It’s true. She was sporting what appeared to be a double-D this past week. I’d be the last one to say it, though.
“I’m beginning to wonder if I’m not more pregnant than I think. And maybe its two legs were getting caught up in my breasts!”
I laughed. “You’re silly. And just how pregnant do you think you are?”
“Well, I thought I was about two months.”
“And what do you think now?”
“Well.” She scratched her head. “I’m not the best with keeping up with those sorts of things. I have no idea. I do, however, have a doctor’s appointment next week. Maybe I’ll get a better gauge on it then.”
I handed the dress back to her. “So what is it you want, if not another dress?”
She handed it back to me. “For you to go in my place.”
“Me?” I shrieked, and stuffed it back in her arms. “No way. I did mention there’s a handsome man waiting for me to eat with him, didn’t I? Then we’re watching a movie. Do you know how long it’s been since something this good has come down the road for me, Liz? You’ve never had a dry spell. Imagine six years of cracked earth, no water in sight, lips parched from the sun.” I rubbed my mouth and looked my best at desperation. “I can’t. Don’t make me.”
“I can’t, Sarah. And I’m sure Mr. Romeo won’t mind keeping dinner warm. The dance is only a couple hours long.”
“A couple hours! Find someone else. I’m serious, Liz. I can’t.”
“I’ve called, trust me. Angela is already going—she drew the short end of the matchstick in study hall last week. Audrey can’t; her daughter is puking with a fever. Mason won’t answer his phone, jerk, and Roberta is out of town. There has to be six chaperones. If I don’t go, that makes it four.”
“I thought you said it has to be six?”
“Melinda called out at the last minute. Said she has a family emergency.”
“What if there isn’t five? Or six?”
She shrugged. “I guess they’ll have to call Carter or someone from the main office to come. Or maybe they’ll call off the dance. I don’t know! Don’t ask me. How can four people watch all those kids?”
I bumbled around. It wasn’t such a bad thing to have to call Carter. He was the principal, after all. This wasn’t my problem. Then I thought about all the kids, and how devastating it would be not to have a dance. But surely they wouldn’t call off the dance?
“Fine. I’ll do it.”
She began jumping up and down, a sassy smile strapped to her face.
“I’ll have to go home and—”
“You can’t go home. It’s 6:30. The dance starts at seven. You’ll never make it in time.”
“And would you have me going in this?” I looked down at my jeans and tee shirt. I was planning on changing before dinner. Which was in a couple of minutes. I needed to call Alex.
“Here, wear this.” She shoved the dress back in my hands.
“This! This? This is…is…sleeveless. Low-cut. Shows my knees. This is Liz—it’s not Sarah.”
“It’s Sarah tonight.”
I dropped my car keys and phone on the sofa and took it.
“Change in my room. Rick is in the garage doing who knows what.”
I stomped down toward Liz’s room, shaking my head, and grumbling not-so-nice things. One evening. All I wanted was one evening for myself. Rose was having the time of her life. I wanted the same for me, and here is where I am: Liz’s room, squeezing into a dress for a dance I shouldn’t be going to. Ahh…
I came out, pulling and fidgeting down the hall. I looked like…not me. Not me at all. My cleavage hadn’t seen this much daylight since my shower two hours ago. Thankfully I thought to take one early. I knew I’d have just enough time after dropping Rose to get back to Alex’s house. I wanted to smell fresh in case he got close enough to me while we sat on the couch watching a movie.
“You look fabulous.” Liz’s smile stretched clear past her ears. “Oh my gosh, Sarah. Turn around. Let me see the whole thing. You go over to Alex’s after the dance looking like this and…”
“And nothing. I’m sure June, his daughter, will be there by that time, too.”
“Okay, so take him back to your place. Rose is gone.”
“I’m not sure how he’d feel about that.”
“Please. You let him see this and he’ll forget to feel anything.”
I couldn’t help but let out a smirk. A tiny one. I did feel weird. A good weird. Like maybe it looked okay. It wasn’t my taste, but at least I could pull it off. Liz let me wear her heels to complete the ensemble and I was on my way. I even had time to text Alex and tell him about the delay in plans for the evening. He called me back and said he understood perfectly and to keep an eye on June. I don’t think he was bothered as much as relieved he’d have a set of eyes at the dance.
I pulled into the parking lot and noticed a lot of cars already there. Kids were waiting at the door and on the grass for someone to open the door. I snuck in a side door and walked to the gym. It was beautiful. The colors they used to decorate were purple and white. The junior class really outdid themselves this year. Strung lights were hung above and some were draped on topiary trees. Candace Williams had her mark on the placement of things. She was our go-to person for every dance or PTA function. The soft ambiance made you forget a day ago people were shooting baskets from the very place they’d dance.
Formal glassware for the punch was displayed on two clothed tables; clear plastic cups were stacked and ready to serve the foaming green beverage. Cookie trays, as well as fruit trays, were on the smaller tables. Purple napkins alternated with white ones and there was star confetti sprinkled on each surface. The deejay was arranged on a makeshift stage; only a table sat in front of him with an open computer. I didn’t recognize him. Usually they’d get Dean Jenson’s cousin, Toby. Wow, things had really changed. I think we had a band at our dances. I noticed a photo stand with a rose trellis by the far wall for picture opportunities. I heard my heels on the hardwood floor as I walked toward Angela. She was placing pretzels in a few of the empty bowls where the punch bowls were. Margaret Dinton was adding ginger ale to the sherbet at the other table.
“Hey ladies,” I called out.
They turned and seemed surprised. “Sarah? What are you doing here?”
“Liz wasn’t feeling well. I guess you’d say I’m her stand-in. Dress and all.” I presented the whole thing—shoes, too.
“You look amazing,” Margaret said.
Margaret was the French teacher, mid-fifties, and wearing a cardigan over a blouse. Her pants seemed to be velvet-like, though. She was the comfort level I dreamed to be at that moment. Angela wore a blue dress with a high neckline. Everything was sensibly covered. No cleavage, no knees. Figures Liz would want no one to have to guess what skin tone she really was underneath those jogging suits.
I covered my chest and watched the ladies move about the table in synchronicity. They were old hands at this sort of thing. This was my second dance as a faculty member. The first one was two years ago. I drew that short stick and had to do the prom. It was pretty spectacular, though. I marveled at all the dresses. So much had changed since my high school prom days with layers of hairspray and Madonna-like dresses.
Luke Stine yelled out to us. “I’m going to open the doors now, everyone.”
I unwrinkled the edge of the tablecloth and braced myself for the crowd. Hopefully someone else’s dress had less material than mine. I’d stand beside them in order not to get all the big eyes.
An hour into it and the large area was beginning to heat up. The deejay was playing some good songs and some not-so-good songs. I found myself tapping my very uncomfortable foot to most of them. Liz was a half size smaller than me—I’d feel it when I threw off these shoes in the car. I had managed to get some googly eyes from a couple of the boys from the football team, a few from the basketball team, and stalker stares from Wally Kirkpatrick. I’d forgotten he was a staple at all the
dances. He was the shop teacher’s assistant. We rarely saw him because the building he worked wasn’t connected to the main one.
There wasn’t much going on that was chaperone-worthy. Any time a couple got more than a foot outside the gym, Margaret would turn on her siren and flock them back in the doors. I checked my watch, hoping it would soon all be over. I’d texted Alex and told him June made it there safely and was the most beautiful girl in the room. She was. And her date had that look, as if he knew it too. I eyed his ex, Allison, giving him the you don’t know what you’re missing look as she danced with Grayson Taylor. It’s amazing how five years from now, the same games get played, only there’s no chaperones watching and most everyone probably ends up going home with who they brought. For the night.
I decided to pick at the pretzel bowl to give my growling belly something to munch on until I got to Alex’s house. He assured me dinner would still be waiting for me. I’d just put a salty nugget in my mouth when I felt someone’s hand on my shoulder. Lord, I hoped it wasn’t Wally. Slowly I turned to see…Carter.
I wiped my mouth, hoping all the crumbs had made it inside. With food caught in my mouth, I mumbled, “Hey.”
“Hey to you.” His eyes moved down the length of my short dress. I crossed my arms and touched my hair, pulling it toward the front, hoping it would cover most of my bare shoulder.
After successfully swallowing and not choking, I proceeded. “What are you doing here?”
“Jim called and said he couldn’t make it. Something about Clayton needing the car to pick someone up from the airport.” He rolled his eyes. “Yeah, right. Jim hates these things. I don’t know why he signs up.”
“Because at the time, he gets major brown-nosing points from you. Plus he probably thought there were enough people already. I’m sure he could’ve died having to call you.”
“Yeah, I think he said he called Liz and she told him he’d have to call me.”
“Yep. That Liz.”
His eyes fell to my dress again. “I guess that means she got you to go in her place?”
“You could say that.” I kept my eyes looking forward. I didn’t want him to think I was checking him out or anything. He was wearing my favorite tie and it smelled as if he just stepped out of the shower.
“You look…um, you look…”
“Absolutely like a poster child for a call-girl service?”
“Not exactly how I’d describe it. A poster child?”
“You know what I mean.” He was making me nervous. “I didn’t want to wear this, trust me. I got bamboozled at the last minute. I’m supposed to be having a nice dinner and movie, in fact. Liz practically guilted me into this thing.” I referred to my dress. “And this thing.” I pointed at the gymnasium and dancing couples. “We are totally even for favors. Appearing here tonight like a rather loose, fun-time teacher clears the charts. I doubt Margaret will ever invite me to her book club meetings again. She keeps staring at me.”
“Who needs her book club? I hear the room smells like dirty socks when they meet and all they do is read Russian literature that no one checks out in the library.”
I laughed. “I’ve never gone. I don’t guess I’ve missed much, huh?”
“Probably not. And she should take lessons on her formal wear. You don’t look loose—a little fun maybe. I know, let’s ask Wally what he thinks.” He went to call for the stalker man by the photo booth.
I hit him on the arm.
Rubbing his elbow, he turned to me. “I’m kidding. Somehow I don’t think Wally would have a coherent opinion. I’m not sure he gets out other than our school dances and his monthly grocery store trip. I think he owns a deep chest freezer. I’ve run into him one time and his cart was overflowing with frozen meals.”
“Poor guy. I have noticed he’s spent a great deal of time eating the cookies and fruit tonight. His body won’t know what to do with fresh food. And at least he didn’t wear his overalls tonight.”
“It’s not because of anything I said. In fact, I told him to just make sure he wore a tie and he’d be set.”
“Carter.”
“All jokes aside, I think you look amazing. Better than Liz when she wore that dress, in fact. You fill it out better.”
I wriggled a bit and touched my chest. Why did he have to go and say something like that? Really? Just spit on me, tell me I’m a street hooker and move on, Carter Williams. Someone really needs to tell this man how to handle me. So I can live a happy life.
“Thank you,” I said quietly.
Margaret walked up and asked to talk to Carter privately. I dusted off the tablecloth and moved around the perimeter of the dancefloor. I got a few half waves from the couples as they grooved to the music. Then the fast song faded to a slow one. People who weren’t brave enough to fast dance made their way from the walls and chairs to the middle of the floor, taking their dates and pulling them close for a slow sway. The strobe light all but disappeared and the clear lights that strung on the poles flickered. I watched as the magic began. June came into my view and I smiled at how serene she looked. Her hair was beautiful—upswept and braided in the front. Her makeup was modest and her chin rested on her date’s shoulder as if she could’ve had the city fall around her and still she’d be okay.
“Care to dance?”
I turned to see Carter holding out his hand.
“Um, aren’t we supposed to be monitoring?” I could feel the beating of my heart grow in speed.
“What better way than to join them? Besides, you come to a dance expecting to dance, don’t you? Have you danced yet?”
“Well, no.”
“Come on.” He took my hand and pulled me close.
As my body rested against his, I took a deep breath, closed my eyes and concentrated on this very moment. My hand rested on his shoulder as the other one moved to his back. I felt his on the small of my back. It moved every now and then, almost rubbing it. Our cheeks were almost touching. I could feel the heat from him, smell his aftershave, and see the outline of his hair in my side vision. My breathing was shallow. I hoped he couldn’t feel the tiny spurts of intake.
Time seemed to go so quickly as we swayed in unison. To conjure up so many different scenarios of getting this close to him, and I was here. Right now. And yet as good as it felt, as natural as I was, I became angry. Angry that it was fleeting. Angry that I liked being this close to him. Then he thrust me closer. Just for a second. I closed my eyes and tried to fight the sensation of total bliss when he did it. Finally I broke from his hold.
“What’s wrong? Is everything okay?” His eyes were bewildered.
“No. I mean, yes. I’m fine. I’ve just got to go to the restroom. I’ll be back.”
On shaky legs, I made my way through the couples and toward the brown sign marked Ladies. There weren’t many girls in there. I found an empty stall and went in and locked the door. I took a few deep breaths and composed myself. Carter Williams was a friend. I needed to say this over and over until I got it down. Friend, friend, friend. He has a girlfriend, a cat, a girlfriend, a cat. I said it a couple more times to get that part down, too. I was going to go to Alex’s tonight. All was good. Carter is a friend. Alex is a…whatever.
When I left the restroom, the song had changed to a fast one. The strobe light was streaming through the couples and I saw Carter standing on the far side. Wally and Angela were talking to him. I tried to make conversation with anyone who walked by, just so I could look busy. After checking my watch a couple hundred times, Carter walked to the deejay stand and took the mic and made the announcements of the king’s court. The gorgeous girls and dapper guys took the stage, did the bow and everyone clapped. It just so happened most of the court was players and cheerleaders. Fancy that. They won the game last night, so there was much to celebrate. Even more after thirty more minutes for me, and the dance was over. I’d tried my best to think of Alex and what he may have prepared us to eat. I was starving.
The kids streamed out as they�
��d streamed in a few hours before. I looked toward the tables—not much was left. Trash, empty cups, unfilled punch bowls, and that glittery star confetti. Margaret had a trashcan, pushing the cups inside it. Angela was carrying the bowls to the lounge to rinse. I noticed Wally had tried to pick up some empty cups when Margaret yelled at him to keep his post by the door. He walked off, head hung. I was almost scared to ask whether I could leave a little early.
“Hey, Margaret. I’m sort of filling in for Liz, and I had a date that started a couple hours ago without me. Would you mind if I left a couple minutes early?”
“I don’t guess so. My husband’s coming to pick me up. He can take down the tables and we can get the rest tomorrow.”
“Thank you so much.”
I yelled good-bye to Angela and dashed to the coat closet to get my coat. It was technically the coach’s office but someone had a great idea of putting the rack from the drama class in there. Mrs. Tillman was in charge of the tickets and helped with the coat check, too.
I was putting mine on when Carter walked in. “I didn’t see you out there cleaning up. Leaving early?”
I pulled my hair out from the jacket. “Yeah. I sort of had a date I missed for this. He’s saving dinner for me.”
He nodded. “I see. Is it neighbor guy?”
“Yeah.” I tried to get my hair out of my earring. It got caught when I pulled on it.
“Let me.” Carter came closer and touched my hair.
I stopped moving. We were eye to eye. He looked away and concentrated on my hair. Gently, he pulled it from the hoop earring.
“Well, you have fun.”
Have fun? Oh, okay. I’ll have fun. And stop messing with my hair. And my brain. Carter is a friend. Carter is a friend.
“Okay, you too.”
I sidestepped around him and out of the room and raced to my car. I didn’t care whether it was thirty degrees outside and my left toes throbbed in pain. I started that thing up and headed to Alex’s house while blowing smoke in the air for fun. I just wish I didn’t answer the phone before getting there.
Falling For Sarah (Sarah Series Book 3) Page 11