any of the boys would want you as a date?

"More or less..." replied Maddie. "Yes, no...it's complicated. Could we...maybe change the subject? This social always tends to freak me out."

"Oh, ok..." Tawny noticed that Maddie was getting uncomfortable so they talked a bit about their plans for the upcoming break.

When they turned the corner, however, the next corridor was abuzz with female students whispering and murmuring.

Tawny thought she was once again being visibly ostracized, but Maddie placed a hand on her shoulder. "There's a rumour flying around. Apparently Grady and Elizabeth are on the outs."

"I didn't even know they were a couple..." Tawny mused over the cruel exchange between Grady and Elizabeth in English class, and suddenly Elizabeth's reaction made total sense.

"Yeah, Grady was asked by another girl to the dance and he accepted. It's like the talk of the town - Grady and Elizabeth were like a celebrity couple for YEARS."

"That's too bad," said Tawny.

As they reached outside and descended the steps, another group of girls were outside the school, screeching uncontrollably.

In the centre of it all stood Elaine, the loudest of them all, dancing in place and fanning herself.

"He said YES!" cried Elaine, with actual tears streaming down her face. "He actually said YES!"

As the other girls congratulated her, Tawny spotted Dylan's red Porsche peeling down the road.

"Whoa...looks like Elaine won the lottery," said Maddie. "I guess Dylan finally let himself be asked out to the Social."

"He doesn't go?" asked Tawny.

"Not usually," replied Maddie. "I mean...he'd still show up and wreak havoc because of who he is. But he never would go as someone's date. This is certainly a first."

"The rich get richer," mused Tawny.

As they continued onward to their dormitory, Tawny caught sight of something.

A tall, statuesque woman, with long brown hair, was standing in the distance. She was looking away from them, at the trees surrounding the Ivoree Gates campus. She was wearing an emerald green coat and a royal purple scarf; both the scarf and the woman's hair whipped wildly thanks to the seasonal wind that blew.

"You alright?" asked Maddie.

Tawny hadn't even realized Maddie was still talking, she was so awestruck by the woman. "Uh...yeah, I'm fine." When Tawny turned her attention back to the trees, the woman was nowhere to be seen. It was as if she had vanished into thin air.

"Hey Maddie..." said Tawny. "Ivoree Gates isn't haunted by any chance?"

Maddie raised an eyebrow. "Haunted?"

"Yeah, like...are their ghosts that roam the campus during the day or...?"

Maddie chuckled and threw her arm around Tawny affectionately. "I can see why McCurdy's class is your favourite. You are just bursting with creative ideas."