"It still has a name on it," she said, giggling. "Look. STAN."
"Let go," I said.
It came out smaller than I wanted.
She tilted her cup.
Cold water splashed down the front of the skirt and ran into the tiers.
The blue stripes darkened.
"Oops," she said. "Rags soak up everything."
Somebody howled.
Somebody shouted again that my dress was disgusting.
I stood there with one hand over his name on my pocket, wishing the ground would swallow me whole.
"Here's the deal," Skylar said, tossing the empty cup at my feet. "Take it off or get out."
She smiled.
"Your choice, janitor's girl."
My eyes filled with tears.
I almost turned to run.
Then I heard my father's voice, as clear as the chime of the cafeteria bell.
You just have to show up.
And that was when the music stopped.
The silence fell like a sheet over the whole room.
