Chase & Adrienne

28

ADRIENNE

SATURDAY NIGHT (FINALLY!)

The moment the doorbell rings, sounding off Luke's arrival, my stomach lurches. I actually take a couple shaky steps toward the bathroom in case I actually do throw up. My nerves are so out of control, I'm not even sure I want to go to the dance at all. I've never been to a dance with anyone besides Chase before. I never had to worry about anything with him. He always made it fun for me, and I was always comfortable with him. All of the expectations of this night were getting to me. Luke asking me to this is what sent my entire life into a frenzy. If it isn't everything I've dreamed of and more, will it really have all been worth it?

I take several deep breaths, trying to calm myself. Think about how nice Luke has been being recently, how excited he is for tonight, I remind myself. You should be too. I rush to the mirror in the hallway, frantically checking my hair for flyaways, my nose for boogers, my teeth for grossness, my dress for rips, and my face for ugly. I hear my dad answer the door downstairs. 

"Ah, you must be Luke."

I descend the stairs, I hope majestically, as Luke shakes my dad's hand good-naturedly. When Luke sees me, his eyes get big. 

"Wow," he blurts. My dad glares at him. 

"Watch your gawking, son. Get her home on time. You kids have fun, now."

"Of course, Mr. La Londe. Thank you for allowing me the privilege of accompanying Adrienne tonight."

My dad raises his eyebrows, tongue in cheek, and doesn't say a word. I stifle a laugh. Luke clears his throat and tries really hard to smile at my dad before ushering us out the door. The second we get into his car, I can't contain my laughter any longer. 

"I have never seen you that nervous before!" I exclaim. Luke rubs his face. "Don't worry. It was adorable."

"He didn't find it adorable."

"Of course he didn't. You're a teenage boy. Nothing you do is adorable in the eyes of a dad."

"I guess," Luke concedes, shaking his head at me. "It's okay. I'm gonna take good care of you."

"Good."

We head toward school. We opted out of going to dinner beforehand. I don't mind. 

"So last night was pretty awkward," I say. Luke makes a puzzled face. 

"What are you talking about? I thought dinner after practice was a great idea. That sushi was bomb."

"I was talking about with Chase. In the locker room."

"Oh!" Luke slaps his forehead. He chuckles a bit. "I was sure that everyone was gone."

"Imagine if it was one of your coaches." My eyes get wide. So does Luke's. 

"Suspension. No questions asked."

"Then I guess we owe Chase a 'thank you.'"

"I don't know," Luke says, shaking his head. "He looked pretty freaked."

"I think he was just surprised, that's all." I say, hoping this is true. I mean, he's been out and about, kissing Carmen. He knows that Luke and I are dating now. What does he expect?

"It's all good," Luke promises, taking my hand and bringing my fingers up to his lips for a kiss. "Tonight's about you and me, okay? We are going to have the time of our lives tonight."

"I can't wait," I say, looking over at him with admiration. And just like that, all of my nerves dissipate. When we get to the school, I walk in with my head held high, proud of the boy I have walking next to me. Maybe this will be our first real adventure.