Drama: A Graphic Novel

It’s the night of the formal. Callie surprises Jesse by wearing the vintage gown from the costume vault that she loved. Jesse gives her many compliments on how she looks and they depart. They share dinner at a Japanese restaurant with Liz and Justin, and then they all arrive at the dance.

During a slow dance, Callie hugs Jesse close to her. But Jesse soon tells her that he has to go to the bathroom. Initially, Callie busies herself by talking to her friends, but soon begins to wonder what is taking Jesse so long. She asks a boy named Pat, who happens to be going into the boy’s restroom, to look for Jesse in there. Pat emerges and tells her that he isn’t there. Callie, panicking, begins looking everywhere for Jesse. She is spotted by Liz, who takes her into the bathroom to help her calm down. There, Callie begins to cry. She tells Liz that Jesse lied to her about going to the bathroom and then went missing—and also that she hasn’t seen West anywhere.

The two then share a laugh after Callie realizes she’s smeared her mascara everywhere. She decides to lean into her dishevelment and Callie helps her tease her hair. They then go to take a picture and re-join the party, as Callie has decided to make the best of her time. Soon, though, Justin lets Callie know where Jesse is: Outside, talking with West.

Callie goes to confront Jesse, who has left her alone for two hours now. After West leaves the two to have their conversation, Jesse wordlessly admits what Callie already knows: He has a crush on West. “I guess you shouldn’t fall in love with every nice guy you meet?” He offers to Callie, who, incensed, responds with, “Well then, I guess I’ll just have to find some jerk to take me home, huh?” (212). Jesse tries to get Callie to stop, but she storms off.

“I’m done waiting,” Callie says, before she accidentally slams right into Greg (213). He asks her where Jesse is, and Callie explains that she has parted ways with him. Greg tells her that he arrived at the formal with Bonnie, but she quickly ditched him after texting with a high schooler for the first half of the night.

Greg then invites Callie on a walk, and they find themselves, again, on a park bench together. Greg says: “Callie, I messed up. Big-time. I’ve been so caught up with missing Bonnie, I didn’t realize that the girl I should really have been with was right before my eyes” (215). He then asks Callie to give him another chance. He says that he knows he’s been distant, and also that Matt has been mad at him for “getting to [her] first” (216). Callie is confused by all of this. “Don’t be confused...Be my girlfriend”, Greg says (216). Then, he tries to kiss Callie. But she stops him. She tells Greg that she’ll be walking the one block to her home by herself.