Drunk or Sober

Cute Socks, Ugly Dress / Lennox's POV

THURSDAY 3/25

I was going to homecoming.

Just thinking about it made me cringe.

My whole life I had tried to be something other than the plastic, brainless, bouncy blonde Barbie dolls in Sterling.

And for the longest time I was convinced that meant boycotting things of the sort: Nicholas Sparks' movies, pink in general, catchy pop songs, formals, homecomings... possibly any and every superficial beauty contest disguised as a school dance- maybe other than Prom, that is.

But, Nate and I agreed to go together.

As friends? Completely as friends.

So here I was, dressed and ready for the occasion: shopping. Twenty-four hours before my horse and carriage entrance would be made, too!

"Wes! Wake up." I shook my darling older brother and yanked the blanket that lay on top of him.

It was girl time.

It was also ten in the morning, and yes, I had elaborately planned our secure getaway in skipping school.

Basically I told mom I got asked out on a date to Homecoming.

Undoubtably, her heart was nothing but warm and she was pleasantly surprised. She was even discouraged I hadn't informed her earlier, so she could have ended up taking me on some shallow, sorry, I mean generous dress shopping spree. But in the end, she allowed Wes and I ditch, so long as we promised to stay on task, and stay out of trouble. She even gave me money.

God, I know better than to say my mother secretly plotted on vicariously living through me, but she was definitely doing just that.

There's a lesson for all you parent-provoking rebels: Honest kids are good kids, and good kids always win.

"Lennox? What freaking time is it?"

"Ten. On a Thursday. No school today, I know what you're thinking, but we have better things planned."

"Better things planned?" He repeated, rubbing his eyes and yawning.

"You're my chauffeur today. Now, come on, get up, get dressed, and let's go!"

"Chauffeur, nice. What strings did you pull with mom?" He brushed his hair back and made his way into the kitchen.

I flashed a smile. "None. I told her the truth."

He looked at me skeptically and took a bite out of a chocolate bar on the counter. "And what exactly is the truth?"

"That I'm uh-" I cleared my throat. "I'm going to homecoming."

"What the fuck? Would you look at that- Lennox Campbell being a girl. Who would've guessed it?"

"Oh, shut up." He patted my head, messing with my hair.

"You going with a boy? Or wait- it's Nate, right?" He smirked and took another bite.

I narrowed my eyebrows. "Stop doing that."

He laughed. "Stop doing what? I'm not doing anything. I'm just a big brother oozing with curiosity about the little boy toy who you're getting so red and googly-eyed about."

"I swear if you ever say that a-"

"I assume we're doing a full on makeover?"

"What? Fuck you, Wes. Hurry up." I kicked his shin and rushed back upstairs.