"So," Cale delicately spoke as he tipped his eyes up to mine across from my kitchen table. "I heard Chris was going to winter formal with Bella Miller."

"Yeah." I tried to sound casual, but it came curtly and revealed my annoyance.

"And you're feeling..."

"Fine; we're just friends."

"You don't give off fine. But I don't think most people understand what fine means."

"What's that supposed to mean?" The frustration fully saturated my words as I let my book flop down. The spine slapped against the table louder than either of us expected.

"It's just, like when my dad says his day was fine, it usually means he lost a huge account or, when my mom used to tell my dad that whatever he just said was fine, it meant it was the opposite of fine. People are just redefining the word." He shrugged.

"Well, in this case, it's actually fine." I picked my book back up.

"Okay. Are you planning on going?"

I let my book slip down and was again surprised by the slap. I was going to tell him that, of course, I would go without Chris. I didn't need a boy to have a good time, but my resolve melted as my eyes met Cale's. "It's just so frustrating. We always go together. I just planned on it."

"And you hate changing plans." There was a crooked smile tipping his lips.

"I do. The point of making plans is to have a plan."

"And are the changing plans the only reason you're upset?"

I wanted to be annoyed, but as I looked back into his face, a warm wave washed over me. Cale Benton was listening to me; he cared.

I let out a sigh. "I'm so pathetic that I do think it is just the changing plans. Don't get me wrong, Chris is the best. I love him. I just don't have enough time for romance."

"Yeah, but if you like someone, you can't stop it," Cale argued.

"I disagree; with enough focus, you can stop anything."

Cale suspiciously eyed me but didn't argue; instead, he sat back in his chair and surveyed me closer. "We could go together, swap out one friend for another," he suggested.

"What?" A laugh erupted from me as I spoke.

"What? We're friends, right?"

"Yeah, but Cale, every girl in our class is waiting for you to ask her. Just ask whomever you want; you'll get a yes."

"That's not true. Besides, the idea of going with a friend may appeal to me."

"Really?"

He cracked and let a little laugh slip from his lips. "Well, I asked the girl I wanted to go with, but she can't go. She has a conflict. So, I figured the friends thing could be fun. I've seen you and Chris at these things; you two always look like you're having a better time than the rest. You don't have any of those how-do-I-act nerves."

"You get the how-do-I-act-nerves?" I protested.

"Believe it or not, I'm a teenager, also new to all this, just like you. Just because I have a different circle of friends doesn't mean I don't worry about bad breath or stepping on my date's toes." A flash of annoyance crossed his eyes, but it quickly disappeared. "Come on. It'll be fun, I promise."

"Fine."

"Wait, is that like a real use of the word fine or the new, completely terrible use of the word fine?"

"Yes, Cale, I'll go to Winter Formal with you."

The tension relaxed from his shoulders at his success. It was adorable.

Two weeks later, Cale was holding a bouquet of yellow tulips at my front steps. As our eyes met, the warmth of his eyes hit me again. There were no nerves, just a bubbling laugh of excitement.

"You didn't have to bring me flowers," I smiled.

"Good, because these are for the other Taylor girl in my life." His eyes lifted to Cami sitting on the stairs behind me.

"For me!" A deafening squeal erupted from Cami.

"Yellow tulips are your favorite; little drops of sunshine, right?" As he spoke, Cami crashed into his waist for a hug.

"They are! You remembered."

"Of course, I remembered." He laughed.

"Wait until Suzy Conners hears that I got flowers from Cale Benton. I'm going to put these in water," Cami yelled over her shoulder as she ran to the kitchen.

Cale dipped his face close to me and murmured, "feeling left out?" He then lifted a white lily corsage into view.

I smiled and let a fingertip glide over one of the velvety petals.

"It's your favorite, right?"

"It is," I confirmed.

"Here, I'll pin it on you. Stand still so I don't stab you."

We separated as he skillfully pinned the flower to my dress.

"Well, it looks like you know the way to the girls' good graces," my dad surmised as he came in from the kitchen with Cami close behind him. "It's obligatory picture time," he added as he held up his phone.

My dad snapped the standard pictures of Cale and me and then, at her request, some of Cale and Cami before we could escape into the frosty December night.

"It was nice of you to get Cami flowers. You made... well, you probably made her middle school life."

"Cami is my girl," he absently said as he pulled into the high school. "Stay there; I'll help you out. I don't want to be responsible for you breaking your ankle jumping out of my truck in those shoes." He flashed his glance at my cute but entirely unpractical heels. As he opened the door, he began, "should I carry you inside? It's icy."

"I'm not completely uncoordinated."

"Are you sure? I've seen you on roller skates, and I promised I wouldn't let you fall."

"I can do it, Cale." I shot.

"Okay, I won't help." He backed away from the door a bit.

"Well, I mean, you can help me down," I admitted as I looked at the slick parking lot beneath his truck.

"Uh-huh, that's what I thought." He lifted me by my hips as he spoke and set me down carefully on the ground.

The door slam startled me and caused my feet to slip a bit, but Cale was there to catch me before I fell.

"You good?" He laughed.

"Um," I didn't want to admit it.

"Yep, just like I thought." In one swift movement, he had me tucked in his arms and made his way to the front door.

"Everyone is looking at us." I hid my face in embarrassment.

"It's a parking lot; there's not much competition for attention. Besides, the guys are just feeling like asses for not helping their girls."

"And the girls are jealous."

"Oh, I don't know about that," he added as he set me down inside the door. "There's no chance you'll be able to dance in those," he noted.

"I just need to wear them long enough to get into the dimly lit gym; then, I can kick them off and hide them under a table."

"Solid plan," he chuckled.

"Not my first time at this rodeo," I joked back.

Walking into a dance with Cale Benton was like walking through a small town with the mayor. Everyone said hi, gave a nod, or, at the very least, a smile. It surprised me that it was nearly everyone. A pang of guilt coursed through me that I had been so wrong about Cale. He seemed to know everyone, regardless of their clique. A nagging thought that maybe it was me that hadn't been paying attention reared its head.

We had just finished getting our picture taken when the smile on Cale's face dropped. He glanced over my shoulder and then dipped his face close to my ear.

"I'm going to go... over there." As he pulled away, he nodded over my shoulder and slipped away.

I turned around to find Chris.

"Hey!" My greeting came a bit too loud and sickly cheery for a reason I couldn't place; my best friend was making me nervous.

"Hey, so you and Cale?" His eyes hadn't met mine yet; they lingered on Cale, pacing away behind me.

"Yeah, we're just friends. You know, the capstone and all."

"Mmhmm, capstone," he distractedly agreed before finally letting his eyes fall to me. "You look amazing."

"Thanks," I said. His compliment felt different than when Cale had complimented me. It meant more from Chris and sent a surge of nervous energy through me. "You always look handsome," I added as I smoothed the collar of his jacket. "How's Bella?"

"Good. I mean, it's different, but it's good. She doesn't seem to like to dance."

"Oh really? She does realize this is a dance?"

"Yeah." He shrugged.

I caught Cale's eye over Chris' shoulder. "I should get back. But if you need someone to dance with, you can join Cale and me. These shoes will be off in about two minutes."

Chris let out a laugh at my predictability. "Have fun, Dee," as he spoke, he pulled me in for a quick hug.

"You good?" Cale asked as I approached.

"No," I blurted. "I have to get out of these shoes!"

Cale laughed and offered his shoulder to stabilize me while I slipped them off before we headed to the dance floor.

"So," I began as the first slow dance swirled around us, and he pulled me in close. "Are you finally going to tell me about this girl that has captured your attention?"

"We're having fun, Delly. Let's not ruin it."

"Talking about her makes you sad?" I couldn't read his expression. It appeared he was warring with himself.

"No, not sad; frustrated, I guess. It's not fair for me to be frustrated, though."

"Why not? Frustrated is a valid feeling. I'm frustrated all the time." I shrugged.

"Oh, I know." He let out a laugh that caused his shoulders to relax. "I like her, but she doesn't seem to have enough time for me. She has all these commitments. Honestly, she's a bit like you. She's into all these things, and people depend on her."

"She sounds great," I teased.

"But it's hard to edge in for any time because she has all these commitments and responsibilities." He let out another sigh. "Maybe it's just not meant to be."

"Have you let her know that you're interested in her?" I prodded.

"What do you mean? We've hung out, and I always check in with her." His brow furrowed at my question and the thoughts it caused.

"Right, but have you told her you like her?"

"I mean, no, not explicitly. Do I need to? Like, shouldn't she be able to tell?"

"Well, based on what you just described, you're spending time with her a lot, like you're spending time with me."

"Oh, Delly." His arms stiffened. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply..."

"Relax, Cale; I know the girl isn't me." I let out a laugh as his shoulders relaxed again. "For the record, I don't have a crush on you either, but I do know a thing or two about not realizing a friend likes you until it is too late."

"So you admit it!" He triumphantly smiled.

"I admit nothing," I muttered back.

"Mmhmm, you should tell Chris how you feel."

"You should tell your mystery girl how you feel."

He let out another sigh before dipping me. "Maybe," he murmured as he lifted me back to his chest.

We danced the entire night, not just with his friends or mine, but with everyone. Everywhere I turned was another person having the time of their life. No one seemed to care if they were a terrible dancer or the best dancer; we were all just dancing. Something about the moment felt like it was Cale. He had a way of disarming everyone, lulling them into this sense of security that allowed them to be themselves.