Prom and Other Hazards

By Jamie Sullivan

It might take the magic of prom to turn her best friend into her girlfriend.

Frankly, prom is a ridiculous concept. People at school treat it like it’s a test run for a wedding, complete with “promposals.” That’s not even mentioning the dresses, which look like Disney vomited tulle and sparkles onto the nearest mannequin. Sam wants nothing to do with any of it.

But there’s the tiny fact that her best friend, Tash, dreams of the perfect romantic prom. And Sam’s been in love with Tash since they were ten years old. She’s given up hope of ever having the courage to tell Tash how she feels, until she spots The Suit in a shop window. Sleek, androgynous, and flat-out cool—it could finally give her the boost she needs. However, it’s also way out of her price range.

Still, if she can earn the money for the suit, then maybe she can finally tell Tash she loves her, and they can both enjoy the perfect prom.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Riptide Publishing
• Release date: Dec 8, 2020
• ISBN: 9781626499409

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Riptide Publishing

PO Box 1537

Burnsville, NC 28714

www.riptidepublishing.com

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. All person(s) depicted on the cover are model(s) used for illustrative purposes only.

Prom and Other Hazards

Copyright © 2016, 2020 by Jamie Sullivan

Cover art: Natasha Snow, natashasnow.com

Editor: Carole-ann Galloway

Layout: L.C. Chase, lcchase.com

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher, and where permitted by law. Reviewers may quote brief passages in a review. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Riptide Publishing at the mailing address above, at Riptidepublishing.com, or at [e-mail].

ISBN: 978-1-62649-940-9

Second edition

December, 2020

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It might take the magic of prom to turn her best friend into her girlfriend.

Frankly, prom is a ridiculous concept. People at school treat it like it’s a test run for a wedding, complete with promposals. That’s not even mentioning the dresses, which look like Disney vomited tulle and sparkles onto the nearest mannequin. Sam wants nothing to do with any of it.

But there’s the tiny fact that her best friend, Tash, dreams of the perfect romantic prom. And Sam’s been in love with Tash since they were ten years old. She’s given up hope of ever having the courage to tell Tash how she feels, until she spots The Suit in a shop window. Sleek, androgynous, and flat-out cool—it could finally give her the boost she needs. However, it’s also way out of her price range.

Still, if she can earn the money for the suit, then maybe she can finally tell Tash she loves her, and they can both enjoy the perfect prom.

About Prom and Other Hazards

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Dear Reader

Also by Jamie Sullivan

About the Author

Sneak Peek: The Persephone Star

Sneak Peek: Heart of the Dragon

Sam blinked, incredulous, at the banner dangling in front of her.

Will you GOAT to prom with me? it asked, the words scrawled in dripping paint, next to a crudely rendered drawing of an animal that she assumed—from context clues—was meant to be a goat. It looked more like a radioactive dog.

It was . . . Unbelievably embarrassing, she muttered, shaking her head.

No! Tash protested beside her. It’s sweet!

Sweet? Sam swung around to bestow the full force of her disbelief on her best friend. It looks like a six-year-old made it.

But look how happy Kayla is, Tash argued.

Kayla Ross—petite, blonde, and popular—embraced her dumb boyfriend, Austin, in front of the entire cafeteria, like the whole school hadn’t known they were going to prom together already. Austin still had paint on his hoodie, so it wasn’t like he’d put that much preparation into the thing, but Kayla was almost crying as she choked out the word yes.

I literally can’t believe this is happening, Sam said. "It’s like some kind of dystopian nightmare. Why does Austin need a banner to ask out his own girlfriend?"

They’re called promposals, Tash said knowingly. They’re a thing now. I saw it on Buzzfeed.

"Seriously? Promposal? The disdain dripping from Sam’s words felt like it might be visceral enough to pool at her feet and ruin her shoes. Who made that up? It’s one school dance, not a lifetime commitment!"

"I heard Henry Lee ordered a thousand balloons in Jackie’s favorite color. He’s going to get the custodian to