“You wanted me to wear that costume forever?”
He shrugs. “Can you blame me? You looked pretty hot.”
“Thanks. So how do I look now?” I ask sarcastically.
“Equally hot,” he recovers, “just less exposed.” Henry gently flicks one of my French braids, which I decided to keep in for the rest of the day. “I like your hair like this,” he muses. “It frames your face beautifully.” I blush and wish the two of us were still alone in the green light of the glow stick. Kent lets out a huge burp, and I know we’re not.
I kick Henry’s black shoe with my boot. “Maybe you can wear these sometimes, you know, instead of your white gym shoes?” I don’t mean to, but I scrunch my nose at the mention of his white gym shoes.
“You don’t like my white gym shoes?”
“To be honest, not really. They’re just so—white.”
Henry laughs. “That they are. I never really thought about it. Maybe you can go shopping with me for some new shoes.”
“Only if you want to, of course.” I don’t want him to think I’m trying to completely change him. At the same time, I can’t help what I’m attracted to. No one can, right?
“I need some new shoes anyway. I grew out of the white ones last month.”
“Shoe shopping. It’s a date.” I take his hands and swing them gently while we talk.
“And maybe while we’re out, we can find you another corset.”
“In your dreams,” I say, although, technically, it’s in mine.
We finish packing up as we sip on warm Coke that we left in the van. Everyone is a little quiet from exhaustion and the realization that the weekend is finally over. Before we get into the van, Kent announces, “I’d just like to say that this year’s Fudwhalla would not have been what it was were it not for the glorious sewing skills of Jessie Sloan. I raise this warm Coke to you, Jessie. Huzzah!” Everyone else raises their Cokes, too. “Huzzah!” They repeat. “Huzzah!”
chapter 38
IT’S HOMECOMING WEEKEND, AND my friends and I have decided that instead of some of us going to the dance and others staying home, we’d make it a Dungeons and Dragons marathon weekend. Henry’s parents are home Saturday night, so we decide to play at my house. My parents promise to leave just as soon as Barrett and Chloe pose for one more round of photos (the previous rounds being in the living room, the backyard, and the garden, with the current round taking place in front of Barrett’s car because Dad says, “When you look back at these pictures in twenty years, you’ll laugh at how classic your car was!”). Barrett looks great in a powder blue tux, complete with ruffley shirt and polished white shoes (which are acceptable due to the kitsch factor), and Chloe looks gorgeous in a vintage mauve dress with a full pleated skirt that hits just below her knees. Throughout the painfully long photo session, my friends are dropped off at our house. First Kent, then Philip, then Doug and Dottie, and lastly Henry’s mom drops off Henry and Eddie. My parents pause from the photo extravaganza to wave at their parents, and my friends gather in a clump on the lawn to watch the homecoming couple.
“We really have to go,” Barrett tells Mom and Dad. “We’re picking up two other couples. That means more pictures at their houses. It would be nice to actually get to the dance, seeing as we bothered dressing up and all.”
“Okay, okay,” Dad submits. “Pretend you’re helping Chloe into the car. Then pretend you’re getting in the car.”
“Whatever you say, Dad. And after that we’re going to pretend to drive away.”
Henry, looking supercute in his new black Chucks, holds my hand as we watch the beautiful couple. Everyone waves at Barrett and Chloe as they pull out of the driveway, giving them a proper homecoming send-off.
“Hey!” my dad yells excitedly. “Why don’t you guys get together for some shots?”
“Sure,” Dottie says in her droll voice. “Why not?”
The seven of us huddle together, arms wrapped around one another’s shoulders and backs.
“Smile!” Dad yells. Henry tugs on one of my braids, while my dad snaps away. When he’s finished, Philip says, “Mr. Sloan—think you can e-mail those to me? I want to post them on my blog.”
“Sure thing,” Dad says.
My parents go out to a movie, while Dottie leads us in a fully intense adventure. After decimating some pizzas, we’ve had to solve a riddle, disarm a trap, and discover the whereabouts of an ancient sword. There has been a lot of talking and thinking, but not a whole lot of action. We’re in the depths of an endless tunnel, and there’s anticipation in the air. Imalthia feels along the tunnel wall until she discovers a secret handle. She turns it and walks into a room she didn’t know existed before.
There’s a lengthy pause, punctuated by Kent gnawing on a pizza crust. Then Dottie smirks. “Roll for initiative,” she commands.
Something big is going to happen.
Acknowledgments
Huge, gigantic thanks to the following people:
Liz, for being an amazing editor and friend.
Rich, for the fantabulous cover art and hilarious e-mails.
Nina, for the neverending supply of all things Dungeons and Dragons.
My students, Meredith, Eleanor, Michael, Daniel, Matt, and Hannah, for reading my books and always coming back.
Eastman, for the advice and countless e-mails.
My old friends, Beth, Liz, Ali, and Tracy, for filling my teen years with stuff, good and bad, that I can twist into books.
Wendy, for the inspiration.
Mom, for the love.
Amy, for being the best sis.
Romy, for coming along when you did.
Matt, for all of the above and everything else.
Julie Halpern, Into the Wild Nerd Yonder
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