by Elicia Hyder
A moment later, he heard her bubbly voice. “Hi, Dave!”
“Hey, Journ. I need a favor.”
Marcus groaned. “A favor?”
David launched a pillow in Marcus’s direction to shut him up.
“Sure, what’s up?” Journey asked.
He swallowed hard. “You know prom is in a couple of weeks, right?”
“Uh, yeah?”
“Well…since I just broke up with Abby, I haven’t had time to find another date. You wanna go?” He was gripping the phone so tight, he realized it might break. “With me?” he added.
There was silence on the other end of the line. Stone silence.
“Journey?”
“Yeah, I’m here.”
“Well? What do you think?” David thought he might be bordering on having a stroke.
“Um, sure. I guess so.”
He let out a breath he had been holding for the entire conversation.
“OK, I’ll talk to you later.”
He nervously hung up before she had a chance to say goodbye.
Marcus laughed. “Do you need to change your pants, Dave?”
David threw the phone back at him. “Shut up, Marcus.”
· · ·
On Saturday, Journey almost cried at the sight of the prom section inside the mall. She held out her arms toward the frilly dresses and sequined shoes. “This is my hell!” she announced for the whole store to hear.
Kara pulled on her arm. “Oh, shut up. This is going to be fun! How much money did your parents give you?”
Journey did the math in her head. “A hundred and fifty, but I bought a carton of cigarettes.”
Kara groaned.
“And I’ve got to get my oil changed this afternoon,” Journey added.
She thought Kara might slap her. “What’s David wearing?”
Journey’s eyes widened. “Am I supposed to know that?”
Kara huffed and pulled her toward the nearest rack. “Well, normally, he would match his tux to your dress, but since he waited so late, I assumed he already had one.”
Journey held up her hands in question. “I have no idea.”
“Why did he wait so long to ask you?” she asked.
Journey shrugged. “I don’t know. He couldn’t find anybody else to go with since he and Abby just broke up.”
She put her hand on her hip. “David Britton couldn’t get a date? Whatever.”
“That’s what he said.”
“He’s a terrible liar.”
Journey held up a pink and orange dress covered from head to toe in sequins and glitter. “If you expect me to wear anything even closely resembling this, we can just go home right now.”
Kara laughed and put the dress back on the rack. “Trust me.”
“You’ve been dressing me up since middle school. I don’t trust you at all,” Journey said.
Kara held up a long purple gown with flowers down the front. “What about purple? You love purple.”
Journey shuddered with disgust. “I’d rather wear something out of my mom’s closet.”
“I think we need to divide and conquer,” Kara said, tapping a manicured nail over her lips. “You go right, and I’ll go left.”
Journey headed in the direction to a red sign marked ‘Clearance’.
“I thought you weren’t allowed to go out alone with a guy till you’re seventeen,” Kara called over the racks. “How did you talk your parents into it?”
Journey laughed. “Are you kidding? My parents love David. I think they would let me run off to Mexico as long as David was going.”
“So, what’s the plan? Is he taking you to dinner? Renting a car?” she asked.
“No. He hasn’t said anything about that stuff. We’re just going to the dance.” Journey held up a long leopard print dress. “What about this?”
Kara turned up her nose. “No.”
“Where’s Justin taking you?” Journey asked. Kara had already told her, but Journey had only been half-listening.
“The fondue place,” Kara answered. Even from across the room, Journey could hear her sigh. “Isn’t that romantic?”
Journey rolled her eyes. “Just dreamy.” She picked up a red and black dress. “This is kinda cool.”
“You’ll look like a vampire.”
Journey bared her teeth and growled at her friend.
Kara laughed and shook her head. “Next!” She turned toward Journey with a green shimmery fitted gown. “This?”
Journey began singing the theme song to The Little Mermaid.
Kara groaned and slammed the hanger back onto the rack. “You’re impossible.”
Journey picked up a short white and black dress. “Ooo, I like this one.” She carried it across the room toward her friend. “And it’s half-off.”
Kara scrunched up her nose. “It’s half-off because it’s totally out of style. Nobody is going to be wearing anything above the knee.”
Journey smiled and held the hanger up to her chin. “Then it’s absolutely perfect!”
· · ·
Steven reset the check engine light on a minivan before closing the hood and wiping his hands on his coveralls. He gave the thumbs-up to the woman behind the wheel. “You can go ahead and start it up, Mrs. Smith!”
The engine rumbled to life. “You’re a miracle worker,” she said as he approached her window.
“It was a pretty simple fix this time,” he said. “But I recommend you bring it in when you have some time for a full tune-up.”
She nodded. “I will. How much do I owe you?”
“Just pull through the garage, and Becky will bring out your invoice,” he said.
She smiled and put the van in drive.
There was a familiar car waiting behind hers, but he couldn’t place it. He motioned the driver forward, and the car rolled over the pit in the floor. He held up his hand for the driver to stop and heard the transmission slide into park. He walked to the driver’s side window as it rolled all the way down. Inside, a pair of startled hazel eyes met his.
A smile spread across his face, and every nerve ending he had began to tingle. “Journey Durant.”
She laughed. “What are you doing here?”
He leaned an arm across the roof of her car. “I work here. What are you doing here?”
She squeezed the steering wheel. “I need an oil change.”
“Well, you’ve come to the right place. Get your butt out here.” He smiled and reached for her door handle. The door squeaked as it opened, and she stepped out of the car. “Come here.” Without thinking, he pulled her in for a hug. Her hair was blonde and blue, and it smelled like coconut.
“I thought you moved?” She looked up at him and hooked her thumbs in her belt loops.
He nodded. “I did, but I moved back just about a month ago. My brother and I have an apartment off of Washington Avenue.”
She sighed. “That’s awesome. I wish I had my own place.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “Aren’t you a little bit young for that? You’re what, thirteen?”
She elbowed him in the ribs. “Almost seventeen, thank you very much.”
“Well, excuse me.” He had thought about her a lot since he left, and looking down at her in the garage, he wondered what had taken him so long to come back. He noticed a dress hanging in the back window of her car. He tapped his finger on the glass. “What’s this?”
She rolled her eyes. “Prom is on Friday.”
He laughed. “You’re going?”
She groaned. “Unfortunately.”
He looked her up and down. “Too bad I’m going to miss it. I bet you’ll look amazing.”
She blushed a deep crimson. He loved that he still had that effect on her.
She twisted her hands nervously. “Well, what are you doing on Friday? Me and a couple of my friends are going to skip school and hang out at my lake house. You should come.” She smiled and cut her eyes up at him. “Maybe you’ll get to see me in that dress before
I leave.”
He bit his lower lip. He had to work on Friday. “I’ll do what I can.” He drummed his fingers on her hood. “You have a lake house?”
She nodded. “Yeah. Up on Lake Ilahee.” She laughed. “My dad had quite the midlife crisis a few years ago. We’ve got jet skis and a boat, too.”
He leaned toward her, just to try and catch a whiff of coconut again. “I’ll see if I can get off, for sure.”
“Awesome.” Her voice was a pitch higher than usual.
He knocked his knuckles against her window. “So, just an oil change today?”
She grinned and rocked back and forth on her heels. “I don’t know. What else are you offering?”
God, he liked her.
He lowered his voice. “What about a phone number too? I’m going to need directions for Friday.”
She pulled the pen out of the chest pocket of his coveralls and held out her forearm. “You’d better write it on my skin so I don’t lose it.”
He smiled so wide it hurt his face as he took the pen from her fingers. “We wouldn’t want that.”
8
Worst. Prom. Ever
Lake Ilahee was barely big enough to be classified as a lake, but it was sufficient for swimming and water sports. It was also just big enough to sink a body in, as Journey’s mother had pointed out to her husband on the day he ‘surprised’ his wife with the purchase of the house, the boat, and two jet skis. Randall Durant proved that when it comes to mid-life crises, one should go big or go home. It was a wonder that he lived to see fifty-one.
Journey rarely visited the lake house with her parents, but she often sneaked off there with her friends. Friday before prom was one of those occasions. Kara and Journey hung their dresses in the master bedroom and changed into their bikinis. The end of April in Georgia was plenty warm enough for sunbathing and beer, though not quite warm enough for swimming.
“Who bought the beer?” Kara asked as she pulled open the refrigerator.
Journey smiled. “I did. I flirt with the guy at the truck stop, and he gives me whatever I want.”
Kara opened a beer and tilted it up to her lips. “You’re a beer slut.”
Journey opened one for herself and grinned. “Aren’t you glad?”
Kara laughed. “Yes!”
“Is Justin coming up here?” Journey asked.
Kara nodded. “Yeah. He said he would be here before lunch. What about Dave?”
Journey shook her head. “No. Mr. Alfred threatened to flunk anyone in his class who ditched today.”
Kara’s brow crumpled. “He can’t do that, can he?”
Journey laughed and walked out on the back porch. “No, but you know how David is when it comes to following rules. I’d probably have to dope him up on tranquilizers if he did show up. He would be a nervous wreck.” Journey lit a cigarette and sat down on the porch swing. She flashed her friend a devious smile. “Guess who I did invite.”
Kara sat down next to her. “Who?”
Journey bit her lower lip. “I didn’t want to say anything till I knew for sure if he was coming or not.” She let out shrill squeak of excitement. “Steven Drake!”
Kara’s eyes doubled in size. “Seriously?”
Journey kicked her feet against the deck. “Yes! I ran into him after prom dress shopping last weekend. He’s working at that shop behind Barry’s Bar & Grill. I called him last night and gave him the address. He says he’s coming!”
Kara slapped Journey’s bare thigh so hard she left a handprint behind. “Shut up!”
Journey winced but laughed. “I know, right?”
Kara held up her beer can. “This is going to be the greatest day ever.”
Journey clinked her can with Kara’s. “Cheers!”
“What’s all the racket I hear?” a male voice came from around the side of the house.
Journey’s heart sped up, but then Justin walked up onto the porch. She let out a sigh as Kara ran over and put her arms around his neck. “You made it!” Kara cheered.
He gave her a quick kiss on the lips. “I made it,” he said.
They had been dating pretty regularly since Christmas, and Journey had never seen Kara happier. She also couldn’t help but feel a little bit jealous of her friend. She was getting everything she had ever wanted while Journey was still daydreaming. But maybe, now that Steven Drake was back in Emerson, all of that was about to change.
· · ·
It was just after lunchtime when Steven killed his engine in the driveway of 4 Ilahee Road. Looking up at the two-story cabin overlooking the water, he realized how far out of his league this girl was. He wondered why she had invited him at all. He grabbed the six pack of beer out of his back seat and carried it to the front door. On the door hung a hand written sign that said, ‘If you brought beer, we’re around back. If you’re a cop, nobody’s home.’
He laughed and walked around the side of the house, following the sounds of Stone Temple Pilots and giggling. When he reached the clearing and could see up on the deck, he spotted Journey kicked back in a lawn chair. She had on a mismatched bikini, black bottoms with a pink striped top without any straps. Steven closed his eyes and tried to recall the age of consent laws in Georgia.
“Hey, don’t be a creeper!” a girl’s voice called.
He opened his eyes, and Journey was standing, shielding her eyes from the sun. His eyes drifted from hers, down the whole of her figure. He decided jail might be worth it.
“I hope I didn’t miss too much.” He smiled as he stepped up onto the deck.
She clapped her hands together. “I’m just glad you made it!”
He nodded and held up his six pack. “And I brought beer.”
She pointed to the other couple on the deck. “You know Justin Kruse and Kara, right?”
He waved his free hand, and they smiled in return.
“Good to see you, Steve,” Justin said.
She reached for his arm. “Come on. We’ll put your beer in the fridge.”
He let her lead him into the huge, open living room and into the kitchen. “This place is nice,” he said, taking it all in. “I think my whole apartment would fit in just this room.”
She pulled the refrigerator open and laughed. “If only my parents knew how many times I’ve gotten hammered up here without them.”
He laughed and stepped over beside her to put his beer in the fridge. He pulled one of the cans out of the plastic before he shut the door. He popped the top and tipped it up to his lips. “From the way you talked, I thought this was going to be a party.”
She pushed her bright blue sunglasses up on her head. “Oh no. Parties attract too much attention. I’m sorry if you thought—”
He held up his hand to stop her from apologizing. “No, it’s cool. I get it. I’m just happy I made the short invite list.” He took a step closer to her. She smelled like booze and tanning oil. “You know, they frown on kids who ditch class at West.”
She laughed. “They frown on me for a lot more reasons than just skipping school.”
He smiled. “Me too.”
They walked back outside, and she straightened her towel on the chair.
Steven shook his head. “Screw sitting on the deck.” She looked up, and he nodded toward the lake. “Let’s go for a swim.”
She laughed. “I don’t think so. That water is about twenty below.”
He frowned. “Don’t be a drama queen. It’s not that cold.” He offered his hand to her. “Come swim with me.”
Her eyes widened and fell to his outstretched hand. She tried to suppress a smile but failed. Pink spread through her cheeks as she laced her fingers with his. A chill buzzed down his spine.
“You’re crazy,” she said as he led her past her friends.
He nudged her with his elbow. “I think I’m in good company.”
Up the path in front of them, a large oak tree stretched out over the still water. There was a rope dangling from a branch. He looked over at her, and she was
shaking her head.
He raised an eyebrow. “Chicken?”
She pulled away and put her hands on her hip bones. Her tantalizing hip bones. “I’m not a chicken.”
He winked at her. “Prove it.”
A wild look flashed in her eyes. “I’ll race you!” She took off running barefoot toward the lake.
Steven put his beer down and ran after her. She ran up the hill toward the tree. He stopped just short of her, laughing. “You won’t do it.”
“Wanna bet?”
Did he ever.
He nodded toward the tree. “Go on then.”
He stood back as she tiptoed to the edge of the bank. She grasped the branch over her head as she carefully stretched to retrieve the rope. When she had it in her hands, she crept back a few steps and tossed her sunglasses onto the grass behind him. “You ready to eat those words?”
He was ready to get in the water with her.
Gripping the rope with both hands, she jumped toward the water. When she was out over the lake, she let go, held her nose, and squealed as she splashed down. Steven doubled over laughing. When her face broke the surface, she was screaming.
“Oh my god! It’s freezing!”
He covered his mouth with his hands. “I didn’t think you’d actually do it!”
“You’re insane!” Kara yelled from the deck.
Journey pointed at him. “Now it’s your turn.”
Even from the bank, he could see her teeth chattering. He shook his head. “I don’t think so!”
“Chicken!” she taunted.
His desire to maintain his body heat was overridden by his desire for the possibility of her warming him back up. He walked up to the tree and grabbed the rope. He pulled off his t-shirt and tossed it near her sunglasses. He took a deep breath before swinging toward the water. He hit the water a few feet away from her, and every ounce of his flesh screamed out in pain as he kicked back to the surface. She was laughing and swimming toward him when he came up for air.
He laughed. “You’re right. This was a bad idea!”
She splashed him in the face. “I told you so!”
He lunged toward her and caught her by the arm. She squealed as he pulled her body close to his. She was close enough that he could count the water droplets sliding down her skin. When she draped her arms around his neck, he no longer cared about the water temperature.