“I’ll pick you up at seven-fifteen,” Lucas told Kennedy as they were leaving school.
“Okay. I’ll be ready!” she said, smiling. Kennedy was so excited to be going with Lucas to his launch party that she felt like skipping down the street, but that would’ve been too juvenile, so she walked beside him like the mature teenager that she was.
“Good, ’cause I hate to wait. Most chicks are sooo slow,” he said, emphasizing the word “so.”
Kennedy pushed him against the shoulder. “Boy, here you go with that ‘most chicks’ stuff. You must have a metal plate in your head—either that or you need to take the short bus to school! I keep telling you the same thing over, and over, and over! I’M NOT LIKE MOST GIRLS!!” she shouted.
Lucas broke out laughing. “I love to get you all riled up; it’s so funny, the way you overreact!”
She smacked his shoulder again. “Glad I could give you a good laugh this afternoon,” she said sarcastically.
“Aw, come on, Kennedy, don’t get all sensitive on me. I’m only teasing.” He put his arm around her shoulder. “Come on. I’ll walk you home.”
“Thanks, but I’m not going home,” she said, still a little ticked off.
“Where are you going?” he asked possessively.
“Noneya.”
“What?”
“None of your business,” she said, laughing.
“Ha, ha.”
“It’s not so funny, when somebody else gets to laugh at your expense, now is it?” she asked.
“Touché. Anyway, Ms. Smarty, I’ll see you later,” he said, then slowed his pace, leaned in and kissed her on the cheek.
Kennedy stopped dead in her tracks, and put her hand to her cheek. She couldn’t believe that Lucas had kissed her. It was their first kiss, and in public no less. Kennedy stood there on the sidewalk in shock. She felt as if she were in a fairytale, and the handsome prince had given her the kiss of life! Lucas didn’t see her gesture, since he kept walking.
“Come on, Girl. What are you doing standing there?” he asked, finally realizing that Kennedy wasn’t beside him anymore.
“Uh…you kissed me,” she said, finding her voice.
“Yeah, so? Why? You didn’t want me to?” he asked, sounding as if it were no big deal.
“No, I didn’t mind. It took me by surprise, that’s all,” she said, walking toward him.
Lucas placed his hands on her shoulders. “Look, Kennedy, I don’t want to play any games with you. I’m digging you. I mean, you’re mad cool, and I like hanging out with you. And I was thinking…uh…that we should be exclusive? Whatcha think?”
Kennedy looked to the side of her, and then in back of her. She felt like she was getting punked, and at any moment Ashton Kutcher was going to come running up with a camera crew, and say, “You’ve been Punk’d!”
Lucas saw the surprised look on her face. “I’m sure this seems like it’s coming out of left field, but I’ve been thinking about it a lot, and being a couple makes sense to me. I know we only met a few weeks ago, but I think we really click, don’t you?”
“Yeah, we definitely click. I’m just surprised that you want to get into a relationship, especially since you’re getting ready to blow up,” she said, getting to the point.
“I know the timing seems off, but to be honest, I never really had a serious girlfriend and like I said, I like hanging out with you. Besides, once those groupies start stalking me, it would be nice to know that I got my girl and don’t need to be bothered with them skanks who only want me ’cuz I’m famous.”
Kennedy blushed when he said, “my girl.” “It’s funny, most guys would be the opposite, and want to date a million and two girls, but…”
Lucas cut her off. “Excuse me, but I’m not like most guys,” he said, using her line.
“Touché!”
“So, what’s it gonna be? You wanna be my girl or what?”
“Yes, I wanna be your girl,” she answered in a small, shy voice.
“Good.” He kissed her on the cheek again, grabbed her hand, and started walking. “So…now that you’re my girl, you gonna tell me where you’re going?”
“We haven’t been dating two minutes, and you’re clocking me already!” Kennedy said, smiling.
“Come on, woman, tell me,” he said, putting his arm around her shoulders.
“Okay, boyfriend, if you must know, I’m going to get a new outfit for tonight.”
“Just like a chick to go shopping a few hours before a party.”
“What does it matter, so long as I look fly!” She smiled.
“Just don’t be late.”
“I won’t. I’m going to hop on the train now,” she said, as they approached the subway station. “I’ll see you tonight.”
“Seven-fifteen, and don’t be late,” he said again.
“I won’t,” she said, as she trotted down the stairs.
On the way to Barneys, Kennedy replayed the scene with Lucas over and over in her mind. He had actually asked her to be his girlfriend, and she couldn’t believe it. Most guys shied away from commitment like it was a life sentence on Riker’s Island, but Lucas was embracing it. He definitely wasn’t like other boys. He was one of a kind!
The train ride was short, and in no time, she was at Barneys. Kennedy wasn’t familiar with the layout of the store, since she rarely shopped there, but tonight was a special occasion, so she decided to spend the big bucks, and buy a designer outfit. She stopped a passing salesperson to ask for directions.
“Excuse me, Miss, can you tell me where the designer clothes are?”
The salesperson pointed toward the escalators, and told Kennedy to go upstairs. “There are women’s designer collections on two, three, four and five,” she said, with an air of someone who knew the store like the back of her hand.
“Thanks,” Kennedy said, and made her way to the escalators.
She stepped off the moving stairs when a cobalt-blue dress that a mannequin was wearing caught her eye. She fingered the silk material. This is too thin. I’ll probably rip it before the night is over, Kennedy thought, and then walked further onto the sales floor, and began browsing.
“Hey, Peggy, isn’t that that little rich brat that was in here a while ago?”
Peggy squinted her eyes in Kennedy’s direction. “Looks like her.”
“Where’s her snotty friend with the Marc Jacobs purse?” Norelle asked, still remembering the new purse that hung off Madison’s shoulder.
“Probably downstairs buying another eighteen-hundred-dollar bag. Kids these days don’t have any sense of value. Or should I say these rich kids don’t have any sense of what a dollar is worth. That’s why I’m always preaching to Lucas not to waste his money on material things that will depreciate in a matter of months,” Peggy said.
“You’re right. The girls who come in here spend a thousand dollars like it’s nothing. I’m so glad that you’ve grounded Lucas in reality.”
“Thanks. I’m trying,” Peggy said.
“You want me to handle this little brat?” Norelle asked.
“No, I got her number now. If little Ms. Thing thinks she’s going to be rude to me this time, she better think again. Besides, she’ll be my last customer of the day. I’m leaving early, so I won’t be late for Lucas’s release party. You’re still coming tonight, right?”
“Of course. I wouldn’t miss it. I’ll be there around nine.”
“Good. At least I won’t be the only overgrown adult there.” Peggy laughed, then headed in Kennedy’s direction.
“Hello, may I help you?”
Kennedy turned around, and smiled. “Hi. I’m looking for this in a size six,” she said, holding up a Lia Kes dress with a geometric dot pattern.
Peggy was taken aback. The last time the girl was in the store, she didn’t even speak, and nearly shoved a dress in Peggy’s arms. “We should have a six, around here somewhere,” Peggy said, looking through the dresses on the rack. “Oh, here’s a six,” she said, taking the dress off the rack. “Would you like for me to start a fitting room for you?”
“Yes, please; that would be great.”
Wow, what a shift in personality. She must be bipolar, Peggy thought. “No problem,” Peggy said, and walked back to the dressing rooms.
Kennedy found two more dresses, and walked over to where Peggy stood. “I’d also like to try these on.”
“Sure thing; are you ready now?”
“Yes, if I can’t decide from these three, then it’s hopeless,” she said with a smile.
“Don’t say that. I’m sure one of these dresses will look good on you.” Peggy showed Kennedy the dressing room, and went back to the counter.
“So, how’s it going with little Ms. Diva?” Norelle asked.
“Surprisingly, she’s not being a bitch this time. She’s actually quite pleasant.”
“Now I find that hard to believe.”
“It’s true. Maybe someone knocked her down a few pegs.”
As they were sizing her up, Kennedy came out of the fitting room. “I’ll take this one,” she said, holding up the Lia Kes dress.
“Great choice. Will you be paying cash or will it be a charge?” Peggy asked.
“I’ll be paying with my debit card. I hate charging stuff,” Kennedy said, handing over the card. Unlike in the shoe store Kennedy wasn’t experiencing sticker shock this time, she knew that Barneys was expensive, so she didn’t cringe at the price tag. Besides, it wasn’t like she spent hundreds of dollars on a dress every day.
“Smart girl!” Peggy said, before she knew it.
Kennedy blushed. “Thanks.”
Once her dress was wrapped up and paid for, Kennedy headed home to shower and change for the night of her life!