all night somewhere.
As Sonya pulls on my arm, her wrist corsage catches on the cuffs of my jacket , an abrasive reminder that Sonya will never go for my alternate plan. Sonya doesn’t do anything without an audience. No, I’m pretty sure going with me to the dance was a strategic move on her part.
“It was so nice to meet you , Mr. Bauer.” Sonya flutters her eyelashes.
“You too, pretty lady,” Dad responds. “Have fun, you two.”
Feeling sickened, I nod and grab Sonya’s hand. Mom follows behind us as we walk outside. The flash looks like a strobe light against the inky black sky as Mom fires off a couple more pictures. Wanting to get the hell out of here, I keep pulling Sonya toward my car. When I open the passenger door and guide her inside, my head bobs up and I spot Hadley and her friend in the driveway a few houses down. I’m just about to wave at her, but then think better of it. After closing the passenger door, I make my way around the vehicle and slide inside.
“Your parents are so nice,” Sonya says.
“Yeah,” I lie. If only she knew the truth.
I back down the drivewa y, Mom and Dad still watching us. Once I'm on the street, I turn my car so that Mom and Dad are just tiny figures in my rearview mirror. Only then do I allow myself to breathe.
“I’m so excited for the dance. I can’t wait until Molly and Trista see me in my dress. They are totally gonna die. Last week we were all shopping at the mall and we saw a dress just like this one, and oh , my god, they were totally drooling over it.”
As Sonya drones on about things I care nothing about, I glance over at Hadley’s house. She and her friend have already gone inside. I wonder what they’re doing tonight. Maybe watching a movie and eating popcorn and candy. Jealousy surfaces at the thought. I can’t remember the last time I did whatever I wanted on a Saturday night.
“Tripp, are you even listening to me?” Sonya’s voice cuts into my thoughts.
“Um…yeah.” I scratch the back of my neck, and then turn the corner.
“Then what do you think?”
About what? “Um…I think it’s great,” I say, hoping this is the right response.
“Yay. I’m so glad.” She smiles, patting down her large curls.
Her cheery response causes me to wonder what I just agreed to. I’ve got to pay more attention tonight. Even as I think it, my mind starts wandering back to Hadley. I don’t know what it is about that girl, but for some reason I can’t stop thinking about her.
The parking lot is more crowded than I thought it would be when we pull into the school. My tires crunch on the gravel as I park. When I turn off the engine, Sonya lets out a squeal that causes me to flinch.
“There is Molly and Trista! Hurry up. I wanna catch up to them!” Sonya grabs my arm, her fake nails poking me.
My skin crawls with irritation, but I force a cordial smile. I retract her fingers, and then step out of the car. Sonya waits like a patient little princess for me to open her door and help her out. Latching onto my arm, she hobbles forward in her stil ettos. A slight breeze kicks up, causing her perfume to swirl into my face. I cough.
“Molly! Trista!” She hollers, and her shrill voice pierces my ears.
Her friends twirl around and squeal too. They abandon their dates and come rushing toward us.
“Oh , my gosh, you look amazing!” Trista gushes.
“I love your dress, Sonya,” Molly offers.
Sonya smiles, drinking in the compliments, but doesn’t offer any back. I nod at Toby and start to walk toward him, grateful for a minute away from all the girls. But Sonya holds on tightly, not allowing me to leave her side.
“Come on, Tripp. It’s time to make our big entrance.” She gruffly drags me toward the gym, her heels clicking on the pavement.
I didn’t realize we were supposed to make a big entrance. As I allow Sonya to guide me forward, I feel like a freaking show pony. I’m clearly only here as some sidekick in the Sonya show.
As Sonya pulls on my arm, her wrist corsage catches on the cuffs of my jacket , an abrasive reminder that Sonya will never go for my alternate plan. Sonya doesn’t do anything without an audience. No, I’m pretty sure going with me to the dance was a strategic move on her part.
“It was so nice to meet you , Mr. Bauer.” Sonya flutters her eyelashes.
“You too, pretty lady,” Dad responds. “Have fun, you two.”
Feeling sickened, I nod and grab Sonya’s hand. Mom follows behind us as we walk outside. The flash looks like a strobe light against the inky black sky as Mom fires off a couple more pictures. Wanting to get the hell out of here, I keep pulling Sonya toward my car. When I open the passenger door and guide her inside, my head bobs up and I spot Hadley and her friend in the driveway a few houses down. I’m just about to wave at her, but then think better of it. After closing the passenger door, I make my way around the vehicle and slide inside.
“Your parents are so nice,” Sonya says.
“Yeah,” I lie. If only she knew the truth.
I back down the drivewa y, Mom and Dad still watching us. Once I'm on the street, I turn my car so that Mom and Dad are just tiny figures in my rearview mirror. Only then do I allow myself to breathe.
“I’m so excited for the dance. I can’t wait until Molly and Trista see me in my dress. They are totally gonna die. Last week we were all shopping at the mall and we saw a dress just like this one, and oh , my god, they were totally drooling over it.”
As Sonya drones on about things I care nothing about, I glance over at Hadley’s house. She and her friend have already gone inside. I wonder what they’re doing tonight. Maybe watching a movie and eating popcorn and candy. Jealousy surfaces at the thought. I can’t remember the last time I did whatever I wanted on a Saturday night.
“Tripp, are you even listening to me?” Sonya’s voice cuts into my thoughts.
“Um…yeah.” I scratch the back of my neck, and then turn the corner.
“Then what do you think?”
About what? “Um…I think it’s great,” I say, hoping this is the right response.
“Yay. I’m so glad.” She smiles, patting down her large curls.
Her cheery response causes me to wonder what I just agreed to. I’ve got to pay more attention tonight. Even as I think it, my mind starts wandering back to Hadley. I don’t know what it is about that girl, but for some reason I can’t stop thinking about her.
The parking lot is more crowded than I thought it would be when we pull into the school. My tires crunch on the gravel as I park. When I turn off the engine, Sonya lets out a squeal that causes me to flinch.
“There is Molly and Trista! Hurry up. I wanna catch up to them!” Sonya grabs my arm, her fake nails poking me.
My skin crawls with irritation, but I force a cordial smile. I retract her fingers, and then step out of the car. Sonya waits like a patient little princess for me to open her door and help her out. Latching onto my arm, she hobbles forward in her stil ettos. A slight breeze kicks up, causing her perfume to swirl into my face. I cough.
“Molly! Trista!” She hollers, and her shrill voice pierces my ears.
Her friends twirl around and squeal too. They abandon their dates and come rushing toward us.
“Oh , my gosh, you look amazing!” Trista gushes.
“I love your dress, Sonya,” Molly offers.
Sonya smiles, drinking in the compliments, but doesn’t offer any back. I nod at Toby and start to walk toward him, grateful for a minute away from all the girls. But Sonya holds on tightly, not allowing me to leave her side.
“Come on, Tripp. It’s time to make our big entrance.” She gruffly drags me toward the gym, her heels clicking on the pavement.
I didn’t realize we were supposed to make a big entrance. As I allow Sonya to guide me forward, I feel like a freaking show pony. I’m clearly only here as some sidekick in the Sonya show.
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