The Reluctant Prom Date
by Melanie Brown
Copyright © 2008
Part 11
“Why Joey?” asked Mandy after taking a bite of her
salad. “I mean, like some of the most gorgeous hunks in school like, asked you
to the prom, you know? And you like, picked that geeky computer guy?” She
shook her head.
Leaning across the lunchroom table, Brandi said,
“Yeah. Like, what’s up with that?”
“What's wrong with Joey?” I asked. “You don't think
he's cute?”
Stephanie leaned around Mandy and said, “Oh, he’s very
cute, but he’s not a jock. A girl like you deserves to be on the arm of a big
hunky jock.”
From across the table, Brittney said, “Yeah. I mean,
Joey’s kinda skinny. He looks like a nerd. I mean, we heard like, Zach asked
you to the prom!”
I laughed and said, “Okay guys! Yeah, it was great to
be asked out by Zach and Tony, and some of the others, but Joey really is the
best choice for me. I mean, like think about it. How can I realistically go on
a date with a guy who doesn’t…” I looked around and lowered my voice before
continuing, “who doesn’t know about me?”
Mandy gave me a funny look and said, “Joey knows? He
knows about your um…” She glanced down at my crotch and said, “…your birth
defect? How? Did you tell him?”
Shaking my head I said, “No, I didn’t say anything to
him. He’s known from the beginning. I mean, I’ve known Joey for a long time –
since before first grade. We used to play computer games together a lot. I
never really like, expected him to ask me out.”
Brandi said, “Why would he ask you out? Is he gay?”
I frowned at her and said coldly, “No. He’s not gay.
I’m a girl, remember?”
Mandy said, “Brandi, like don’t be so stupid. Guys
are visual. I mean, look at Jeff. Guys only see a pretty girl when they look
at Chrissy. And we all know that a guy stops thinking with his big head when
he like, sees a pretty girl.” The girls all nodded and giggled.
Turning to me, Mandy said, “I’m happy for you,
Chrissy. I agree. Joey’s a great choice for you. He’s cute, he’s funny and he
must really like you if he asks you out even though he like, you know, knows…”
* * *
We left the Pizza Hut hand in hand, Joey and me. I
couldn’t believe the excitement I felt holding his hand. As we walked toward
his car, I glanced over at him and smiled. I had never realized how I had felt
about Joey until this, our first date. As we had sat across from each other
and talked about everything, it finally dawned on me that I had been crushing
on him for months, but denying it to myself.
Joey noticed me smiling at him, smiled back and said,
“That’s such a beautiful smile.” We stopped in front of his car, Joey still
squeezing my hand as he continued, “And you’re such a beautiful girl.”
A tingle shot through me at the sound of his words. I
was almost beside myself in the euphoria I felt just standing next to him. The
feelings that were percolating inside me were just as great or maybe even more
than what I felt around Jeff. “Thanks!” I squealed and cast my eyes shyly to
the ground.
Joey stepped to the side, unlocked, and then opened
the passenger side door of his car for me. Despite the cooler temperatures,
I’d worn my shortest pleated denim skirt so as he opened his door, I carefully
climbed into the car so I wouldn’t flash my underwear at any one.
As he started the car, Joey turned toward me and said,
“Are you sure you don’t have time to go to a movie tonight?”
Smiling at him, I said, “Oh, I wish! But I like, really
need to help Diane with her hair and to help get her packed for the trip
tomorrow.” The squad, with Diane going in my place, were going to be riding in
the school van to the cheerleading contest. Diane needed to darken her hair so
that it would look more like mine. I needed to help her pack and coach her on
names of some of the other non-squad members who were also going. To make it
even worse, the van was leaving the school at five in the morning. They were
going to drive all day Friday for the contest on Saturday.
Joey shook his head and said, “Just my luck. I
finally manage to get the most beautiful girl in school and I only get one
short date before not being able to see you for several days.” He backed the
car out and started exiting the parking lot before saying, “I don't understand
why we can't see each other? Your sister is taking your place at the contest,
right?”
Laughing, I pushed his head playfully and said, “Duh!
I can't be seen if I'm supposed to be at the contest! Don't worry, we'll get
to see each other soon enough. And we can still talk on the phone. Better
yet, maybe a little ‘deathmatch’ this weekend. I think my computer still
works.”
Joey laughed and said, “Why bother? There's no way a
girl can beat me!”
Feigning anger I said, “Look here, Saotome! This girl
has like, seriously kicked your butt on more than one occasion!”
Joey laughed and started to say something. He then
looked thoughtful for a moment, and looked straight ahead out of the
windshield. “Only you weren't a girl then. You know, maybe this...”
I reached over and placed a finger on Joey's lips and
said, “Don't say it. Don't even think it. Please don't ruin, what's been a
really great evening.”
Joey nodded and smiled weakly as he said, “You're
right.” He looked over at me and shaking his head said, “Yeah, there's no boy
left in you at all.”
We didn't say much on the drive back to my home. It
bothered me that Joey would suddenly have second thoughts. He's known about me
for six months and still asked me to the prom only to have doubts? Maybe it's
because intellectually, he realizes what's between my legs regardless of
anything else about how I look or behave. I hoped he could get over it because
there's nothing I can do about that. Not now, anyway.
Joey drove the car to the curb by my house and I felt
disappointment as he got out of the car as soon as it stopped rolling. He
walked around to my door and opened it. Frowning, I got out of the car guessing
that at least for tonight, he couldn't get past the fact that underneath, I'm a
guy.
As he shut the car's door, he said, “I'll walk you to
your door, Chrissy.” He took my hand and led me to my front door.
We stood on the porch and he said, “Chrissy, I really
enjoyed being with you tonight. I wish we could have had more time.”
Smiling, I said, “I did too, Joey. I had a good
time. I’m really looking forward our next date.”
Grinning, Joey looked like he was about to say
something. He just stared at me for a moment, looking straight into my eyes.
He reached up with one hand and gently brushed some loose strands of hair from
my face. His hand lingered for a moment against the side of my face and ear.
He leaned in toward me, and then hesitated. I smiled
and cast my eyes downward for a moment and leaned into him. I looked up at him
and smiled shyly. I leaned further into him and started to close my eyes.
And then his lips were against mine. I put my arms
around his neck as he pressed into me, kissing me softly. We pulled apart for
a moment and smiled at each other, and then we embraced again, his kiss more
passionate. I heard him moan softly as I slid my tongue into his mouth. Our
tongues touched as we held each other close.
We stood there and kissed for several minutes. Joey
pressed into me and I could feel that he was aroused. I pulled away from him
slightly and somewhat breathless said, “I probably should get inside…”
Suddenly looking embarrassed, Joey said, “Um, yeah.
Okay.” He looked down at his feet. “I need to go anyway.”
I lifted his chin back up and smiled at him. I said,
“I had a really great time, Joey.” I then gave him a soft, lingering kiss. I
then stepped back from him and put my hand on the doorknob.
Joey took a couple of steps backward, flashed a
nervous smile and said, “Hey. I'll...uh...call you, ok?”
Smiling back at him I said, “I'll be waiting for your
call.”
He gave me a little wave, shrugged and turned around
and walked back to his car.
* * *
“I can't believe I'm going to be stuck in the house
for three days!” I said to Diane while she was bent over the sink rinsing out
her hair. It looked too dark, but it was also wet. Hopefully, when dry,
Diane's hair will be the same shade as mine.
Diane started wringing the excess water from her hair
as she said, “We'll lighten your hair so you can look like me. That way you
can go to the mall or out to eat with Dad or something. You know all my
friends. I think you could fake your way through a few days.”
I shook my head and said, “I don't think I could pass
for you. I mean, I don't look that old!”
“Old?!” Diane yelled. “I'm not old!”
I shrugged and said, “Face it sis. You do look much
more mature than I do.”
As she wrapped a towel around her head and stood up,
Diane sneered, “I'll loan you my cane.”
I followed Diane back to her bedroom. I flopped on
her bed as she sat down at her vanity. I said, “Thanks for doing this, Diane.
I really do appreciate it. I just wish I was going.”
Diane unwrapped the towel and let her damp hair fall
around her shoulders. She said, “Honestly Chrissy, you should have asked Coach
about any surgeries and waited to get your boob job. They can’t have one of
your boobs falling off during a routine, you know.”
I nodded and said, “I know, it was stupid of me to
have this crazy desire to have breasts. Still, I’m glad I have them.”
“Nothing we can do about it now, anyway,” said Diane.
She ran a brush through her damp hair and continued, “Now, if we lighten your
hair, and you wear my clothes and wear your make-up more like me, I think
you’ll have no trouble passing for me.” She turned around to watch herself
brush her hair.
“Do you think I could pass for you? Over several
days?” I asked.
After running the brush through her hair a few more
strokes, she motioned for me to sit next to her and said, “We definitely look
alike. I think we’ve proved that more than once. I mean, I wouldn’t even be
going to the contest if we didn’t pass for each other. The biggest difference
is that you’re not quite the bitch I am.” She moved to the chair in front of
her vanity. “Let me show you how I wear my make-up so you can look exactly like
me.”
I pulled up the spare chair in her room and as I sat
down, she started going through some of the cosmetics scattered on her vanity.
I said, “I just washed my face, Diane. And I know how to wear make-up.”
“Well, you can just wash your face again. Let’s take
a look.” She started smoothing foundation on my face. “Let’s see what you
look like wearing your make-up like I do. Unlike you, I don’t keep Maybelline
in business all by myself.”
I just sat there for next few minutes while she made
up my face. She’d do the same to her face with each item after she was done
with me. I thought to myself about how this didn’t seem strange to me at all.
In fact, the only thing that annoyed me was her comment about how I do my own
make-up. My old life was now very far behind me.
“There!” she announced as she sat back and placed the
mascara bottle back on the vanity. “Come here. Put your head next to mine and
look in the mirror.”
I stood up, moved behind her and crouched down to make
my face even with Diane’s and pressed my cheek against hers. With her hair
now darker to match mine, and even though we’ve done this comparison before, we
both gasped as we stared into the mirror. If I didn’t know which one was me, I
wouldn’t have been able to tell us apart.
“Oh my God! Diane, we’re twins! I look just like you
now. Only younger, cuter and less bitchy.”
* * *
I stood by the window and watched Mom drive Diane away
to school to meet up with the others to ride in the school van to the contest.
We hugged, kissed and cried and she was finally on her way to go to my
contest. The contest I’ve been striving for since becoming a cheerleader.
Sighing, I turned from the window. I realized it was
probably for the best since it meant not having to do anything outlandish to
swap between Diane and me for the physical inspection. And with television
cameras, and thousands of people, I would have been under greater scrutiny than
before. And, while I’d never admit it, Diane is a better cheerleader than me.
Instead of crawling back into bed, I wandered into the
bathroom instead. I looked at my disheveled but now blondish hair. I hoped
that by becoming blonde I hadn’t killed off very many brain cells. A quick
assessment of myself indicated that I still could recite some scientific
concepts and that I hadn’t developed any predilection towards giggling.
I giggled at the thought of my self-evaluation and
immediately stifled it with the sobering thought that the blondeness will
slowly creep into my brain, destroying higher brain functions over time, rather
than all at once.
Looking at the jumble of cosmetics on the bathroom
counter, I picked out the make-up that Diane preferred and got myself ready to
face the day.
* * *
Not having anything else to do, I decided to visit the
mall. I’d seen Gwen’s car in the parking lot and thought I’d visit her and see
if I could fool her into thinking I was Diane.
As I entered the theater, Denise, one of the girls
behind the counter looked up and said, “May I help…Chrissy? Girl, what are you
doing here? Aren’t you…” A puzzled look came over her face as she began to
notice the differences like my hair and clothing choices. “…Oh, you’re not
Chrissy, are you?”
I laughed and said, “No, no. I’m her sister Diane. I
just came by to visit Gwen. Is she around?” I asked as I looked around the
mostly empty theater lobby.
Denise nodded towards Gwen’s office and said, “Yeah,
she’s in her office with some salesman. She should be done shortly. It’s odd
though. She hates talking to salesmen so she’s usually done with them in ten
or fifteen minutes, but for some reason she’s given him over half an hour.”
I just shrugged. I wanted to say I knew that since
I’ve been working there for months. But Diane hasn’t, so I just said, “You
mind if I hang out for a few minutes in case she’s done soon?”
Denise shrugged back at me and said, “Okay with me.”
I spent the next few minutes, wandering around the
theater, looking at the posters of coming attractions. Funny how I never spend
much time hanging out at the theater. When I’m done with my shift, all I want
to do is get the heck out of there. I turned to head back towards Gwen’s office
when I heard her door swing open.
The salesman exited the office, with a smiling Gwen
following close behind him. Something struck me as familiar with the salesman,
but as I hadn’t gotten a good look at his face, I couldn’t be sure. I
continued walking towards Gwen’s office. And that’s when the salesman turned
to look at me.
He suddenly stopped dead in his tracks and his jaw
dropped. I just stood there, a shock flashing down my spine. This guy was
drop dead gorgeous and I’d seen him before.
“Diane!” the salesman shouted. “My God, I can’t
believe it’s you!”
“Ph…Phil. I never thought I’d run into you again.”
It was Phil, Diane’s ex-boyfriend that I’d wound up kissing when Mom, Dad and I
went up to the university to bring Diane back home.
Gwen stepped up, a look of mild confusion on her face
and possibly a hint of annoyance as she said, “You two know each other?”
Phil laughed and without taking his eyes off me said,
“Yes. We went to college together. We even dated some.”
Not really sure what to say, since I really didn’t
know him, I said, “That’s right. I never thought I’d see you again.”
Phil laughed nervously as he said, “Actually, I think
your words were that you never wanted to see me again.” He shifted from
one foot to the other.
Gwen said, “Well Diane, how did you let this one get
away?” Gwen giggled like a school girl as her eyes were glued to Phil.
I started to say something, when Phil said, “Well,
some things are just best left unsaid.”
I just laughed and said, “Yeah, that’s true.” Diane
had never told me why she’d broken up with this total babe.
Phil turned his gaze back toward me and he smiled as
he said, “You changed your hair back to blonde.”
With a puzzled look on her face, Gwen started to
speak. I knew she was going to comment that Diane has always been blonde, not
knowing about the little switcheroo on her graduation day we’d done to get Phil
to leave her alone. Interrupting, I said, “So Phil. What brings you to town?
And especially, what brings you to the theater?”
Gwen was clearly annoyed that I’d interrupted her, but
stayed silent as Phil answered.
Phil laughed and said, “Well, it’s been rough to find
the job I was hoping for after graduation. I’m still looking, but I took a job
as a regional sales rep for a confections distributor. This is part of my
region, so you’ll be seeing me around once a month or so. It’s not just this
theater I hope to sell to.”
“That’s cool,” I said, losing myself in Phil’s eyes.
Before I could stop myself, I said, “Maybe we can go out for lunch some time.”
Phil arched an eyebrow as he said, “Really? I thought
you never wanted to see me again.” He smiled. If he didn’t stop smiling, I
was going to be reduced to a puddle.
“You can’t hold a grudge forever.” I smiled back.
Actually, that wasn’t true for Diane. Once a guy went into the “ex” slot, he
was out of her life forever.
Phil glanced at his watch and said, “Well, I’ll be
heading out in the morning and I’m supposed to meet up with an associate for
lunch here in about forty-five minutes. How about dinner? Not a date, just a
couple of friends getting together to talk about old times.”
Well, crap, I thought. I was just trying to be nice.
I didn’t really think he’d ask me out. How can I talk about old times? Half
of me was screaming “tell him no!” while the other half was swooning, gasping
for breath and barely able to say “but he’s sooooo gorgeous!”
“Well, I …” I started to say.
“On the way in, I saw what looked like a nice place
called Gladstone’s” said Phil. “How does that sound?”
“Sounds um…sounds great!” I found myself saying as I
stared deeply into his eyes.
“Super!” Phil fumbled around in shirt pocket for a
moment before pulling out one of his business cards. “Could you write down
your address and phone number on this? I’ll pick you up about seven-ish.”
“I’ll be ready,” I said as I wrote down my address and
real brief directions on how to get there.
“Great. See you then. Well, I gotta run. See you
tonight!” Phil gathered up his brochure case, turned and quickly left the
theater.
“You always do that to me, Diane” said Gwen with some
irritation in her voice.
“Do what?” I asked.
“Every time I meet some cute guy that I might want to
go out with, you come swooping in from nowhere and steal him away.”
Getting all defensive, I said, “It’s not my fault! It
wasn’t like I meant to get a date tonight. Can I help it if I already knew
him?” And kissed him…
Gwen stared through the theater windows after the
receding figure of Phil a moment, before turning back to me and changing the
subject. “Did Chris get off to the cheerleader contest okay?”
At first I was taken aback and almost said, “Chris?
Chris who?” Instead I quickly remembered I was supposed to be Diane and said,
“Yeah, she did. She’s pretty excited about it.”
Gwen looked at me strangely and said “I still can’t
believe you’re okay with your brother dressing up and acting like a girl. His
luck is going to run out sometime and then he’s going to be in deep shit.”
Gwen still feels responsible for me wanting to become
a girl. She just won’t listen when I try to tell her there’s nothing for her
to feel bad about. I looked at her said, “Honestly, Gwen. This is the
happiest I’ve seen her in a long time. She’s very well adjusted, she has
friends and a social life instead of sitting around just playing computer
games, which is what all she used to do.”
Gwen just shrugged and said, “Right now it might not
be causing him a problem. But what about his future, Diane? Yeah, right now
it’s all fun and games, getting to be a cheerleader and popular and all that
shit. But what happens when school’s out? Is he going to get a sex change and
make this permanent? I know he’s a late bloomer, but eventually he’s going to
start looking less like you and more like a man. And what if he decides to
become a woman? He hasn’t had a lifetime of being female to prepare for it. I
just think he’s opening himself up for a world of shit.”
I was taken aback by Gwen’s sudden outburst. At first
I was offended by her suggestion that I would have trouble becoming a
successful, happy woman just because I only started being a girl last
September. I’ve had more than one conversation like this with Diane. Not sure
how to respond, I just said, “Well, you know she had that boob job. Sounds like
to me she plans to make this permanent.”
With a wave of a hand, Gwen dismissed my comment.
“Pfft! A boob job is reversible. Tossing the family jewels isn’t. If he’s
serious, is he seeking hormones yet? I didn’t think so. I really don’t think
he intends to go from teen hottie to an adult woman.” She paused a moment, and
leaned across the counter and said, “You know what I think?”
I shook my head and said, “I can’t imagine, Gwen.
What?”
“I think he’s just hiding as a girl. No, listen.
It’s no secret he loves guys. He’s always talking with the girls here about
cute boys who come into the theater, he had a boyfriend for chrissakes! I
think he’s afraid to admit he’s gay and is dressing up as a girl to get dates
with boys.”
Oh, God, I thought. Not this again. I’ve turned this
over in my head so many times, I think I’ve worn that part of my brain smooth.
I shook my head and said, “I don’t think so Gwen. Until she became a girl, she
never showed any interest in guys. And besides, if she is gay, so what? She’s
still my sister. I’d still love her. And these days, who cares if you’re
gay?”
Gwen slapped the palm of her hand down on the glass
counter top and said, “Exactly! Why doesn’t he stop this crap with dressing as
a girl and just admit he’s gay? He doesn’t have to have a sex change just to
be with a guy. He can still have his boyfriends and not ruin his life.”
“Gwen, it’s deeper than that. I know for a fact,
she’s not dressing as a girl just to get guys. It’s not the boys. It’s not
the clothes. It’s deeper and not something you can easily grasp or plug into a
simple template like straight, or gay. Chrissy would be a girl no matter what
clothes she wore or who she likes. You’re being too simplistic.”
Gwen frowned and said, “The world might not be just
black and white, but it’s not that gray either. I honestly think that if you
put Chris in his old clothes, gave him a haircut and was given a choice between
being with a pretty girl or a cute boy, he’d choose the boy. He just needs to
be honest with himself.”
I took a step back in an obvious gesture to show I was
going to leave, I said, “You don’t get it Gwen. You’re looking for simple
answers to a complex question. You just can’t pigeon hole everyone.” I glanced
at my watch and was surprised at the time. Sincerely, I said, “I need to get
going. We’ll talk about this later, okay?”
As I left the theater, I fought back tears as the
demons of self-doubt filled my thoughts once again. I pounded myself again
about how my being a girl wasn’t about sex or even something as shallow as
getting to wear dresses and make-up. It was about who I was inside.
* * *
I almost gouged myself in the eye with the mascara
brush when I jumped from the phone ringing. I locked up for a moment trying to
decide to slide the brush back into the mascara bottle and answer the phone or
wait for Dad to answer it or just ignore it. Ignoring the siren call of a
ringing phone has become impossible for me lately and I knew Dad was in the
garage and probably couldn’t hear the phone.
Scowling, I quickly recapped the mascara and dropped
it neat the sink and hurried to the phone in my room. This was not a good time
to be interrupted. As I picked up the phone, I glanced over the five dresses lying
on the bed that I’d narrowed my selection down to. My frustration grew as I
saw that I had less than an hour before Phil would be arriving to pick me up.
“Hello?” I said into the handset, unsuccessfully
disguising my irritation.
“Hi Honey! How are you? Are you okay?” asked the
voice from the receiver.
A cold chill ran down my spine as I said, “Joey!
Hey…I…I’m good. You?” Guilt washed over me as I narrowed my dress choice down
to three.
“I’m fine,” said Joey. “Are you sure you’re okay?
You seem bothered about something. Is it okay for me to call you?”
Forcing a laugh, I said, “Of course it is, silly! I
was just in the middle of something.” Stifling a growl at noticing where I
must have touched one of my nails before they’d dried and way too late to do
anything about it, I said, “So, what’s going on?”
Joey said, “Since you weren’t at school Friday, I
haven’t talked to you since Thursday night. Just wanted to check how my
favorite girl was doing.”
“Like I said, I’m doing good. I’m both happy and
annoyed right now. Diane called from the contest and they’ve moved into the
finals which they’ll do tonight. I should be there, not her.” I knocked
another dress to the floor and began agonizing over the final two choices.
“I can understand that,” sympathized Joey. “But
that’s great for the team though. Last time our school won the cheerleader
contest was when your sis…um..nevermind.”
“See? That should be me bringing the squad to
victory.” I glanced at the clock and back at the two dresses lying on the
bed. I haven’t even finished my make-up!
“I agree honey,” said Joey. “Say, is it okay if I
came over tonight? I could bring a pizza and my Playstation and we can play my
new Guitar Hero.”
My stomach knotted as another wave of guilt washed
over me. I can’t tell him I have a date with an older man. Or any man,
really. I could feel myself starting to tear up as I said, “I don’t think
that’s a good idea, Joey. I mean, if someone saw you, how would we explain
your visit? No, I think we just need to stay apart until Sunday night when
Diane gets back.”
Not trying to hide his disappointment, Joey said, “I
guess you’re right. I just miss you, Chrissy. I feel like the luckiest guy at
school for getting you for my girlfriend.”
Joey’s words were making me feel like a total
schlemiel. I picked up the short black, off-the-shoulder dress that I had
wanted to wear all along. Looking at the clock again I said, “That’s very
sweet of you, Joey! I feel like one lucky girl now that you’re taking me to
the prom!” I held the dress in front of me as I posed back and forth in front
of the floor length mirror.
Joey laughed and said, “You know, it’s funny. Now
that word is getting out that I’m taking you to the prom, girls are coming up
to me asking why I didn’t ask them to the prom. Where were these girls
before?”
I stopped looking at the dress and said, a little
coldly, “What? Are you regretting asking me out now? Was there one of these
other girls you’d prefer to take to the prom? Did you think I’d be an easy
pick since Jeff broke up with me? There’re at least four guys hoping I’ll
change my mind over the weekend.”
Panic tingeing his voice, Joey said, “No! No, of
course not honey! I only want to take you. You’re my first and only choice to
take to the prom!”
“I sure hope so!” I glanced at the clock once again
and said, “Look Joey, I need to let you go. We’ll chat tomorrow, okay?” I’m
never going to get ready for my date with Phil at this rate.
Sounding disappointed, Joey said, “Sure, honey. I’ll
call you tomorrow. Have a great evening.”
“Thanks, you too.” I said as I hung up the phone. I
laid the dress back down on the bed and started to rush back to the bathroom to
finish my make-up when I had sudden thought. Do I have shoes to go with the
dress?
* * *
The door bell rang about 35 minutes after seven
o’clock. I rushed to the door and opened it, my whole body tingling with
excitement.
“Hiya!” said Phil, standing there in jeans and a polo
shirt. “Sorry I’m a tad late. I watching the game and thought it would be
over sooner. Hey, you look nice!”
Feeling over-dressed in my little black dress and
pumps, I said, “Thank you!” I glanced at the mostly useless women’s watch on
my wrist with the tiny oval face and no numbers and said, “And no worries. I
just now noticed the time myself.”
Phil looked at his own watch and said, “We probably
should head on over there. I called ahead for reservations and we don’t want
them to give our table away.” He grinned nervously.
“Sure. Let me get my purse.” I said as I turned to
retrieve my purse that was waiting on the couch. Okay, so Phil isn’t
punctual. Still, he’s absolutely, totally gorgeous.
Riding in relative silence in Phil’s rental car from
my house to Goldstein’s, reminded me of that evening, not all that long ago,
that Jeff took me there on our big date. I smiled at the memory and then
looked over at Phil.
Phil was a bit better looking than Jeff and a way
better kisser. I wondered what other things he was better at and sighed,
knowing I’d never be able to find out. My thrill meter was way off the scale
by going out on a date with an older, more experienced man. As much as I liked
Jeff and like Joey, both seemed to be mere kids by comparison to Phil.
After the waiter had given us our menus and walked
away, Phil said, “So Diane, what all have you been up to since graduation?”
I smiled and said, “Oh, just goofing off for now,
waiting for my resumes to start bearing fruit.”
Without looking away from his menu, Phil said, “I’m
actually surprised you’re still living at home. From the way you talked about
your family and home life, I thought for sure you’d have gotten an apartment.”
What the crud has Diane been saying about us? I said
honestly, “Well, that would require a job. I don’t have one yet. And, things
aren’t bad at home.”
Looking up from his menu, Phil said with a grin, “Oh
really? Have things improved that much? From what you told me about your
little brother alone would keep me from living there. And your dad…fwew…I’m
glad he didn’t answer the door, I’d be tempted to kick his butt for the way he
treats you and your mother. She doesn’t have to take that shit you know.
Maybe you should help her call the authorities on him. Or at least encourage
her to get a divorce.”
I just sat there dumbfounded for a few moments, my jaw
hanging slack. What the fuck? Just what the hell has Diane been telling this
guy? Mom and Dad might as well change their names to June and Ward Cleaver.
I’m guessing Diane resented Dad telling her to stop dating some of her loser
boyfriends.
I looked away and cleared my throat before trying to
speak. “Um, well, Mom and Dad have reconciled their differences and everything
is okay now.”
Phil shook his head. “I can’t believe it. If just
half of what you told me is true, your dad should be in jail. If she won’t do
anything about it, maybe you should step in to protect her.”
Forcing a smile I said, “Honest, everything is fine
now.” I looked down at the menu and said, “You know, this place has a killer
chef salad.”
“What about your brother?” Phil asked, looking back at
his menu. “Is he still in jail?”
“No,” I said, peeking over the top of my menu. “He
never was in jail.”
Phil shrugged and said, “Jail…juvi…what’s the
difference, eh?”
Before I could answer, the waiter arrived to take out
order. I’m definitely going to have to have a long talk with Diane when she
gets home.
* * *
The meal was mostly uneventful. Phil mainly managed
small talk about mutual friends between him and Diane. I knew enough about
most of Diane’s friends to bluff my way though it. I didn’t really hear most
of what he said as I was fuming inside about the awful things Diane said about
her own family.
As Phil had to catch an early flight out of town, all
we really had time for was dinner. We did sit in Goldstein’s longer than was
necessary, with Phil doing most of the talking. We finally decided to leave
and Phil drove me home.
“Let me walk you to your door,” said Phil as he
climbed quickly out of the car. I just sat there as he came around the car and
opened my door for me. He extended his hand and helped me step out.
He took my hand and walked with me to the porch. “I
had a great time, Diane. Next time I’m in town, maybe we can go dancing or
something as well. That is, if you still want to see me again.” A sheepish
smile crossed his gorgeous face.
I smiled and said, “Of course!” He smiled back and
started to lower his face towards mine. I closed my eyes in anticipation and a
moment later his lips pressed against mine. I put my arms around his neck and
drew him closer to me as his arms wound around my waist.
I was in heaven! Phil’s kisses are like no other. I
could stand there all night with his tongue entwined with mine. I tried to
hold back, but found myself kissing him hungrily as if I’d been waiting a
life-time for moment like this.
All too soon, Phil pulled away with a big grin. “Does
that kiss mean you finally forgive me?”
Still feeling the glow of his kiss, I said, “The past
is past. No point dwelling on it.”
Smiling, Phil said, “I always knew you were a special
girl, Diane. I mean, not many girls would ever forgive their boyfriends after
finding them naked in bed with two other men.”
I just stood there for a moment, staring at Phil with
a stupid expression on my face. Did he just say what I thought he said? I
suddenly felt a wave of revulsion. The irony of the emotion wasn’t lost on me
if the world was strictly binary; black-and-white, on-and-off, etc.
Chromosomes aside, in my mind, there wasn’t a shred of maleness left in me.
I smiled weakly and said, “Well, I’ve always tried to
have an open mind.” I disengaged my arms from around his neck and stepped back
slightly. “Well, it’s late. You have a plane to catch in the morning and I’m
beat. Thanks for the lovely dinner. It was great!”
“You’re very welcome, sweetie. I hope we can do more
next time I’m in town.” Phil raised his eyebrows in a suggestive manner.
Something tells me Diane’s not going to let you get that close again.
Standing in the open doorway, I waved as Phil drove
away. From inside the house, the phone started to ring. I watched the
taillights of Phil’s rental disappear around the corner before stepping into
the house to answer the ringing phone.
“Hey sis!” called the voice on the other end after I
picked up the handset. “Guess what?!”
“What?” I replied, already guessing what Diane was
going to say.
“We won! We won the contest! Woo hoo!” Diane
squealed.
“That’s great! Man, I wish I could have been there!”
“You know what one of the judges said?”
I said, “I can’t imagine. What?”
Giggling, Diane said, “He said – and I quote – ‘I
haven’t seen cheerleading like that since Diane Daniels was on the squad!’
Isn’t that funny?” Diane’s voice dissolved into a fit of giggling.
“Hysterical.” I said.
“Well Chrissy, I just wanted to give you the good news.
Coach is so happy. This is only the second time her squad has won at Contest.
It’s good to know I still got it!”
“Tell everyone congrats for me,” I said.
“I will. I gotta go. We’ll be home tomorrow
afternoon sometime. See ya!”
“Oh, hey! Before you go…”
“What?” asked Diane.
“Phil really enjoyed his date with you tonight. He’s
glad to be back with you since he hasn’t met any guys he likes yet. He’ll be
back in town in a few weeks for another date. I’m sure he’ll want more than
just a kiss next time. Well, bye!”
I hung up the phone. A few seconds later, it rang. I
let the answering machine pick up. Diane’s voice had taken on a completely
different tone as I heard over the phone’s speaker, “Pick up the phone you
little shit. What are you talking about? Answer the phone dammit!!”
She called three more times before giving up. That
night I slept like a log.
* * *
End of Part 11
since 3/20/08