Castle On The Hill

Chapter Five

Against my will, I'm being dragged on a girl's day to buy a Homecoming dress with other seniors I hardly know. I told Mama Tina that I don't want to go to Homecoming, but both she and Mrs. Wendy insist I go. I'm at a good home, I might as well try to enjoy the experience.

There was a pounding on my door and I jumped. I opened the door and Mama Tina was there with an excited look on her face.

"Are you ready to go? I'm so ready to go. Cate and Wendy ate just waiting on Fran to finish her shower."

"Who?" I asked.

"Cate hasn't introduced you to her friends?"

I shrugged. "I've sort of been following Parker around and not looking for Cate."

Her smile grew. "You'll meet her today. Are you ready to go or what?"

I giggled. "Yes. Let me get Brutus out of my room." I turned to my bed and looked at the black pit bull lying on his back, wagging his tail. This dog has surely taken a liking to me and I like him too. I've been walking him every day. Mama Tina calls him a traitor, but it's out of love.

"Come on Brutus, let's go." I smiled while hitting my thighs.

He jumped off the bed and ran out of my room. I shut the door behind him, looked at her and took a deep breath.

"Are Katie and Abbie coming with us?"

"No, they're hanging out with Macy today."

"Okay."

Macy is Tina's oldest daughter. She's twenty and goes to SUNY Buffalo. She'll drive into Dansville one weekend a month that Tina is off work. Originally Tina was going to go with them but when she learned I'm a senior, she got ecstatic to go dress shopping with Mrs. Wendy just like they did their senior year. Why spoil their fun?

We left the house and walked across the street to Mrs. Wendy's house. Cate was standing on the porch with a girl a little curvier than me with brown hair with pink streaks and dark brown eyes like Parker has. She was also sucking on a cigarette.

"Hey girls! I hope you don't mind me and Tara tagging along. She's a senior too!" Mama Tina greeted.

Cate and the girl that Tina called Fran stopped talking and checked me out.

"I was looking for you at school, but didn't see you." Cate greeted.

"I haven't seen you either." I replied.

"Are you the new girl Parker ditched us for?" The other girl asked.

"I didn't realize he ditched anyone. I'm sorry."

"I havent seen him pay that much attention t o a girl since he and Sara broke up! I'm Francesca."

"I'm Tara."

Mrs. Wendy and Mama Tina walked out the front door. The three of us looked at them. Both Mrs. Wendy and Cate have blonde hair abd light blue eyes. Mrs. Wendy has it cut short like a bob and with brown highlights while Cate's goes down to her chest.

"Are you three ready to go get Homecoming dresses?" Mrs. Wendy asked.

"Yes!" Francesca yelled and we all smiled.

"What about you Tara dear? Do you have a date?" Mrs. Wendy asked.

"No. I've only been at this school a week."

"There's still two weeks until Homecoming."

I smiled and we loaded in Tina's Chevy Tahoe. I sat in the middle with Francesca while Cate climbed in the back. Mama Tina started the engine and we backed out of the yard.