"Jones!" I called. Either he didn't hear me or he was ignoring me. I kicked off my heels and raced out in front of him. He stopped as I appeared, and walked around me. I stamped my foot.

"Jones Jonathan Callaway! Where do you think you are going?" I shouted.

"Home. Away from you and Simon."

I grabbed his arm.

"No, you're damn well not!" I yelled. I didn't know if I could be heard in the hall, but at that moment, I couldn't care less. Jones glared furiously at me.

"Keep your voice down. I am leaving. You have no control over that."

"I will not keep my voice down! And as you once said to me; cut off your nose to spite your face, did you? You know I want you at the Grad. I would like to see you up there on stage, accepting whatever stupid award they're presenting you. You would like to be up there, too. Don't bother telling me you wouldn't. But for some reason, some stupid, idiotic reason, you will not do what you want because it would make me happy, too. Well, Jones, what's your reason?"

Jones was furious at me. I didn't care. If I could make him tell me what was up with him, I'd leave him alone.

"The O.P's." He hissed.

"The bloody op's? Is that it?"

"I'm glad to see you can dismiss it so lightly." He said through clenched teeth.

"Yes, I can. Why can't you?"

"Because I wanted to prove I am as good as you. Better. And you went and got all high and mighty and took that goal away."

"I did nothing of the sort. I showed you that we are equal. I know the Op's aren't behind this. What is?"

Jones merely looked at me, a pained sort of looked in his eyes.

"Fine." I said tiredly. "Just fine. But while you're in your taxi riding home, just think about what you're missing here. Think about what your stupid bloody pride is costing you."

I spun on my heel and returned with dignity to the hall and slipped my heels back on my feet.

They had already started the naming. Sophie was Most Popular girl, Haley, most pretty, Daniel Hawkins the most technological advanced guy and that was as far as they had got before I slipped inside the hall again. Nobody noticed my return. Simon was nowhere to be seen, and for that I was grateful. Well into the ceremony, I heard a noise and saw Jones slip back into the hall. I smiled a small smile. Not of triumph, but of happiness. At the very end of the evening, when the naming of Grad King and Queen began, I suddenly felt the urge to leave. I waited till they began naming the nominees for King. I made ready to leave and almost stood up before they called Jones's name. I sat back down.

"The winner is..."

Jones, Jones, Jones. I chanted silently.

"Jones Callaway!" The hall went wild, and so did I. I watched him climb the stairs to the platform and accept his award. I slipped out in the confusion.

The night air was cool and refreshing on my skin and it was balm to my fevered skin. I wondered briefly who Grad Queen was, but dismissed it. I'd ask Haley tomorrow. I peeked inside the hall through the glass. They were calling somebody. Everybody looked around, but the person was not to be seen. Jones got down off his throne and made his way through the crowd. I ducked back behind my tree. I closed my eyes, taking deep breaths. I started when I heard Jones say my name.

"Come to berate me some more?" I asked. Jones shook his head and crossed his arms.

"It's Simon." He said abruptly. "Simon was why I wanted to leave. I saw you and him together."

"So?" I asked.

"I got jealous." He said ashamedly. I laughed. He glared at me.

"I'm sorry." I said, "but the thought of there actually being anything between me and Simon is funny."

"But you kissed him."

"No. He kissed me." Jones looked at me in the dark. All I could see of his face was two shining globes that were his eyes. He examined my face.

Consumed by the nearness of him, and the romantic possibilities of a Gradation night, I was moved to stand on my toes and press my recently kissed lips to his and return the favor Simon had granted me.

"See." I said, "There's nothing between me and Simon."

"Oh," said Jones sheepishly, "I know that now. But you have to admit, it looked kind of compromising."

"No." I said. "I do not. If you had stayed long enough, you would have noticed I was trying very hard to get out of the position." Jones had begun to look much more lighthearted at my denial of anything romantic or otherwise between Simon and me. But at this he dimmed a bit.

"So you wouldn't like it done again?" He asked.

"No. Not unless it was with somebody I really liked."

"Do you like me?" He asked hopefully.

"You'll have to find out." I said, enjoying the game.

"And how would I do that?"

"Well, you might kiss me and stop pretending you're in love with Sophie."

Jones grinned and did just that.

"By the way." He said, "You were named Grad Queen. That's why I came looking."

I shrugged.

"I'm having much more fun right here." I said. Even though my back was pressed up against a spiky tree, cold, wet dew was seeping into my sandals, numbing my feet and I needed very badly to go the toilet, it was the most romantic experience of my life.