uncool, stanley barber

30

30 - hoco is not loco

"what're you guys wearing to homecoming?" dina asks me and syd as we're sat on the bleachers, taking a break from track.

"shit, i haven't even thought about that" i sigh, thinking of all the possible options. "what'll look good with a cast?" i joke.

"i've got something" syd says, which makes me happy. dina looks surprised before punching her shoulder a little.

"look at you!" she smiles "you're like, a whole new person today." syd shifts uneasily, playing with her feet. i think she's fine.

"hey, dina" some jock runs up to us. "since you and brad are like, whatever. do you wanna go to the big dance with me?"

dina can't resist a charming, top less guy being genuine. but she turns him down. "i was thinking of just, laying low this year."

"cool, no worries" he says like he's not even phased. i accidentally catch his attention and he tries to ask me.

"i've got a date, already" i say, not giving a shit what he looks like. he can't compare to stan.

"oh, you're stanley's girl" he clicks it into place. "don't know what you see in him, he's trash."

but before i could call him out, he ran off. stupid wuss.

"so, when did stanley ask you?" dina asks intrigued.

"detention" i laugh. "i didn't need like a grand gesture. it was totally natural."

"i have got to find something like that" dina says in awe as syd watches her. i can tell syd wants to ask her to the dance, so i suggest something. "i am so over guys right now-"

"then go with syd!" i say, trying not to give away every part of sydney's secret. "you know, why don't you guys go together?"

dina doesn't take long to think about it, before shes smiling her face off and so's syd. "let's do it!"

dina runs off to join the track team. "thanks, ella" syd says, her smile not faltering. she stands up and give me a hug. a real hug from sydney novak.

"of course" i chuckle as we run back to the team.

at 7pm, i start to get ready. doing my hair into half up braids as they're classy but casual. i then creep down the hall and into my mum's room.

mum and dad never liked sleeping in the same bed, when they fought. so luckily, we had enough room for them to have separate rooms.

switching on the light made me queasy. it's so tidy because when it happened my dad, out of respect, fixed everything. i still hear him sit in here some nights when he misses her. i miss her.

i open her wardrobe and find it. the dress she was going to wear to her homecoming. but she got grounded and couldn't go, so she saved it for me.

it fits perfectly. it's pretty too. i wouldn't say pink and gold are my colours, but it looks good. and it makes me smile because i know my mum would've loved it. she was very girly and i was never into all of that. but i'm honouring my mum tonight.

i finish it up and twirl in the mirror. i feel pretty and like a weight is lifted off of my shoulders. i slip on my white high top converse, keeping it me.

"ella" my dad says, standing in my door frame. "you look, like your mother."

"so pretty, right?" i chuckle taking out my polaroid. "let's take one" i smile as winnie runs into the room and we all smile.

"you look like a princess!" winnie hugs my legs. "i love you, elly belly."

"i love you too" i hug her, brushing her curls. the knock at the door startles us as my dad makes it there first and opens it to stanley.

it's awkward at first, until my dad hugs him in his blue power suit. "let's take a picture of you two" he smiles. i haven't seen him in such a good mood.

i walk over to stanley and blush. "you look, really pretty" he kisses my cheek.

"you look really pretty too" i squeeze him before my dad points the polaroid at us and his arm falls to my waist. it's properly happening. homecoming.