She smiles. “That’s awesome. I can’t believe how much you’ve gotten done. I still have like eight more headpieces to go.”
“Only eight? That’s amazing!”
“Yeah, except my fingers feel like they’re about to fall off.”
Joseph and I laugh. And then there’s silence.
Not knowing what to say next, I resume my sewing.
But Kiara doesn’t leave. “So Joseph, how’d you get so into theater?” she asks. “Been doing this a long time?”
“Uh-huh,” he says. “Ever since I was a kid. My older sister was into it, and I got dragged to so many rehearsals that eventually my mom thought it made sense to sign me up too. Though I haven’t always been so into it. Last year, I went through this time where I really wanted to quit. Kinda like you and your sewing I guess,” he says, turning to me.
“Really?” I say. “But you’re so good, why would you want to stop?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know. It was right before sixth grade started. All my friends were signing up for football and soccer and there I was rehearsing for another town play with my sister. It had never bothered me before, but with starting middle school and everything, I dunno, I just wanted to try something else. I was sick of being ‘that theater kid’ you know?”
I nod. “I do. Definitely,” I say, thinking of all the lonely walks to Ms. Chloe’s after Kiara started playing basketball. “So what happened? Did you end up quitting?”
“Yeah, for like a week. I didn’t even tell my parents. First day of school, instead of going to theater practice, I went to soccer tryouts instead.”
“I’m sure they loved that.”
“Yeah, not so much. My sister covered for me the first couple days, but then on the third, practice ran over, and I didn’t make it in time for pickup. They were furious.”
“So did they make you quit soccer?”
He shakes his head. “Nah, turns out they didn’t even care that I wanted to try something new. I spent months thinking they’d freak out, and they were like ‘son, you wanna try soccer, no big deal.’ But they were pretty angry about the whole lying thing.”
“Of course. So what happened?”
“The next day I got cut from soccer. Turns out I’m a better actor than runner. I couldn’t keep up with the sprints.”
I laugh, then notice that Kiara is no longer behind me. She’s back at her table, working on headpieces.
“I can’t believe she . . .” I say under my breath.
“What’s that?” asks Joseph.
“Huh? Oh nothing,” I say. “I just can’t believe you were cut. I can’t imagine you having trouble with anything.”
“Haha, oh believe me. There’s tons of stuff I’m terrible at. Like math and swimming and buying new clothes . . .” He grabs his shirt, another faded T-shirt, and laughs. “So why’d you quit your fashion design stuff?”
My cheeks burn as I look down at my fingers, still cutting the blue fabric into pieces for the dress top. Of course I can’t tell him about what happened with Kiara. So I settle on telling him the other truth, the one I didn’t even know about until I got started.
“Yeah, well, I guess I was thinking it’d be good to meet some new people,” I say. “I love fashion, but there aren’t a lot of other kids who do it from school. And really, I think I just needed a break. Right before I quit, Kiara and I were over here every day trying to get stuff ready to start an Etsy shop. I had this idea I’d launch a shop and start selling clothes and get together this portfolio I could use for design school. But all that preparation took a lot out of us. Too much time focusing on one thing, you know?”
“Yes!” says Joseph. “I felt the same way.”
“But you came back to acting.”
“I did, but I also joined a few clubs.”
“And you’re happier?”
“Definitely.”
“Me too. Turns out I really enjoy singing,” I say.
“That’s why you’re perfect as the dove.” Joseph’s cheeks redden as he turns back to the beads.
“Thanks,” I say, before letting the silence once again envelop us. Though this time it doesn’t feel as awkward. And as I finish up my cutting, I realize that Joseph is more than blue eyes and dark curls. He also thinks a lot like me.
My mind floating, I leave Joseph and retreat to the sewing machine in the back, anxious to get the dress bodice sewn. Leaving off the sleeves, I sew from the waist up, focusing on the wide neckline and little darts that will help it fit snugly. I make the whole top a half inch bigger than I’d measured, hoping Abuela is right and that it’ll be easier to take it in than be left with fabric pieces that are too small.
Right before five o’clock, just as I’m finishing the top, Ms. Chloe flashes the lights.
“Sorry guys, I have dinner plans tonight. We’ll have to lock up in fifteen minutes,” she says.
Everyone gets to work finishing up. I rip the almost-done bodice off the machine and pin together the last seam.
“Ava, I need you for a second,” I say.
“Sure,” she says, running over.
“Try this for me,” I say, motioning to the bathroom.
“Oh wow, is this part of my final gown?” Her eyes twinkle as she grabs it from my hands. “This is so exciting! I’ll be right back.”
As the bathroom door closes, my throat goes dry and I start sweating. Please fit, please fit, please fit, I say over and over to myself.
And it does!
When Ava emerges, the top is not too small, but a little big! I run over and throw my arms around her.
“It fits!” I say. “Kiara, Ms. Chloe, look! The bodice! It fits!”
They both cheer. “I knew you could do it,” says Ms. Chloe.
“Yeah, and look at it! It’s gorgeous. It’s gonna be way cooler than if you’d just used one of those premade patterns,” says Kiara.
Ava turns to me. “So you did this all on your own?”
I grab my sketchbook. “Yeah, from this,” I say, pointing to my drawing. “The final dress will have these little sleeves, and this beading, and then this big flowy skirt . . .”
“Whoa,” Ava says, shaking her head. “You are beyond talented. And to think, they wanted me to wear an old Halloween costume. Can you imagine? This is way better!”
“Thanks,” I say, my cheeks growing warm as I throw a few pins in the top. “Though, uh, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I still need to finish the dress.”
“Well, you’re off to a great start,” Joseph says, surprising me from behind.
I smile just as Ms. Chloe claps her hands. “Sorry to break this up, but you guys ready to head home?”
“Yeah, just a minute,” says Ava, running to the bathroom.
She emerges seconds later and hands me the bodice. Then I slide one of Joseph’s bead piles into a plastic bag just as Ms. Chloe shoos us toward the door.
“Homework?” says Joseph, eyeing the beads.
“Oh yeah. It’s gonna be a busy two weeks,” I say.
“Don’t worry,” he says. “The fun has just begun.”
Chapter Seventeen
READY OR NOT
I wake up on Monday with a jolt as the first rays of sun creep in under my shades. I roll over and stare at the clock. 6:55 a.m. Ten minutes until my alarm. I debate shutting my eyes, then think of the busy day ahead. School, rehearsal, costume making. Within seconds I’m awake, my mind ready to start the day. Which gets off to a better start than usual, especially when I find Kiara waiting in our old spot on the corner.
“Hey, good to see you,” I say, waving as I get closer.
“Yeah, you too,” she says, only her voice falls flat.
“Everything okay?” I ask.
She shrugs, her breathing heavy.
“Your dad?”
She nods.
I breathe in, that sick feeling returning to my stomach. So much for a good morning. I bite down on my lip as I wait for her to catch her breath. Ever since yesterday
when she helped me talk to Joseph, I’ve thought of little else. But seeing Kiara’s face brings me back to the reality of why we started talking. That our rekindled friendship might be cut short.
“So what happened?” I tap my feet against the ground as I fight the sensation to bite my nails.
After a minute, Kiara speaks.
“They called him back to Georgia. He’s flying down tonight. Meeting first thing tomorrow.”
“Who called him? That job?”
“Uh-huh. They emailed him this weekend. My mom told me this morning.”
“So does this mean he got the job?”
She shakes her head. “Don’t know. But would they really be flying him down to tell him he didn’t?”
“No. Probably not.”
Kiara blinks, then rubs her glassy eyes. “Sorry. The wind. Gets me every time.”
“Yeah, me too,” I say, my own eyes growing wet. “Well, your parents said they’d move whether he got this job or not, right?”
“Right,” she says with a sigh.
“And the only way they’d stay is if he got that other job here.”
“Yeah.”
“Any news on that?”
“Not yet.”
“Then this is good.”
“How is it good?”
“Because it doesn’t change anything. If he gets the job in Georgia, then you won’t have to stay with your grandma as long. What really matters is if he gets the job here. Because if he doesn’t get that, then . . .”
Kiara bows her head. “I know you’re right . . .”
“But?”
“What if he gets both jobs and he makes us go anyway? I mean, Dad’s always talking about how much he misses Georgia.” Kiara’s voice wavers, her words a whisper.
“He wouldn’t do that,” I say. “This is your home. You said he lost his job like two months ago. If he wanted to move away, don’t you think he would’ve done it then instead of hanging around here?”
“Maybe, but . . . oh I don’t know. Parents are just hard to read, you know? Like, so many times I think they’ll do one thing, and they do another. What makes sense to them doesn’t always make sense to me.”
“Tell me about it,” I say, thinking of Mom waving that Parks and Rec flyer in my face over break. “But sometimes things that don’t make sense in the moment make a lot of sense later. Though I still have my fingers crossed you’ll stay here.”
“Me too,” she says, kicking a stone across the sidewalk.
“You know, you don’t have to keep working on the headpieces if it’s too much,” I say. “I really appreciate all you did this weekend. And I know you have basketball this week.”
Kiara shakes her head. “There are only five headpieces left. I can’t stop now!”
“Good. I mean, great! I couldn’t do this without you.”
Kiara smiles. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For, well, everything,” she says. “For talking to me, even when you probably hate me. God, sometimes I hate me. Or at least how I acted. The last couple months, well, I’ve really missed you. A lot.”
I breathe in, and for a moment I don’t know what to say. I settle on the truth.
“I’ve really missed you too.”
She smiles. “Hey, later this afternoon after practice I’m supposed to be meeting up with Beatrice at the mall. I was thinking maybe if you have time, you might like to come with us?”
Kiara tugs at her coat as Southfield Middle comes into sight.
“I’m afraid today’s gonna be pretty busy with rehearsals and the costumes and stuff, but next time for sure. Okay?”
“I think I can arrange that. Maybe next time you can even invite Joseph.”
“Maybe,” I say, my palms growing sweaty. “Though if we’re inviting Joseph we may need to do a movie.”
Kiara raises a brow as we reach the entrance.
“You know, less talking?”
“Oh Jas,” she says, taking my arm. “I saw you yesterday, you were great with him!”
“Yeah, and the whole time I felt like I was gonna faint!”
“Tell you what. Basketball this week is late on Tuesday and Thursday. How about we meet at Dolce after school a few times, go over a few more pointers?”
“Now that’s a plan,” I say, then shoot her a smile as we part ways for class.
And then for the next six hours, I try my hardest to focus on school. But every chance I get—at lunch, during study hall, when I should be reading in English—I pull Cinderella’s bodice out of my bag, along with the little ziplock bag of beads.
“Welcome to March Madness,” Joseph says, catching me with my needle on the side of the stage. “You ready for the final push?”
“Ready or not,” I say, sewing on another bead.
“Do you, uh, need any more help this week?” he asks, his hips swaying from side to side.
“Uh, no, I think I’ll be all right,” I say.
He nods, then walks off to rehearse his scene. A few minutes later I run into Ava and Courtney, who are off to do the same.
“That’s looking so awesome. I can’t believe I get to wear it,” says Ava as she passes by.
“Thanks,” I say, just as Miss Tabitha motions for me backstage. I throw my sewing back into my bag and follow her out into the hall.
“So I talked to Ms. Chloe last night,” Miss Tabitha says. “She said you’re making great progress with the costumes. How are you feeling? You still okay? It’s not too much?”
“No, uh—I mean, yeah. It’s going great,” I say.
“And Ms. Chloe said you should have them done in time?”
“Hopefully,” I say. “She’s working on most of the sewing, and one of my friends is making these headpieces so all the girls at the ball will have costumes. And I’ve been working on—”
She cuts me off before I can finish. “Sounds great! Now I told Ms. Chloe it’d be great if we can have everything by this weekend for dress rehearsals, so we have some time to practice, but if that’s too much . . .”
Her voice trails off as a lump forms in my throat. All this time I’ve been thinking we had two weeks, not one. But Miss Tabitha’s right. We need time for everyone to practice walking and dancing in their costumes.
My stomach churns. “Um, yeah, that should be fine.”
Her face brightens. “Great! I’d love to see them on Friday if possible, you know, just so we can make sure there aren’t any problems before we hand them out on Saturday. Would that be all right?”
I nod even though I have no idea whether everything will be done.
“Wonderful. Now go practice your scene, and as soon as you’re done, get out of here. I’ve thrown a lot on your plate, and I don’t want you exhausted before the show starts.”
“Of course,” I say, hands trembling. “I won’t let you down.”
Chapter Eighteen
YES TO THE DRESS?
On Thursday, I track down Ava after school and make her try on the almost-finished gown. It’s a little big in the waist and sleeves, but besides that, it’s a perfect fit. I let out the breath I’ve been holding all week.
“Can I look in the mirror?” she asks, her eyes darting around the empty classroom where I cornered her.
“No. Not until tomorrow,” I say.
Then I stick in a few pins and zip the dress into a garment bag before dashing off to Dolce for my second coffee-date-slash-dating-extra-help-session with Kiara.
Kiara is there by the time I arrive, a stuffed tote by her side.
“Those the headpieces?” I ask.
“Yup, all fifteen of them.”
I pull a few out and marvel at their beauty. “Thank you,” I say. “These are gorgeous. You must’ve been up all night finishing!”
Kiara shrugs. “I probably would’ve been anyway.”
“Your dad. He got the job?”
She sighs. “Not yet. But he didn’t get the one here.”
“Oh Kiara.” My arms
reach for hers as my eyes fill with tears. “I’m so, so sorry.”
“Thanks,” she says, between sobs. “I wanted to tell you sooner, but I felt like if I talked about it at school, I might start crying and not stop.”
I nod, familiar with the feeling.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” I ask.
“Yeah, actually. Tell me tomorrow if the girls like my headpieces. And then practice your heart out for this play. I have tickets to opening night, and it seriously is the only thing I’m looking forward to right now.”
I smile. “Well, okay. That I can do. Just as long as you promise me this one thing.”
“Yeah?”
“That wherever you end up, there’s room for me to visit.”
“Really?” she asks.
“Really,” I say. And in that moment, I know I’ve forgiven Kiara. Even though she hurt me, the roots of our friendship never died. All those sleepovers and stories and hours spent at Dolce have led us to where we are today, back in our favorite place. And even though we’re each different than we were when we parted ways last fall, it’s this history that has brought us back together. That’s allowed me to see how much Kiara’s changed for the better—how much more sensitive and thoughtful she is. And that’s allowed me to see the change in myself. No longer am I the quiet girl shuffling through the halls. Today I have new friends, and a voice—one that’s stronger than I could have ever imagined.
Kiara wipes her eyes and leans in for another hug. And when we say goodbye an hour later after picking up the rest of the costumes from Ms. Chloe’s, I’m the one who grabs her hand and shakes it.
The next day I awaken feeling lighter than I have in weeks. In fact, forgiving Kiara has made me so relaxed that it’s not until halfway through the day when I remember that today is the day: The costume unveiling with Miss Tabitha.
Ava finds me in the hall before my meeting, and we walk over to the high school together. We find Miss Tabitha already there, starting to look at the costumes and headpieces I dropped off with Mom late yesterday afternoon.
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