Born Confused by Tanuja Desai Hidier Page B

second skins were the same shade.
    It was Gwyn all right—and in the exact same outfit I was in! She caught sight of me just then and shook the beeper like a maraca. She looked phenomenal, the dream girl straight out of a boy band video. There was no way my coat was coming off this century.
    —Hey, birthday girl! she yelped, wiggling up and flinging her arms around me, spilling in the process.
    —Hi, Gwynnie, I said, hugging her back as Julian and Dylan high-fived each other. They seemed to be laughing at their own private joke.
    —Here, let’s get you two a drink, cried Gwyn breaking into their bandedness.—I’m having a Virgin Mary—gotta start slow.
    She turned to Dylan.
    —But by the end of the night I’ll be on to something else, she smiled.
    Dylan looked very pleased, and for some reason high-fived Julian again. They were reminding me of something, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on what.
    —Actually, why don’t you go for it, Dimple? she now suggested.—You can try out your new toy.
    I was nervous, and to be honest the card had been in my fist since we’d entered the outskirts of illegal that was the parking lot. ButI was also relieved at the idea of getting away from the boys for a mo. I knew it was only the beginning of the date, but I was already spent.
    —Come with me? I said.
    Gwyn gave Dylan a kiss that would have lasted a sailor out to sea for a year, then joined me at the end of the bar, where I took a breath and then ordered a round from a redhead who looked like she’d heard it all and even done some of it. Much to my chagrin, she didn’t ask for ID. I was about to flash the flimflam anyways but Gwyn slapped my hand down.
    —Don’t make a point of showing it! she whispered.—That’d be proof it’s a fake.
    I was wondering how I was in fact going to use this piece of plastic, but Gwyn was off the topic.
    —So how’s it going? she asked excitedly as our drinks magically appeared one by one.
    —All right, I said.
    —Don’t worry, it’s going to be just fine, I promise you.
    Like she’d promised she wouldn’t be late?
    —Why didn’t you meet us at the mall, Gwyn?
    —I figured you and Julian could use some time together, she smiled.—And Dilly and I, I thought we were gonna be late but we…wrapped up sooner than I’d thought. I’m getting good!
    —At what?
    —Oh, Dimple, she sighed, and she sounded tipsy, which seemed strange if she was on the virgins.—You stick with Julian, and maybe one of these days you’ll get it.
    —That’s encouraging, I said.—So you’re in the same, um, outfit as me.
    —Isn’t it excellent? she grinned, twirling like a machine ballerina.—Now we can be real supertwins!
    She began to coax me back towards Julian and Dylan.
    —Take off that coat, Dimple, and strut your stuff!
    But I wasn’t going to be parting with it so easily now.
    When we were all equally daiquiried she beamed at the boys.
    —So, she said.—What have you two been talking about?
    —Well, the film, of course, said Julian.—That’s number one prio at the moment.
    —Yeah, well, you and Dimple have a lot in common then, said Gwyn.
    His film was my priority?
    —What, Dimple goes to movies? he smirked.
    —No, silly! Dimple is an artist—she takes pictures, said Gwyn. She put a finger to the top of her straw then pulled it up, sucking out the drink from the other end.—They’re really good. She just took a bunch of me at school, in the halls—tell him, Dimps!
    —I just took a bunch of her at school, I said dully. The drink was sweet, and had to be virgin, too, since I could taste nothing but strawberries on ice.
    —Well, they must be good if you’re in them, babe, said Dylan, his hand gripping the small of Gwyn’s waist like a possessive goatherd.
    —Who are your influences? asked Julian suspiciously.
    —I don’t know, I said, even though I did.
    —There must be someone.
    —Ansel Adams, I blurted, almost to get it over with. It sounded funny saying it