by Amy Clipston
“Please.” I waved off the comment. “My mom enjoys spending money, especially on her family members.”
“I’d love to go with you, but I’ll pay for my own dress.” She looked down at her watch. “It’s almost time to rinse out.”
“What if your dress is your graduation present?”
Emily looked up. “Seriously? A prom dress as a graduation gift? I doubt anyone spends that much on a graduation gift, Whitney.”
“My mom would for you.”
Emily glanced down at the instructions on the box. “Let’s argue about this later. We need to finish your hair before your mom gets home from her country-club meeting.”
I rinsed and conditioned my hair, and then Emily helped me dry it. When the process was complete, Emily and I stood next to each other staring at my reflection in the mirror. I looked completely different. And I liked it.
“Whitney.” Emily squeezed my arm. “You look awesome!”
I chewed on my finger. “Do you think Taylor would like it?”
“I think so, but let’s find out.” Emily pulled out her phone, and I smiled as she took a picture. She then handed me the phone. “Send it to him.”
My hands shook as I typed: Hi Taylor! I’m on Emily’s phone. What do you think of my new look?
I hit Send, handed her the phone, and held my breath.
“Calm down.” Emily hopped back up onto the counter. “He’s going to love it.”
A few minutes passed by, and then her phone beeped.
“What did he say?” I asked.
She glanced at the screen and laughed. “I have no idea. Does he think you’re Hispanic?”
She gave me the phone, and I read: Te vez muy bonita. Gracias por alumbrar mi día. My heart swelled. “Thank you.”
“Well?” Emily huffed. “What does that mean?”
“It means you look very pretty. Thank you for brightening my day.”
“Aww!” Emily gushed. “That’s so sweet, but why does he talk to you in Spanish?”
“It’s kind of our thing, I guess.” I texted: Thank you. See u tomorrow. I handed her the phone. “I’m so glad he likes it.”
“Whitney, it’s your hair. You’re pretty no matter what.” She stood. “I better get going before your mom comes home.”
“Are you afraid of what she’ll do when she sees me?” I picked up the dirty towel from the floor.
“I don’t want to be here for the explosion.” Emily retrieved her backpack from my room and then followed me down to the laundry room, where I tossed the towel in for a prewash. “I hope those stains come out.”
“I doubt they will.” Emily shook her head. “I helped my friend Megan try to dye her hair red back home, and the only thing that turned red was the towel. The stain never came out. The towel was demoted to rag status.”
“Oh well.” I poured the detergent into the slot. “It’s just a towel.”
“Will you walk me out?” Emily started for the door.
“Of course.”
We walked through the family room, and Emily waved good-bye to Logan. He never looked twice at me, but I wasn’t surprised. I always joked that Logan wouldn’t notice an earthquake until it knocked his Xbox game system offline.
Emily and I walked out to her Honda, which was parked behind my Jeep. “Let me know how your mom reacts to your hair.”
“Are you certain you don’t want to stay for supper? Mom made lasagna.” I leaned on the car. “You can call your dad and ask him to come here instead of cooking for him.”
“No, thanks. I’ll pass on eating here until the air clears.” She opened the door just as my mother’s SUV pulled into the driveway.
“It’s show time.” I waved as Mom climbed out of the SUV.
“You’re crazy,” Emily muttered before waving at my mother. “Hi, Aunt Darlene.”
Mom’s eyes focused on me, and her eyes widened. “Whitney Jean, what have you done with your hair?”
“Do you like it?” I tilted my head back and forth and then spun for effect. “Doesn’t it look good?”
Mom stepped toward me. “Why on earth would you do that? We have an appointment to have Casey do our color on Saturday.”
“I know.” I wound a lock of hair around my finger. “I was just tired of having them lightened. It’s a hassle, and this looks more natural. Besides, it would be a pain to have to travel home to get my hair done while I’m at college. This way, I just have to update the color myself if it gets dull.”
My mom reached out and touched my hair as if it were a foreign object. “There are plenty of good salons near Kentwood, dear. We could figure a way to keep your hair blonde even while you’re at school.” She glanced at Emily as if only noticing her for the first time. “Oh, hello, dear. How are you? How’s your dad?”
“We’re fine, thanks.” Emily gestured toward the car. “I need to go start supper for Dad. He’ll be home soon, and I promised him homemade pizza. You know how he loves pizza.”
I reached over and grabbed Emily’s sleeve without taking my eyes off my mom. “Emily and I were just talking about prom. Would you like to take us prom dress shopping?”
“Oh.” Mom’s expression brightened. “I’d love to take you both prom dress shopping.”
“Great.” I glanced at Emily, who looked nervous. “How about Saturday, Em? Can you get time off work?”
Emily nodded. “My dad is the boss. I think I can get time off. He loves it when I spend time with you both.”
“Great.” I turned to my mom, who was still studying my hair. “What do you think about a girls’ day on Saturday?”
Mom nodded. “That sounds nice.”
“Okay.” Emily pulled her sleeve out of my hand. “I better go. See you both Saturday.”
“Good-bye, dear.” My mom waved at her.
“Good luck,” Emily muttered under her breath before climbing into the car and driving off.
Mom’s expression hardened. “Why did you dye your hair?”
“I told you why.” I pushed my hair off my shoulders. “I wanted a change.”
“Does this have anything to do with that boy?”
“No. It has nothing to do with Taylor, Mom. I make my own decisions about my appearance.”
Mom shook her head. “Somehow I get the impression you’re doing this to spite me. You know the fund-raiser dinner at the country club is coming up in two weeks, and I need you to look your best.”
“I think I look fine.” I almost told her Emily and Taylor loved it, but I didn’t want her to lecture me about how they have no taste. “I’m just experimenting, Mom. And I like it. It’s my hair, not yours.”
Mom pointed toward her trunk. “Would you help me carry a few bags in? I had to stop at the craft store on the way home. Rhonda and Edward left for Europe today, and I have to pick up the slack with the fund-raiser. She won’t be home until the day before the big event. I was teasing her yesterday that she planned this so I had to do everything.”
“Rhonda and Edward?” I picked up two bags filled with ribbon, bows, LED lights, confetti, and candles. “You mean the Steeles?”
“Yes, dear. Brett’s parents. They go to Europe every April to celebrate their anniversary.” Mom took the other two bags and then slammed the trunk. “She was nervous about leaving, since graduation is coming up, but I told her not to worry. She’ll be back for the prom and all of the parties.”
“Right.” I followed my mom into the house and placed the bags on the kitchen table.
“I guess Emily is going to the prom with Zander.” Mom put her bags next to mine and then crossed to the refrigerator.
“Of course she is.” I leaned against the table. “They’re such a cute couple. I hope she buys a green dress. Green is her color.”
“What about you?”
“I think I’d like a pink dress.”
“No, Whitney.” My mother’s expression was suddenly grave. “That’s not what I’m asking you. Who asked you to prom?”
“N
o one has. At least, no one has asked me yet.” The lie slipped through my teeth before I could stop it.
“What?” Mom moved toward me. “No one has asked you?”
“No, but I’m sure someone will. I haven’t given up hope just yet.” Guilt rained down on me, but I knew this was the only way she’d let me go to the prom. I had to do it. Mom left me no other choice but to lie to her.
“Maybe Brett will ask you. Rhonda hasn’t mentioned he had another date, so there’s still hope.”
“Maybe.” I ran my finger over the back of a kitchen chair and felt myself sinking deeper and deeper into the lie as if it were quicksand. I knew it would break both my mom’s and Taylor’s hearts if they knew I was lying about my prom date, but I didn’t see any other way.
“Oh.” Mom clapped her hands together. “We’ll go find you the perfect pink dress on Saturday. This will be so fun. I’ll have to call Casey and make salon appointments for you and Emily. You and Emily can have your hair and nails done together the morning of the prom.” She looked at me. “This will be so fun. Thank you for including me in your prom shopping, Whitney. Oh, I can’t believe this is your senior prom. Time has flown by so quickly.”
I nodded and listened as my mother prattled on about her wonderful prom memories. However, I only had one thought echoing through my head: I’m a liar.
Yet I couldn’t bring myself to tell her the truth. All I wanted was to go to prom with my boyfriend, Taylor Martinez.
chapter eighteen
I love that color on you.” My mother nodded her approval.
I swished back and forth in front of the dressing-room mirror while the big pink dress moved around my legs. We’d been trying on prom dresses all morning at my mother’s favorite department store at the mall.
I met Emily’s gaze in the mirror. “What do you think, Em?”
“I don’t know.” Emily was still wearing the green dress she’d gravitated toward as soon as we’d walked into the formal section of the store.
I spun and faced her. “Yes, you do know, and I want your opinion. What do you think?”
Emily pointed toward a lighter-pink, strapless dress hanging on the door to the dressing room. “I like that one better.”
“Hmm.” Mom tapped her chin and walked over to the dress. “I don’t know, Whitney. If Brett asks you to the prom, then you’ll have to see what color cummerbund and vest he decides to wear. That color might be difficult to match.” She touched the hanging dress and then examined the price tag.
Emily hit my arm, and I turned to her. She mouthed the word Brett with horror on her face, and I shook my head, warning her not to say a word.
My mother examined the dress for a few more minutes, and I kept my eyes on her to avoid Emily’s stares. “Well, you can always tell him just to wear basic black.” Mom turned to Emily. “Is that the dress you want, dear?”
Emily held the tag in her hand. “I love it, but have you seen the price?” The hunter-green dress was plain but elegant. It was short-sleeved and came to her knees.
“Oh, don’t be silly!” Mom waved off the question. “This is your senior prom. You should be able to have any dress you want. You look stunning, Emily. I can just imagine Zander’s face when he sees you in it.”
Emily looked at her reflection and touched one of her curls. “You think he’ll like it?”
I laughed at her. “You’re so modest, Emily. You’re gorgeous.”
Emily turned around. “Okay. It’s settled.”
“Fine.” My mother moved toward the door. “You two get changed, and I’ll be out here looking at the shoes.” She disappeared through the dressing-room doorway, and Emily grabbed my arm with such force that I yelped.
“What were you thinking?” Emily eyed me with shock. “You didn’t tell your mother you’re going to the prom with Taylor?”
“Shh!” I took her arm and pulled her back into the dressing room, where I’d left my jeans and shirt. “I can’t risk her hearing you,” I whispered.
“Why did you lie?”
“I didn’t lie. She backed me into a corner and asked me who I was going to the prom with, and I told her I didn’t have a date yet. She’s only assuming Brett will ask me, and I haven’t corrected her. I haven’t really lied. I’ve just not told her the whole truth.”
“That’s still lying, Whitney.”
“I didn’t have a choice. She’d never let me go with Taylor.”
“But what if Brett finds out?”
“I never said I was going with Brett. Besides, his parents are in Europe for two weeks, so my mom won’t have a chance to say anything to his mom. No one will know.”
“But what if Taylor finds out? He’ll be hurt if he knows you weren’t brave enough to tell your mother you’re going to the prom with him.”
“How will Taylor know?”
Emily shook her head. “When you leave for the prom, silly!”
“Shh,” I cautioned her. “We can all meet at your house.”
“But your mom will want to take photos. This is a monumental occasion. She’s going to figure it out.”
“Hmm.” I tapped my chin. “Let me think about this for a minute.” I snapped my fingers. “I got it. I’ll let my mom think I don’t have a date, and then the night before the prom, I’ll say that Taylor was able to get the night off work, and he asked me to go with him as a friend. She can’t say no if I have the dress, shoes, and purse, can she?”
Emily slowly shook her head. “I don’t know, Whitney.”
“Hey, Mom lifted my grounding and gave me my phone back a week early.” I pulled my phone from my purse. “She’s so happy I want to go to the prom, even though I supposedly don’t have a date. I made her happy, so I know I did the right thing.”
“Your mom isn’t stupid. She’s going to figure it out.”
“It will work out. Trust me.” I turned so she could unzip my dress. “I know what I’m doing.”
“I hope so.” Emily’s words were full of doubt.
Emily and I changed back into our jeans and shirts and then met my mother over by the shoes. We picked out shoes and purses that complemented our dresses, and then Mom paid.
We stowed our purchases in Mom’s SUV and then ate Chinese food in the food court while we talked about everything from Mom’s prom memories to graduation plans. I found myself glancing toward the bookstore at the end of the corridor and longing to go in and see Taylor. I just needed to find an excuse.
After finishing lunch, the three of us made our way down the corridor in the direction of the bookstore.
My mother stopped in front of the jewelry store and touched Emily’s arm. “Do you know what jewelry you’re going to wear with the dress?”
Emily touched her locket that Zander had given her for Valentine’s Day. “I’m not certain. I was thinking about my mother’s pearls.”
Mom pointed toward the store. “May I buy you a pair of earrings to go with them?”
“Oh, no, Aunt Darlene. You’ve already spent too much.” Emily shook her head. “I couldn’t accept anything else from you.”
“Don’t be silly, dear. You’re my niece.” Mom took Emily’s arm and tugged her toward the store.
I hung back as they walked away.
Mom turned to me. “Whitney? Are you coming with us?”
I shook my head and pointed toward the bookstore. “I was going to run into the bookstore. I’m looking for a new mystery to read. I promise I’ll make it quick.”
My mom hesitated and then nodded. “Fine, dear. We’ll come find you when we’re done.”
Emily gave me a warning look before heading toward the store with my mom in tow.
I rushed into the bookstore and weaved through the aisles until I found Taylor stocking shelves in the back. I snuck up behind him and placed my hands over his eyes.
He stiffened, grabbed my hands, and spun, facing me. “Whitney?”
“Hey.” I grinned. “I only have a couple of minutes.”
“What
are you doing here?” He studied me with confusion. “I mean, I’m thrilled to see you, but I’m surprised.”
“My mom, Emily, and I are here shopping for prom dresses. We just finished lunch.” I touched his hand. “I can’t wait until you see my dress. I hope you like it.”
“I’m certain I will.”
“Guess what color it is.”
He glanced down at my shirt. “Pink?”
“Am I that transparent?” I pulled my phone from my purse. “Look at what I got back this morning.”
“That’s awesome. I’ve missed our good-night text messages.”
“Yeah. I have too.”
He reached out and touched my hair. “Have I told you I love the color?”
I turned my face toward his hand. “You have, but I like hearing it.”
His fingers moved down my cheekbone, and I smiled up at him. I was lost in the moment until I realized I was running out of time.
“Oh no.” I took his hand in mine. “My mom and Emily are going to come looking for me. I’m supposed to be looking for a book.”
“What book?”
“What are you stocking?” I glanced down and found a murder mystery by an author I’d heard was excellent. “How about this?”
“I heard it was pretty good, but I haven’t read it.”
“I’ll take it.” I moved up onto my tiptoes and brushed my lips against his. “I have to run. Text me later.” I started down the aisle.
“You bet I will,” he called after me.
I reached the cashier just as my mother and Emily were stepping into the store. I paid for the book and then headed out toward the exit with my mother and Emily. My cousin gave me a relieved expression.
I pointed toward the small bag she held with the jewelry store’s logo on it. “What did you get?”
“Your mom insisted on buying me the most beautiful pearl earrings.” She looked up at Mom. “I can’t thank you enough.”
“Oh, don’t be silly, Emily.” To my surprise, Mom moved between us and looped her arms around our shoulders. “I had a lovely time, girls. We must do this again.”
“Thank you, Mom,” I said.
“This was a blast,” Emily said as we crossed the parking lot. “Shopping with my dad isn’t half as fun as this.”