Randi and Colt head right for me, so it’s too late to hide. Hide from what, I’m not sure, but it would be nice to turn invisible long enough to get a grip on myself and figure out what’s happening. Colt is all smiles and Randi is giggling, clutching Colt’s arm as if she’ll fall over in fits of laughter if she lets go.
“Hey, Becca,” Colt says. “I’m going to get some shots of everyone dancing. See you later.”
That’s it? See you later? He’s gone before I can say anything.
I turn to Randi, who’s still all snickers and snorts. I want an explanation, but I’m not even sure of what. Finally, I find my voice. I try to sound all calm and casual as I ask, “Why didn’t walk with us? Where were you?”
Randi giggles as she barely gets out the words. “A-at H-hilyard Butte!” She almost dissolves into twitches of laughter.
“At Hilyard Butte! With Colt?” I actually say that out loud.
Randi stares at me, looking speechless. Then she bursts out laughing.
I am seriously irritated. I don’t know whether to walk away or slug her. Finally, I grab her shoulders and give her a little shake. “Randi! Would you please stop laughing and tell me what happened?”
Randi wraps her arms around herself and takes a few big gulps of air. “Okay. You can let go of my shoulders.”
I drop my arms to my sides and wait.
“Look,” Randi says. “I know you never liked Justin. I know you were freaked about him and me.”
I stare at her, confused. “I never said one word—”
Randi sighs. “Becca. You didn’t have to. I know you think that because you never say anything that no one knows how you feel about anything. But I can see it all in your face and your body language.”
I feel the blood draining from my face. “Ev-everyone knows w-what I’m thinking?”
“Don’t worry. I said I know. I can read your expressions and body language.” She points to herself. “It’s me, Randi. The girl you tried to dig to China with in the sandbox. The friend who climbed to the top of the apple tree in your back yard with you when it was so windy your mother was sure we’d be blown right off the branch we sat on.”
I just stare, speechless. Yikes! All along Randi’s been able to tell what I’ve been thinking!
“I really have to thank you for letting me know what you think without lecturing. I can’t count the number of times you’ve helped me make a good decision.” Randi gives me a quick smile. “Even if it sometimes it took me a while.”
My voice returns, but at this point all I can say is, “Uh ….”
Randi pulls me into a corner. “Here’s the story.” She takes a deep breath. “I was at Hilyard Butte with Justin.”
“Oh, Randi. I thought you weren’t going to—”
Randi holds up her hand, signaling me to stop. “Just listen.”
“Okay ….” I literally bite my tongue.
“I told Justin I’d go to Hilyard Butte with him. Of course, he thought I was going to … you know.”
I nod.
“I let him think that. When we got there, I fiddled with the knot on the halter of my dress, acting all eager and told him to hurry and take off his pants, as if I was, all you know, hot for him.”
I am getting an all-too-vivid a picture of this in my mind.
“As soon as Justin pulls off his pants, I lean over and kiss him. He closes his eyes and pulls me close. But I had my eyes open and one arm free enough to grab his pants. As soon as I got hold of them, I dashed out of the car!”
My jaw hits my bellybutton. “But Colt …?”
“I’m getting there.” Randi lets out a short giggle. “I ran down the road a bit, but stayed in view of the car. Justin was yelling to come back with his pants. I held them up and threw them in some bushes. So he knew where they were, but he would have to get out of the car in his depantsed state to get them. By the way, he was wearing red bikini-type undies.”
I find myself laughing even as I ask, “But where does Colt fit into all of this?” Like, why did you arrive at prom with him!!!
“Last week I told Colt I’d need a ride, and that he’d have to pick me up at Hilyard Butte.”
“He didn’t think that was, um, odd?”
“Let me explain.” Randi grins. “It took some perfect timing and planning. Colt had his father park the truck down the road a little bit.”
Before I can open my mouth, Randi says, “I hurried to the truck and hopped in. I had told Colt what was up.” She brought up her hand to stifle some giggles. “I’m not sure what explanation he gave to his dad, but Mr. Strand acted as if there was nothing unusual about driving up Hilyard to Butte to pick up a girl dressed for prom.”
“And … so here you are.”
“Yeah.” Randi reaches up and starts taking off her earrings. “I want to ditch all this jewelry. What do you think I should do with it? Toss it?”
“Let’s turn it in to the Lost and Found,” I say. “After no one claims it, they’ll probably donate it to the second-hand charity store or something.”
“Great idea!” Randi locks arms with me and we head to the front desk of the Valley Inn. She turns in the “found” jewelry, then asks, “Where’s Kurt?”
“Let me think.” I run my finger along my jaw. “Oh, I remember. Last time I saw him he was going to the men’s room. He’s probably not still there, but—”
“Thanks!” With that, Randi takes off with the speed of a girl in search of her guy.
I wander back to the dance floor and try to look as if I am not looking for Colt.
I glance toward the doorway and who should enter but Justin and Madison. Madison’s sequin-sparkled, midnight-blue dress gives “dazzling” new meaning. The expression on her face looks as if it could be lethal within a twenty-foot radius, so I watch from a safe distance. Madison has a straight-armed death grip on Justin’s hand. Justin looks as if he wants to pull up the floor and crawl under it. I wonder what kind of story he told her about why he was late picking her up for prom.
Madison marches Justin out to the middle of the dance floor. If she’s not leading the dance, it’s awfully close to it. Justin now has a forced smile on his face, probably on command from Madison. She flashes a venomous smile. I can’t help thinking that they deserve each other.
They dip and turn and I see it—a leaf stuck to the back of Justin’s pants!
I can’t hold back a burst of laughter. I think that will always be my lasting memory of Justin.
Suddenly, Randi is next to me, gripping my arm. “I can’t find Kurt!” Not a word about Justin. Either she doesn’t see him or she doesn’t care.
“He must be somewhere,” I say, dragging myself away from the Justin-pants spectacle. “Oh! There he is,” I blurt out, before realizing he is dancing with Crystal Weatherall. Too late to censor myself now.
Randi follows my line of vision. “What? He’s dancing with Crystal! How could he?”
“Um ….” Um, what? “Um, she probably asked him to dance. He’s probably longing to hold you.” Wow, that sounds good. “Why don’t you go over there and ask him to dance?” I see Todd off to the side, throwing dagger-eyes at Kurt. “I think Crystal is with Todd, anyway.”
“Of course.” Randi slaps her forehead. “Why didn’t I think of that?” She gives me a hug. “Becca, you have given me the best advice. First about Justin, now Kurt. But then, you’ve been advising me since Kindergarten and you haven’t failed me yet.”
With that, she takes off towards Kurt. I stand there thinking. So Randi also remembers, and appreciates, my actually-spoken-out-loud advice from back in the should-I-eat-the-tuna-casserole days. Maybe our friendship hasn’t changed so much since grade school after all. Maybe I’m the one who’s been focusing on our differences, because I’ve felt insecure about the journey from kid world to adult land, wishing I could skip right over it.
Kurt looks totally elated when Randi appears at his side. Crystal not so much, but she doesn’t have long to glower, because Todd immediately steps in to fill the dance-partner gap. I see Tanya dancing with Del, but she’s also keeping an eye on Todd. Unless she changes her ways, I think Tanya may some day win the Most Indecisive Award. Meanwhile, Del looks as though his heart is singing with joy, so I guess he’s happy enough with Tanya, at least for now.
I turn slowly to survey the room and spot Nina and Marc sitting at a table. They have intense looks on their faces, but not romantic intense. More like having a deep discussion about the theater or something intense. Whatever, they seem to be having a good time.
I resume my search.
Finally, I see Colt. He’s heading toward me, filming me.
I smile so I’ll look good for the camera, which is dumb, but I don’t know what else to do.
“Hey,” Colt says, as he lowers the camera and gives me a smile that sends my pulses racing. “Hope you don’t mind that I’ve captured your image for posterity.”
“For … for posterity?” I feel a blush creeping into my cheeks.
“Okay. Truth. For me.”
I can’t help smiling, even as I feel the blush deepening.
Colt reaches out and touches my arm. “I need to ditch this camera. After that, let’s dance.”
“Okay.” My heart skips a beat. I don’t know exactly what I’m feeling, but it’s definitely good. “You can probably leave it with the front-desk manager. That’s where I left mine. Well, yours. Um, you know what I mean.”
“I know.” There’s a light twinkle in Colt’s eyes. “Good idea. I’ll be right back.”
I find myself gazing at Colt as he threads he way through the dance floor to the lobby.
“Well, hi, Becca!” It’s Claire, holding hands with Brent. “How’s my favorite photographer?”
“Um, just fine, thanks.” Yikes! I can’t believe I forgot all about my scheduled dance with Brent!
“You know, I have to run to the ladies’ room. Why don’t you dance with Brent and keep him company until I get back?”
“Uh, I’m waiting for—”
“Thanks!” Claire puts my hand in Brent’s and takes off.
Brent gathers me into his arms and we start to dance. “I can’t believe I’m graduating,” Brent says. “Senior year went by so fast.”
For a second I look into Brent’s eyes. They are still gorgeous blue, but they don’t draw me in like they used to. I glance over Brent’s shoulder, looking for Colt. Brent is talking, saying something about summer and going to the university next year, but I’m only half listening.
I know I should be thrilled to be with Brent. It’s what I’d dreamed of all year. But now I wonder what I had really been thinking. Maybe Brent is like my crush on Justin Bieber way back when. Exciting, but, I don’t know, safe. As long as Brent was unavailable, I could dream about him without having to actually get involved.
What do I do now? I like Brent. He’s great looking and a nice guy. But it, whatever it is, is just not there. And Claire is expecting me to take over after she dumps him! What do I say to her? I suppose I could go with Brent for a little while, and then find someone else for him. It wouldn’t be hard. Lots of girls must find him attractive.
Brent says something about all the graduation cards he’s been getting. Cards. Cards. That’s it! I remember looking for Mother’s Day cards. That’s what has been bothering me. All the talk in those cards about nurturing and taking care of someone. What was it Claire said to me once? That she thought I was a very caring, nurturing person? She’s more than Brent’s girlfriend. She’s been like a mother to him! Or I bet that’s what she has started to feel like. And that’s what she’s looking for. She wants me to be a mother-substitute for Brent.
Suddenly I see Colt. He’s staring at me and Brent with a confused look on his face. His eyes meet mine.
He turns and walks away!