Willow Moon's Arc

Chapter 3 of 6

A week passed, and Jess still saved her a seat every lunch. Willow liked it. She also knew it wasn't enough. They talked about books under the hanging vines, then the bell rang and they split. To him she was a lunch friend. Nothing more. She had no reason to see him past the table, and no reason to make one. So she decided to build one herself. She found him at his locker after class. He was tucking a book into his bag. "There's a restaurant downtown," Willow said. "Real dinner. Not a cafeteria tray." Her hands wanted to shake, so she gripped her bag strap. "Come with me. Friday. Just us." Jess stopped zipping the bag. "A date," he said. Not a question. He was checking he had it right. "A date," Willow said. She held his eyes. She would not soften it into something smaller. He was quiet. Willow's heart pounded in the pause. Then a slow smile started. "Yeah," Jess said. "I'd like that. Not gonna lie, I was trying to figure out how to ask you." He shut the locker. "Friday. Text me the place." Willow walked away before her face could give everything up. Friday. A real date. She spent that night pulling clothes from her closet and dropping them on the floor. Nothing fit the word. Nothing said what she wanted to say. The next afternoon she went to a shop downtown. She found it on a rack near the window. A green evening dress, fitted at the waist, cut low. It drew a line down her body her blazer had hidden for years. She held it against herself in the mirror. For once she saw her own shape. She bought it and carried it out under her arm. Scarlett was waiting near the shop door. Willow stopped. Scarlett hadn't spoken to her since her scheme fell apart. Now she stood there, bracelets still, her red bow the only bright thing on her. She looked at the bag on Willow's arm. "A dress," Scarlett said. "You're taking him somewhere." It wasn't a guess. "Friday," Willow said. She didn't hide it. She'd learned that from watching Scarlett lose. Scarlett's jaw tightened. "You think one dinner makes you his girlfriend." She stepped closer. "He said yes because you're new. New wears off." Her voice stayed flat and sure. "I know him longer than you do. I know what bores him. Friday won't fix that." "Then don't worry about Friday," Willow said. Scarlett smiled without any warmth. "I'm not worried. I'm early." She turned and walked off, heels clicking on the stone. Willow stood with the dress bag pressed to her chest. She had her date. She had the outfit. But Scarlett wasn't done, and now she knew exactly when and where Willow would be. The threat had a date on it too.