The Pizza Party restaurant was beginning to fill up fast and Karin was glad that she, Reese, Lesley and Marcus had gotten there early to get a table. They’d ordered an extra large deep-fried, double cheese and pepperoni pizza, along with a round of sodas.
“You’d think these people had nothing better to do than sit around stuffing their faces with pizza,” Marcus joked, and proceeded to take a bite from his large slice.
Lesley laughed. “Look who’s talking.” She grabbed a napkin and wiped the cheese streaming down his chin.
“Thank you, Mother,” he said, looking embarrassed.
Karin smiled. “Don’t blame her for making sure you don’t look like a slob.”
“I don’t. Wipe away all you want, Lesley.” He chuckled and stuck out his chin.
“Don’t get too carried away with the slob act, man,” Reese said playfully. “Otherwise it might become contagious.” He bit into a piece of pizza, being extra careful to catch the cheese with his tongue before it landed his face.
Karin did the same and was just as cautious. She brushed against Reese and said, “The school Valentine’s Day dance is in two weeks. Do you want to go?” She didn’t want to be too forward or seem desperate, but now was the time to know if they would attend as a couple.
Reese didn’t hesitate to respond. “Yeah, I do.”
Karin beamed. “Good.”
“I think it’ll be fun to bump and grind with you on the dance floor,” Reese said.
And even better to slow dance, Karin thought dreamily. Not to mention be seen on his arm instead of Cheryl Green.
“I can’t wait,” Karin admitted, not even wanting to think about trying to convince her parents that she should go with Reese. She looked at Lesley, commanding her silently to step up to the plate for herself.
“Please tell me we’re going, too?” Lesley looked at Marcus with pleading eyes.
He shrugged. “I have two left feet and two right arms, Lesley. I’d probably only end up tripping over myself and you.”
“I don’t think so,” she persisted. “Besides, we don’t even have to dance, if you don’t want. We can just hang out with our friends and have a good time. But we have to be there, Marcus! It’s the social event of the season. Or at least in February.”
Marcus pushed aside his dreadlocks. “All right, you talked me into it. We can go.”
Lesley grinned, leaned over and kissed his cheek, then gave Karin a high-five.
“See how easy it is to please us,” she told the guys and winked at Lesley.
“Yeah, it doesn’t take much,” Reese said. “Not like the high maintenance types.”
“Gee, I wonder who he’s talking about,” Lesley said sardonically.
Karin was suddenly glad that she didn’t require much in the way of makeup, clothing, and accessories to be happy with herself or a boyfriend.
“Speak of the devil—” Marcus said, looking up towards the entrance.
Everyone turned that way as if in a hypnotic trance. Cheryl walked in with Jeffrey Jamison. Tall, dark, and handsome, he was a senior and president of the Elmwood High Student Council. They were brushing shoulders and Karin wondered if Cheryl had truly gotten over losing Reese or if her apparent interest in Jeffrey was only for show and to make Reese jealous.
“Hey, what’s up?” Jeffrey asked as they walked up to them.
“Just chillin’, man,” Reese said nonchalantly. “Hi, Cheryl.”
“Hi, Reese,” she cooed in a sanguine voice. “Hey, everyone.”
Cheryl locked eyes with Karin, and seemed to say through her expression: Look who I’m with. I’ll bet Reese is looking and having second thoughts about letting me get away.
As though the words rang in her ears, Karin looked at Reese. His eyes were glued on Cheryl’s face. Then, as if sensing her staring, he met Karin’s gaze and smiled awkwardly.
“Well, we’ll let you get back to your food and grab a table before there’s none left,” Jeffrey said.
“Take it slow, bro,” Marcus said, and grabbed another slice of pizza.
“Bye,” Cheryl said sweetly, seeming to revel in the moment.
“Looks like someone is trying her devilish best to make someone jealous,” Lesley said.
“I’m not jealous,” Reese said quickly. “We’re not together anymore. Cheryl’s free to date anyone she chooses.”
“Even Mr. Everything?”
“Yeah, even him.” Reese put his arm around Karin, as if to reaffirm his choice of girlfriend. “I’m happy. She should be, too.”
“I know I am,” Karin said, resting her hand on his leg. She was feeling reassured about their relationship; though she believed that Cheryl would be quick to pounce on Reese should she see even the slightest opening.
Marcus wiped his mouth. “Good. Now that it’s settled and we’re all where we want to be and who we want to be with, what do you say we get out of here. It’s getting a bit stuffy, don’t you think?”
Everyone was in total agreement. Karin was only too happy to get Reese away from the place and his past, which she feared could still threaten their future.
* * *
Karin was sitting in the family room with her parents that night when she brought up the Valentine’s Day dance.
“That sounds good, baby,” her father said. “Who’s the lucky guy?”
She hesitated and considered saying it was her dorky, but sweet neighbor and friend, Calvin Joplin. They had known each other since grade school and Calvin had a crush on her ever since. Even though she had indicated she had no romantic interest. Karin was sure he would cover for her if she asked him nicely. But that wouldn’t solve her long-term problem of getting her parents to accept Reese as the boy she was truly interested in.
“Reese McKenzie asked me to go,” she said nonchalantly.
“The basketball player?” Her mother asked, though her expression indicated that she knew exactly who he was.
“Yeah, Momma. He needed a date and I needed one. It just worked out that way. No big deal.”
Josephine frowned suspiciously. “Going to a Valentine’s Day dance with a boy is a very big deal, Karin. I wasn’t born yesterday and neither was your father. If he wants to take you, it’s because you’re his sweetheart.”
Greer’s nostrils flared. “Karin, I thought we already went over this—”
“Daddy, we’re not sweethearts, okay?” Karin tried to put on her best performance. “We’re only friends who see each other mostly at school. I think he probably only asked me because Lesley is going to the dance with his friend, Marcus Payne.”
“The alcohol-abusing basketball player who tore up Barbara Hathaway’s house?” Her mother leveled a knowing gaze at Karin. “Yes, I know Barbara. She comes to the studio for Pilates and has a real gift for gab.”
Karin was stunned. She hadn’t expected her mother to not only remember the incident with Marcus, but know Jayne’s mother as well.
“That was a onetime thing,” she tried to defend Marcus. “Does he have to be punished for the rest of his life? Or Lesley just because she’s going out with him?”
“No one’s saying Marcus doesn’t deserve a second chance,” her father said. “And Lesley is free to date any boy she chooses, if her mother doesn’t have a problem with it.”
Josephine, who was sitting next to Greer on the sofa, leaned forward and said, “This isn’t about them, it’s about you, Karin. I don’t want you hanging out with the wrong crowd.”
“They’re not the wrong crowd, Momma,” she stuck up for her friends. “Lesley is my best friend and Marcus and Reese are my friends, too. They also happen to be starters on the Spartans basketball team with good futures ahead of them. Please don’t deny me the chance to go to my first high school Valentine’s Day dance and have some fun.”
After a moment or two of uneasy silence, Karin’s father once again took the lead role.
“She’s right, honey,” he said to her mother. “This is a special occasion and Karin should be
allowed to experience it with her friends. We have to give her a little space to grow up into the young woman we both know she will be.”
Josephine smoldered, but begrudgingly came around. “All right, you can go to the dance. Just don’t make us regret this.”
“You won’t, Momma,” she promised, and felt a little guilty that she hadn’t been totally truthful about her relationship with Reese. A little at a time, Karin told herself, until her parents realized that they were a perfect high school couple or could be, if given half a chance.
* * *
Karin and Lesley went to the mall to buy dresses for the dance. It seemed as if everyone else had the same thing in mind with all the shoppers crowding into the stores.
“Remind me next year to come a month earlier,” Lesley complained.
“Need I remind you that last Valentine’s Day we were dateless and very frustrated,” Karin said. “Isn’t this much better, even if we have to worm our way through the entire city of Crestview to get what we want?”
“Yeah, you’ve got a good point there. If you’d told me last year that I’d be going to the Valentine’s Day dance with Marcus Payne, I would’ve thought you were crazy.”
“Same thing if you’d mentioned that Reese McKenzie would be in my future. Guess good things can happen to teenage girls if they wait long enough and don’t settle for less.”
“That would be us!” Lesley suddenly grabbed Karin’s hand. “Let’s go in there.”
They made a sharp left, slicing through waves of shoppers, and entered a boutique specializing in designer clothes for young women. Almost as quickly, a petite saleswoman asked, “Can I help you girls?”
“Maybe,” Karin said. “We’re looking to improve our wardrobes just in time for a Valentine’s Day dance.”
“Our lives may depend on it,” quipped Lesley.
The woman smiled broadly. “Well, girls, I think you’ve come to the right place!”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
On Valentine’s Day, Karin and Lesley got started early with their hair and makeup, working on each other and trying not to overdo it.
“It’s not too caked on, is it?” Karin asked, looking in the mirror at her reflection.
“Yeah, all we need now is some lemon frosting and you’ll look tasty enough to eat.” Lesley laughed. “Your makeup is perfect, silly. And so is your hair. If Reese doesn’t consider you the belle of the ball, then he’s definitely blind!”
Karin smiled. “You look perfect, too. Marcus will be very happy to have you as his date.”
“He’d better be,” Lesley declared, “especially after I had to draw on my meager salary and a loan from my Mom to buy a dress for this dance.”
“Speaking of which,” Karin said, glancing at the clock, “I’d say it’s time for us to get changed and pray that nothing gets wrinkled too soon or in the wrong places.”
They went from Karin’s house to Lesley’s and back again, getting some advice from their mothers, whether they wanted it or not. As it was, Karin was happy to get her mother involved. It was her way of trying to smooth the waters for the future when she would have to come totally clean and admit that she and Reese were more than just friends going to a Valentine’s Day dance.
“Stay still now, girl,” her mother said, as she pulled up the hidden back zipper of Karin’s black beaded print dress.
“I feel like I’m being transformed into Cinderella,” Karin said, a little frightened at the prospect. As if to further the notion, she stepped into some sandals and couldn’t help but think of Cinderella’s glass slippers. Was this the true start of womanhood for her?
“Cinderella is a fairy tale,” Karin’s mother said. “You’re the real deal, only better.”
“I agree,” offered Lesley. “That dress looks wonderful on you.”
Karin inspected Lesley’s attire, admiring the maroon, v-neck dress. “And you look pretty hot in that dress,” she told her. “I think we’ll definitely set the dance on fire!”
Josephine frowned. “Well, just be sure you’re close to a fire extinguisher. Overheating the place might be a bit much.”
Lesley chuckled. So did Karin, getting the message loud and clear: attract the guys, but not too much, too soon. She wasn’t sure where to separate the two where Reese was concerned. She wanted him to like her for who she was and hoped he respected her enough to do that without expecting more than she was ready to handle.
They went back to Lesley’s house, where Shelly and Edgar were waiting to see them off.
“You girls have a great time,” Shelly said. “Remember the special moments.”
“We intend to,” Lesley said.
“Like probably forever,” Karin added dreamily.
“Kind of makes me wish we were young again, sweetie,” Edgar said to Shelly as he put his arm around her. He gazed at Lesley. “Never went to a high school Valentine’s Day dance. And the girls I knew in high school were definitely not as pretty as you, Lesley—or you, Karin.”
The girls giggled and thanked him together. Karin felt a trifle uncomfortable being complimented by Shelly’s boyfriend, who was like way too old to even notice them. But then she acknowledged that they were both beginning to grow up physically so men would notice, like it or not.
Edgar shifted his eyes to Shelly. “Of course, if I could do it all over again, I’d love to go to the Valentine’s dance with an even prettier gal.”
Shelly laughed. “Hey, who says it’s too late?” she cooed and kissed him on the mouth.
“Not me,” he said smoothly and kissed her back.
“We’d better get going,” Lesley said, eyeing Karin.
“Yeah.” Karin quickly agreed before they got any ideas about tagging along as chaperones. “We don’t want to be late.”
“Wouldn’t it have been better if the boys picked you up, instead of your driving?” Shelly asked.
Lesley sighed. “Like I told you, Mom, Marcus doesn’t have a car and Karin’s date agreed to be there early to help set things up.”
At least that was the story they concocted, mused Karin. In reality, it seemed best that she meet Reese at the school rather than have him come to her house and risk her parents discovering that they were going steady. She feared that her mother might have forbidden her from going to the dance or anywhere else with Reese.
“Well, just be careful out there,” Lesley’s mother said.
“We will,” both girls promised in unison.
* * *
The dance was held in the school gymnasium. A strobe light hung from the ceiling and hip-hop music blared through speakers. Couples were either dancing in an area set up for that very purpose or standing together talking and drinking punch. Teachers and parent chaperones tried to be as inconspicuous as possible while making their presence felt.
After meeting Reese and Marcus at the door of the gym, Karin and Lesley had paired up with their dates and gone inside.
“Have fun,” Lesley whispered in Karin’s ear, even while holding onto Marcus for dear life.
“I will. And you, too,” Karin replied. How could they not have a good time when they were with the right guys at the right time?
Reese held Karin’s hand as they wormed their way through his friends, which seemed like virtually everyone they came upon. She felt like the luckiest girl in the room with the most handsome boy. He had already complimented her twice on her dress and her attractiveness, which she ate up like candy as his girlfriend.
“Do you want something to drink?” Reese asked when they reached the table with the punch bowl and snacks.
Karin wasn’t really thirsty, but answered, “Sure.”
He quickly filled two plastic cups, handing her one.
“Last year this place was practically dead,” he said. “Now it’s come to life.”
“Guess the lively people weren’t here last year,” she quipped.
Reese smiled. “Yeah, I think you’re right. In fact, I know you are.”
Karin nearl
y melted from the look of admiration he gave her. She couldn’t help but think that it didn’t get much better than this in what had been a far too ordinary life prior to Reese McKenzie becoming a part of it.
Reese looked over her shoulder and into the crowd. “Never thought I’d see Marcus out there dancing. Looks like Lesley’s teaching him a thing or two.”
Karin turned to watch Lesley and Marcus dancing. Marcus looked awkward, to say the least, but stayed the course.
“I’m sure we could do even better,” she challenged.
“You know it, girl.” Reese took her cup and sat it on the table. He held her hand and said in a formal voice, “May I have this dance, Ms. Blanch?”
“Why of course you may, Mr. McKenzie,” Karin responded in an equally formal voice.
They took to the dance floor just as the music changed into a mellower, romantic song. Karin had little experience with slow dancing. And most of that had come with cousins, her father at a couple of weddings, and by herself in make believe. But with Reese, everything just seemed to fall naturally into place. He guided her expertly, clearly having had lots of practice.
Karin tried not to think about that as she wrapped her arms around his neck, closed her eyes, and seemed to be almost gliding in a circular motion almost on air.
“Mmmm, you smell really good,” Reese whispered into her ear. “Is that Red Door?”
“Yes.” Karin opened her eyes, feeling slightly embarrassed, as if it had been Cheryl’s favorite fragrance.
But then Reese said, “My Mom wears it a lot. I think it’s great!”
“So do I.” She smiled, knowing she had borrowed her mother’s perfume. Did that mean their mothers had more in common than the two of them being together? She hoped they would get to meet soon and liked one another.
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