So Not Happening Read Free

for Club Viva. At least for a while.” I sigh, thinking of my fond memories of our favorite teen dance spot.
    Thirty minutes later, the Escalade stops at the entrance to Viva's, and we link arms and sashay to the entrance.
    “Name?”
    I blink at the bouncer. “Richie. It's me.” I laugh. “Bella?” I'm a regular! I wait for comprehension to settle in.
    It doesn't. “Bella?”
    “Bella Kirkwood?”
    “Oh yeah . . . Bella.” Richie scratches his bald head. “I'm sorry, Miss Kirkwood, you're not on the list tonight.”
    “What? Of course I am! I'm always on the list.” I gesture behind me. “We're all on the list.” Dude, we are the list.
    He taps his clipboard and frowns, his forehead wrinkling into folds. “Nope. Sorry. Your friends are here, but you're not. We have a special band performing tonight, and we can only take who's on the sheet here.”
    I feel the heat of my embarrassment all the way to my toes.
    The bouncer runs a meaty finger under his too-tight collar. “Tell you what, I'll make an exception . . . but just this once.”
    I know I should say thank you, but I'm too busy holding back a good “Do you know who I am?”
    “Since you didn't make the cut, I'll have to escort you in myself.” Richie unhooks the cording and lets me pass, then stops me. “The back way. Only A-listers go through the front.”
    I stand rooted to my spot. A-listers? I am an A-lister! I'm an A plus! I'm A squared. A times infinity!
    He travels fast on long legs, and in my four-inch heels and extra-large attitude, it's everything I can do to keep up. With a fist the size of a Hummer tire, he pounds on the door twice. The pulsing music grows louder as the door swings open.
    The back entryway is dark, and I step closer to my escort. We round the corner, then Richie abruptly stops.
    “This is the door to the dance floor,” he yells over the music. “Knock three times, then go in. Someone will be on the other side to help you find your friends.”
    I lift my manicured hand and pound three times. I push on the door, but it doesn't budge. Rearing back, I tackle it with my left shoulder, sending it flying on its hinges.
    I blink hard as the lights flare to full life.
    “Surprise!”
    My hands fly to cover my mouth as the room erupts into flashes, cheers, and shouts. The techno song is replaced with “Bye, Bye, Bye.”
    Banners hang from the back wall. WE'LL MISS YOU, BELLA! and WE LOVE YOU! and BELLA + NYC = FOREVER!
    “Oh my gosh!” I shake my head and scan the room, reveling at the sight of a club full of friends. “You guys are the best.” Tears pool and I quickly swipe them away as Hunter, my tower of studliness, ambles my way, arms open wide. I fold into him, and we stand under a strobe light, just hanging on and laughing.
    I kiss his cheek. “Did you do this?”
    He shrugs. “I had a lot of help.” Hunter smiles and gestures to Mia, who stands two feet behind us. With a laugh, she leaps to us, moving in for a three-way bear hug.
    “How am I ever going to make it without you two?”
    “You're not going to.” Hunter laces his fingers with mine and pulls me to his side. “Nothing's going to change just because you're moving.”
    “Totally.” Mia's long blonde hair swings as she nods. “We'll miss you while you're away, but we'll just have to make the most of the time you spend here.”
    The music roars to full volume, and I can feel the bass rumble in my chest. The crowd of my friends fills the dance floor and circles around us. With a final hug to Mia, I pull Hunter along behind me, and I work the room, speaking to every person I pass.
    Forty-five minutes later, I've worn out the words thank you and my chest hurts from excessive, jubilant hugging.
    “Let's get you something to drink.” I follow Hunter to the bar area, where he orders my Club Viva usual. A Sprite with cherry syrup. Three cherries, no stems.”
    I smile into his beaming face. He leans down, brushes away my bangs, then kisses my forehead.