“I doubt he minds.”
An image of Josh in a purple velvet pimp costume flashes in my mind. “Probably not.”
My phone chimes.
Whr r u? Abt to leave to joshs game.
“Oh shit.” I stand, gathering my trash and rising to my feet. Thank god Keesh thought of me. “Josh’s big game. Can you take me?”
After Amy drops me off in front of the stadium, I run toward the bleachers hoping I haven’t missed any part of the game. I look up into the stands scanning the crowd for my friends.
Steph is on her feet, waving her hands in the air at me.
Quickly, I make my way through the crowd, climbing the stairs and stepping around people till I’m seated with the crew. Josh is on the mound and my friends are quiet, watching his every move like their lives depend on it.
My eyes sweep over the people looking for signs of serious observers. There are a few men dressed in polo shirts wearing ball caps, each with a different logo.
“Scouts are here again,” I say.
Steph spits out a seed. “Always are.”
True. Our team hasn’t lost one yet. Mostly because of Josh. When he pitches, no one can touch him. That, and he swings the bat like a freaking all-star. I scan the fans again. Sure enough, Shayna and her friends sit at the top. It doesn’t matter that they aren’t together or whatever they were. She’s still here, to watch in awe. And to show her support. Along with the rest of the school.
He strikes out another batter and then trots into the dugout along with the rest of the team.
“Mrs. Fuller said Mr. Fuller says he’s good enough to go pro already. Can you imagine?” I tell my friends.
“He is,” Dom says, through a mouthful of sunflower seeds. “But he could also play in college.”
“It bugs the shit of me that he won’t talk about it.” Keesh is chomping down on some Cheetos. “I’ve asked and he just changes the subject.”
Travis shouts, “Yay, baby!” when one of our players gets on base. “He doesn’t say much to anyone. This is huge. I think it’s something he wants to work out for himself with his parents. It’s not like you guys know much about baseball and can offer your expert opinions.”
“Well, excuse me Tommy Lasorda. I didn’t know you were a wealth of information when it came to America’s pastime either.” I flick him on his arm with the back of my hand.
He pushes me off balance with his shoulder to mine. “I’m not and that’s why he’s not asking my opinion either.”
“What do you think, babe?” Steph asks, looking back at Dom. “Should he go pro or college?”
He shrugs. “I think he’s good enough to play pro ball, but the only thing that’s probably holding him back is his size. He’s got the height but he’s still pretty skinny. If he waits, in a couple of years he’ll get bigger, more muscular. But he’ll also be more worn out. I think he’s been talking to both sides. It’s gonna be a tough decision.”
For the rest of the game, we watch on the edge of our seats as Josh takes down batter after batter, allowing only two hits. No homeruns today, but he got two doubles and a single, scoring each time.
We wait around after the game, but so do the college scouts. Instead of getting in the way, we all head out knowing Josh will catch up with us when he’s ready.
Chapter 28
“Hey, Meggie,” Jon’s voice comes through the phone.
“Jon Jon! Hey, how are you?” I was just getting ready to jump into bed and send Alex a quick goodnight message when my phone rang.
“I’m good. Hey, I know it’s late but I need to ask you a favor.”
“Yes! Whatever it is, yes!” He’s never asked for anything from me before so I’m more than happy to help.
“Wow, the possibilities,” he jokes.
“Wait, I thought this was my good friend, Jon. Not my goofy friend, Josh.” We both let out a quick laugh. “Okay, so tell me. What can I help you with?”
“Prom.” He pauses. “You better be able to keep a secret.”
Oh, this is getting good. “C’mon. You know I can. Now spill it.”
“I wanna surprise Keesh and take her to prom. I’ve been saving up all year for a plane ticket and my parents have chipped in a bit. I know she wants me to be there for graduation but mine is at the same time and my parents will kill me if I don’t go to my own ceremony. Anyway, I think she’ll freak out if I show up for prom.”
I’m freaking out right now so I know she will. “That is awesome! I’m so excited for both of you. You’re gonna make her day. Her whole year. You’re a stud.”
“Thanks.”
“So what can I help you with?”
Jon goes on to ask me if I can convince Keesh to be my date to Prom. I know she’ll go for this. It was my plan anyway. The only thing that sucks is that once Jon surprises her, I’m out of a date. Oh well, it’s the price I have to pay to see my friend totally flip out when her boyfriend jumps out of a big cake. Okay, so he’s not really gonna jump out of a fake cake, but that’s the kind of surprise it feels like. We better make sure to have plenty of cameras on her face when she sees him. I can’t wait to see the complete shock in film.
Dress after dress, I slide one hanger across the rack at a time. I can’t find a damn thing that catches my eye. It doesn’t help that I’m not a shopper or one who has fun dressing in formal wear. I feel like a little kid playing dress-up. It’s gotten better over the years, but I still don’t feel entirely comfortable.
“What do you think, Meggie?” Keesh holds up a little black dress. “We should get matching dresses.”
“Matching?”
“Yeah, we’re going together. It’s not like we have a guy who’s gonna match his tie color to your dress, so why not coordinate with each other?”
“Umm. Let’s just see what we find. If it works out, great.” I’m hoping it doesn’t. She’s not my real date so it will look kind of ridiculous if we’re wearing the same dress. Not that it wouldn’t anyway even if we were going together.
“I think I found mine,” Steph says.
“Let’s see,” I tell her, turning around to get a look at the dress in her hands.
She shields it from us. “No way. I’m gonna try on a few different ones and let’s see if you like the same one I do.”
“Cool, I’m right behind you.” I’ve snagged a few gowns and I’m ready to try them on too.
“Dude, I need a room too. You guys are gonna have to help me decide.”
We all wait, dresses hanging over our arms, as the salesperson opens a fitting room for each of us.
“Round one!” I shout. “Let’s all come out at the same time.” Once, I shimmy into my tight ass dress, I yell. “Ready!”
I can hear the doors squeal open.
“Ta da!” I say, arms stretched out, “What do you think?”
Keesh eyeballs my slinky green dress from head to toe. “Can you walk in that? It looks like a mermaid suit.”
I laugh. “That’s exactly what I thought. There will be no gettin’ low in this sucker.” I give her the once over. “I like yours.” She’s wearing a floor-length red sheath that curves to her body but doesn’t look painted on.
“I love that,” Andi says.
“Me too,” Steph adds.
I turn my attention to my other two friends.
“Andi, that looks exactly like your homecoming dress,” I say of the big poof she’s wearing. It looks like it would swallow her body if she sat down in it.
Keesh and Steph agree, and Andi heads back into her dressing room with a frown.
Steph is wearing a long black gown that gathers tightly around her boobs, but flows in layers from the top of her waist.
“I like it,” I tell her. Keesh nods.
But, Steph just turns back to her room.
“Round two!” I shout, once I get my second dress on. “Ready!”
Four doors open at the same time.
With a quick glance at Steph and Keesh, I know immediately these are the dresses they’re wearing to our senior prom.
Steph is wearing a fitted royal blue off-the-shoulder spandex number that gathers in little pleats throughout the length of the dress. One strap crosses over her chest onto her left side and then two hang over her right shoulder. Sparkling jewels accent the gown where the straps come together in the front. The color is perfect for her bronze skin tone and silky dark chocolate hair.
Keesh spins around on the ball of her foot, sheathed in a metallic gold patterned mini. She’s like an Egyptian goddess in this dress. She looks sexy as hell and about three years older. Jonathan is going to shit his pants when he sees her.
“You two are done. Change. Don’t try on another one. You have to get those dresses.”
Steph jumps up and down. “I knew you’d love it. This is the one I wanted.”
“You look hot, Steph.” Keesh touches the tip of her index finger to her tongue and then to her ass, making a hissing sound. “On fire. Someone call 911!”
“Dude, I’m gonna look like I’m ready for a tea party next to you guys. You look like you’re ready for the VMAs or something.”
Our eyes shoot to Andi. Oh god. She’s right. The girl has a floral patterned dress on with a bow that ties in the back. No. She can’t wear that. I shake my head, “Nope. That’s not your prom dress. Try the next one on.”
“I was trying to go for something different. I don’t want to wear the same kind of party dress I wore to homecoming.”
“Let me change and then I’ll find something that will knock Travis’s socks off.” Keesh begins unzipping her dress as she disappears into her fitting room.
“Hey! What about my dress?” I ask them.
Keesh peeks her head out. “Oh! Sorry. Yes, that’s a keeper. You better be ready to make out on the first date because I’m not gonna be able to keep my hands off you.”
We all crack up at Keesh’s joke.
“Yeah, I love it,” Steph says. Andi nods her approval.
I take one last look in the mirror. They’re right. I’m keeping it. The long flowing, soft chiffon in a Kelly Green reminds me of Alex’s eyes. My gaze drops to my thigh, peeking out of the slit that travels up daringly close to my hip. If only he could see me in this … I’d love to see his face catching the first glimpse of my boobage, all plump and pretty pushed up along the heart-shaped front of my dress.
I’d say some other time, but we’re all out of proms after this one. He’s just gonna have to come up with something else so I can get dressed up all sexy for him.
Maybe ditching my soccer shorts and hoodies for formal wear isn’t so bad after all.
As my senior year comes to a close, we have just a few more things to look forward to: prom, Senior Awards Night, the goodbye rally, and graduation. After spending hours at the salon again, I’m at home swiping one last coat of lip gloss on before my fake date arrives. And the rest of the crew.
My mom invited all the parents to come over and take pictures. We got a limo this year, and it will be picking us up here later. I can’t wait for it to arrive. Jon will be inside and ready to surprise Keesha. She’s gonna flip!
“Meggie,” I hear my mom yell. “Your friends are getting here.”
With one last deep breath, I leave my room with tingles fluttering around in my belly. Today is my senior prom. It seems so surreal.
“Hey, baby! What’s your name?” Keesh has her hand posted at her hip and she’s eyeballing me up and down, her lips pouted. “Wanna hook me up with your digits?”
A laugh erupts from my anxious tummy. “Honey, you can call me anytime.”
We both share a chuckle as the rest of our friends arrive, along with their parents. Steph’s parents are holding a bottle of wine and some beer. Keesh’s mom is holding a dish. Travis’s dad has his hands full with grocery bags.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
Kendra, Keesh’s mom, glares at me, “What? You think you guys are the only ones who know how to party?”
My eyes shift to my mom’s. “Oh, I forgot to tell you. We’re having a party here. While you kiddos are at the dance, we’re gonna get busy here.” Kendra holds up her hand for a high-five.
Keesh gives me the wide-eyed
oh no
look. Exactly. What have our parents been smoking?
“Hey, the limo’s here,” Josh shouts as he comes through the door with … oh my. He brought his coach’s daughter. Is that legal? Isn’t that against the rules or something? He wouldn’t tell us who he was bringing. Now, I understand why. I wonder if her dad knows. She’s tall, skinny, and gorgeous. And has always been off limits to every boy on campus. Until now.
We’ll have to worry about that later.
“Keesh, let’s go check out the limo,” I tell her, linking my arm in hers and pulling her toward the door.
“I was just gonna tell you the same thing,” she says.
My mom follows close behind with her camera. Perfect. “Why don’t we all go?”
Everyone gathers outside. Keesh and I head for the limo. “You go inside first,” I tell her.
“No, you go.”
“Don’t be dumb. Open the door.”
“I don’t want to. You go first.”