The Start of Everything After

Oh god

I drive to Kacie's with butterflies in my stomach. I'm not really one for make up or high heels but that's what tonight is all about; the big homecoming dance. The second I'm parked and get out the front door bursts wide open and Kacie rushes out to greet me, squealing. "Come on, come on Lil, we got so much to do, so much." I laugh at her excitement.

"What's with the curlers?" I say, thoroughly amused.

"Oh, these? They're a little ridiculous aren't they? Well my curler broke and well I thought that was the end but then my aunt busts out these and boy wasn't she the saving grace of the night?"

"I could've brought my mom's curler, why didn't you ask?"

"Because," she took a breath, "plum cake, I started getting ready six hours ago." Yup, Sounds about right.

When I get home my brother greets me at the door in his footie pajamas. He couldn't possibly be more adorable. It's no wonder he's my whole world.

"You look preettttyyyy, Li. Always pretty but tonight you're extra."

"Thanks a million, you're really very kind, but home boy, shouldn't you be asleep?"

"Mayyyyybe"

"Then let's get you to bed, love, sound good?"

"Kay." he takes my hand and my heart breaks into itty bitty pieces.

Last night I straightened my hair for the dance and since we didn't have practice because of it, we have practice today, on a Saturday. Boo! The dance was boring and I'm glad it's over.

"Delilah, digging the hair!" Becky says, passing me on the field with two thumbs up.

"Thanks Becky!" I say, as Lucas starts walking toward me. What now? I think, bitterly.

"Your hair, it's - different." he proclaims dumbly.

"Indeed, it's straight"

"It's- it's better natural." he confesses, surprising the shit out of me.

"Uh.. thanks, I guess?" I say, confused. Is Lucas blushing? What the hell is going on right now? He just stands there, looking at me.

"I'm gonna go warm up now, kay?" I say to him because it's getting kinda weird.

"Okay. Yes. Very Good." He says, watching me go.

"What was that Delilah?!" asks Kacie coming up to me, clearly having witnessed the whole thing. "Wait, was he flirting with you?"

"I don't know," I say honestly, "what the hell that was, but it was certainly very strange."

"Focus Simmon!" Luke calls, later, when I miss the goal. I storm off the field in his direction.

"Not my name and you know it" I put my hands on my hips.

"Oh isn't it?"

"It has an S at the end"  I draw an S in the air to emphasize my point.

"Oh, see, I thought it was Simmon, short for persimmon"

"What?"

"You know... the fruit?"

"Yes I know the fruit, you dimbo!"

"Then what confused you?"

"Why would my name be Delilah Persimmon?"

"I don't know. It's your name, not mine"

"Ugh," this man, I swear, I think, as I clench my fists. "It's Simmons. Not Persimmon. Not Simmon. Simmons, With an S"