Just Talk to Him! (IM5)

Chapter 23

July 28th, 2013 - 5:00 p.m.

The next night, we rent out a large round table at a fancy Chinese restaurant downtown. The theme is formal, so I finally get to wear the black bodycon dress with green tiger stripes that I bought at the mall in Boston. I haven’t had an occasion to dress up since my eighth grade graduation. So while the boys search their luggages for their crumpled suits, I set up a video call with Anna in my hotel bathroom as I get ready.

The conversation remains light-hearted until Anna casually questions, “How’s Dalton?”

I imagine all the ways I could avoid the question. I don’t know, I haven’t seen him lately. Or, hm. Good question. Now, moving on…. I settle for, “He seems happy.”

“Happier than usual?”

I bring my fingers an inch away from my straightener, checking the heat. “I guess so.”

“That’s good to hear.” She pauses, like she suspects I’m hiding something. “Is there any particular reason why?”

“Um.”

“Kylie, come on. You’re being childish.”

I separate a section of my hair and run it through the straightening iron. I sigh, and turn to face my phone, where Anna’s face stares impatiently. “There’s a girl… Her name is Kate.”

“Is Kate nice?”

I section out some more of my humidity-frizzed hair. “She’s really pretty,” I attempt.

“So she’s not nice.”

“Dalton’s smitten, at least.”

“Oh.” Her face falls for a split second. I know she was hoping that maybe he wasn’t that interested in Kate after all. I was too. She smiles brightly. “That’s okay.”

She doesn’t speak and just rests her chin in her hands, thinking for several minutes. I take the time to straighten out the rest of my hair. When I finish, I say, “You know, I haven’t talked to Dalton all that much since I met Kate.”

"Hm?"

"Kate's kinda claimed him for her own. She bought a ticket from New England to Florida just so she could be with him. He's blind to how rude she is. Seriously."

"She can't be that bad," Anna reasons. "I'm sure that is Dalton likes her, he must have a good reason for it."

I frown. "Well, if he does, I haven't figured it out yet. To be honest, one time Kate was almost nice to me. She said she liked my outfit and that I was adorable. But then again, I think she still doesn't know my name."

"Whatever," Anna says. "She can act however she wants and Dalton can like whoever he likes. How are you doing your makeup?"

That's how I know Anna is slightly hurt. She changed the subject. Yeah, yeah, she's only talked to him once, but she's been obsessing over him for almost two years. Plus, Anna has had a history of getting any guy she wants to like her.

"Simple, but covering my bases," I respond. "Do red lips go with this dress?"

"No. Go for lip gloss instead. Nude color."

***

July 28th, 2013 - 8:00 p.m.

"Oh my God," I squeak, gawking at the miniature pool and waterfall where brightly hued koi swim amongst hundreds of coins dropped at the bottom. Around the front of the restaurant, red columns and gold-and-green ceiling beams remind me of textbook pictures of ancient China.