The Wrong Guy

Chapter 32 The Lipstick Dress

                It started snowing again. It was one of those late snowfalls. I thought it’ll probably last up to March or whatever. It was good that it hadn’t really started yet, so the road wasn’t all covered in snow.

                Dad planned to take me to the mall. We talked in the car as we were on the way. Somehow, he felt like he had so much to catch up to.

                “So, how’s school?” he started.

                “It’s going fine. My grades are fine.” I said. “It’s kinda’ fun actually. I’m actually regretting that I’m graduating so fast.”

                “That’s nice.” He said as he drove. “High school’s said to be the best time of our lives.”

                “Yeah.” I nodded. Well, I agreed because of Alex. I only appreciated High School because of him. He was my motivation to go to school… my inspiration… my fire to keep burning.

                “So, how’s it going with that guy you talked about last time?” he asked. Well, I anticipated that.

                “I’m getting somewhere.” I said. “But we’re still just friends.”

                “What was that blue paper you’re holding?”

                “This?” I unfolded the Snowball dance poster as I scanned it again. “It’s just the Snowball Dance.”

                “A dance? You should go! A dance always needs a pretty girl to roam around.”

                “Dad, stop it.” I laughed. “I don’t think I’m pretty enough for him.”

                “What kind of crap is that, Liyah?” Dad looked at me, then back at the driveway. “You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever known.”

                “Only because I’m from your genes.”

                “No, I mean it, Liyah.” He insisted. “You’re really beautiful. You may not see it, but I’m sure other people can.”

                “Thanks.”

                “When’s the dance anyway?”

                “It’s in school on December 17th. That’s on Friday.” I read the poster again. “It’s on Friday, but I’m not even prepared.”

                “Well!” Dad said loudly. “If it’s just the dress and makeup you’re missing, then you’re all done! Your dad’s here, remember? I’ll buy you your dress.”

                “That’s not really what I meant, dad.”

                “Oh, come on! I want to make up with all the birthdays I missed!” Dad insisted. I found it a bit sweet. He’s my dad after all.

                “Okay.” I shove a chuckled. “Do whatever you want. It’s your money!”

                “Okay.”  He guffawed. “I’m gonna get you the prettiest dress… but I gotta say, you’re going to look the prettiest girl in the world with any dress.”

                “Quit it.” I laughed, and he followed.

                Dad took me to shopping. I wasn’t really good with looking into dresses. I wasn’t into dresses in the first place. But it was for Alex, so….

                Dad took a lot of hanged dresses to me, and he told me to try them on, so I did. I’d hide myself in the dresser cubicle and show him what the dresses looked like when I wore them. We had a lot of options, and we had a lot rejected. I tried on a lot of dresses that dad kept taking off the hangers. Eventually, we found one that looked good on me. When I walked out of the cubicle, dad got his jaws dropped and stood.

                “Wow!” he praised. “You look like an angel!”

                “Oh, you said that on the other dresses, too!”

                “No.” he smiled. “I said you looked like an angel not because of the dresses. This one, I said you look like an angel with the dress.”

                “Is that so?” I laughed. “But I like this one better than the others, too.”

                “Then, we’ll take it!”

                Dad bought me that plain red embroidered dress. It had a short flounce, but it looked pretty. I was excited. I wanted to dance with Alex while wearing that… and probably make out with him. I was falling into a daydream again.

                “It’d be amazing if you wear all-red with that.” Dad said as we walked to a diner. We were supposed to have an early supper.

                “I was planning that.”

                “You know, you never told me much about that guy you more than like.” He said out of the blue. “Is it fine if I ask the name?”

                “It’s Alexander.” I said as we walked. “Everyone calls him Sander, but I call him Alex.”

                “Yeah? Why’s that? Sander sounds a little more cool and fierce.”

                “Well, yeah.” I said in a cute voice. “He’s very cool, but he’s not fierce. You know that cool but nice type? He’s cool, but he’s mature and sweet. He’s very kind and helpful. I just thought the nickname Alex was more suited for someone like that.”

                “He’s a nice guy, huh?” dad repeated. “I think I like him already.”

                “I’m sure you will.”

                Dad asked a lot about Alex. Alex wasn’t my boyfriend, but it made me feel like he was. I giggled every time I remember something about him or imagine him. He really was something. He felt like more than a boyfriend. I wanted him to be my husband. I never wanted anyone anymore. I just wanted to soar the sky with him and dream of a world where we’ll always be together.

                I was so excited with dancing with Alex that I couldn’t get him out of my mind every second… not that it’s a bad thing.