by Kaye Kennedy
Lila's eyes darted to Melissa. "I was not."
Melissa giggled. "Come on girls, let's give these two love birds time to...chat." She dragged her posse away, leaving Lila and I alone.
Refusing to look at me, Lila tugged on her mousy-brown hair and I shifted my weight on my feet. I spoke first. "Are you having fun?" Not my best line by any means, but it was the only thing I could think to say in the moment.
She nodded. "You?"
"Yeah. Melissa has a cool house."
Lila crossed her arms. "She does. The movie theater is pretty neat."
"I haven't seen it yet. Want to show me?"
Her eyes darted around and she hesitated before saying, "Um, sure." She turned and I followed her to a room on the other side of the basement. Lila slid open the barn-style door revealing the empty theater room. The walls were painted in a dark color and there was a large projector screen on one wall. Two over-sized sectional couches formed a giant U-shape with a gap in the middle for an aisle.
"This is it," she announced from the doorway. Then she went to slide the door closed.
"Wait." I put my hand out and stopped her. "Can we maybe go in there and talk for a minute?"
She bit her lip.
"Please?" I urged.
She walked into the room and took a seat on the couch. I sat next to her, but left enough space between us so that she wouldn’t feel uncomfortable. Then I came right out and said, "You've been avoiding me."
She stared down at her hands. "Sorry."
"Was the kiss that bad?" I mean, I was no expert, but it had seemed good to me. Sure, it probably could've been better, but it hadn't been terrible.
She shook her head. "No. You're a good kisser, Kyle."
I grinned. "Yeah?" The prospect of getting to kiss her again made excitement well up inside me. "Then why have you been avoiding me?"
"My mom's best friend is a teacher at our school and she told my mom that people were talking about us kissing." She sighed. "I'm not allowed to date until high school and Mom said if she hears I'm not sticking to that she's going to cancel my skating lessons."
I knew Lila was just as passionate about skating as I was about hockey, so I felt for her. That was definitely a dilemma. I tried to put myself in her shoes. I'd choose hockey over a girl. "I'm sorry, Lila. I didn't want to get you into trouble."
"You don't have to apologize. I wanted to kiss you," she gave me a lopsided grin. "I've been avoiding you because I like you."
My stomach did a happy flop. "I like you, too."
She folded her arms over her chest. "Which is exactly why we can't hang out. I can't get into trouble. And if we spend time together, then we're going to end up kissing again. I'm training for the Olympics. I can't lose my lessons."
The disappointment sucked, but I understood. "I get it." I scooted closer to her. "But do you think I could have one more kiss? To hold us over until high school."
She giggled. "I think we could do that."
Not wanting to risk her changing her mind, I leaned in and kissed her. It didn't last long, but it was enough to tell me that I was well past the girls-are-icky phase. When I pulled away, we both smiled.
Allie had once asked me if I knew what the hype was all about. I hadn’t at the time, but I'd finally got it. Kissing was totally worth the hype. And I wanted to do more of it. We got up from the couch to go back out to the party, but Melissa and her gaggle of girls appeared in the doorway.
"There you are," she said dramatically. "We've been looking for you, Lila, but now I see you've been busy."
Lila's eyes widened and she went to protest, "No, Mel—"
"Lila was showing me the theater. That's it. You can stop the presses on tomorrow's gossip mag, Melissa," I cut in. "Don't go getting your friend into trouble for nothing."
Melissa laughed a little too hard and flipped her wavy hair over her shoulder. "Whatever. We're here to hang out. She led her followers into the space and told everyone to sit down. "We're going to play a game. I'll be right back."
Lila went to sit with her friends while I attempted to escape, but when I got to the door, I froze. Standing in the middle of the room was a stunning girl in a short dress with long, tan legs. I only caught a glimpse of the side of her face before she turned. But her body told me all I needed to know. I thought she was hot, and she definitely had to be friends with Melissa’s older sister because girls my age didn’t look like that. Her straight brown hair fell to the mid-point of her back and she was surrounded by nearly every boy at the party, all of whom were salivating over her curves.
As I went to go join the circle and get a better look at the mystery girl, Melissa came up beside me and followed my gaze. Then she shouted across the room, "Yay! Allie, you made it."
What? No.
The girl spun around and sure enough it was my best friend. My jaw nearly hit the floor. Noticing me, she waved and made her way out of the circle of admirers and over to me.
"Hey, Kyle." She gave me a quick hug.
Too shocked to reply I simply gawked like an idiot. Not my finest moment.
"Sorry I'm late, Mel. My cousin's bridal shower took longer than I'd thought."
Melissa replied, "Girl, you don't have to apologize for showing up to my party late when you look like that. You should totally wear makeup more often." She grabbed Allie's arm. "Come, we're about to play a game." She dragged Allie into the room and I followed like a hungry puppy. I wasn't the only one. Several other boys flooded in, too.
Melissa pushed the coffee tables out of the way. "Everyone sit in a circle on the floor."
Ian and Shawn weaseled their way into the circle on either side of Allie while I sat across from her. In the nine years that I'd known her, I'd never seen Allie wear makeup, but whatever the black stuff on her eyelids was, it made her pretty bronze eyes seem even more beautiful. And the shiny gloss on her lips made it hard not to stare. Sure, I'd always thought Allie had been pretty, but I'd never thought of her as anything more than a friend.
I don't know when it had happened, but Allie had boobs. They hadn't been there when I'd seen her in a bathing suit the previous summer. My mind was already scheduling trips to the pool for when we got home from sleep away camp. Allie's typical outfit consisted of jeans and a basic t-shirt or sweatshirt. The black dress she was sporting was something I'd never in a million years picture my best friend wearing. But wear it she did. It fell almost to the middle of her thigh, tightened around the waist, and had off the shoulder straps that showed off a heck of a lot more of her chest than a t-shirt did.
Melissa stood in the center of the circle. "We're playing spin the bottle." She placed an empty glass soda bottle in the middle and then found a spot in the circle. There were ten of us and at the mention of the game, the boys clapped and hooted, while the girls giggled. I did nothing. The shock was real.
"Who's first?" Melissa tempted.
Shawn reached for the bottle and spun. I squeezed my eyes shut a moment and prayed that it landed on anyone but Allie. When I opened my eyes, it slowed to a stop in front of Veronica. I sighed in relief. While they kissed, I glanced around them and my eyes met Allie's. She gave me an awkward half-smile, which I matched with one of my own. Spin the Bottle wasn't something we'd played before. At least not that she'd ever told me anyway, and seeing as we basically went to everything together, I felt fairly confident in that assessment.
Ian's bottle stopped on Lila and I probably should've been mad about it since she had kissed me not too long before that, but strangely it didn't bother me. Again, I was more caught up in the relief that the bottle hadn't landed on Allie. Maybe Lila was the reason I was thinking about kissing Allie. She'd gotten me all worked up about kissing and it had only confused me.
Reece spun next and his landed on Melissa. I sighed in relief once more, but the feeling was short-lived because it was my turn. My heart pounded against my ribs as I reached for the bottle. Without question, I found myself hoping it would land on Allie, but then I felt
bad about that. She was my friend. Kissing her would be wrong.
Fate intervened. The bottle slowed to a stop and my gaze followed to where it was pointing. A pair of nervous, surprised, bronze-colored eyes stared back at me.
Ian laughed, "Damn, Hogan."
I cleared my throat.
"You have to do it," Melissa announced.
I equal parts wanted to and didn't want to. "Uh," I uttered.
Neither of us moved.
"Don't be babies about it. It's just a kiss," Veronica added.
"Right." I ran my hand over the top of my head, but I didn't advance toward her.
Allie sighed. "Let's just get it over with." Her words felt like a slap, but I didn't have much time to think about it because she crawled forward into the circle.
I swallowed hard as I moved toward her. Right as I met her in the middle, someone hollered from the door, "Melissa, I told you no kissing games."
Allie and I both scurried backward.
Melissa protested, "Come on, Jamie. It's harmless."
"No. I promised Mom and Dad I wouldn't let this kind of thing happen. Everyone up, let's go."
The group grumbled and exited the theater. I couldn't get out of there fast enough and I found myself a corner to stand in. I'd almost kissed Allie. Like kissed her-kissed her, not like that time when we were in fifth grade and just messing around. This time, I wanted to kiss her. What the—
"Hey."
I looked up and blushed as though she had somehow heard what I'd been thinking. "Hi."
She thumbed over her shoulder at the theater. "That was weird."
I laughed. "Yeah."
She leaned against the wall beside me. "So, what'd I miss?"
I just realized that you're a girl.
I shrugged. "Not much. You arrived when things got...interesting." I pointed to her dress. "You look nice."
She tucked her hair behind her ear. "I feel ridiculous. Mom insisted I wear this to the shower. I wanted to go home and change before coming here, but I was already so late."
"I'm glad you didn't." The words slipped out without thought.
She crossed her arms. "You are?"
I lifted a shoulder. "Looks good on you."
She sucked in her bottom lip, once again drawing my attention where it shouldn't be. "Thanks."
All I could do was smile.
She dug into her small purse and retrieved a disposable camera. She’d taken to bringing one with her everywhere. "We should get a picture with Melissa."
I nodded. "Sure."
When she turned, my gaze wandered to her hips as they swayed with each step. I’m so screwed.
Allie
8th Grade
I twirled a curl around my finger as I assessed myself in the mirror for the zillionth time. This night was a big deal. Everything had to be perfect for my first ever school dance. Dress? Check. Shoes? Check. Makeup? Check. Jewelry! I crossed to my dresser and opened the jewelry box I'd had for as long as I could remember. The maple wood gave it a distinguished smell that always reminded me of my grandparents' house, which had been filled with maple furniture. Since they’d retired and moved to Florida, I hardly got to see them anymore. Well, that and the whole my dad leaving our family thing.
I fished out my silver Tiffany heart bracelet. All the girls at school had them and I'd been so excited when I'd come downstairs a couple of months earlier to see the distinctive blue bag on the kitchen counter. My brothers had gotten it for me for my fourteenth birthday and it was my most valued possession. After a couple of tries, I got the clasp fastened around my wrist.
"Allie? Kyle's here," Tyler called out from downstairs.
"Be down in a minute." I checked the mirror one last time and I almost didn't recognize myself. Mom had done my makeup and she'd even used one of those eyelash curler contraptions, which, for the record, was terrifying. Seeing that thing coming at my eye was like volunteering for some kind of medieval torture. But, I had to admit, my lashes looked like the movie stars'. My hair, which I wore in a ponytail ninety-five percent of the time, was loosely curled and it reached halfway down my back. The rhinestone belt sparkled on my one-shoulder, navy-blue cocktail dress. It had lace on the top and a few layers of tulle that flared slightly at the waist. The girl staring back at me in the mirror was not the Allie Dupree I knew. She was older, sophisticated—beautiful, even.
After taking a deep breath, I opened my bedroom door and descended the stairs.
"Dude, you should really think about football next year," Tyler’s voice came from the living room. "Being on the team is a sure way to get in with the right crew as a freshman."
I rounded the corner
"Yeah, but it interferes with hockey," Kyle replied.
I came up behind him. "Kyle, there are other sports besides hockey, you know."
"No, no, no." Brandon jumped up from the couch. "Allie, you are not going anywhere looking like that."
Kyle spun around and Tyler stepped around Kyle so he could see me, too.
"Whoa." Kyle's eyes grew big.
"Hell, no. Too short," Tyler added.
I rolled my eyes. "It's not that short, I just have long legs." I spun around to show them that my butt was fully covered. "You guys are being ridiculous."
Brandon put his hands on his hips. "No, we're not. We know teenage boys better than you do, lil' sis, and you are far too young to be going anywhere wearing that and," he pointed to my face, "looking like that."
"One hundred percent." Tyler mimicked Brandon's pose. "Not happening."
I huffed. "Too bad you guys aren't the boss of me. Besides, Mom got me this dress and she helped me get ready, so this is her doing. If she doesn't have a problem with it, neither should you."
I turned toward my best friend who was staring at me entirely too weird. "Kyle likes it," I said, trying to communicate with him telepathically to agree with me.
Tyler let out a sarcastic laugh. "Tell her, Kyle."
"Uhh," he uttered, pathetically.
I narrowed my eyes at him. "Do not tell me you agree with these overprotective maniacs."
Kyle's gaze darted between my brothers and me. "You look..." He chewed on his lower lip. "Different."
I frowned at his assessment. While Kyle and I were going to the dance together, we weren't going together. Actually, I was hoping that Ian Baxter would notice me, so I didn't want to look different, I wanted to look pretty. Ian knew me as the girl from little league, but I wanted to change that.
I must've scowled because Tyler came over and put his arm around me. "There will be plenty of time for you to be a heartbreaker, but I really don't want to have to punch some fourteen-year-old hormonal dweeb for putting a hand on my baby sister. You're not old enough for that yet."
I shrugged him off. "I appreciate your concern, Ty, but I can handle myself. And we're going to be late if we don't leave now, so you're just gonna have to deal."
Brandon, who was a senior in high school, threw his hands up. "Fine you can go."
"Gee, thanks." I stuck my tongue out at him. "But I wasn't asking for your permission."
"You can go because Ty is going with you."
"He is?"
"I am?"
Brandon grinned smugly. "Yes, you are."
"I think you mean you're going with her," Tyler countered.
"Can't. Molly and I have plans." She was his girlfriend.
"I've got plans, too," Tyler grumbled.
"Neither of you is coming with me. Kyle, let's go." I grabbed my best friend's wrist and pulled him toward the door out to where his mom was waiting for us in her minivan. My mom had some meeting to go to so she had to rush off, but Mrs. H was practically my other mom. She was also the new high school principal, so I figured if anyone could talk some sense into my brothers, it would be her.
Upon approaching the van in the driveway, I released Kyle and went straight to her window. "Mrs. H, please tell my brothers that they are not coming to chaperon me at the dance." I glanced
up to see them both barreling down our front steps.
Mrs. H laughed. "You look lovely, dear."
"Thank you," I huffed. I stepped aside so she could get out of the van.
"Brandon, Tyler," she acknowledged the buffoons.
Brandon replied, "Principal Hogan, would you mind giving Tyler a ride to the dance as well?"
She smirked and addressed Tyler. "Mr. Dupree, are you going to the dance as the date of an eighth grader?"
He pointed at me. "Yeah, Allie's."
I screamed through my teeth. "No. You. Are. Not."
Mrs. H said, "Allie and Kyle are going together so I'm afraid you'll need another date if you plan on getting into the dance."
I loved that woman.
Brandon came back with, "He's taking one of Allie's friends."
I balled my hands into fists at my sides. Before I could respond, Mrs. H replied, "Oh? Well then we'll pick her up on the way, that way we can stop to get photos of you two together for the yearbook."
Tyler turned to Brandon. "No way, dude. I will not be seen on a date with a kid. You go. No one would believe you're really dating the chick."
Brandon sighed. "Can't. I'm eighteen. That would be illegal."
"Then it's settled." I pulled open the sliding door of the van. "See you guys later." I hopped in and scooted over to make room for Kyle who stood there looking like a lost puppy. "Kyle." I patted the seat beside me. "Get in."
Brandon grabbed Kyle's shoulder. "Watch her back. I'm counting on you."
Kyle nodded. "I've always got her back."
Brandon sighed and stepped away. Since my father's departure, Brandon has taken his big brother role very seriously. My mother practically had to force him to apply to colleges out-of-state. In a few months he'd be leaving for college in Texas and the closer it came to him going, the harder he held onto the reins.
I waved to my pissed off brothers as we drove away.
The gym had been transformed for the event. A giant balloon arch in our school colors—navy and gold—adorned the entrance, and each table had more balloons as centerpieces. Kyle offered me his arm as we entered, which I reluctantly took. I was still a little mad at him for the different comment. Okay, mad might be extreme because I guess he was right, I didn't look like myself, but still. The tables bordered a make-shift dance floor and there were entirely too many streamers hanging from the basketball hoops. The DJ was playing a Destiny's Child song and a bunch of girls were dancing while the boys huddled together off to the side. Melissa noticed me and waved.