Chapter 37: Chapter 38: Fall Formal

Alice sampled a few appetizers, Peter stuffing himself until she had to brush crumbs from his lapels with a soft laugh. As they strolled the edge of the empty dance floor, waiting for the parents to finish with photos and leave, Alice was stopped over and over by other students, mostly girls, asking about her dress, talking to her like she wasn't invisible. Kindly. Friendly. And her old hate faded as they did, leaving her with a warm ball of welcome in her belly, burning off the last of her resentment.

They liked her. And she, well, she just might come to like some of them.

The mess with the doll, despite the path she'd taken to get to this moment, suddenly seemed completely worth it.