Heart Condition

Chapter Twenty-Two: Moms and Dads and Great Big Plans

I slammed my locker shut, and looked over at Joy.

            “Are you sure there’s nothing I can help you with?” I asked, the heavy fabric laying over Joy’s arm as she gripped the box filled with jars of tiny plastic lights and strategically bedazzled centerpieces filled with heavy black and white stones.

            She shook her head, “Winter formal will be over in two months, and then spring, and then…summer.”

            Zeda nodded, “Got your dress picked out for formal, Joy?”

            “Yeah, right.” She mocked, “Because I could totally afford the gorgeous Bettie Page that’s been calling my name since last week.”

            We began to walk toward the hill, trailing after Joy’s box of knickknacks.

            Z sighed, “Love her. You totally have the fit for it, too. What about you, Abs? Got your fancy dress for formal all picked out?”

            “Nope.” I nudged Sasha, “Someone hasn’t asked me yet.”

            Hudson stared, “He has to ask? He’s already your…are you guys a couple or whatever?”

            We’d been dating for…could it already have been a month? Month and a half; if you counted our first study date as a ‘date’. Which reminded me:

            “Sasha, guess what?” I smiled, reaching into my backpack.

            He didn’t even try, “You stole Lindsey Martin’s stupid little make-up bag she keeps on her desk.”

            “God, I wish.” I laughed, shaking my head “No, look. I got my test back from Numell today.” He took the paper from my hands, turning it over in his hands.

            “Eighty-six!” He cheered, pulling me in for a hug, “That’s great, Little Bird. I’m so stoked for you.”

            He kissed my temple, and wrapped his arm around my waist. He whispered, “Is this okay?”

            We hiked up the small knoll, collapsing on the ground as Sasha took the box from Joy’s hands and placed it behind us.

            I rolled my eyes, “Sasha, every time you ask, and every time I say yes. You are such a goob.” I moved a little closer, resting my head on his shoulder.

            Joy smiled, “I think it’s sweet. Boys don’t do that anymore; they don’t ask permission to do anything. They just do it.”

            “Rude.” Zeda sighed, twisting a purple curl around her finger, “I wish calling cards were still a thing. That was so cute.”

            Joy was right; I loved that Sasha always asked me before we…got too close. We’d made decisions, and they were working for us. Or at least, Sasha told me they were working for us. He didn’t seem to mind that we weren’t doing a whole lot more than sleeping when we were in my room. I was just thankful Mom was keeping the boys as far away from the upstairs as possible; I couldn’t imagine what kind of hell would break loose if Daniel caught Sasha in my room, let alone Charlie.

            “Back to Hudson’s question.” Joy remarked, looking over at Sasha “Are you going to ask Abbie to formal, or are you just going to go alone?”

            Sasha was about to open his mouth when Miah came barreling toward us; he sometimes ate lunch with us, but not all that often. He spent most of his times with the players in the cafeteria, talking girls and plays and that kind of stuff. When he came out to the quad, it seemed like he, Hudson and Sasha would wander into their own little worlds. Not that I minded; Hudson got enough girl talk for a lifetime.