I shrugged nervously. This was the longest conversation we’d had in a while and I wasn’t sure how to handle it. “I think so.”
“Good for you,” he said then pointed. “Keys are on the kitchen counter in front of the microwave.”
“Thanks.” I took a step toward the kitchen but his voice stopped me.
“Caroline?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you need any money?”
“No, I got it,” I assured him. “But, thanks. I’ll be back before you need to get over to Bob’s.”
He grunted and turned back to his newspaper, which I took as my goodbye. I guess we had reached our word quota for the day.
Fifteen minutes later, I was in the driver’s seat of Dad’s blue F-150, heading west on highway 44 toward Tulsa. I’d been right about the day. It was beautiful. The sun radiated through the blue sky and turned the earth glittering green and gold. Feeling inspired, I turned up the radio and unrolled the window.
The drive was less than thirty miles. I parked and entered through the entrance to the food court. This is where Owen and I had decided to meet but it was looking like I’d beat him to the mall.
I sent him a text then got into the Starbucks line, grabbed a latte, and found an empty table. As I waited, I pulled up a few fashion sites on my phone and scanned them for dress ideas.
The more I looked, the worse I felt. There were so many possibilities. I could go for a classic party look with sequins and lots of tulle, or something more streamlined and modern. Or I could try to pull off sleek and elegant. Then there was the question of long or short. I had no idea what looked good on me so how was I supposed to decide?
Dress shopping was the kind of thing you needed a mom or a best friend for. Currently, I had neither.
“Funny seeing you here.”
I jumped, startled. Then I realized that the voice belonged to Owen and I spun around, careful not to slosh my coffee.
“Hey!” I couldn’t help but smile as I took in my friend. If you didn’t count the awkward run-in at Joe’s Pizza (and I didn’t), it had been forever since we’d seen each other. I was worried that everything had changed, but the guy standing in front of me was the same Owen I knew and loved.
He was wearing a long sleeve t-shirt with his new school’s logo emblazoned across the chest and a pair of faded blue jeans. His coppery hair was hidden by a baseball hat. I knew it was his favorite and had actually been a gift from Hannah. When she gave it to him, it had been crisp and white but now it was dingy and broken in with wear and could probably pass for grey.
He put his arm across my shoulders and gave me a brief hug. As he stepped back, he nodded to my phone. “You aren’t really going to make me shop for dresses, are you?”
I blinked, doing my best to appear innocent. “Do you really think I would be that cruel?”
“Yes,” he said with a laugh, plopping into the chair across from me. “Yes I do.”
I let go of a breath and rolled my eyes. “Okay, fine. I was dying to see you but I may have had an ulterior motive for picking the location. I really do have to find a dress and I need help.”
He shook his head like he was annoyed but I knew it was for show. He was grinning. “The word mall probably should’ve raised a red flag.”
I giggled. “Probably. But, if you’re extra good you might luck out and get a slushy out of this.”
“A slushy?”
“I’ll even let you get a mixed flavor.”
“Make it a large,” he said, “and you’ve got yourself a deal.”
“You’re on.”
The mall in Tulsa was huge and it was hard to figure out where to even start. After studying the directory for a minute, I decided that the best plan was to begin at Macy’s and work our way through the bottom level. If I still hadn’t found a dress in an hour, we could try the shops on the second floor.
Owen was a good sport about it. He stood watch while I searched through the seemingly endless racks of dresses trying to decide if I wanted satin or silk or chiffon or ruching or cap sleeves or no sleeves at all.
“This is impossible!” I wailed as I looked in the mirror outside the dressing room, examining what felt like the thousandth dress. This one was sparkly silver with a creamy overlay.
“That one would be perfect if it were about seven inches shorter.”
I glanced down to where the silver and cream fabric had pooled around my feet. “Or if I were seven inches taller.”
Owen, who was currently parked on a vibrant red couch eating a pack of candied pecans he’d picked up for sustenance, chuckled. “That would work too.”
The saleslady who had helped us earlier peeked her head around the corner. “What about this one? I pulled it from the petite department.” She held up an emerald green dress. It was mid-length with a swishy skirt and tasteful ivory beading across the bodice. “I think the color will bring out your eyes.”
Owen nodded and swallowed. “She’s right that the green one would work with your skin tone and eyes, but, personally, I loved the blue one. The empire waist is the perfect cut for you. It draws the eye up and elongates your torso.”
The sales lady and I both stared, dumbfounded. Owen blushed so fiercely I could barely distinguish his freckles.
“Excuse me?” I coughed.
He buried his head in one of the couch cushions and lifted his hand like a flag of surrender. “Let’s pretend I did not just say that out loud.”
“Ummm…” I laughed as the woman handed me the green dress to try on and disappeared back to the sales floor. “Where’s a hidden camera when you need it?”
Owen picked up his head and grimaced. “I blame this on Cami. She made me watch reruns of Project Runway last weekend.”
Without turning from the mirror, I asked, “Cami?”
“She’s just a friend,” he said quickly. Maybe too quickly.
As casually as I could manage, I said, “You know… it would be okay.
He furrowed his brow. “What would?”
“If you… um, started to date someone new.”
My words sunk in and Owen dropped his gaze. Keeping his voice low, he asked, “Is she?”
Crap on a sandwich. I never should have taken the conversation in this direction. Hannah had said she wanted Owen and I to stay friends and she hadn’t told me to keep anything from him. But talking about this was so uncomfortable.
Owen read my anxiety. “It’s okay, Care. Just tell me and get it over with.”
I took a deep breath. “I think so.”
He looked down, pretending to be interested in the half-full bag of pecans. “As weird as it is, I’m not surprised.”
I wasn’t expecting that response. “Why do you say that?”
Owen shrugged. “Because it’s Hannah.”
“And?” I needed more.
He leaned forward slightly and raised his eyes like he’d find the explanation he was searching for on the ceiling. “And, Hannah’s great. I guess someone else was bound to figure it out. It’s not like I’m sitting here shooting off fireworks for her but… she’s the first girl I loved and that counts for something, you know?”
Keeping my eyes on him, I nodded. “I’m sorry if she hurt you. I know she didn’t mean to.”
He waved me off. “It’s just as much my fault as it is hers. It’s probably more my fault. I know she has plans and it’s hard to explain, but I guess I thought if she couldn’t be satisfied with me then what was the point of trying to stay together? Wasn’t it better to break it off rather than end up hating and resenting each other?”
“So you don’t hate her? She says you won’t respond to her emails or return her calls.”
Owen blew out a hard breath between his teeth. “I don’t hate her, but I’m not ready to be friends or talk to her.”
“Do you think things will ever be better?”
“I don’t know, Care.” He shrugged. “I just don’t know. I hope so.”
“Me too.”
> We stared at each other for a long time then Owen made a motion with his hands. “You better try the rest of those dresses on. Didn’t you say you have to get back to Libby Park by four?”
“Oh, right!” I said, grabbing the rest of the stack and disappearing inside the dressing room.
After the door clicked behind me, I heard Owen ask, “I can’t believe I didn’t ask this already, but who’s the lucky guy?”
“Uh—the lucky guy?” I asked as I struggled with the back zipper. It was great that Owen and I had talked about Hannah, but surely he didn’t want to hear the details of her love life.
“Your date for Homecoming,” he clarified. “You never said.”
I faltered. “Oh… It’s Henry actually.”
“Henry? Henry Vaughn?”
I looked at myself in the mirror and grimaced. “Yeah.”
“Wow. But, you know, I always thought there was something there. I remember when we were kids and you loved going with Hannah’s family to all his games.”
“Maybe I just liked sports,” I said defensively.
“You never came to my games.”
He had me there. “It’s not like you’re thinking,” I told Owen as I slipped the green dress over my head. “Henry and I are just friends.”
“What does Hannah think?”
“That’s the thing... I haven’t exactly told her. She thinks… well, she might be under the impression that I like someone else,” I hesitantly admitted.
“What the hell? Northside homecoming is in a week. Are you planning to enlighten her?”
“Henry wants me to but I’m—”
“You’re afraid she won’t want you dating her brother?”
“I told you,” I said, feeling the heat in my cheeks, “it’s not like that.” I was sure Owen was perfectly aware that despite my protests it was, in fact, like that. For me at least.
“If you’re worried about gaining family approval, you know Hannah loves you. If anything, I bet she thinks Henry isn’t good enough for you.”
“It’s not…” I sighed and tried again. “When Hannah wanted to go out with you, I warned her that it would disrupt the balance of our friendship and face it—I was right. Don’t you think it’s hypocritical for me to do the exact same thing with her brother?”
“I don’t know about all that but I can tell you, honesty is the best policy.”
I laughed. “Thank you for the clichéd wisdom.”
“I think you’re making a mountain out of a molehill,” he continued.
“Owen!” I shouted.
But he ignored me. “Secrets don’t make friends…”
“Stop it!” I demanded as I walked out of the dressing room.
Owen was laughing. “Fine. But only because I have to tell you that you look amazing in that dress.”
“Really?”
He nodded in approval. “Really.”
I did a little spin. “I’m still not sure if I like this one or the blue one better.”
“So get them both and return the one you don’t use.”
“You think?”
“Yes I think.”
“That’s actually a really good idea.”
“I know it’s shocking but I do get those sometimes.” Owen crossed his arms. “You could even take photos and get Hannah’s opinion.”
I smiled. “You’re right.”
“And,” he went on, “you can tell her you’re possibly dating her brother.”
My smile wobbled.
“Because, Care,” he said seriously. “No matter what happened between Hannah and me, she’s your best friend. She deserves the truth. Even if you’re afraid.”
****
I looked at the two dresses. I’d gotten home an hour ago and had hung them both face-out on my closet door. Now, I was lying in my bed staring at them and wondering what I’d gotten myself into when I’d agreed to go to the dance with Henry.
Owen was right about everything. Of course he was.
Honesty is the best policy. Hadn’t I been upset just last week when Hannah had been the one keeping things from me?
There were no ifs, ands, or buts about it. I had to tell her about homecoming. The longer I put it off, the weirder it became. Plus, not to be frivolous, but I really did need her help deciding which dress to wear. Owen’s newfound fashion expertise was hilarious but I wasn’t entirely sure watching a few episodes of Project Runway was enough to help me with this decision.
I puffed out my cheeks and as I slowly let out a gush of air, I told myself that it would be okay. Hannah was probably going be surprised. She was probably going to freak, but maybe—just maybe—she’d be okay with it?
Like Owen said earlier, she was my best friend.
I picked up my phone and saw she was online. This wasn’t a conversation I wanted to have over instant message, but it was a good place to start.
CareBear16: Do you have time? I need you for something.
Jellybean08: What’s up?
CareBear16: Well, the first part is that I need your help choosing a dress.
Jellybean08: A dress for what?
CareBear16: Homecoming…
Jellybean08: Umm, way to bury the lead! Why didn’t you tell me you were going??? I thought you hated that kind of thing.
CareBear16: LOL Sorry! I’m telling you now?
Jellybean08: So, does this mean Miles asked you?
Here we go…
It was the moment of truth.
My legs were bouncing against my mattress. My heart was pounding in my chest. I’d already bit off the nails on my right hand and now I was working on the left. Before this night was over, my fingernails were going to be nothing more than raw nubs. So much for having pretty nails for homecoming.
I cleared my throat and tried to pull together enough courage to confess to my best friend that despite my better judgment, I was falling for her brother.
CareBear16: Not exactly… Are you free to talk on the phone?
Jellybean08: Dude. I’m calling you in a minute. I just have to run up to my room.
CareBear16: Okay. I’ll be here.
Trying not to throw up, I thought to myself.
I got up from my bed and walked over to my desk. Slumping into my swivel chair, I fidgeted with the pencil holder and stapler. Then I chewed my nails some more. Aspen noticed my agitation and came over and laid her head in my lap. I rubbed her soft fur and kissed her head. Sneaky thing repaid me by trying to steal an open bag of gummy bears from my desk drawer.
I stopped her, but decided to relent and give her one from the bag. Gummy bears probably weren’t recommended by the vet, but she’d put a lot of effort into opening the drawer in the first place. It was not an easy feat when you lack opposable thumbs.
When I couldn’t take the waiting anymore, I jumped out of my desk chair and began pacing the room. I pulled my hair up, only to rip it back down again. What was taking Hannah so long anyway?
And, when she did call me, what was I going to say? How was I going to start this conversation? Hey, I like Henry? That wasn’t the kind of thing you blurted out. It was the kind of thing you broached delicately and carefully finessed your way through.
I needed a plan.
Gah, why didn’t I have this all worked out already? I’d had weeks to think about it. Hours upon hours to come up with something and get the phrasing right. It was stupid to ask her to call me when I hadn’t thought it through properly. I should have—
A shrill ringing sound interrupted my racing thoughts.
My time was up.
I took a deep breath and answered the phone.
Slamming my bedroom door closed, I whooped impatiently into the phone, “I demand to know all the details! How did he ask you?”
“Promise you won’t get mad?”
That threw me. I shrugged off the jacket I’d been wearing on my date and dropped it into my makeshift hamper. My cheeks were still cool from the chilly night and my lips felt puffy from Joel’s goodnig
ht kiss. My veins were still buzzing with excitement. I felt like, at any moment, I might take off into the stratosphere like hot air balloon. “Why would I get mad? Over what?”
“Just promise.”
“Cross my heart,” I said as I pulled off my shoes and jeans and left them by the discarded jacket.
Her hesitation caught my attention.
“What is the big deal?” I asked seriously as I stretched out on top of the comforter in just my shirt and underwear.
Caroline breathed heavily into the phone. Well, that didn’t sound good. My mood shifted.
“What?”
“This is hard,” she said.
I laughed uncomfortably. “Caroline, come on.”
“I just…”She trailed off before she could finish the sentence.
“Spit it out,” I encouraged. “Unless you’re calling to tell me that Henry really did sell all my shoes. In that case, I don’t even want to know.
“Well,” she said softly, “it actually is about Henry.”
Annoyed, I sat up and dropped my legs over the side of the bed. My feet rubbed against the woven carpet that covered the wooden floor. “Are you kidding?” My voice was upticked in anger. “I was joking.”
“No, you don’t understand,” she answered quickly. “Henry didn’t sell your shoes. He…” Another big breath. “Well, I’m sort of going to the dance with him.”
“So, my brother is your Homecoming date? Not Miles?”
Caroline still sounded nervous. “Yeah.”
I flopped back to the bed. The shoes were safe. “Oh.”
“Oh? That’s all you have to say?”
“Well, compared to getting rid of my shoes…” Even though she couldn’t see me, I shrugged mildly. “I’m disappointed for you about Miles but I guess it makes sense.”
“It does?”
“Sure,” I told her, switching the phone to my other ear and rolling to my side. “I mentioned to Henry that you were trying to make Miles jealous. Obviously, I didn’t expect him to ask you to Homecoming but I can see it. As much as it pains me to admit, he’s a good guy.”
“What do you mean, you told Henry about Miles?”
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