Tiny Dancer (23 page)

“Elegant
, really.” I thanked her, tucking everything carefully back into the bag. In light of the dance on Saturday, her timing was sorcery.

“
Just a little something extra. I figured your family showered you with birthday gifts. Girls are so much fun to buy for and all.”

“Not really,” I said. “This is perfect.

Irene could not stop talking about my dress all the way to the
resort ballroom. “With your hair pulled back and you in those heels, you look eighteen.” She talked a bit too much about my new dress causing Claudia to sigh.

“Your dress is beautiful
too,” I finally interjected.

Claudia wore a red dress and a pair of white
flats. She had curled her hair, pinning it up in the back. It bounced whenever she moved her head.

“I told you I was old enough for heels, Mother,” she said, staring over the front seat at my black pumps.
“I’d kill for those.”

“Your shoes are lovely, dear,” said Irene. “Besides, you’re not accustomed to dancing in heels.”

“She’s right,” I said. Of course, I had spent one entire spring rehearsing in heels for a jazz number with a group from the studio. “It isn’t easy. I’ve been practicing and I’m still not sure I can do it.” I only said it to make Claudia feel better.

Claudia huffed. She knew dancing was the one th
ing I could pull off with ease. “Where did you find such a gorgeous dress?” she asked. “I thought you spent all day yesterday on campus.”

“
Not all day,” I said. “You look so beautiful, Claudia. Your shoes are perfect with that dress. Heels would ruin the look. I swear it,” I said, hoping to get her off the subject. “Will many be there tonight? Is this a big dance?” I didn’t know. I had truly not ever heard of it until now.

“It’s a big
dance,” said Irene. “Most of you girls’ classmates will show up, especially those girls eager to attend their first real dance since Cotillion.”

Claudia had been forced to attend Cotillion, although I felt she secretly loved it. Vesta considered it a waste of time and money since our whole lives revolved around dancing.

Irene pulled into the long circular drive in front of the main part of the resort. The landscaping and grounds were immaculate. It was like driving up to a palace. “I’ll pick you both up at eleven.”

Claudia was ecsta
tic to be out past ten. She held up a white boa and wrapped it around her neck.

“
Oh not that,” said Irene.

Claudia laughed. She wasn’t about to give up the boa. Then she pulled out a
black one that glistened a bit like hers. “Flannery and I will both wear them and everyone will want one,” she said.

I took mine and draped it around my neck. “I have these by the boxfuls,” I
said. “I hadn’t thought to wear one, though.”

Irene drove away shaking her head.

We walked into the lobby, twirling our boas like dance hall girls. We walked past the coffee shop and guest shop. We wandered up and down the halls, ogling statues of famous golfers and historically framed photos. Finally we wound up at the right ballroom, the North Room. It was already filling up with youths and the adults chaperoning the dance.

“Mother asked
to chaperone, but I intervened,” said Claudia. “She’s only worse than having Billy Thornton hanging around.”

She had no sooner said that than Billy came walking through the grand entrance in a coat and tie. On his arm was Marcy. I tried not to stare, but couldn’t help myself.
Claudia followed my gaze.

“Drat! Don’t let him hang out with us. We won’t have any fun,” she said, groaning.

Marcy saw me and waved us over.

“What’s up with them anyway?” asked Claudia
, nearly hissing. “She’s Drake’s girlfriend.”

Marcy held onto Billy as though he might run off.

The Dooley Brothers band warmed up onstage. The ballroom was filling up quickly.

I smiled at Billy and Marcy and greeted them without any hint of envy.

“Where’d you get that dress, Flannery?” asked Marcy. “You look like a million bucks and Elizabeth Taylor to boot.”

Billy quickly said, “You ladies all look lovely. We guys have nothing but our ties to change out for such affairs.”

The
band leader announced a dance number.

“They’re trying to get some of us on the dance floor,” I said. I laughed, grabbing Claudia’s hand and leading her onto the floor. We acted as pleased with ourselves as possible. I decided right off not to let Billy and Marcy ruin the night. About halfway through the number, though, someone tapped me on the shoulder.

“I hate to break up the act, but I was wondering if I could put my name in on both your dance cards.” It was Drake. He looked handsome in his black suit and red tie. He signed my card first. Then he held out one arm. “Peaches, may I have the first dance?”

Claudia shrugged at me. She glanced behind him. I knew why. She was making certain Drake had not brought Dylan along. He was nowhere to be seen, thankfully. An upperclassman was fast on the rebound anyway. Claudia
let him lead her into the center of the floor.

“I didn’t expect to find you here, Peaches,” said Drake.

“I do get around,” I said. “You’re the only person who calls me that. I do have a name.”

“Peaches suits you, though,” he said. “But if you hate it, I’ll stop, just for you
.”

“Better,” I said. We danced well together as much as I hated to admit it. “What happened to you and Marcy? And her with Billy, your best friend.”

“I know,” he said. “Shocking, isn’t it?”

“Scandalous.”

He turned me away from the center of the floor. It was in that instant that Billy and I locked gazes. I turned away quickly pretending to laugh at Drake.

“Marcy heard that I was falling for another girl.”

“Who would tell her such a thing? Daryl, I’ll bet,” I said, just as the lights overhead dimmed.

“Not Daryl. I told her
.” He slowed his steps as the band transitioned into a slow dance.

“You told Marcy? You mean, you broke it off with her?”

“Actually, she broke it off with me.”

“Because you’ve fallen for another girl? I thought you never really fell for anyone, Drake Keller.”

“I know. I’m terribly smitten, though. It’s a miserable feeling to have feelings for someone who you might never have.”

Now I laughed.
“She must be really far above your station then? Does Billy know?

“That’s why he’s with Marcy. I asked him to bring her tonight.”

Marcy did keep looking at us.

“A
nd here you show up stag and not bringing along the girl of your dreams? You are a sight.” I glanced around the room. “Is she here then? This mystery girl, this Miss Too-Wonderful-To-Mention-Her-Name?”

The strangest look came over his face. He had his arm around my waist. He pulled me closer. “She’s changed me. That’s how wonderful she is.”

“I don’t believe in that, that a person can change for another,” I said.

“You are a skeptic, aren’t you?”

“If you change, it should come from inside you.” Reverend Theo had taught me that. I turned my face back to his. “If your feelings are to be trusted.

He moved us to a more open area since the dancers around us crowded us. “I realize you think I’m insincere.”

“I’ve got my reasons,” I said. “But if you like her that much, you have to tell her. Or else I’ll think you’re making her up.”

“I’m nervous about telling her. But before the night is over, I will.
You willing to give me the courage? Any advice?”

“You have to tell me or else I’ll take you outside and beat it out of you.”
I smiled at him, but gripped his hand a bit too hard.

“
Ouch! One more dance, and I’ll tell you. I swear it,” he said.

Claudia was already changing partners. When I felt certain she wouldn’t mind
my giving him the next dance, I agreed. He led me to the punch bowl. We sipped on our drinks and chatted it up with some of his friends. He introduced me around. Several of his friends asked me to dance. One was a guy named Anderson.

“You must be new in town,” said
Anderson. “Drake, you hiding a beautiful cousin or something?”

I tucked a pin back into my hair. I smiled and chatted politely with all of his friends, not letting on the truth, how happy I was that Alice’s dress was working its magic.

“Flannery is an old friend,” he told them. He didn’t tell them I was a tenth grader as I was certain he might. I’ve Miss Curry for one more dance,” he said. He was so polite that he made me less nervous than before.

We joined in a waltz. He knew the waltz and then the cha-cha. There didn’t seem to be any dance
he didn’t know. I thanked him for not making me sound like the youngest girl at the dance.

“I owe you that, at least,” he said.

“I’ve never said you owe me anything.”I stopped dancing altogether. “Have I guilted you into something?”

“
You know you haven’t.”

“
Let’s just finish our dance and that will be the end of it. You don’t owe me anything,” I told him. His sudden over-familiarity made things awkward between us.

“I want you to know that
ever since the first time I saw you in Wilmington I’ve watched how you comport yourself. I’ve thought about the messes you’ve gone through, yet you seem to come out on top of things. It has everything to do with who you are.”

I thanked him
politely.

We finished the dance.

I looked around the floor for Claudia. “Look, you don’t have to give me the girl’s name. It’s not my business,” I said, no longer looking at him, but growing edgy with his too personal chatter.

“
Are you playing a game?” he laughed.

“Not at all.”

“It’s you. You surely know. You’re the only girl for whom I’d make a complete fool of myself.”

“Me? What do you mean?” I took a step
back from him.

“You’re the
one, Flannery.”

“This has all been a joke, right? Surely Billy didn’t know about all of this?” I looked for him, but the dance floor was thick with dancers by now.

“No. For once I kept my mouth shut,” he hesitated, “because of my sincerity. I didn’t give Billy the name either. I knew he would disapprove.”

“He might club you,” I said. “Beat you to a pulp.”
I still didn’t know if I should believe him.

“I know, I know.
You’ve always been his little sister. He would kill me if I told him. I realize that I’m older than you.” He reasoned away the difference in our ages the same way I had done so with Billy. “You know I’m a young graduate. I won’t turn eighteen for another month.” Then he leaned down, lifting my boa and using it to pull me close to him. He kissed me right next to my mouth. I could smell his expensive cologne and felt the bristle of his jaw against my cheek. I knew I should back away. He noticed that too, that I didn’t, and then kissed me on the lips. I closed my eyes and let him.

When I drew back, the couples around us were whistling
and clapping. Claudia stood with her mouth wide open. Billy came out of nowhere. He pulled Drake away from me. When I saw the look in his eyes, sheer disappointment, I felt like an idiot. I had let this happen.

He dragged Drake out the door, Drake explaining himself the whole way.

“See, I told you,” said Claudia coming up beside me and taking my arm. “Billy Thornton is the chaperone of your life.”

My feet were killing me. I took off the black pumps and told Claudia I was going outside to sit by the pool.

“Don’t be gone long,” she said. “This is the best place for meeting guys. I’ve never had so many boys ask me out.”

The sky was black and the pool mirrored the night including the moon that was nearly full. It was a silver platter lying on the water’s surface.

I felt that, what with Billy threatening him, Drake would go on home. My feet would stop aching and I would join Claudia and not spoil the rest of the evening for her.

I dropped the clutch on one side of me and my shoes on the other side. I would have dipped my feet in the pool had it not been for the black lace stockings, although I was tempted to dive in, black dress and all. I sat beside the edge of the pool, my feet to the side. I looked into the water and saw my own face. For all the world, Alice Curry was looking back at me. I blinked and it was me again looking like a foolish girl.

I admitted
only to myself Drake was a good kisser, at least for what little I knew of kissing. But it was not for Drake that I allowed it. A part of me wanted Billy to see us and react. He reacted, all right. Like an older brother.

“
Mind if I join you?”

I looked up. “Sure, Billy,” I said, trying not to act jolted by his sudden presence.
Claudia was right. He did have a way of appearing at inopportune times. Were to I admit anything at all, it would be that for all my years up until this point, I had imagined Alice Curry as my guardian angel. But the truth of the matter was that Billy Thornton was the one who deserved the distinction.