The In Between

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Tara

On the night of the homecoming dance, Gabby and Meg sit cross-legged on my bed watching me get ready. I’ve never been to one of the big school dances before. No one ever asked me before. Of course kids go without dates all the time, but whenever I brought up the possibility to Gabby she laughed as if I was suffering from temporary insanity. I tried to get her to come tonight but she brushed me off. “You don’t need a chaperone.”

“You might actually have fun,” I tell her.

“Oh God, please don’t become one of those ‘I’m in love and the world is beautiful’ people. I don’t think I could stand it.”

“Sorry.” I’ve always hated those people, too. No need to tell her that, nauseating as it may be, that’s exactly how I feel. I am in love. And the world is beautiful.  

I slip my dress over my head. I took some of the money I made this summer at the doughnut shop and, after trying on about seventeen different outfits, bought a short navy silk strapless dress with a wide ribbon waistband. I’ve never worn heels before but I also picked up a pair of silver open-toed pumps that were on sale. Even though they’re only two-inches high, I’m teetering on them now. Outside, the sky is turning black and thunderstorms are predicted, but I’m determined to wear these shoes no matter what. Gabby and I have spent countless hours making fun of homecoming and all its surrounding festivities, but tonight all I want is for Justin to think I’m pretty. I adjust the bodice, and bend over to make sure it stays put with a little help from the double-stick tape Gabby brought with her. I straighten up, turning to face Gabby and Meg. “Well? What do you think?”

I’m a little worried that Gabby will say something sarcastic, which I’m definitely not in the mood for. I just want to tonight to be perfect. Instead, she looks me up and down, taking in every detail.

“Good,” she says at last. “More than good. You’re a knockout. But I think your hair could use a little work.” She stands up and starts to pin it up with some bobby pins I’d abandoned after my several previous attempts at an up ‘do failed miserably. She pulls a few wisps out to soften the chignon she has somehow created. “That’s better,” she says, appraising her efforts.

“How did you do that?” I ask.

“I guess all those women’s magazines didn’t go totally to waste. I knew they’d come in handy some day.”

I smile and she does too. I wish so much that she would find someone of her own, to experience even one-tenth of the joy I feel tonight. Though I know better than to say that.

I lean over to hug her. “Thank you.”

“Have fun tonight,” she whispers.

“I will.”

When Justin picks me up thirty minutes later, he’s carrying a white rose corsage, its petals the color of moonbeams. My heart jumps when he slips it on my wrist, kissing me softly on the cheek while Meg, Gabby and my mom look on.

“You look beautiful,” he whispers in my ear. I feel beautiful.

“Eleven o’clock,” my mom reminds us both, as we head out.

“Mom, please, just tonight, can’t it be a little later?”

She pauses as if she might actually be considering this, but shakes her head.

“That’s fine, Mrs. Jenkins,” Justin assures her before I can argue any further. “I’ll have her home safe and sound by eleven.”

The gym is decorated with Japanese lanterns, swags of blue crepe paper and strings of tiny white lights that swoop from the ceiling in luminous twinkling scallops. The theme seems to be something vaguely related to Moonlight in Hawaii. Mrs. Benson and Principal Gates are in the doorway “lei-ing” every student, either oblivious or completely immune to the ten million “getting laid” jokes that are spreading all over the gym. The floor vibrates with the bass line booming from four giant speakers; the whole gym seems to be pulsating with the beat as couples make their way to the dance floor, yelling to be heard over the music.