“I think you would look great in either one,” I told her. She gave me a look that let me know my answer was not satisfactory. I let out a sigh before glancing them over one more time. “The red one.”
She looked over the sketches and her brow dipped as she considered my choice. “You think?”
“I think it would look really good with your blonde hair and that new lipstick you bought the other day.” Her eyes widened and she looked up at me.
“God, I hadn’t even thought of that. That would look perfect.” She threw her arms around me in a tight hug. “Thanks Len.”
“Hey babe.” Katie and I pulled apart and turned to see Tommy making his way toward us. He dropped down into the seat next to Katie and tried to lean forward for a kiss, but she moved away so he couldn’t.
“I told you not to call me that,” she said, obviously annoyed by his presence. I didn’t have to ask to know she regretted telling him she would go to prom with him. While she was excited about the occasion itself, she was less than enthusiastic about Tommy being the one to take her. Mainly because he had taken her ‘yes’ to mean that they were now dating. She promised that after prom she would tell him the truth. I didn’t agree with it, but it wasn’t really my business.
Just then I saw something out of the corner of my eyes and I turned just as West came to a stop at the edge of our table. He glanced my way and smiled before turning his attention toward Tommy and his sister. I didn’t miss the way his eyes narrowed.
“Hands off my sister, Derwin,” he said coolly.
“His hands aren’t even on me,” Katie said, annoyed. Tommy grinned triumphantly.
“Mom texted. Dad’s coming in tonight and wants to have dinner.”
“Ugh, why?” She asked in disgust. She had made it clear on numerous occasions that her father wasn’t exactly a well liked person in her household. Not since he had decided after nearly twenty years of marriage that he wanted a divorce. Then as if that hadn’t been enough, he also announced to everyone that he had fallen in love with his secretary, a woman ten years his junior. Katie and the rest of her family had been blindsided. In their eyes, he cheated on all of them not just Mrs. Blake. So, now they only saw him on rare occasions and got an annual birthday phone call. The rest of the time, he might as well not even exist. I sometimes think they would have preferred it that way.
“Don’t know,” West said with a shrug. “Didn’t ask. Mom just said she wanted us home after school so we can be ready when he gets there.”
“Lennon was gonna come over tonight.” Katie looked over at me briefly before turning back to her brother. “I already told her I’d give her a ride.”
“It’s fine, I can always take the bus,” I said causing them both to look my way. “It’s not a big deal or anything.”
“I’ll take you home,” West offered. I shook my head.
“No, it’s fine. I don’t want to make you late or anything.” He flashed me his dimple.
“I don’t mind Lennon. I’ll wait for you after your last class.” Then he turned and said goodbye to Katie before he walked off. Katie groaned loudly.
“This sucks. I hate how he just shows up and we’re expected to just forget all of our plans for him,” she said. I frowned.
“I’m sorry, but we can always talk later tonight on the phone.”
“Yeah, I guess.” That seemed to appease her for the time being. Tommy spent the rest of lunch trying to get Katie to give him any kind of attention, but he might as well have not even been there. She was completely focused on the sketch in front of her. Her brows were bent with concentration as she added little bits of flair to the dress she was planning on wearing. I smiled before turning back to my lunch.
That afternoon, I sat in the passenger seat of West’s truck trying to think of something clever to say. Before I got the chance, he spoke up first.
“So, are you excited about prom?” He asked.
“I’m happy for Katie. I know she really wants to go, and I’m glad she’s getting the chance.”
“Yeah, but what about you? Aren’t you excited to go too?” When I didn’t respond, he looked over at me.
“Uh,” I began. “I actually don’t get to go. You have to be invited if you aren’t a Junior or Senior.”
“You didn’t get asked?” He genuinely sounded surprised by that.
“I’m not exactly the kind of girl guys want to take to prom,” I said with a laugh even though nothing about that was funny.
“Meaning?” He prodded.
“Meaning, I wear huge glasses that just make me look like a nerd, which I am, but they make it obvious. I have this hair that’s too thick to even attempt to make it look nice. My clothes make me look like a boy, and let’s not forget my mouthful of metal. No guy is going to want to kiss me like this.” I suddenly felt like I had just admitted too much to him. West looked at me for a second longer before he turned back to the road. I thought that was the end of the discussion, but then he spoke up.
“You don’t look like a nerd. Your glasses make you look intelligent, which you are. I like them and I think you should too. I’m sure your hair would look nice no matter what you chose to do with it. I mean I’ve only ever seen it up, but I still think it’s pretty. You in no way look like a boy. I’m not really sure who gave you that impression, but they’re way off, and I know I’ve told you before that you have a nice smile. It lights up your whole face and any guy would feel lucky to have you direct that at him.”
I was speechless. Hearing anyone say such nice things about everything I hated about myself was nice in itself, but add to the fact that it was West, the boy that I’d been crushing on for the past three years and well… I’ll just say I was in heaven. I couldn’t fight my smile and he seemed pleased that he had put it there.
A silence settled over us, and I wanted to change that. “So, are you excited about Houston?”
West had been scouted from colleges all over the country because of his skills on the football field. Most of them were offering him full scholarships to play for them, and I knew that he spent weeks mulling over his options. Last month, my family went out with him, Katie, and their mom to celebrate the fact that he had finally made his choice. He had signed with the University of Houston.
Dad thought it was wonderful. He had spent most of the night going over stats with West about Houston’s previous records and all the good he thought West would bring to the team. I’d tried to follow along, but I’d be lying if I said I knew what they were talking about. Besides the basics, I knew very little where football was concerned. That didn’t change the fact that I knew one thing for certain; West would definitely be wonderful.
“Yeah,” West said answering my question. A small trace of his familiar grin played on his lips. “I am actually. I’m pretty eager to start playing again.”
“I bet your Mom is happy you’ll be close still.” She wasn’t the only one. I had looked it up that night after our dinner. Houston was six hours away from Leering. It sounded like a lot, and I suppose to some people it was. I saw things differently though. Six hours was a lot closer than the 3,000 miles that West’s other choice, California, was.
“Yeah, she said she would have been okay with wherever I wanted to go, but I know she was really hoping I picked somewhere close to home.”
“Is that why you chose it?” He frowned.
“Not entirely. I can’t say it didn’t have some influence, but honestly, Houston has a great team. They made it to the playoffs last year, and they could have gone even further if they would have had a little better defense. Not too sound cocky, but I think I could really take them all the way.”
I smiled because it was too hard not to. Listening to him talk about football was incredible. His voice would get a little lilt to it, and his whole face lit up. It was obvious to anyone around that he loved his sport.
“Is Sebastian going with you?” West shook his head.
“Nah, he signed with Miami a few months back.�
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“I’m sorry. That must suck.” From what I had seen, West and Sebastian were just as inseparable as Katie and me. I couldn’t imagine being several states away from her or not being able to see her every day.
“It’s not too bad. I’m sure we’ll still talk from time to time. Besides, we kind of always knew we would have to get separated. It was kind of a long shot for us getting full scholarships to the same place. Not a lot of colleges can swing that. Plus he’s always had dreams of Miami, and I’ve always been more of a West Coaster.” I nodded my head.
I wanted to keep our small conversation going which was the only reason I found myself bringing up a subject I would have rather avoided all together. I looked down at my lap as I said the words. “I bet Nicole is upset you’re leaving.” He let out a chuckle that made me look over at him.
“I’m sure she won’t miss me.” I doubted that. Nicole and West had been sort of dating for the last year. According to Katie, they fought a lot, and honestly I didn’t see how they had anything in common outside of the fact that they were both popular. Still, they seemed to like each other. I always saw them walking down the halls together, and I couldn’t count how many times I’d seen her little silver sports car parked in front of their house when I stopped by to visit Katie.
I tried to like her. I didn’t think it was fair for me to hate her simply because she had something I never could. She didn’t make it easy though. She was cold and selfish and made sure everyone was aware that she had money, good looks, and the most popular boy in school on her arm.
“Are you going to miss her?” I prayed he wouldn’t say yes. He must have heard something in my voice because he turned toward me and frowned.
“Will you think badly of me if I say no?” His answer brought a smile to my face. He shook his head. “I know that makes me sound bad, but it’s complicated. Nicole and I don’t really have the best relationship.”
“Then why are you with her?”
“Uh…” he hesitated. “I’d rather not answer that.”
“I’m sorry. I know it’s none of my business. I was just curious.”
“It’s not that. It’s just…I don’t really have a good reason for being with her. I was with her for the same reasons lots of guys get with girls. All of them wrong ones.” That made me frown. “If it helps she was with me for a lot of the same ones I’m sure. I doubt she honestly even cares whether I go or stay.”
“You shouldn’t do that to yourself West. You deserve better. You should be with someone that actually cares about you.” He smiled at that and that made me want to keep talking. “You’re a really nice guy. I see how you are with Katie and with your mom. It’s obvious you care about them. I can’t imagine you not treating a girlfriend the same way.”
“You think pretty highly of me, huh?” He asked before he turned toward me and threw me that trademark smile of his. I think I melted into his seat just a little.
“I’m observant. You shouldn’t sell yourself short just for some pretty girl. One of these days you’re going to meet a girl that you can’t live without and you’re going to realize that the Nicole Jeffries of the world don’t actually mean much in the grand scheme of things.”
“You’re a pretty smart kid, you know that?” His compliment stung. I hated being reminded that to him I was still just a kid.
“I’m not that much younger than you,” I reminded him.
“Yeah, but I didn’t know all that when I was your age.” I shrugged my shoulders and smiled.
“Well, girls are smarter than boys.” He choked out a laugh.
“I can’t believe Lennon Cooper just made a joke and I’m the only one around to hear it.” That made me grin. All too soon, we pulled up in front of my house. I started to climb out, but he called my name so I hesitated.
“Thanks,” he said. “For what you said.”
“I meant it. You deserve good things West.” He smiled and I saw that dimple.
“I’ll try and remember that.” I moved to get out. “This might sound kind of weird, but what if you went with me?” I raised my eyebrows in question.
“Went with you where?”
“Prom.” I’m pretty sure my brain short circuited. There was no way he was actually asking me what I thought he was asking. “I was just thinking that I don’t have a date. I was going to go solo, but if you want to go, I’d be honored to take you.”
“Really?” He smiled again.
“Yeah. We can go out to eat if you want, and I could take you to that thing they always do after.” I couldn’t form a thought. I kept trying, but my brain still wasn’t working.
“Uh…” I began.
“You can think it over if you want,” West offered.
“Yes,” I said quickly. He stared back at me. “I’d like to go with you.” He beamed and I could have melted right there in front of him.
“Great.” I couldn’t stop smiling. I hopped out of the truck and closed the door. I was almost all the way to my porch when I heard him call out to me. “I almost forgot, what color will you be wearing so I can match?”
“Violet,” I said quickly. “It’s my favorite color.”
“Okay then. I’ll see you later.” I grinned and waved goodbye before I disappeared into my house. I spent the rest of the night with a permanent smile on my face. It wasn’t until I laid down for bed that night that I finally realized I had one important thing I’d forgotten. Katie.
Six
“Let me get this straight?” Katie said the next morning at my locker. “West asked you to prom?”
“Yes,” I said as calmly as I could. I was still having a hard time wrapping my head around the whole thing, but I couldn’t let my excitement show. I had to play things cool if I didn’t want Katie to suspect anything.
“As in my brother, West?”
“Yes.” I grabbed my books for first period out of my locker and added my backpack. “Just as friends though.”
“Since when are you friends with my brother?”
“We’re not,” I said quickly. “He just knew that I wanted to go and he was trying to be nice.” She frowned.
“Seems weird.”
“Think of this way, at least now we get to be at prom together.”
“Oh my god, that didn’t even occur to me.” She actually sounded happy by that. “Good, I was seriously dreading having no one to talk to all night except Tommy.” I let out a sigh of relief. I knew I was officially in the clear by that point.
“Right, but I kind of need a dress.”
“Okay, okay, don’t worry we can pull this off. I have the blue one if you want to wear that?”
“Well, I already told West I would wear violet.” I paused. “I guess I could tell him I changed my mind.”
“No, let me think. I actually think I might have something perfect for you. It’s this dress that Dad’s skank bought me forever ago for some charity thing they thought I would go to. It’s never been worn and I think it will look killer on you.”
“Okay.” She squealed.
“Okay, so you can come home with me tomorrow after school to see how it fits. I’m so excited you get to go to prom.”
“I know me too.”
“We’re gonna have the best time, Len.” I smiled wide.
“Absolutely.”
A few weeks later, it was officially the night of prom. I stood in front of the mirror in Katie’s room looking at a girl I didn’t recognize. For the first time in my sixteen years, I actually thought I looked beautiful. Katie worked her magic with my makeup, giving me a perfect smokey eye looking every bit like it was done professionally. Then she curled my massive hair, but rather than put it up, she kept it lying loosely around my shoulders.
“Your hair is seriously gorgeous,” she had said once she let it fall against my back. “You should never wear it up again.” I laughed out loud.
She had been completely spot on with the dress. It was a darker purple that actually made my usually light skin look a l
ittle more tan. The straps were thin and I felt a little over exposed, but she assured me I looked stunning and I had to say, she was right.
Her biggest achievement according to her though was getting me to take off my signature glasses. She insisted that my brown eyes needed to be seen by the world. So, contacts it was. It only took three tries before I was finally able to get the little round thing in my eye. It felt incredibly weird, but I could see and I didn’t look like my usual nerdy self so I was happy.
Once we were both finally ready, we made our way down the stairs where West and Tommy said they would be waiting for us. Katie went down before me. I watched as Tommy scanned the length of her and a smarmy grin spread across his face. There was something about that guy that really gave me the creeps. That was the one positive about this night ending; we wouldn’t have to put up with him anymore.
He handed over a clear box holding Katie’s corsage, but he didn’t bother to help her put it on. Instead, he just stood there looking bored and ready to leave. With one last deep breath, I slowly made my way down the staircase. West had been talking to their mom, but the second his eyes landed on me, he stopped. His lips parted as his eyes looked me over. Unlike Tommy though, the smile that took over his face was one that any girl would hope for.
His eyes twinkled and he walked toward the bottom of the steps so he could meet me. I grinned at him as he offered me his arm. He didn’t take his eyes off me as we made our way over to Tommy and Katie and Mrs. Blake. She was beaming back at me the same way as Katie.
“Lennon, you look wonderful,” she said with a wide smile.
“Lennon?” Tommy asked. Then he looked me over. “Wow, you clean up nice.” West shot him a look and he turned his eyes away from me to go back to staring at Katie.
“You do look beautiful,” West whispered, causing my cheeks to warm.
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