Chapter 6: Cap and Gown

On graduation morning, the robing room smelled like hairspray and hot polyester.

Maggie had pinned her cap on in four seconds and gone to find her mother.

I stood at the mirror with mine in my hands, because my hair was too thick for any pin I owned.

"Stop fighting it," a voice said behind me.

Miles was in his black gown with the blue hood over one arm. He had shaved. His curls were flattened under a cap that sat perfectly straight.

"Terms," I said.

"Neighbors can pin caps." He held out his hand. "Give."

I gave him the cap and six bobby pins.

He moved behind me, and I felt him gather my hair at the crown. His fingers were careful, slow and warm.

He slid the cap on and pushed the first pin in, just above my ear.

His breath moved the small hairs on my neck.

I looked at him in the mirror. He was looking at my hair, his eyes dark and very steady.

"Hazel," he said, so quietly the room barely heard it.

The second pin went in.

I could feel every one of his fingers.

I had thought for fourteen years that I knew every way he could stand near me. I hadn't known this one.

He leaned in half an inch.

"Did you just smell my shampoo, Everly?" I said.

His hands froze.

In the mirror, the corner of his mouth went up, and he stepped back.

"Strawberry," he said. "Very responsible."

"Don't make it weird."

"You're the one who said it." He tucked the last pin in with a shaking thumb. "Done. You look like a graduate."

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