Life Lost and Found

18: A Night of Firsts

Friday, October 3

"Do you know where he's taking you? Do you?" Page was beside herself. Madeline shook her head. "What if it's someplace fancy? Do you have a dress?"

Yeah, like she would own a dress. "You know everything in my closet, Page. You were there when I bought it." She took a steadying breath. She hadn't even meant to tell her roommates about the date, but Sofie had demanded to know why she wouldn't watch a movie with them. Now she sat on the couch, sandwiched between Page and Sofie, feeling this all become real. Feeling the anxiety begin to rise.

"Ooh—you should have told us before now!" Page exclaimed. Again. "Did he seem really serious when he asked? Did he use the word 'date?' Or was he like, 'Hey, wanna hang out some time?'"

Madeline squeezed her hands between her knees. "He said date. And he said dress up. There was a hand-kissing, um, thing. A hand-kissing moment."

"He's serious!" Page sprang to her feet and began pacing. "Okay, okay. Calm down. You've never been on a date before, and your first one is a serious one, and it's in just a few hours—but that's okay. That's all okay. We'll get through this. We'll do it together. And, breathe." She did some kind of yoga-breathing thing. It didn't seem to help much, because halfway through she shouted, "Why didn't you tell us about this?!"

"Yes! Why not?" Sofie demanded.

Because she was an idiot? Duh. "I guess I was so overwhelmed that it even happened that... I don't know. Somehow I didn't think about the dressing up part until now." She shook her head and buried her face in her hands. She truly amazed herself sometimes. "That, and I'm not really in the habit of talking about myself to other people, so..."

Page ceased her pacing and threw her hands in the air. "Oh, believe me, I know! And, while we're on the subject, why is that, exactly?"

Madeline sank a little deeper into the couch. She chanced a peek at Sofie, who was bobbing her head, dancing to a tune playing inside. They were so much alike, she and Sofie, the main difference being that Sofie was actually happy being herself, particularly in public. Madeline felt a pang of jealousy.

"Are you even listening?" Page demanded.

Madeline cringed. No, she wasn't. "Yes. Sorry."

Page had her hands on her hips. "I was saying it's like pulling teeth to get anything out of you! It's like we don't even know you sometimes! But, whatever. I don't know if I have anything that will fit you. Gina does; you're almost exactly the same size, but she won't be home for hours!"

"I shop in the child section!" Sofie snorted and laughed. She was snapping rhythmically now. Good song apparently.

"Sofie, this is serious!" Page checked her phone. "It's almost five-thirty and Rob is coming at seven!"

"We could make a dress. I have black bedsheets!" Sofie got up and started dancing. "Gothic toga party, yeah!"

Page seethed at her for a second, then snapped her fingers. "Sofie, you're smarter than you look. That reminds me of something. Come with me." She took Madeline's hand and led her to her room.

Sofie trailed excitedly, clapping her hands. "I will get the shee-heets!"

Page disappeared into her closet while Madeline sat down on the bed, observing the way Page had decorated her room. The walls were a cheerful, textured orange, and her bedspread was white with green trim and had a big yellow daisy in the center. Fashion and gossip magazines were scattered everywhere, and most of an entire wall was dominated by a long desk piled with cosmetics, magnification mirrors, and big round light bulbs. If this had been anyone else's room, she would have felt extremely uncomfortable. But it was Page's, and Page was all right.