Open Peer Pressure

[Van Voclain]

Even in her dress and make-up, Van felt out of place. She'd given in, at last, to the pressure of attending the Yule Ball - she could only pretend to be sick so many years in a row before people twigged on - but she had not been clued in about how she was supposed to act, or dance, or catch boys' eyes, or any of the other things that seemed to come naturally to everyone else. She liked to think that everyone was faking it, really, copying each other until it was no longer certain who was copying who, but if it was true, they were all better actors than Van, too.

Hugging the walls, she made her way over to the drinks table and poured herself some fruit punch. At least with a drink in her hand, she wouldn't look quite so awkward.