by RH Tucker
“You okay, back there?” he calls back to me.
“Yeah, all good,” I answer.
He nods. “Cool, maybe I should take it up a notch.”
“What?”
I hear him laugh as the light turns green and he takes off, much faster than what he was just going. I don’t know how fast we’re going. Forty miles per hour? Fifty? It feels like a hundred, as we speed down the local highway. He zips by one car and then another. I wrap my arms around him tighter. I want him to slow down, but at the same time, it’s exhilarating. Leaning in closer to him, I place my head on his shoulders, and take in more of his scent.
“Where am I going?” he yells back at me.
“Oh.” I bring up my head and look over his shoulder. “Farther. Once we past Miles Avenue, at the next street make a left.”
“Got it,” he shouts back.
I keep my head up the rest of the way as he speeds along, feeling the wind on my face. All of my apprehension from when we first started is gone. I’m actually enjoying it. For the first time in two days, I’m not thinking about Emily or Dustin or anything else. I’m just smiling, and it feels good.
He starts to slow down and makes a left on the street. “Go down to King Street,” I call out. “Then make a right. It’s the third house on the right.”
He nods and drives the scooter down the street. My grip around his waist loosens, but I keep my hands on his stomach. I think I feel him chuckling, but I don’t want to embarrass myself by asking or making any sudden movements, so I try to keep still.
“Here you are, Your Highness,” he says with a laugh, parking in front of my house.
He gets off the Vespa first and offers me his hand. Even though the seat is easy enough to put my leg over, I smile at the gesture and take his hand.
“Thanks.” I reach for the chin strap. I didn’t see it when he put it on my head, and I’m fiddling with something, but I don’t know what it is. The strap isn’t loosening, so I try the other side and still nothing.
“This is adorable,” he chuckles.
“Shut up,” I respond, laughing.
“Here.” He reaches over, and with one snap the chin strap comes undone. I take off the helmet and hand it back to him.
“Thanks again for the ride.”
“No problem.”
“Ew.” Taking a step closer, I see a speck on his glasses that turn out to be some kind of bug. “That’s disgusting.”
“Yeah,” he removes his glasses and cleans them with his shirt, “it happens.”
While he’s wiping his lenses, I realize this is the first time I’ve seen him without his glasses. Or maybe it’s not, but it’s the first time I’ve paid attention. He looks different. Before I got to know him better this week, I’d say he looked hotter, but he doesn’t. He’s still cute, but he seems incomplete. The glasses are part of him.
He puts his glasses back on and gives me an odd look, catching me staring. “What?”
“Oh, nothing.” Feeling my face heating up, I turn away, picking at a small hedge that lines my driveway. “Um, thanks again. That was …”
“Not terrible?” He laughs.
“Fun, actually.”
“Oh.” He seems surprised by my honesty. “Cool.”
An awkward silence builds up between us. I’m still regretting how I’ve treated him this week, and while I want to apologize again, I feel like I’ve done it too many times. If I say it again, does it lose its effect? And by apologizing again, am I just bringing up all of the times I was a complete ass to him?
I decide to not say anything. “Okay, then. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow night. That girl, Kelsey? Is she your date?”
“Oh, no. She’s Quinton’s girlfriend. We’ve all been friends for years.”
“Cool.”
“Yeah. I hope you win prom queen. So you know, I did vote for you this week.”
“Thanks. I’m sure Yvette or Sarah is going to win though.”
“Yeah, maybe.” He looks back at his scooter, then meets my eyes, only to look down at the ground. “Uh …” He stops and meets my gaze again. “Look, I know you don’t have a date or anything, but if you want … I mean, I don’t have a date either, and if you wanted to … like, it doesn’t have to be a date date—”
“Sam, are you asking me to prom?” I’m pleasantly surprised by his request.
“Well, I mean, I just know you didn’t want to go dateless. So, if you want, I’ll bite the bullet and be your date.”
All of the pleasantness drains from my body, replaced with annoyance and frustration. “Wow. Thanks, Sam. Thanks but no thanks. I don’t need a pity prom date. ‘Bite the bullet’? Are you kidding me? Yeah, because I’m a dateless loser so I’ll go with anyone that’s left.”
“No!” He waves his hands. “I didn’t mean it like that.” He slaps his forehead, letting out a sigh. “I’m just saying I’ll go with you and not because you don’t have a date. I don’t have a date either, remember? And I’m the joke vote in case you forgot. I’m the dateless loser around here.”
“You’re not a loser, Sam. You’re just a nerd.”
“There you go with those awesome endorsements again.” His quip breaks up my frustration, and I laugh. “I seriously didn’t mean it like that. Let me try this again.” He clears his throat, a nervous expression spreading across his face again. “Natalie, would you like to go to prom with me?”
He stands there, biting the inside of his lip, fighting off a small and uneasy smirk. I want to say yes because I don’t want to go to prom without a date. But how can I be that person? Going with Sam as a last resort? He wouldn’t want that. And how will everyone else look at me, walking into prom with Sam on my arm? Those are all of the feelings running through my system. But there’s also something else. Sam stuck beside me this entire week when he could’ve easily tanked any of our events because of how big of a jerk I was. He’s always been nice. And he could’ve made it awkward when Emily and I were fighting, or completely interrupted me and made me look like the loser I really am, for lying about having a date to prom and that he asked me. But he didn’t. He just went with it. Sam’s a good guy.
A neighbor jogs by, crossing behind Sam’s scooter. Offering her a friendly wave, she waves back, earbuds in her ear. When I look back at Sam, he’s still frozen in place, nervously waiting for my answer.
“Yes. I will,” I say with a nod, a small smile creeping over my lips.
“Really?” He takes a step back, almost in shock. It makes me laugh. He makes me laugh. The good kind of laughs. “Wow, I seriously expected you to say no.”
I laugh again, pushing his arm. “I still can, if that’s what you really want.”
“Nope, you can’t take it back now.”
“Fine, I guess I’m stuck with you.”
“It’s all good, I tend to grow on people.” He smiles. “So, I don’t know if you had plans, but Q, Kels, and I are taking his dad’s Camaro and going to eat beforehand. Do you want to join?”
“Yeah. I’d like that.”
“Okay, pick you up at six tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
He waits there, biting his lip again. I’m not sure if we should hug or just turn and go our separate ways. He doesn’t look like he’s sure either. He moves, ever so slightly, taking a tiny step toward me. Is he going to hug me? Kiss me? He doesn’t do either. Correcting himself, he scans the gravel below and then starts to put his helmet back on.
“All right then, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow.” I give him a small wave, then nervously turn around and head to my front door.
Glancing back, I see him mount the Vespa. He sits on the scooter for a moment, looking down at the handlebars, a small, puzzling smirk crossing his lips. Snapping his helmet into place, he looks back and offers me one more ‘Sam smile’ before waving and taking off down the road. I giggle to myself. He is growing on me.
Chapter 9
Sam
I didn’t
think she was going to say yes. Seriously. I totally didn’t.
Even though I make my self-deprecating jokes to her, I know she’s telling me the truth when she says she doesn’t mean it. Everything she’s said, none of it has been with malice. It’s just what she knows. It’s what everyone at school knows. So, I’m not surprised by that.
Throughout the week, there were times she seemed to let her guard down around me. There were times I’d make a joke, and she actually laughed. Like, a real laugh. I wasn’t trying to impress her, but it felt good that she seemed … normal.
But prom? Her? Me? Yeah, no matter what Quinton told me, I seriously did not think she’d accept my request. But she did.
“I’ll take an extra one for you, just in case,” Quinton says, adjusting his bowtie. I brought my tuxedo over to his house. From here we’re going to pick up the girls.
“Would you shut up about that.” I scold him.
He smirks. “Sam, you never know. It’s better to stay prepared.”
“Oh my God!” I push him out of the way and button up my vest. “I’m still in shock she even said yes to the dance. I promise you, there’s one hundred and fifty-thousand percent chance of us not having sex tonight. So save it.” He chuckles, finishing his tie. “Okay, now let me put in my contacts, and we’re good to go.”
“Do they still bug your eyes?”
“Yeah, but I figured I’d try them again, at least for the night.”
He looks at my hair, smiling. “You know, if you would’ve cut your hair like Kelsey was saying, you really could’ve been Rachel Leigh Cook.”
“Shut up.”
“That means Natalie is Freddie Prinze Jr., so would that make Dustin Paul Walker?” He starts laughing. “Does that mean he’ll try to take advantage of you tonight?”
“You’re a moron, you know that?”
“Whatever,” he answers, still laughing. “Let’s go!”
We pick up Kelsey and take the necessary pictures as her mom gushes over how great Kelsey and Quinton look together. Even if this night turns into one big awkward mess with Natalie, I’m glad Quinton and Kelsey are officially together. They’ve liked each other for a while, always dancing around the subject of dating one another. I’m happy my friends get to enjoy our senior prom as a couple.
We head over to Natalie’s and Quinton parks in front of her house.
“Should we get out?” Quinton asks.
I stare at her front door, rubbing my eyes that have already started irritating me, unsure how to answer. “Uh, just hang on. I’ll go and see what she wants to do.”
“Okay.”
“Don’t forget this,” Kelsey says from the back seat, handing me a plastic container with a corsage.
“Thanks.”
Walking up to the front door, the jitters begin to form in the pit of my stomach. She said yes, so it’s not like I’m showing up out of the blue, hoping she’ll go with me. But what if she changed her mind? What if she ended up getting another date and isn’t even here? I knock, and a burly man that looks like he’s in his late forties answers the door.
“Yes?”
“Oh, uh … hello sir.”
“Can I help you with something?”
“Right. Yes. You’re Sam. No, I’m Sam.”
“Sam?”
“Yes, sorry. I’m here—”
“I know why you’re here.” He doesn’t sound pleased about it.
“You do?” I stare at him like I just committed a crime.
“You’re here to take my little girl to the dance.”
“Y-y-yes. Yes, sir.”
“Well, let me lay down some ground rules for you, son.”
“Yes, sir.”
“You’ll have her back by ten.”
“Ten?”
“Is that a problem?”
“Oh, no. No, sir. It’s just … the dance doesn’t end until midnight.”
“So?”
“Right. No problem, sir.”
“And you’ll only hold her hand. Do you understand me?”
His last words come out with so much authority, I feel like I’m being given a life sentence for something that hasn’t even happened yet.
“Right. Yes, sir.”
“And, Sam, was it?”
“Yes, sir.”
“There will be absolutely no kissing.”
“Daddy!” Natalie shouts, running to the door. “Oh my God, Sam. I’m so sorry! Daddy, what are you doing?” She swats her hands across his chest over and over, much to his amusement. He starts laughing while I continue to nervously watch everything.
She looks incredible. Her straight, autumn brown hair, which she normally wears down or pulled back in a ponytail, has slight curls in it. I texted her yesterday, after dropping her off, to find out the color of her dress so I could get a corsage that matches. Her gown is a silvery-blue color, that goes down to the floor. The material has flower designs around her waist, and it travels up into a sweetheart neckline—something I only know, because when I showed my mom to get her input on the corsage, that’s what she called it. Even with how breathtaking she looks, I’m still on pins and needles from meeting her father.
“What did he say?” Natalie turns to me.
“Oh, nothing. He just—”
“I just laid the ground rules out,” he answers.
“I can’t believe you!” She swats his arm again. “This is so embarrassing.”
Her dad’s demeanor changes, smiling and extending his hand to me. “Sam, I’m Henry.”
“Nice to meet you, sir.” I shake his hand.
“Hey, Sam.” Natalie’s friend, Mia, waves to me from behind her.
All of the dread her father was filling me with is completely gone, replaced with my worst fears come to life. Natalie said she’d come to dinner with us, but didn’t mention her friend, or Mia’s date who I now see standing next to her. Natalie must have gotten a new date to prom, and she was waiting for me to show up, so she could tell me face-to-face.
“I hope you don’t mind,” Natalie speaks up. “I just thought—”
“No, I get it.” I nod and muster up enough strength to give her as much of a smile as I can. “Thanks for not just bailing on me, at least.”
“What?”
“I mean, you could’ve just taken off and left me high and dry. So, thanks for at least waiting to tell me to my face.”
“To your face? Sam, what are you talking about?”
“Have a good time. I’ll see you later tonight when they announce king and queen.”
I turn around to leave, but before I can walk away from the door, Natalie stops me. “Sam! What are you doing?”
“Well, you got a different date, right?” I motion to Mia and the guy next to her.
“What?” She looks back at her friend, who’s giggling. “No! What are you talking about?”
“I just thought … I mean, you said you hope I don’t mind, so I just figured …”
“That I’d be a complete jerk and just ditch you? Sam, I was going to say I hope you don’t mind if we take pictures with Mia and Logan.”
“What?”
“Yes.” She lets out an unbelieving chuckle, shaking her head at me.
“Oh.”
“Get over here, you nerd.” She motions me in, and I walk with her to her backyard where her mom is waiting. We stand in front of their pool, some oleanders and palm trees in the background.
“Oh, right. This is for you.” I finally remember I’m holding the corsage and hand it to her.
It has two white roses that look like they’re sparkling because of a light dusting of blue glitter over them. Small white flowers and mini green ferns surround the rose buds.
“You got me a corsage?” She smiles, and it looks like she’s blushing.
“Of course.”
“You see!” Mia hisses at Logan.
“Sorry, babe. It’s me, my brother, and my pops. How was I supposed to know you get the girl a flower for her wrist?”
/> She slaps his arm as I put the corsage on Natalie. She raises up her hand to admire it. “It’s beautiful. And it matches my dress.”
“That’s why I asked what color you were wearing when I texted you,” I answer.
“Thank you.”
“Okay, everyone nice and close,” her mom says, raising her phone.
“But not too close,” Henry states, eyeing me.
“Dad,” Natalie sneers through clenched teeth.
“Okay, one, two, three,” her mom calls out and starts taking pictures.
Natalie leans a little closer to me as we take pictures and I have to admit, it feels great wrapping my arm around her. Okay, that might sound weird. I just mean it doesn’t feel awkward. Our entire prom week has been one awkward step after another, but right now it feels like we’re two regular people, taking pictures before a date. But I know this isn’t a date. It’s just a dance. And she’s only going with me because she didn’t have anyone else to go with. But still, it feels good.
She leans in a little closer, close enough that I feel her nose hovering near my neck. I glance at her sideways. “Did you just smell me?” I ask quietly.
Her eyes dart away, and I can see a slight blush turn her cheeks a pretty pink. “Sorry. You smell like you did yesterday on the scooter.”
“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”
“Good.” Her cheeks get redder.
“Okay, last one,” her mom says and then we’re done taking pictures.
Mia and Natalie whisper something back and forth while we make our way out to the front of the house. Logan gives me a slight head nod, before heading to the driveway and what I assume is the car he and Mia are taking. I know him from school, but he usually hangs out with Dustin and that crowd.
“Text me when you get there,” Mia says, giving Natalie a hug.