Prom Queen of Disaster

by Joseph James Hunt

  “But your parents left you all something in their will, didn’t they?”

  He nodded. “All invested in the bar,” he sighed.

  “So, you own part of the bar?”

  He shrugged. “They owe me college tuition,” he laughed. “That’s what it was for, and I’m probably not even going to college, I’ll end with a GED and a box by the highway,” he laughed, until the laughter became hoarse and turned into tears. “Ugh, you’ve probably seen me cry more than anyone now.”

  Chapter Twenty

  We had snow in December, freezing the driveway and powdered up the path. Some years we went without any snow, and other years there was a weak attempt as the ice cool air nipped at us in our cheer uniforms. When I was younger, we’d go to Lake Tahoe and ski, I skied before I walked.

  School canceled the winter formal, they’d prepared for the entire dance, but on the advice of the police, it wasn’t worth the hassle even though they expelled the person responsible; the wrong person, but given how vulnerable Kaleb was, I’d stopped pushing him.

  It made school dull and lifeless, especially without cheer practice or dance prep. Usually, we were out trying on new dresses, and we still did, but it was no longer any fun when there was nothing to prepare for.

  We sat in a mall café, just Hannah, Libby, and I. We were supposed to be meeting Ava and Char, but Char’s mom had a plastic surgery appointment in San Francisco, so they were making a weekend of it.

  I dipped my finger in the latte foam. “You bought Jarred and Max presents yet?” I asked. We’d just been to pick up the hearts on the necklace for Dylan.

  “I bought Max this super cute top,” Hannah said.

  “I’m nervous,” Libby said. “We’ve only been dating a little while, I don’t want to come on too strong.”

  “Jarred was in my art class. He seemed nice.”

  “Yeah,” she laughed. “He quit though, it clashed with English. He’s so passionate.” She dipped her neck into her shoulders. She whispered. “We had sex.”

  My eyes grew wide, watching her face glow red.

  “You—lost—your—” I mouthed the words.

  They laughed at me. “I was going to wait, like you,” Hannah said.

  “You too?” I asked, scraping my finger across the foam again. They giggled harder. “You both look so different.”

  “I feel different,” Libby said.

  I smiled at them. “I’m still waiting.”

  “I thought you and Dylan would’ve had sex by now,” Hannah said. “You’re so cute with each other.”

  “Right!” Libby said. “You and Dylan are perfect.”

  “He promised himself,” I said, showing them the ring again, by now, everyone had seen it, and everyone knew how special it was. “He’s calmed down.”

  “He’s a sports guy,” they said. “They don’t know how to calm down.”

  They were right. Some days the sight of him made me tremble, wanting to pounce on him and tear his clothes from his body, and now we were promised to each other. I was patient and glad he was happy.

  Dylan was picking me up. One of the last few nights we’d have together before he went away for Christmas.

  I walked past Kaleb’s older brothers, giggling as I walked by.

  “Hey!” I shouted out, power walking up to them. Libby and Hannah left ahead of me while I waited for Dylan.

  “Where’s mommy?” Enzo said, dragging his fingers through his hair. “Still fighting Kaleb’s battles?”

  “And your hot friends?” Bellamy laughed.

  “That one chick with the ass.” Enzo gestured, cupping his hands in the air.

  I rolled my eyes, putting my best Char impression on. It was a possession, an extension of her sass. “You’re two small-dicked men, mutual masturbating and abusing steroids,” I said, pointing at the veins in their forearms, “you can tell.”

  “She’s spicy!” Bellamy said.

  “You owe Kaleb an apology, you screwed him out of his inheritance, you kicked him out, and now you’re acting like nothing happened.”

  They over-exaggerated a laugh, holding their stomachs.

  “Kaleb left, we asked him to pay his dues,” Enzo said. “He’s an adult, he needs to start acting like one, and less of a pussy.”

  “And we don’t have small dicks,” Bellamy said. “You wanna see?”

  “Ugh! You two!” Amy shouted. She stomped over in her Louboutin heels, her face glowing. “Why are you harassing this underage girl?” She pulled me in a one-armed hug.

  “She came at us,” Bellamy said. “We were minding our business, little banshee bitch.”

  “Banshee?” I laughed. “They kicked their brother out.”

  “You’re the kind of guys you’d find trolling the halls of high schools because every girl above the age of 19 won’t touch you, even with their car, and trust me, I’m sure people would love to run you off the road,” Amy laughed. “So, leave this girl alone, she doesn’t want your diseases.”

  “Diseases?” Enzo said. “I hooked up with her friend, so if I’ve got something now, it came from her.”

  “Who?” Amy looked at me.

  “Char,” I said.

  “Let’s hope she didn’t catch anything from these sleazes.”

  My phone buzzed in my hand as Dylan’s name flashed on the screen. “You better watch out,” I said. “Kaleb isn’t your punching bag.”

  They laughed as I turned with Amy at my side.

  “What happened?” she took my shaking hands in hers. “What did they do?”

  “They kicked their brother out when he turned 18,” I said. “He’s living at my house. They homeschooled him, or internet schooled. They run a bar, and obviously, he was an inconvenience.”

  “They’re such see you next Tuesdays,” she said, disguising the cuss word. “Any friend of Char knows to get their own back. Don’t get caught.”

  “Trust me,” I said. “They deserve everything coming for them.”

  “Invite them to the salon, I’ll make sure it sticks,” she smiled at me.

  “I should get going,” I said as we left the mall.

  “Bye, Zo.”

  I met Dylan in the parking lot. The snow laid heavy on the path. He stood with two hot chocolates he’d bought from a kiosk. “Thought you could do with this,” he said. “Perfect winter day.”

  I didn’t tell him what happened. I let him believe my hands were shaking from the cold. My thin cotton jacket was the only thing I wore with sleeves. It couldn’t keep out a draft at the best of times.

  “Did you put the heater on?” I asked, climbing into the passenger seat. I placed the bags behind in the backseat.

  “It’s freezing, of course,” he laughed. “Then I had to come out to get these.” He held up the hot chocolate from the cup holder beside the gearstick.

  “So, I bought you something,” I said. “And, I was thinking about giving you it later, but.” I grabbed a bag from behind and pulled out a red velvet box.

  “What is it?”

  I gave it him. “Open it.”

  He opened it up to see half of a heart. “It’s only one piece,” he said, holding it between his fingers.

  I unwrapped the scarf around my neck, there was the missing piece. “It has your name,” I said. Instead of the one letter I’d planned, his name was engraved inside, and on his, was my name. “Wear it at all times,” I said.

  “Happily.” He unlinked the chain and placed it across his chest to fasten it around his neck. “Keeping this forever.” He stroked it between his fingers.

  “I figured, we won’t see much of each other until after Christmas, when you’re back, and uninjured,” I said. “Then our college plans, I know you’re set on going to UC Merced, but I don’t know anything about their arts programs.”

  He kissed me. “We can look at after winter break,” he said. “3 hours from Marin County isn’t far enough.” Laughing, he leaned in for another kiss. “Anywhere with you and a sports scholarship is g
ood for me.”

  I knew my parents had saved up for college, but only college close to home, they didn’t want me jetting across the country; coast to coast, they’d probably move with me before they let me do it on my own, even though my dad was a pilot and they could visit easy enough.

  “Are you staying for dinner?” I asked, as he pulled up outside my house.

  He shook his head and sighed. “Still have some packing to do.”

  I kissed him. “Talk to you later,” I said, grabbing my bags from the backseat. “Need to get this art portfolio started.”

  Yet another thing in my life without any forward moving motion. I tried my best to pull inspiration from Kaleb’s life; feeling of being lost with no family, and the dwelling anger burning inside, but every time I tried putting pencil on paper, I talked myself out of it, I was a fraud for even thinking I could pull from his pain.

  “Oo, what did you buy?” my mom asked at the stairs. “Can I have a peek?”

  I’d hoped to sneak them upstairs. “Nothing,” I said. “They’re presents, but not until Christmas day.”

  She laughed. “Don’t be long, dinners almost ready. If you need more wrapping paper, or help wrapping, I’m happy to help.”

  Kaleb sat against my bedroom door when I got back.

  “Zo,” he said, jumping up from his knees. “I want to thank you.”

  “Huh?” I said, busting into my room with the bags on my arm. “Why?”

  It was like watching an exorcism; he stuttered and stumbled over his words, still at the bedroom door, waving on the balls of his feet, almost waiting for an invite.

  “You okay?” I asked.

  “I got an angry text from my brother,” he said. “He said you shouted at him, well made a scene in the mall. He said he’d give me a key, the bar’s legally part mine.” He bit his lip and smiled.

  “That’s good,” I said. “They’re jerks.”

  “Yeah,” he sighed. “Think I’m gonna meet them before Christmas, hopefully get some stuff.”

  I didn’t tell him about it. I left it with a smile as he said a final thank you, still clutching a photo album under his arm.

  I’d bought jewelry for my mom, chocolates for my dad, and stuffed animals for Maddie; I wanted her to stay young for as long as possible, she didn’t need the drama of high school in her life just yet, but I’d also bought her a make-up palette in all my favorite colors.

  They were wrapped neatly on the bed before the cat decided to investigate. He clawed at some of the paper before I shooed him away. My room was full of scratch-marked wood, nothing was safe when Oreo was around, especially gifts and Christmas decorations. Butterfly lights were pinned around my window, they were high enough to tease him but out of reach, even if he threw himself at them, which he often did.

  Christmas was almost here. All the decorations had been up for a few days, we’d decorated the tree as a family and drank hot chocolate, the same thing we’d do when we stayed in our lodge out in Tahoe, and with the snow outside, it was made more magical.

  “Excited?” Mom asked, placing presents beneath the tree.

  “I’d be a monster if I wasn’t,” I said.

  “Want to know what you’ve got?”

  I grit my teeth. “I think I can wait.”

  “Good,” she said. “Now come help prepare the dinner.”

  She was already preparing for the Christmas dinner; large enough to feed us for several days, which usually meant turkey sandwiches done fifty ways.

  “Bet he’s missing you as much as you’re missing him,” she said, catching me check my phone.

  “I’m—” I stopped and slipped my phone back into my pocket. “Are you going to the midnight mass?”

  She gasped. “We can if you want? I mean, we haven’t in a few years now, and I didn’t really want to drag you along like we have done.”

  I shook my head. “I hope to be passed out asleep by midnight,” I said. “And Kaleb, probably don’t want to force that on him.”

  My heart was heavy without having seen Dylan in 36 hours. He’d texted and called, sending me cute pictures of the lodge he was staying in and logs on the fire, but I knew he’d rather have been here with me. I couldn’t cope if my mom had the idea of midnight mass on her mind.

  It was always the most exciting night before Christmas. My mom had bought scented bath bombs for the tub, starting with Maddie, going in age order. Kaleb was nowhere to be found when it was his turn. The attic door had been closed shut, but I knew that’s exactly where he was hiding.

  “I’ll get him,” I told my mom.

  With the hook we kept inside the linen cupboard, I unhooked the door and pulled down the steps. The lights were on.

  “Yeah,” I heard his quiet voice.

  “Kaleb?”

  “I heard you,” he said. “I just—you guys are a family, and it’s Christmas.”

  “Exactly,” I said. “Now, get down.” I popped my head inside the attic. Kaleb sat on the same ledge, skimming through more family albums.

  “Found one from Christmas,” he said. “2003, in Rome.”

  “Yeah, we used to go all over when I was little.”

  “This one is with my family,” he said. “I never knew I’d been to Rome before. I should remember.”

  I hauled myself inside. “Don’t be hard on yourself.” I put my arm around him. “Honestly, I don’t remember leaving the country, but my parents tell me I have.”

  He pointed at the picture again. No words.

  “Yeah.”

  “My brothers probably remember.”

  “Ask them,” I said. “You might bond over it.”

  He puffed out his cheeks in a defeated sigh. “Don’t bet on it,” he said.

  My fingers itched to grab him by the collar and tell him to suck it up, almost like every time he saw me, he was teary-eyed. Did I smell?

  I touched his arm. “It’s Christmas tomorrow, we’re having baths before the movie. My mom bought everyone new pajamas too. Think about the future, what’s happening now, maybe after, I’ll help you go through all this.” He dipped his head to my eye line, almost in line to kiss me. I pulled my face away. “Are you coming?” I stood as far as the attic ceiling would let me.

  He nodded. “I’ll be down in a minute.”

  After that, he didn’t wallow or sit in pity, instead he smiled. If it was a fake smile, it was a convincing one at that. My dad had done his last flight until the New Year, and he’d even brought home a bag of pre-wrapped presents. He put them under the tree while we waited in the living room, fresh and clean in new pajamas.

  We watched THE GRINCH. On cue, I slept through half of it, my neck strained on the arm of the chair. I woke to the credits running on screen and Kaleb tapping my arm.

  “Wake up,” my mom said.

  My dad already had Maddie in his arms as I stood with my phone clutched at my waist. I’d probably been texting at the time.

  The cold pillow against my face in bed was welcoming. I curled up beside Oreo. He was already there; I was disturbing him. “It’s Christmas tomorrow,” I said, stroking his back.

  Christmas day was an early day. Maddie would wake my parents, then they would wake me. This year, it was 8 AM before any of us woke up. My body craved to sleep longer, but when they knocked with their “Merry Christmas”, I jumped out of bed.

  Our tradition meant sitting around the dining table while breakfast was served, staring at the presents beneath the tree. I knew I wasn’t getting a lot, they didn’t buy me clothes anymore, they gave me money, and we never saw our grandparents, perhaps once a year during summer if we were lucky, but at Christmas, they couldn’t travel, even though they only lived in Arizona now, they sent checks instead.

  “Ready?” My dad asked, collecting our plates from the table.

  We moved to circle the tree. “First present,” my mom said, picking one out at random. “Madison,” she handed the box over.

  We went through all the presents until one was left
. It was a small pink box with a large ribbon. My dad picked it up. “Looks forgotten,” he said, laughing to himself.

  “Who’s it for?” My mom asked.

  He handed it to me. “For you, Zoey.”

  They stared as I tugged an end of the bow, it slipped out into one long piece of ribbon. Inside there was a piece of paper, and under the paper there was a black rectangle with a logo. I picked it out with my fingernails.

  “What?” I mumbled.

  “What is it?” my mom asked.

  It had the VW symbol on it. “Is it?” I stared up at my dad and his smiling face. Almost ready to burst. “Omg! Where is it?”

  My mom laughed. “Well it’s not under the tree,” she said.

  “Is it outside?” I gulped, my hand shaking as I pulled it out of the box. It flicked open with the key, and on reverse were the function buttons.

  “Put your coat on and see,” my dad said.

  I skipped the coat and ran to the door. In the driveway there was a white Volkswagen Beetle. A huge red bow stuck on the hood. My hands quivered over the key as I pressed buttons. The lights flashed as the doors unlocked.

  Without shoes or a jacket, I ran to it. The ground still covered in a layer of snow. It was cold, my feet froze in the ice. I sat inside and ran my hands across the steering wheel. The smell of new leather was intoxicating. I inhaled it deeply.

  “You’re not wearing any shoes,” my mom said. They put their coats and shoes on in the doorway. Kaleb stood smiling, almost like he knew.

  “I love it,” I said as my dad climbed into the passenger seat.

  I kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you so much.”

  “This is your birthday present and graduation gift,” he said, laughing. “And I’ve put you on our insurance. So, you’re insured to drive her whenever you like.”

  “How do you know it’s a she?” I said.

  “Because your mom chose her,” he said. “Said she had your sense of style.”

  I adjusted the seat, relaxing into it. “Is this so when I go to college I’ll visit you guys at home?”

  He laughed. “That’s the exact reason, investing in your future.”

  It was the first thing to Instagram that day. Everything was perfect, or it would’ve been if Dylan had been there. He told me he already knew. I was surprised everyone had kept it a secret for so long.