To Be Her First

by Elicia Hyder

  “Screw you, David Britton!”

  He groaned. “Please, just go on without me. You’ll have a great time. I’ll come pick you up tomorrow and make it up to you.”

  “I’m sitting here in a two hundred dollar dress and enough makeup to be a damn drag queen! How could you possibly think you can make this up to me?”

  “I’ll think of something. I swear. I’m sorry,” he said.

  “Damn right, you’re sorry,” she said and hung up the phone.

  Kara turned her palms up. “He’s not coming?”

  Journey pinched the bridge of her nose and tried to control her breathing. “No. He’s not coming! He didn’t pick up his tux before the shop closed.”

  Kara covered her mouth with her hands. “No!”

  Journey balled her fists. “Because he was talking to fucking Rebecca Ashburn.”

  This time Kara screamed. “No!”

  Journey pressed her eyes closed. “I’m going to kill him. I’m going to kill him!”

  The doorbell rang.

  Journey grabbed her pack of cigarettes and followed Kara to the living room. Justin was smiling through the front door. Journey pointed at him. “Your date came from another state, and he managed to be here on time!”

  Kara pulled the door open, but before Justin came inside, Journey stormed out onto the porch.

  “Whoa,” he said, stumbling out of her way.

  Journey lit a cigarette and folded her arms over her chest. She was cursing under her breath.

  Justin looked at Kara. “What’s with her?”

  “David stood her up.”

  Justin laughed. “What? There’s no way.”

  Journey turned and glared at him.

  His eyes widened, and he took a step backward. “That stupid asshole,” he grumbled.

  Kara gripped Journey’s arm. “Well, forget about him! We’re going to go and have so much fun without him that he will feel even worse than he already does.”

  Journey smirked. “I didn’t even want to go to this stupid prom to begin with.” She held out her hand toward Kara. “Give me your phone.”

  “What are you going to do?” Kara asked.

  Journey narrowed her eyes. “I’m calling Marcus.”

  · · ·

  David felt extremely triumphant as he parked the convertible his dad had rented and walked proudly inside Valentino’s. He was wearing a dark gray tuxedo and carrying a white corsage. The hostess smiled brightly as he approached. “I have reservations for four, under the name Britton,” he told her.

  She nodded and picked up a stack of menus. “Certainly, Mr. Britton. Right this way.”

  The restaurant was the only part of the evening that he had told Journey about. He knew she would be impressed. Valentino’s was the nicest place to eat outside of Atlanta. Between the car, the restaurant, the tux, and the hotel suite he had rented, he had to borrow from his college savings to fund the evening. It was going to be worth it though. This night was going to change absolutely everything.

  Their table was draped with a pristine white tablecloth, and David took a seat with a clear view of the front door. He didn’t want to miss the look on Journey’s face when she walked in.

  The hostess touched his arm. “Your server will be with you shortly. I’ll bring the rest of your party when they arrive.”

  He turned his permanent, oversized grin toward her. “Thank you.”

  The year before, Journey had canceled on him at the last minute and had shown up with another guy. But this year, he would finally settle the score. He thought about how fuming mad she probably was, chain smoking on the front porch of the Robertson’s home. Kara would be begging her to go on without him. Justin might have to even throw her over his shoulder and stuff her into his car against her will because there was no way Kara would let her out of going. It was too important of a night.

  He tried to picture her in a dress as he waited for them to arrive. She had told him that her dress was a surprise. He liked it when she wore green, but she had turned up her nose when he mentioned it. Green brought out tiny flecks of emerald in her hazel eyes. Her hair would have a fresh batch of highlights, of who knows what color, and just for the occasion, she would probably wear some makeup. David didn’t care if she wore it or not. He never thought she needed it.

  He sat forward in his seat as the restaurant door opened, and an older couple walked in hand-in-hand. He relaxed and watched them walk across the room together. He wondered what Journey would be like in thirty years. Would they stay in Emerson? Would they have kids? Shit. That reminds me, I need to stop at a drugstore.

  He glanced back to the door just in time to see Justin and Kara enter.

  No Journey.

  Uh-oh.

  Kara’s eyes widened as she stormed angrily across the room toward him. “What the hell?” Her raised voice drew stares from the other patrons.

  David’s brain was scrambling. He held up his hands and waved them with mock enthusiasm. “April Fools’,” he said, more than a little panicked.

  Kara slumped into a chair and covered her face with her hands. “Oh, you are so stupid.”

  “Where is she?” he asked.

  Kara sat up and threw her hands into the air. “She thought you stood her up, so she called Marcus to come and get her!”

  David blinked with surprise. “Marcus? He’s going to take her to the prom?”

  She shook her head. “No, he can’t because they won’t let him in without a ticket. He told her to leave her dress on though and that he was going to take her out.”

  David groaned.

  “Dude, she was pissed,” Justin added, taking a seat beside his girlfriend.

  “It was a joke!” David raked his fingers through his hair. “She was supposed to come here without me!”

  “Hello?” Kara yelled at him. “Have you met Journey? I had to force her to even agree to go. You gave her the perfect excuse not to come!”

  “You weren’t supposed to give up so easily!”

  She pointed at him. “Well, if you had clued someone in about your little joke, maybe I would have tried harder. I’m pretty pissed off at you too, ya know? I swear, you should win some kind of award for being the stupidest guy who ever existed!”

  David couldn’t argue.

  He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. He dialed Marcus’s phone number and drummed his fingers on the table as he waited for him to answer. He never did. The phone rang instead of going straight to voicemail, telling David that the phone wasn’t powered off. He also knew that Marcus was never without his phone, so he was either being ignored, or Marcus was dead. David dialed the number again to no avail. The third time he called, it went straight to voicemail. David slammed the phone down on the table. “That son-of-a-bitch!” He pushed his chair back as he stood.

  “What are you going to do?” Kara asked as he walked around the table.

  “I’m going to go find her. This town isn’t that big.” David stormed out of the restaurant.

  · · ·

  Journey was on her third cigarette when Marcus pulled into the Robertson’s driveway in his black truck. He stepped out of the driver’s side door and smiled. If Journey hadn’t been so livid, she would have smiled back. Marcus looked spectacular in the black tux he had worn the year before to the prom. She stood up and tossed her cigarette into the bushes.

  He let out a slow whistle. “Sweet Jesus, you look amazing!”

  Despite her anger, she grinned. “Thank you.”

  He walked over and offered his hand. “Screw Dave and screw the prom.” He kissed her knuckles and cut his eyes up at her.

  She gasped. “Your eyes are blue.”

  He winked. “This pretty smart chick once told me they look better blue.”

  For the first time since they met, Marcus made her blush.

  He nodded toward the truck. “Come on. We’ve got an asshole to forget.”

  Marcus blared Metallica all the way to Miako’s, Journey’s favor
ite hole-in-the-wall Japanese place. By the time they arrived, her mood had significantly improved. Marcus pulled out her chair and sat down beside her. “Order whatever you want.”

  “Don’t tell me that, or I might overdo it on the sake, and you’ll end up carrying me out of here,” she warned.

  He rested his arm across the back of her chair and smiled. “That wouldn’t be so bad.”

  She looked over the menu. “You’d better watch it, Marcus, or I’ll accuse you of flirting.”

  He laughed and shook his head. “No accusations needed, miss. I admit it!”

  She rolled her eyes and elbowed him in the ribs.

  When their food arrived, she watched as he poured white sauce all over his fried rice. “I’ll never understand how you stay in such good shape. You eat nothing but crap.”

  “Good genes,” he answered, scooping up a forkful. “You think I’m in good shape?”

  “Modesty doesn’t suit you,” she said, glaring at him.

  He smiled. “What do you want to do after dinner?”

  “I wanna get drunk so I can claim intoxication when I murder David.”

  He laughed. “We can do that. I wanna take you out dancing too. Where can we dance?”

  She thought for a second. “We can do both at Barry’s. They have a DJ tonight, and the bartender will sneak us drinks as long as nobody’s watching.”

  He nodded. “OK, but I’m not drinking.”

  She frowned. “You’re no fun.”

  He pushed some vegetables around his plate. “I applied for the police academy this fall.”

  Journey nudged him with her shoulder. “You’re going to be a cop?”

  He leaned on his elbow. “Yep. That’s why I’m getting my associate’s degree in criminal justice.”

  “Good for you.” She smiled at him. “And good for me. I expect special treatment.”

  He laughed and shook his head. “I can’t wait to lock your ass up one day.”

  She grinned at him over the top of her water glass. “You’re just fantasizing about putting me in handcuffs.”

  He pressed his eyes closed and smiled. “Yes.”

  Sexual tension was never lacking between Journey and Marcus, though neither of them would ever act on it. Journey had enough complications in her friendship with David to want to add in any with Marcus. It was nice to have one uncomplicated relationship with a boy in her life. Besides, the last thing she wanted was to be another notch in the bedpost of the heartthrob of Emerson.

  “What are you thinking so hard about?” Marcus asked, interrupting her thoughts.

  She blinked and looked at him. “That you’re a man whore.”

  His face turned serious. “I prefer to think of myself as a relationship connoisseur.”

  Her eyebrow rose. “Can you spell connoisseur?”

  He looked at the ceiling. “C-O-N-N…oissuer.” He pronounced the last part with an eye roll.

  She laughed and laid her head on his shoulder. “You’re a dork.”

  He stabbed a piece of steak with his fork. “Finish your dinner. I’m in the mood to dance.”

  They arrived at Barry’s Bar & Grill just after nine o’clock, and the April Fools’ party was in full swing. Most of the patrons were in costume, wearing jester hats and masks, so Journey and Marcus didn’t look too out of place.

  Martin, her boss, was at the hostess station when they walked in. He was grinning from ear to ear. “Well, never did I think I would see Journey Durant in a dress. Aren’t you a little overdressed for the night shift?”

  Journey pointed at him. “I’m a paying customer tonight, Martin.” She looked around. “Is Barry here?”

  Martin shook his head. “He says it’s too loud for him.”

  Journey smiled. Barry’s absence meant others would be more willing to sneak her alcohol. “Thanks, Martin.”

  “What are you so dressed up for?” he asked.

  She wrinkled up her nose. “I was supposed to be at prom tonight.”

  He looked at his watch. “So, why are you here?”

  “I was stood up,” she answered.

  His eyes flashed to Marcus who held up his hands in defense. Marcus shook his head. “I didn’t do it.”

  Martin snapped his fingers. “That reminds me. There was a guy who stopped by earlier who was asking for you.”

  Journey sighed and rolled her eyes toward Marcus. “Dave,” she said.

  Marcus laughed and reached for her hand. “I’m guessing he realized how bad he screwed up.” He nodded to the dance floor. “Come on. Let’s dance.”

  18

  Do It Right

  Steven washed his hands and looked in the mirror. After doing a mental calculation of how much money was left in his bank account, he decided to have one more drink before going home. He walked out of the bathroom and down the long, smokey hallway toward the sound of bad Irish music. What Irish music had to do with April Fools’ Day, he wasn’t sure.

  At the mouth of the hallway, the gleam from a sparkly dress stopped him in his tracks.

  It was her.

  Steven’s heart was pounding louder than the awful music. This was exactly what he wanted. He’d been planning what to say to her since he sobered up in jail a month before. He had been crushed when her boss said she wasn’t working that night, and then suddenly, there she was. So why couldn’t he get his feet to move?

  Watching her, dancing with Marcus, Steven’s chest began to tighten. He had never wanted anything more than he wanted to be with her again, to be the center of her universe again. He took a deep breath and a bold step forward.

  His feet didn’t stop till the he reached the dead center of the dance floor. A few feet away, Marcus was twirling her around. Several other partiers stopped and stared before Journey or Marcus registered his presence. Marcus saw him first, and he stopped spinning. Journey straightened, panting, and she grabbed his arms for support. When she noticed Marcus staring, she followed his gaze till her eyes settled on Steven.

  Her expression sobered. She stumbled back a step. “Steven.”

  Being that small town gossip was better than any dance song, the DJ turned the music down. Everyone was watching them. He felt the corners of his eyes begin to prickle with tears, but he wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was the beer.

  “Can I talk to you?” he finally said.

  She looked around the crowded room and pulled her dress straight. “Here?”

  He shrugged his shoulders. “Yeah. It doesn’t matter.”

  She exchanged a confused look with Marcus. “Uh, OK.”

  Steven took a step toward her and turned his palms over. “I’m sorry. I screwed up.” He took a deep breath. “I have regretted breaking up with you every single day since I did it. I don’t care about your parents. I don’t care about going back to jail. I don’t even give a shit how stupid I look right now.”

  Her lips were parted, but she didn’t—or couldn’t—speak.

  He closed the space between them. “I’m sorry, Journey. I can’t keep pretending that I’m OK without you anymore.” There was a collective melodic sigh from the older women who were scattered around the bar. Tears sparkled in Journey’s eyes. That had to be a good sign. He cupped her face in his hands. “Please give me another chance.”

  She blinked, and a tear slid down her cheek. Finally, she smiled. “OK.” She nodded her head and looped her arms around his neck.

  He held her head against the the bend of his neck and breathed in the scent of her coconut shampoo. He almost started crying, but somehow he reigned in his emotions. Standing just behind Journey, even Marcus looked a little impressed. He gave a slight nod of approval. Steven closed his eyes and pressed his lips against the side of her head.

  She looked up at him, the teal in her dress reflecting the green in her eyes. She chuckled and swiped at her tears. “I never expected you to be the apologetic type.”

  “There’s a lot you don’t know about me.” He leaned down and kissed her lips. “But we’ve g
ot time for you to learn.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck again and nodded against his neck. He pulled back and jerked his head toward the door. “Can we get out of here?”

  She smiled. “Please.”

  · · ·

  David had checked all of Journey’s normal hangouts. She wasn’t at Marcus’s, and his truck was gone. Her car was at Kara’s, but no one was home. He went by Barry’s, but they weren’t there. He drove by her favorite coffee shop, the movie theater, the mall… She was no where to be found. On his drive back toward his house, he went by Barry’s one last time. Marcus’s truck was parked out front. David sighed with relief and pulled in the lot.

  The bar was crowded with guests in costumes, and there was loud music playing from a DJ’s booth at the back of the room. The guy at the hostess station held up his hand to stop David when he entered. “It’s a ten dollar cover, man.”

  David sighed. “I’m just looking for Journey. Is she here?”

  The guy thought for a second. “I saw her come in.”

  David pulled out his wallet and handed him a ten dollar bill before pushing his way back through the crowd. Past the bar was a dance floor. Marcus was on it with a brunette who was twice his age. David scanned the room, but didn’t see Journey anywhere. He walked over and grabbed Marcus by the arm.

  Marcus’s eyes doubled in size. “Dave!” He looked him up and down. Confusion built in his gaze as he took in David’s tuxedo. He pointed at him. “What’s going on?”

  “Where is she?”

  “David, why are you wearing a tux?” Marcus demanded.

  David sighed. “Because it was an April Fools’ joke. I tried to call you.”

  Marcus nodded. “I know, and I shut my phone off.”

  “Why?”

  Marcus crossed his arms over his chest. “Because you did a shitty thing to her!”

  “It was a joke!” David insisted.

  Marcus laughed with sarcasm. “I guess that backfired on you, didn’t it?”

  David scowled. “Where is she?”