by J. J. Howard
I didn’t know what else to do, so I closed the door and led Chris and Frankie to the kitchen.
“Can I get you some Benadryl?” I asked Chris, whose nose was now streaming. After all, as Theo had reminded me, I was the hostess.
* * *
We stuffed ourselves for about fifteen minutes, and then Theo suggested we start a round of karaoke.
Everyone trooped into the den, but Autumn touched my arm before we followed them. “So, Emma, I’ve been to your house a couple of times, but I’ve never gotten the full tour.”
I resisted a frown. What kind of trick was this? “Okay,” I said, “I can show you the upstairs if you want.” I led her toward the staircase and tried to think of what my dad told adults when they toured around the house.
But before I could start, Autumn said, “I really just wanted us to have a chance to talk. I wanted to warn you about the Queen of Hearts race.”
I turned to face her halfway up the stairs. “What do you mean?”
Autumn sighed. “I mean that everyone knows I have this contest on lock. You should just drop out and save yourself the humiliation.”
I felt my back stiffen. “What gives you that idea?”
“The idea is that nobody likes how you boss them around, Emma Winters. They’re not going to vote for you.”
My face felt very hot. I stood up as tall as I could, glad that I was one step higher than her on the stairs. “I don’t know who you think goes around saying that—except for you,” I replied. “But I’m sorry to tell you that I wouldn’t drop out now if my life depended on it.”
I began to march regally downstairs past her, but Autumn’s voice called after me, “Do you even have a date for the dance, Emma?” she asked.
My heart was beating fast, and I heard it echoing in my ears. I was sure my face was still red. Autumn had never been my favorite person, but it seemed like she was much more awful than I’d ever imagined. I ignored her and kept walking.
“What’s wrong?” Theo asked, coming up beside me as I shuffled into the den.
I shook my head. I couldn’t talk about it. Not with everyone—including Autumn—still here. She followed me into the den, smiling like we hadn’t just had our unpleasant confrontation.
“Autumn, you need to sing next!” Chris was holding the karaoke mic out for her. He sneezed twice before saying to the rest of us, “She’s really good. We’re in—achoo—chorus together.”
Autumn smiled widely. “Well, I wouldn’t say so myself, but some people do say my voice reminds them of Ariana Grande.”
I snorted loudly, and Theo shot me a look. The music started—it was indeed an Ariana Grande song, and Autumn began to sing. Her voice really wasn’t bad, but she’d definitely oversold herself.
Frankie came up beside me and rolled his eyes. “Em, I hate to say it, but your party is dullsville.” He spoke loudly over Autumn’s singing. “I’m going to take off.”
“Oh,” I said in a small voice. Trying to save face, I added, “I can’t blame you. Ariana extra small up there is a lot to take.”
I hadn’t expected her to hear me—I wasn’t speaking as loudly as Frankie was. But Autumn had stopped singing. She flung the microphone down and started looking around for her coat.
“I’m off,” Autumn announced angrily.
Theo glared at me. “If anyone wants a ride, my mom can take you,” he said.
My stomach dropped. Theo was ending my party? What was even happening?
I bent to pick up Cupid for the comfort of a furry hug. Beside me, Chris sneezed again, loudly, and I jumped.
“I’m all set,” Autumn announced, checking her phone. “My Uber is almost here—I’ll wait outside.”
I watched her walk out the door, with Frankie behind her.
“I think I’ll take you u—A-CHOO—up on that ride,” Chris said to Theo, wiping his nose.
“Me too,” Hallie said. “Unless you need me to stay and help clean a bit?” she asked me.
I shook my head, feeling miserable. “I’ll get the machine later,” Theo told me, and didn’t look back at me as he led the rest of my guests out the door.
Annie walked into the den a few minutes later. “Emma? All the noise stopped. Where’d everybody go?”
“Apparently, I shouldn’t throw any more parties,” I told her, fighting back tears. “I managed to chase all my guests away in just under three minutes.”
“What happened?”
I shook my head as my throat tightened. Talking about it just then seemed impossible. “Can you just help me clean up? Please? I’m sorry to have to ask,” I added.
Annie walked closer. “It’s no problem, Emma. Now, why don’t I start by wrapping up the rest of those cupcakes?” she said with a wink.
I gave a small laugh, but my heart wasn’t in it. Not only had my matchmaking scheme failed utterly, now it seemed like Theo was mad at me. I wanted to call him and explain about the awful things Autumn had said to me, but maybe that would seem like I was just trying to make excuses. The fact was, I’d said something rude about Autumn. The hostess of a party should provide food and drink … and she shouldn’t be rude to her guests.
I went to the kitchen and pulled out a trash bag. It was time to start cleaning up my mess.
I felt wretched. Instead of sitting on my bed, I sat down on the floor in the corner of my room. Cupid followed me, curling up against my side with a contented sigh.
I sat there, staring out at the small sliver of window I could see from my corner, wallowing. I felt angry at Theo for abruptly ending my party over one tiny comment—but at the same time I felt worried and kind of sick at the thought that he might be mad at me. Or think less of me.
Autumn had been so horrible to me, but now I was the bad guy. It just wasn’t fair.
And nothing had worked out the way I’d hoped. Chris and Hallie hadn’t even noticed each other—although poor Chris didn’t notice much at all with his sneezing. I said a silent prayer that I would never develop an allergy to dogs—and neither would Dad or Theo or Hallie. It seemed like the worst allergy in the world. Beside me, Cupid gave another little adorable puppy sigh as though he were agreeing with me.
“Emma!” I heard Dad’s voice calling. Cupid’s tail began to wag, but I didn’t move. Soon Dad was peering into my room. “Uh-oh,” he said when he saw me in the corner.
“Why uh-oh?” I asked, though my voice came out small and tired-sounding.
“Because you never sit down there unless you’re feeling very blue. What’s the problem? Why don’t you come on out of there and tell me about it, and we can figure out a way to solve it.”
“I’m not even sure what the problem is!” I moaned. “Or even if there’s just one problem. Lately I just feel like I don’t understand anyone. Not like I used to. Everything’s just so complicated now.”
I guess Dad gave up on getting me to come out of my corner because he sat down on the floor across from me. He looked so silly with his legs folded like that, I might have laughed, but I was feeling too low. “Well, let’s just start with one specific problem,” Dad said.
“Okay,” I said. “The Valentine’s dance.”
“What about it?” Dad asked patiently.
I shrugged. “Last year, the dance was so much fun. I went with Hallie, and everyone was there, and we all danced and ate cupcakes and it was so amazing. But this year … well, everyone started to pair up with official dates. I tried to find one for Hallie, because I knew she wanted to go to the dance, but I struck out both times. And I … well, I don’t have one either,” I added in an embarrassed rush.
“You don’t need to have a date to have a good time,” Dad pointed out.
“I know,” I said. “But still … it would be nice if some boy would ask me.”
Dad nodded. “Well, any boy who hasn’t asked you is just missing out,” he said.
“Thanks, but you’re my dad—you have to say that.”
Dad laughed. “It’s true, though. Besides, Emm
a, if you want to go with someone to the dance—why not ask him yourself?”
“That’s what Hallie said.” I rubbed little circles into Cupid’s tummy just the way he liked.
Dad nodded. “Hallie’s a very bright girl, but I’ve always said that. You are too, Emma—it’s just—these things are hard to figure out at the beginning. Well, actually, they’re always hard, if I’m being honest.”
I glanced up at him. “You and Ms. Bates?”
“Yes. Me and Ms. Bates. Sometimes … the timing’s just not right.”
I swallowed hard. Did that mean he and Ms. Bates had broken up? I wasn’t sure if I felt relieved, or disappointed. I realized I felt more disappointed.
“Dad?”
“Yes, Emma?”
“I do really like Ms. Bates. I mean, Abby.”
Dad smiled. “Me too, Emma. Now, why don’t you climb out of there and we’ll see if we can’t solve at least one more of those problems. Over some ice cream, maybe?”
“Not frozen yogurt? You always say how it’s a healthier option.”
“I think this situation calls for real ice cream,” he said.
* * *
Without even knowing it—or maybe he actually did know—Dad helped me with my most upsetting problem by inviting Theo to come get ice cream with us.
Theo walked into the kitchen as I was hooking on Cupid’s halter so he could come with us. Dad was finishing up some emails in his study, so it was just me and Theo (and Cupid) for now.
“Hey,” I said, feeling strange. The anger I’d been holding inside seemed mostly gone now.
“Hey,” Theo replied, his hands in his pockets. He knelt down and rubbed Cupid’s back as Cupid kissed his face.
“Listen, Theo—I … I’m sorry about before. I shouldn’t have said that. But if you’d heard what Autumn had just said to me …”
Theo glanced up at me. “I figured she must have provoked you somehow. But, Emma—is that really how you want to handle stuff like that? Insulting her back, in public?”
I hung my head. I felt deflated—I’d been trying to recall Autumn’s exact, horrible words so I could recite them back to Theo, and then he’d understand and forgive me. But his words had taken all the air out of me. He was right, I knew. Just because Autumn had been awful didn’t mean I had to be awful too.
Cupid trotted back to me and jumped on his hind legs to get my attention. I knelt down to pat him and he licked my cheek.
With my free hand, I swiped at the hot tears that were forming in my eyes. “You’re right,” I told Theo.
Theo took a step forward. “Oh, Emma—please don’t cry. I didn’t mean to be hard on you. And I’m sorry about what happened earlier too. I didn’t have to be so dramatic and leave so fast. It just seems like you’ve been … different. Since you’ve been spending so much time with, well, you know … with Frankie.”
I looked up at him in surprise. “I thought you liked Frankie?”
Theo frowned. “I’m not saying I don’t …”
“You kids ready?” Dad called, and Theo didn’t finish his sentence.
“Yeah,” I said, getting to my feet.
I led the way to the Creamery with Cupid trotting at my side. When we arrived, we all ordered our usual favorites. Now that it felt like things were mostly patched up between Theo and me, I felt so much better.
“Thanks, Dad,” I told him as we walked outside with our cones. Theo was up ahead walking Cupid. “This was a good idea.” He’d known just how to make me feel better.
“You’re welcome, sweetie,” Dad said, and gave me a kiss on the forehead.
Up ahead of us, Cupid turned around and gave a short bark, as if to say, What about me?
“I think someone is jealous he didn’t get ice cream,” Dad said with a smile.
* * *
Now that Theo and I were back on good terms, I knew I should make sure everything was okay with Hallie too. That night, as I wrote in my journal at my desk, I realized that there had been a sort of tension between us for a while. Instead of trying to fix it, I’d just been glad whenever I’d managed to change the subject, or a distraction—like Theo—showed up. It was time to focus on Hallie, and do something nice for her.
I hopped online and carefully picked out everything that I knew would make Hallie look awesome for the dance: the perfect dress, shoes, and even a necklace. I also found a great hairstyle idea on YouTube. I texted Hallie and asked her to come over after school on Tuesday, which would give everything I ordered with two-day shipping a chance to arrive. And then I’d give her a surprise dance makeover!
Why couldn’t the two of us just put on great outfits and go together like we had last year? It would be so much fun.
Hallie texted back a thumbs-up, and I felt lighter than I had in weeks. I lay down on the floor beside a snoozing Cupid.
“I know I told you that you needed to find a great date for Hallie for the dance,” I told him. “But now I’m thinking just wait a little on that, okay, buddy?”
Cupid looked up at me drowsily, but I could almost swear he nodded before going back to sleep.
* * *
I surprised Hallie by opening the door wearing everything I planned to wear to the Valentines dance. “Surprise!” I said.
“I thought you said we were hanging out,” Hallie said, sounding confused as she walked inside.
“We are!”
“If this is the new Winters family dress code, I have to say I won’t be watching any more movies here,” Hallie said drily.
“No, silly, this is your surprise. Come on!” I pulled her along upstairs with me.
In my bedroom, Cupid looked up from his fluffy purple bed and then came running to greet Hallie.
She knelt down to pet him, still looking up at me with a wary expression. “What’s this about, Em?”
“It’s a Valentine’s makeover!” I announced. “I have a surprise for you. I’ve been thinking, we don’t need dates to the dance. We can just get all dressed up and go together—just like last year. We had so much fun.”
I closed my bedroom door to reveal the purple dress I’d picked for her hanging on the back of it. “Surprise!”
Hallie crossed her arms. “What is that?”
“It’s a dress, silly!”
“I mean … who is it for?”
“For you, of course.” I looked down at my own red dress. “I’m wearing this one. I already showed you—remember?”
Hallie nodded. “Yeah. I remember. I made you earrings to match it, remember? But you’re not wearing them.”
I felt my face turn pink. I realized then that I’d completely forgotten about the earrings she’d given me a few weeks ago. “Oh,” I said. “I mean, they were really pretty, but for the dance and with this dress, I decided not to wear something homemade.”
Hallie’s face turned pink too. “Ah. Got it. Well, then I guess you’re not going to want to be seen with me at the dance, because my whole dress is going to be homemade. That’s the project Travis and I have been working on.”
She opened the door and took a step out. I followed her, my heart pounding in my chest. “Wait—Hallie—I’m sorry—I didn’t mean …”
She whirled back to face me, more color in her cheeks than before. “I know what you meant. But I’m excited about the dress Travis and I designed. His mom is sewing it for me. Oh, and by the way, I’ve been trying to figure out a way to tell you this for a while: I have a date to the dance. Travis and I are going together.”
Her words made the floor shift under my feet. She’d been trying to tell me for a while? All this time I’d been trying to find Hallie the perfect date; how long had she already had one?
“I—I don’t understand,” I sputtered. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Hallie set her jaw. “Because of how you’re looking at me right now,” she said. “You can’t stand Travis because of what he did at the festival last year. And I know it was dumb—he knows it was dumb. But he was trying to help with th
at horse and the hayride. His dog is a rescue, and he was trying to get him used to crowds. But the horse ended up scared and his dog did too. It’s not like he was trying to ruin everything.”
I looked over at Cupid and realized how lucky I was that my dad had been able to get us a dog trainer when Cupid was tiny. Travis wasn’t a bad owner. He’d rescued his dog, after all.
“I’m going to go,” Hallie said. “You can return that dress. I’m going to wear the one we designed. And you don’t have to wear the earrings. You can just throw them away.”
With that, she was gone. I stood frozen. I wanted to chase after her, to apologize, to somehow make it right, but by the time I could make my feet move, it was too late.
I sank down onto the floor, wrinkling my fancy dress and then not even caring when Cupid scrambled into my lap and got dog hair all over it.
I realized, in that moment, that I’d been completely, totally, epically clueless about everything. I’d also been a really terrible friend. I kept hearing Hallie’s final words echo in my head. You can just throw them away.
Finally, I got to my feet, wriggled out of my dress and changed, then kissed Cupid goodbye. I shrugged into my coat and started walking.
I’d been so misguided—and about more than just Hallie. I could see it all now. It was like Hallie’s words had taken a pair of rose-colored glasses off my eyes and I could see everything clearly.
And then it hit me: All that scheming I’d done to try to get Cupid to find Hallie a date for the dance had been pointless … because Cupid had already picked Travis for Hallie.
I remembered it so clearly now. All the way back at the winter carnival, Cupid had done his “trick” and given each of them a wet, sloppy kiss! But I’d been so blinded by my dislike of Travis that I hadn’t even noticed.
Speaking of being blinded, part of me couldn’t believe I’d been considering Frankie’s half offer to go to the dance with him. Cupid certainly hadn’t ever done his little trick on us. I thought of Frankie carrying my books, winking at me, and even signing me up for the queen race. Of course, I really hadn’t wanted Frankie to do that. I was embarrassed now thinking of those awful signs I’d asked Frankie to make, which were hanging all over the school.