“It looks great, Emmie,” Kaylee said with a wide grin as I put the hair dryer down onto the counter. She was sitting on the closed toilet lid, keeping me company. She had no idea how much it meant that she was here, but I loved her for it.
“I almost don’t recognize you; it’s so different.”
“Thanks,” I said, looking at it from different angles. I would have preferred to go back to my natural blond, but would have had to completely strip it of the black first and I didn’t want to kill my hair. Red was okay, though. Like Kaylee said, it was different and maybe a change was just what I needed. New hair, new boyfriend (a girl could be hopeful).
“Ready to do some shopping?” I asked.
She nodded and got up. “You know I can’t chip in, but I can help you pick stuff. Does that count?”
“Absolutely,” I said as I turned out the light and followed her out into the dorm room. “It’s way more fun shopping with a buddy and you can pick out the sciencey stuff; I never know what kids who are into science and math will like. I’d hoped Brooklyn would help...” I trailed off, realizing Kaylee might think she was second choice. I tried to back-pedal a bit. “Not that I...”
But Kaylee cut me off with a wave. “I get it. But I feel so bad for Brooklyn,” she said. “Still no word, huh?” She looked over at my phone.
I picked it up, but there weren’t any messages. I wasn’t sure if Brooklyn would even know my number to contact me, but she could have called our land line from home. Though she was probably so stressed out, she hadn’t thought of it. Still, Rob should have heard from her by now.
I texted him: Hey. Heard from B?
I waited, but he didn’t text back right away and I didn’t want to seem pathetic(er) to Kaylee, so I made sure the sound was on and put the phone down within easy reach. I scooted up next to her on my bed and put my laptop over both of our legs so we could shop together.
“Where should we start?” I asked.
She shrugged. “I haven’t shopped for toys in a while. Toys R Us?”
“Good call,” I said as I typed into the nav bar. Then my phone sounded.
It was from Rob: Yes, sorry. Got busy. She’s home safe.
“Brooklyn’s home,” I said for Kaylee’s benefit. “Feel free to put whatever in the cart.” I waved toward the laptop and then typed back to Rob:
Does she have a new cell? I asked, though I secretly liked having an excuse to communicate through him. But I did want to talk to her. And then there was that whole Dave thing and how I’d promised I’d let him know.
Not yet. I’ll let you know.
How’s Dad?
Ok. I dont think it’s critical. Rx for R&R
That was good news, at least. I blew out a relieved breath. Good to hear.
I fiddled with the phone for a few seconds, waiting for his response, but all I got was a Thx. Not exactly the opening I was hoping for. Not that I had ever been the type to wait around for openings.
So, want to hang out this weekend? I typed and then held my breath.
That depends.
I grinned as I could almost hear his voice and see the look on his face: the one with one sexy eyebrow lifted.
On? I typed back, preparing for some serious flirting.
Do we get to watch The Shining again? I missed it earlier.
Yeah. So much for flirting. If that’s what he was going for, he needed a lesson in flirting etiquette 101. I didn’t even care if it meant he would sleep on my lap again, there was no way I would endure watching that horror again. Oh hell no! I typed. Not on your life. If we watch another movie, it will be Pride and Prejudice.
That sounds awfully girly.
I laughed. Exactly. I’m not going to sleep tonight, thanks to you.
Oh come on, its just a movie.
Just a movie, right. I turned to Kaylee. “So have you ever seen The Shining?”
Her wide eyes answered my question even before she said, “Oh God, yeah. It’s one of my Dad’s favorites; he knew Stanley Kubrick—the director. That movie is awful. But kind of cool. But mostly awful.” She shivered. My thoughts exactly, about the awful, at least.
You owe me, I typed, hoping he’d rise to the bait.
IOU what?
I thought about it. I could go the direct route a la Chelly and imply an actual hookup. Or I could toe the friend line for a bit longer. Direct sounded good and was usually my MO, but I sort of chickened out. Rob was not a Westwood boy; he was college age and I really had no experience with college men and how they operated. There was also the slight chance that he thought of me as his little sister’s roommate so maybe a bit more feeling him out would avoid a potentially disastrous outcome in case I’d been reading him wrong.
So I took the easy road: 1 viewing of P&P from start to finish.
Can I sleep through it?
Okay, so maybe having him on my lap for a Pride and Prejudice viewing would be nice, but I couldn’t exactly let on. So I typed a very indignant, NO! Throwing in the exclamation point just to make sure he got the message.
He returned with a: :-P ok. Fine. When? I’m free 2mrrw
I smiled. Meet u in the lounge at 2.
He gave me another smilie face, which put a smile on my face as I slid the phone back onto my nightstand.
“Is that what I look like?” Kaylee said.
I scooted over next to her again. “What?”
“When I text with Declan. Do I get that goofy grin on my face?”
“What goofy grin?” I said, trying my best to wipe said goofy grin away. Unsuccessfully. Kaylee just laughed.
“Shut up,” I said. “And yes. But yours is way goofier.”
“I think you have it bad for him,” she said.
“No. He’s just hot, that’s all.”
She actually tsked at me. “Right. That is not a ‘he’s hot’ goofy grin. That’s an ‘I’m totally smitten’ grin. Totally different.”
I frowned. “Is it really obvious?”
She snorted. I had my answer.
“I take it you still have no way of getting a hold of Brooklyn?”
“No.”
“You didn’t get her home number?”
Ugh. It hadn’t even occurred to me to ask, although if Brooklyn wanted to talk, she knew how to get a hold of me. “No. But I’ll ask Rob for it tomorrow. We’re watching another movie.”
“What this time? Texas Chainsaw Massacre?
I gave her a look, just as my phone sounded again. I picked it up to see the one-word text that almost made me scream: redrum - which was from that stupid movie. Backwards, it spells murder. I showed it to Kaylee who rolled her eyes. “Jerk.”
I had to agree. Just for that, I texted, you bring snacks. And they better be good!
Deal. Sleep tight, M.
Sleep tight. Right.