Wraithsong

  * * *

  “Well that was a complete waste of money,” Ashley says, as we stroll out of the theatre with the others. The auditorium was only about ten percent filled, and that should have been a clear sign that this movie would be a dud.

  “Agreed,” I say, turning my phone back on. A text message pops up on my screen:

  Sorry about leaving so abruptly today, but I needed to take care of something important. Hope you’ll still weed with me on Monday. Anthony.

  My heart pauses for half a heartbeat, but though I appreciate the apology, I’m still angry with him. Can one feel angry and intrigued at the same time?

  “What?” Ashley asks, peeking over to read the text. “Who’s Anthony?”

  “He’s the guy I weed with,” I say. “I mean, you know last week when I told you I was sent to Principal Jenkins’s office and was sentenced to ten hours of school service?”

  “Yes…?”

  “Well, the guy who works in the greenhouse is Anthony.”

  “Is he kind?” It’s always Ashley’s first question when I bring up a guy she hasn’t met, and the second question is, “Is he hot?” I laugh nervously, hoping she won’t pick up on it and we head into the ladies room.

  “He’s…nice—maybe, I don’t know him too well yet,” I say. Should I tell her what I really think? Yes. “And he’s not bad to look at.” But that’s not why I like him. There’s something special about him that I just can’t put my finger on.

  Ashley grins, her thick lips broadening with a smile. “Is he a senior?”

  “Yes, he just recently moved here.” We stop by the mirror and I pull my lip-gloss out and apply some. I watch Ashley brush her thick, long hair. She has a broad forehead and is slightly curvy in a very feminine way.

  “You’ll have to introduce me.” She gathers her hair into a ponytail and makes a sexy face into the mirror.

  I laugh. “He’s kind of moody, but if you want him, he’s all yours.” I regret saying it right away. The thought of Ashley and Anthony dating doesn’t sit well with me for some reason.

  “That’s not what I meant. I want to meet the boy who hasn’t even asked you out yet after having known you for more than half a minute. Most guys would have tried to marry you by now if you gave them any attention.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” I scoff.

  “Okay, but it’s almost true,” she says, as though there could be no argument.

  “Well, this guy has been ignoring me completely, at least until this last text.” I pull my phone out again and at that moment another text pops up.

  Want to get some lunch tomorrow? –A

  I think about forgiving him and then decide it’s worth it, at least for now, until I get to know him better. I show the text to Ashley.

  “I’m telling you, I want to meet him. Does he have a date to the prom yet?” she asks.

  I groan. “Yes, doesn’t everybody?” It’s only about a week until the prom.

  “He probably asked her before he met you, though.”

  “No, he asked her on Thursday, but I can’t go to the prom anyway, so it doesn’t matter,” I mope.

  Ashley pulls out some pressed powder and applies it to her face. “I don’t get your mom. She’s so strict. I mean, who doesn’t let their daughter go to the prom?” She has that look on her face when she’s extremely upset about something, which is about fifty percent of the time.

  “It’s more complicated than that,” I say, wishing I could reveal more of my oddities to her, and wishing I could tell her everything about me, but I just don’t feel it’s the right thing to do, at least not until I know what it is that makes me so different.

  “Really? How complicated could it be? I mean, I want to respect your mom’s decision and all, but you’ve got to be able to have some fun in life. She doesn’t let you go swimming at the beach, or have sleep-overs, or…”

  I interrupt her. “I know, it sucks, but it’s just how it is.” I’m not going to try to explain it away, for no sane reason would be good enough. “My parents have always been overprotective of me.”

  “I’d understand it if it was a religious decision or something, but just because they want to protect you? Like from what? It doesn’t make sense.”

  “Can we just drop it please? There’s nothing I can do about it and now you’re actually making me want to go to the stupid prom.”

  Ashley gives me a really? look.

  “Please…” I say.

  “Fine, but I’ll miss you.” She pouts, then suddenly her eyes widen. “Hey, I have an idea! Can’t you just go without a date?” She has this sneaky way of bringing up the subjects I don’t want to talk about again. I fall for it every time.

  “What? So I can be everyone’s third wheel?” I really don’t want to be the third wheel.

  “There are a bunch of guys and girls going stag. I hear it’s the new in-thing.”

  “Seriously?” I haven’t considered going stag, but my mom just might let me go if I go alone, and promise to not get involved with anyone in any way, and come home at a decent hour.

  “Sue is also thinking about going solo. I’ll let her know that you’re going and you can join our group,” Ashley says.

  “That makes it seem like I’m her date.” I shake my head.

  “There are a few others who also want to go stag. I’ll talk to them and see if we can’t plan something.”

  That sounds a little better, I think. “I’ll need a dress.”

  “The dress is the easiest thing to get. I’ll go with you tomorrow—after your lunch date with hot Anthony.” She smiles playfully.

  I laugh. “It’s not a date—just lunch.”

  “Yeah, sure it is,” Ashley says.

  I text Anthony back.

  Sure, just let me know the time and place - Sonia

  Ashley and I go out and get a bite to eat, and before I know it, it’s 11:00 p.m. I say good-bye to her and head home.