Chapter 21 (finale)

                                    

                                          
The next day, when I saw Jacob, I steadily ignored him, not even casting a glance his direction. Nor did he look at me. It was as if I'd never existed, never been with him. I still couldn't get the foreboding feeling out of my heart. Am I making a huge mistake by not getting him back? I wondered. I doubted it. If we weren't supposed to be together, fine by me. He was the jerk, not me.
                          
As usual, I sat with Jackie at lunch, but today she seemed nervous. "What's wrong?" I asked her.
                          
"Nothing. Why?" she returned.
                          
"Dunno, you seem kinda on edge. You sure you're okay?"
                          
"Yeah." She smiled, but I could tell it wasn't genuine. I decided not to inquire further. Her temper was short lately, and the last thing I wanted to do was piss off my best friend.
                          
"So anyway, prom's coming up..." she started.
                          
I held up a hand. "Don't. Just don't."
                          
She gave me a look, then understanding dawned in her eyes. "Right. I'm sorry." She leaned over and hugged me.
                          
"It's fine," I said.
                          
"Are you sure you don't want to go?" she asked again.
                          
I nodded. "Jackie, who would I even go with?"
                          
"Me! Duh!"
                          
I mentally facepalmed. I had forgotten about that; you could take your friends to prom, too. "Alright," I conceded.
                          
Jackie was elated. "Yay! Ooh, do you have something pretty to wear?"
                          
"Well," I began, "I do have this light green dress..."
                          
She made a face. "Eww, no. You need something prettier. How about you borrow my aqua dress?"
                          
I thought for a bit. "How big is it?"
                          
"About your size."
                          
"Alright," I sighed.
                          
Two weeks later, I was riding in a top-of-the-line Mercedes limo, on my way to the school. This year, our prom theme was Flowers of Romance, which I thought was beautiful. As we rode, Jackie chatted, but I tuned her out. I was brooding over my lack of dancing ability.  Even Jackie had said I sucked. Oh, well. I wasn't going to be dancing that much, anyway. 
                          
As the principal announced the prom, I looked around to see if I could find anyone I recognized. There! I saw Mike with his girlfriend, Haley Morrison, talking in a corner. He whispered something to her, and she giggled. Then the prom began.
                          
All of a sudden, there was a loud bang as the doors crashed open. People screamed and ran in fright. Jackie grabbed my arm, pointing. "Kate... who is that?"
                          
Then I saw him. He was looking around, trying to spot me.
                          
I am not afraid, I thought.
                          
When he spotted me, his eyes widened, and his ugly face spread into an evil grin. He started moving purposefully toward me.
                          
I narrowed my eyes, grabbed the hidden knife from my shoe, and braced myself.
                          
I am not afraid.
                          
 I charged.