Page 91 of A Scandal in Homeroom
“What’s up with you two?” I asked.
Beth sighed. “We’re not exactly reacting to Roger’s sudden return the same way. Star wants to pretend like nothing is wrong because she doesn’t want to upset Mom or the girls, but I can’t play along. I just can’t. It’s like this stupid Cotillion. We’re going to get dressed up and pretend we’re all one big happy family, while we waltz around a dance floor and drink watered-down punch. It’s stupid and a lie.”
Janie walked over and put her arm around Beth’s waist in support. “Maybe. But it does mean you’ll get to see Fitz in a tux.”
“Fitz. In a tux,” Beth repeated. “Okay, I’ll go.”
We all laughed, and I had this sudden wisp of a dream.
Imagining Locke in a tux. Taking me in his arms. Dancing me around the room. Confident and bold. Leading me where he wanted to go. What would thatwouldbe like?
“Uh-oh. She’s got Locke on the brain,” Beth said. “I can tell.”
I blinked back into reality. Where there was no Cotillion, no dancing. No Locke in a tux. Just an unanswered text from him because he probably thought I was boring.
“I’m so happy I’m single,” Janie announced. “All of my brain cells are completely intact. Now I need to take off these jeans before they stop the flow of blood to my head!”
Once we got Janie back into her regular clothes, she and I left the Bennets’ and started the walk to our side of town.
The West End where there were no Cotillion invitations being handed out.
“Are you upset about the dance?” Janie asked.
It was always going to be a disappointing day. One I’d been dreading since freshman year. Junior year was the first year of eligibility to be invited, so it was always going to be this month when I knew for certain I was not considered good enough for the Historical Society.
“What’s to be upset about? It was never going to happen, and I knew it. Now it’s just finally here.”
“Someday all of this is going to seem so silly. Boys and jeans and fancy dances.”
“Bite your tongue,” I teased. “Boys will never be silly.”
“You really like Locke, don’t you?”
“He’s different, Janie. I don’t know how to describe it. It’s like he scares me and makes me feel safe all at the same time. When I see him, I want to bolt in the other direction and jump into his arms at the same time. He’s probably going to get tired of that. Eventually.”
“Well, if he does, it’s his loss. You’re worth waiting for. No matter what.”
I had no idea if that was true. All I knew was that I was messed up. For good reason, maybe, but it didn’t make me any less complicated. Having committed to trying this thing with Locke was a big deal for me.
I wondered if he knew that. He could make all the jokes about needing to know the rules for being in a couple, but I was pretty sure there was only one.
He just needed to like me back. Enough to put up with my crazy.
Which again sounded super scary.
I dropped Janie off at Mrs. Fairfax’s place, then walked the final block home alone. I was hyper alert to anyone coming at me, but the street was empty. Relieved to be home safe, I was actually grateful to see the Sumners in their familiar seats in the living room watching the news.
“I’m home,” I announced from the foyer. “Just going to head upstairs and take a shower, if that’s okay.”
“Oh, no. Wait,” Mrs. Sumner said. “You got something in the mail.”
The mail? For me? It wasn’t like I was applying for any college scholarships.
I walked into the living room where Mrs. Sumner was getting up, the envelope in her hand.
“I’m not sure what the fuss is all about,” Mr. Sumner grumbled.
“Oh, hush. This is a big deal,” she told her husband.
