“Here,” Brody says, passing me some candy. “Chocolate always makes you feel better.”
“You know her well, Brod,” Steph says. “Now pass that over here.”
My goofy friend hands over a bag of chocolates as we leave the dumb testing site. We’re on our way to school. On a Saturday.
The rally committee screwed around and didn’t finish the decorations so we volunteered to come in and help. We couldn’t leave Andi’s big plans to a bunch of freshmen.
When we arrive in the cafeteria, it looks like a lot of progress has been made since we left school yesterday. Five vertical banners—about twenty feet long—span the length of the floor.
“The banners are done,” Andi says, standing up to greet us. Again, she’s doused in paint. Her pink hair is a mess, more than usual. “Keesh, check yours out, dude.” She leans in to whisper, “It’s the best one.”
Keesh glances over at her name spelled in giant letters on a never ending piece of long white butcher paper. “Thanks, girl.”
She’s so gonna win. She’s a soccer stud. She’s smart. She’s in ASB. And she knows everybody. And everybody loves her.
But … if she isn’t crowned the queen, Amy better not be either. Anyone else can win but her.
“What can we help with?” I ask Andi.
She scans the large room. “Meg, why don’t you help Josh’s group …” and she continues doling out tasks.
“Hey, I can help too,” Brody offers.
“You’re a chem whiz, right?” she asks.
“He sure is,” I answer for him. He blushes.
“Dude, I’ve got just the job for you.”
It’s rally day, baby. It’s going to be insane all day, I know it. Not only do we have to help get everything set up before school, but we’re performing as part of Keesha’s skit.
Just call me Posh Spice. It’s a tough job being married to David Beckham, but someone has to do it.
The theme for our homecoming festivities is famous musical groups. Keesh chose the Spice Girls. She’s going to be Scary Spice. Steph is Sporty. Andi is Ginger with her wacky hair. And Keesh surprised us all when she invited Shayna, Josh’s groupie, to be Baby Spice.
Shay has hung out with us a few times. When she’s not making moon eyes at Josh, she’s cool. When Keesh asked her to be in her skit, she actually squealed like a little piglet and jumped up and down. I see cheerleading in her future.
I’m gathering my clothes for the skit and for tonight’s football game when my mom knocks softly on my open bedroom door.
“Hey, don’t forget your phone charger. I’m sure you’ll need it.”
She’s right. I’ll be snapping pictures like crazy, along with video. It’ll probably die before school is out. I’ll charge it during Mrs. Fuller’s class.
“Thanks, Mom. Good idea.”
She shuffles in and sits at my desk. “Do you need any help with anything?”
I shove my charger into the front pocket of my backpack and zip it shut. “No, I think I’m done. I’m ready to go.”
“I was thinking.” Oh no. “Would you mind if I went to the rally? I’d really love to see you girls perform.”
“No, I wouldn’t mind at all. That would work out perfectly. Can you take a lot of pictures?”
My mom’s smile is bright, showing the creases at the corners of her eyes. “Of course, I can. I’m so excited. I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about me going.”
“Don’t be silly. You know all my friends. You’re a cool mom. I’d be proud to show you off.”
She stands and heads for the door.
“Mom, wait. Just don’t wear any New Kids shirts, okay. That’s where I draw the line.”
She laughs as she walks away but I’m totally serious. I can just imagine her showing up in a shirt with Danny Wood’s face plastered to her chest.
Before the bell rings and the auditorium fills with students, Steph and I go out into the audience from the backstage dressing rooms to get a look at Andi’s vision.
The five banners with the princess’s names on them hang down the walls from either side of the stage. The size of them is massive and they look professionally done. Not like they were made on butcher paper with poster paints and glitter.
Onstage, the background is decorated with life-size cartoon cutouts of each of the female musical groups the princesses are representing. The Spice Girls cut-out looks larger than the others and is positioned center stage. The other groups include The Pussy Cat Dolls, The Pistol Annies, Destiny’s Child, and The Bangles (who I doubt anyone will recognize given the fact I had to ask my mom who they were).
“She did a great job. It all came together perfectly,” I say.
“The dude should really be working on Broadway stages or doing set designs for movies or something.”
“Yeah, we should ask her for her autograph so we can sell it on eBay in ten years.”
“We can say we knew her when,” Steph adds.
Keesha is the last of the girls to be announced. The auditorium fills with cries when all the girls realize she’s escorted by Josh. “Upon graduation, Keesha plans on reuniting with her long lost love Jonathan when he moves back to California. She enjoys spending time with her friends, having girls’ night out, and dancing. She is most known for her killer strike on our girls’ varsity soccer team.”
Josh and Keesh work the crowd, pointing at the crowd, smiling, winking, and doing the pageant wave. If she doesn’t win, I will be shocked.
When it’s our turn to dance, I’m about to hyperventilate.
“Just chill, Meg. We dance all the time,” Keesh tells me after changing from her formal gown she wore with Josh on the runway to her Scary Spice costume.
“Not dressed like this. And not on a stage in front of the whole school with spotlights in my eyes.” I’m pretty sure I look like a hooker in my short pink fitted (like a glove) dress and ridiculously high heels. I may have lost the weight to fit into shit like this, but it doesn’t mean I’m comfortable in it. Someone get me my Berkeley hoodie and a pair of sweats. Throw in some Chucks while you’re at it.
“Dude, stop being a wimp. If I’m not freaking in my stripper costume, then you shouldn’t either. Just pretend we’re at a party.”
“How you doing, Shay?” I ask.
She looks about as good as I feel. Even with the gobs of makeup she’s wearing, she still looks pale. At least she doesn’t look like a tramp like the rest of us. “I’m okay. Let’s just hurry and get it over with.”
Steph, who I thought would be the one to freak, is surprisingly calm. She peaks her head around the curtain and waves.
“Who you waving to?” I ask.
“Dominic. He’s sitting with the moms.”
Oh great. Even more people to see me when I trip and fall.
Before I can run away, Keesh is name is called and our music begins. Steph pushes me toward my spot on stage and I begin our routine to “Wannabe.” I loosen up after the first few beats and have a blast with my friends as the audience sings along with the music.
When the whole thing is over, I meet my mom outside.
“What did you think?” I ask.
She hugs me. “Well, if you guys ever need a part time job in college, you could always dance.”
“Ha ha.” I say. “Very funny. I told them the only thing missing from our routine was a pole.”
“Josh is always saying he’s a pimp.”
Oh no. Not my mom too. “Don’t encourage him.”
Chapter 10
Sometimes I feel like Meg Ryan in
You’ve Got Mail
. I’ve only watched it with my mom a thousand times. She loves that movie. But instead of emailing back and forth, I thrive on getting video chat requests from my hot college friend. I don’t know why I don’t just say boyfriend. I can’t remember the last time I went out with someone other than him, or even wanted to. But Alex and I are still just really good friends. Whatever. If anyone believes that, they’re blind.
There. Video chat coming through. I sit up in my bed, adjust the screen so he can see my perpetual smile, and I click on accept.
“Hey, babe! I’m surprised you’re not out celebrating,” he says as soon as the call goes through.
“Yeah, I thought we would too, but once Keesh got her crown, she left as soon as she could to go home and talk to Jon.”
“It must be killing him that he missed it. Hell, I’m sorry I did. If it had been you, I’d have driven my ass down there just for the halftime show at the game and come right back up here. I wouldn’t have missed it for anything.”
His eyes are so sincere, I know he means it. “Thanks. If I would’ve known that would get you home, I would’ve run. I’ll take any excuse to see you.”
He winks at me, flashing his pearly whites. Aww … he makes me melt. I feel all warm and fuzzy all over. “Are you and the girls doing the whole salon thing tomorrow before the dance?”
“Hell yes,” I tell him. “It’s a big day. I can’t wait to show you my dress.”
“What does it look like?”
“I’m not telling. You can wait to see me all dolled up tomorrow.”
“Ugh. You’re killing me. I never thought I’d be jealous of Josh and Eric but I am. Remind me to warn them about keeping their hands to themselves.”
I chuckle at the thought. “You’re a dork. After you do that, make sure you give me the numbers to all the girls you talk to so I can threaten them with a life of bikini rash if they even bat their lashes at you much less touch a millimeter of your sexy ass body.”
He bursts out with big belly laughs. Through giggles, he tries to speak again. “Bikini rash? Do I even want to know?”
“Probably not,” I say with a grin, chuckling now since his hysterics are contagious.
“No worries though. It’s just you and me, babe. I’m all yours.”
“Is that right?” I say, staring deeply into his on-screen eyes. “Well, I’m absolutely safe with my three dates. You have nothing to worry about.” Me, Keesh, Josh, and Eric are going as a group. The boys don’t have dates, and us girls aren’t interested in any, so we decided to go together. No pressure, no strings. Just someone to dance with the whole night.
“I forgot about Keesh. Maybe I
should
be worried. You’re not gonna make out with her again, are you?”
I shake my head at his silliness. “You’re bad.”
“Hey, I have a surprise for you.” He suddenly gets serious. He’s not chewing the inside of his cheek so that’s a good sign. “Actually, I have two things to share with you.”
“Cool. Tell me.”
“Well, first, I gotta go soon. I have some last minute research for tomorrow morning.”
“For what?”
“I have an interview. I applied for an internship months ago. I just figured it got filled since I never got a call back. Then, bam! Today I get a call.”
“That’s great. Just tell me really quick about it. What’s it for?”
“It’s an internship at a local architecture firm. They do a lot of work with public projects like elementary schools and city offices. I’ll be doing lots of paperwork, but it’s good to know both sides. The contracts and such are just as important as the designs and construction.”
“Very cool. Once they meet you, I’m sure the position will be yours. They’re gonna love you.”
He smiles from ear to ear. “Thank you, Megan.” He blows me a kiss and I pucker my lips to him. “Okay, now on to the better surprise.”
“It gets
better
?”
“Sure does. I finally got a letter from Ben.”
“Oh my god,” I squeal in excitement. Bouncing up and down, my computer topples off the side on my bed and onto the floor. “Sorry. Alex, you still there?” I flip my sheet off and try reaching for my laptop.
“Yeah. I’m just staring at your floor.” He chuckles. I finally grasp him and turn him upright. “There you are. Excited much? I haven’t even told you what he said.”
I brush my hair out of my eyes with a swipe of my hand. “Tell me. Hurry.”
“He’s graduating from boot camp during Thanksgiving break. He’d like you and me to go to the ceremony.”
My throat tightens as the tears creep into my eyes. “Oh, I’d love to.”
“God, I wish I was there to hold you. Don’t cry, Meggie. We’ll all be together again soon.”
I wish he was here too. What I’d do to feel his touch again. To feel his strong arms around me and his sweet lips on mine.
Not only will Alex be home, but our best friend too.
I’ll have so much to be thankful for.
Together again, soon. Sounds perfect.
We splurge for day of pampering at my mom’s salon. The four of us have appointments all at the same time, starting with the dreaded waxing. Andi and I want to skip this part, but Keesha and Steph insist. Steph even tells Andi she has thicker eyes brows than Joe Jonas. So nice. Andi is horrified and agrees to pain. Getting my brow and lip done is one thing, but these girls will never convince me to get my vajayjay done. That’s sacred land. I’d rather bust a Scary Movie than let someone inspect me close enough to spread hot wax down there and rip out any fuzz.