“How are you doing?” Angela asked softly as she sat down beside Melissa on the school bus.
Melissa shook her head and kept it lowered. “I’m a little depressed.”
“Really? Why?”
“Well, all the cheerleaders got to go to prom, but not me. I was stuck at home just wishing someone would have asked me out.”
Angela exhaled loudly. “Don’t worry about it. Prom wasn’t that great at all.”
“You don’t need to lie to try and make me feel better.” Melissa threw her a dirty look. “All the girls on the squad are bragging about how much fun they had and how it was the best night of their lives. Don’t pretend that you didn’t have fun going with Carson.”
At the mention of his name, Angela cringed. “He wasn’t much of a gentleman, and I wish I never went to prom or the after-party.”
“Seriously? But, the other girls said that the party was the best.”
“I bet they did, but, their idea of fun isn’t the same as mine.”
“Maybe so,” Melissa said shrugging her shoulders, “but, I’m not going to miss the next party.”
Angela wanted to tell her friend more about what really happened that night and how the other cheerleaders had turned against her. However, there were too many students that could listen in to their conversation, and the bus just arrived at the school.
After homeroom, Angela headed to her first class and then frowned as she spotted Jessica already seated in the back of the classroom. Angela avoided eye contact and took her seat. She ignored Jessica and every other cheerleader throughout the day.
At lunch, Angela was used to sitting with Carson or with her squad, but she would not do that anymore. As she glanced around the cafeteria looking for a spot to sit, she saw Carson at a table with a girl beside him and his arm around her shoulder.
The first day back in school, Angela thought, and he already has another girl.
She began to feel sad again, knowing that he replaced her so fast and moved on so easily, as if their time together meant nothing to him. However, that also showed Angela how much he truly was not right for her. At least he is not with Jessica.
She continued glancing around until she saw her brother at a table by himself.
“Is this seat taken?” she joked as she appeared beside him.
Andrew’s face lit up when he saw her. “No, please, be my guest.”
After Angela sat down, she slightly brushed him on the shoulder. “I’m sorry for not going with you and your counselor to Mass yesterday, and for not playing any games and stuff either. I was just so tired and had a lot on my mind.”
“You don’t need to apologize. I understand.”
The rest of the lunch break they relaxed and talked about their classes and random things in general. Angela’s last two classes went by relatively fast, and when school ended, she headed to the gymnasium for her practice.
“Hey Angela,” Jessica called out from where she was stretching. “Are you feeling better today?”
Angela could not tell how sincere Jessica was, but she replied, “Yes, I am.”
“Listen, about what happened at the party… try not to let it get you down. Carson just wasn’t right for you. I mean, he’s cute, tall, and muscular… and he was very talented on the football field… but, he’s not the kind of guy for you.”
Angela refrained from rolling her eyes, and tried not to relive what Carson put her through. What Jessica also put her through. “I know he’s not.”
“Besides, there are plenty of other guys out there. None of the boys I’ve dated so far were right for me. Don’t let it get you down. I never do.”
Easy for you to say, Angela thought with a mental snort. You don’t take dating seriously.
She then remembered what Andrew had mentioned about courtship rather than dating. Angela smiled at the thought that someday she could meet the right guy, and knew that it was not that time yet. She then said, “I’ll be okay.”
“That’s the spirit!” Jessica gave a wide smile, clearly believing her ‘pep talk’ had worked. “Alright, let’s get to work. We’ve got the District Cheerleading Competition to win this Saturday.”
After a hard and exhausting practice, Angela was unsure if Jessica was going to give her a ride home. In light of how the party had gone, she decided to just walk. She left the gym before everyone else, changed, and headed out.
When she finally arrived home, and immediately as she entered inside, she saw her uncle storming up the hallway towards her.
“You’ve crossed the line!” Uncle Billy sounded irate as he waved a credit card statement in front of her. “Why did you spend two hundred dollars on a prom dress?”
Angela was completely caught off guard. “You said Paula could buy me one.”
“But,” he objected, “I didn’t say you should waste two hundred dollars on it.”
Angela raised her hands defensively, “I’m not sure what to say.”
“You can start by promising to pay me back,” Billy growled.
“I don’t understand. You gave Paula permission to use the money to buy me a dress. And, I didn’t pick out the two hundred dollar one anyways. Paula did.”
“Yeah? But, you didn’t have to accept it.”
When Angela stayed quiet, Billy shouted, “I don’t care if that’s all the money you have in your piggy bank, or if you need to go out and work a job, but you owe me two hundred dollars.”
Footsteps echoed down the stairs as Andrew rushed to his sister’s side. “Is there a problem here?”
“Why don’t you just mind your own business!” Uncle Billy turned on him glaring.
Andrew stayed calm and cool. He stood up straight and stared directly into Billy’s eyes. “My sister is my business. Now stop yelling at her.”
“What? You can’t tell me what to do in my own house.”
“This is obviously all a misunderstanding,” Andrew said, holding his ground. “Maybe this is something you should discuss with Paula instead. She is the one that used your credit card, not Angela.”
Uncle Billy tore his hands roughly through his hair. “I can’t believe what I’m hearing. You know what? Forget it. I don’t even care about the dress anymore. Just don’t expect anything else from me again. Ever.”
As their uncle marched back into his room and closed the door, Angela turned to her brother. “Thank you for standing up for me.”
“Of course. That’s what family is for.”
“Unfortunately,” Angela said wryly, “Uncle Billy is family.”
“Yeah, I know. But, I try not to worry about that much anymore.”
“Why’s that?” Angela asked genuinely curious. “You used to be really fired up about him and the whole mystery money thing. Aren’t you still interested where he’s getting it all from?”
“Yes,” Andrew admitted, “but, it’s not in our hands any longer. Counselor Robertson was right when he told me to focus on strengthening my relationship with God. Everything is in God’s hands. We just need to have faith.”
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