The school dance was just days away, and as the most popular student, I hadn’t yet chosen a date. Almost every beautiful girl had already asked me, but I hadn’t given an answer.

Then Em approached me—her large belly hanging slightly from her tight shirt, jeans snug on her wide hips, her long, messy brown hair falling down her back, and those strange red eyes staring at me. Her odd, musty smell lingered as she nervously asked, “Will you go to dances with me?”

Distracted, I accidentally said “Yes.” The words slipped out before I could stop them.