Page 38 of The Backtrack
Twenty minutes was a long time, actually. Long enough for Sam to put the headphones on and listen to another song. After all, how weird and embarrassing would it be if nothing happened? She hadn’t touched the CD player in more than twenty-four hours, and she had to make sure it still worked, in the sense that it was a time machine to another reality.
When she found a comfy position on her bed and put the player in her lap, she decided to text Rachel.
Sam:
I’m doing something bad...
There. She’d admitted wrongdoing, and now she could do the bad thing.
The next song was queued up and waiting, so she put on the headphones. She hesitated, knowing that sheshouldstop herself—but she couldn’t, and her finger hit Play. Sam closed her eyes and the immediate drumbeat of Fall Out Boy’s, “Dance, Dance” began.
A little smile crossed Sam’s lips as she was sucked out of her reality and into a different one. Sam opened her eyes to Damon’s family—Cathy, Humbe and Farrah—shouting for Damon and Alt-Sam tosmile, please!
She peeled off the headphones and squinted to focus on Alt-Sam, who stood on the damp grass in a gunmetal black dress with poofy black tulle. Grandma Pearl stepped toward her and brushed something from her spaghetti straps while taking her aside.
It was jarring to see Pearl this young and strong. Her steps were sure. She wore contacts instead of bifocals. Even her hair was longer and thicker than it was now. This was the Pearl Sam saw whenever she thought of her grandma; the woman she knew didn’t belong in a retirement home yet.
“I remember my prom night,” Pearl said to Alt-Sam. “I took Owen O’Donnell’s virginity. A night he’ll never forget.”
“Grandmahh,” Alt-Sam whined.
But a small smile crossed Sam’s lips. Prom night of 2009. She and Damon hadn’t attended. They’d opted for a pizza and movie night, because prom would mean slow dances, and holding each other, and those were things that might make Sam reconsider kissing Damon. But in this version, they’d already kissed plenty. So Alt-Sam was going to prom with the guy of her dreams, just like every teen movie had promised her would happen. Sam should have been thrilled for her other self, but the pang in her stomach reminded her it was just one more experience she missed out on.
“I’m not saying you have to take Damon’s virginity,” Pearl clarified. “But I put some condoms in your clutch, just in case.”
Alt-Sam quickly glanced at Damon, who was adjusting his long shiny black tie. “That’s really, um, not necessary.”
“I don’t need to know. Just want to make sure I’m not a great-grandmother anytime soon.” Pearl and Alt-Sam walked back toward the Rocha family. Though Pearl stiffened as a few piercing barks erupted from the house. Through the front window, a miniature pinscher—OG Rusty—growled at them.
Pearl discreetly growled back.
Damon approached Alt-Sam with a vibrant pink wrist corsage, and her teen self brightened.
“I picked out the corsage,” Farrah said. She wore purple Soffe shorts that were rolled up a few times so they fell just below her butt.
“Really? Thanks, Farrah,” Alt-Sam said, way too eager.
Damon held Alt-Sam’s hand. “You look so beautiful,” he said.
Alt-Sam deeply blushed through a smile. “And you are very handsome.”
Farrah groaned. “Get a room.”
“It’s their prom night,” Cathy said as she grabbed Farrah’s shoulders in a gentle way. “Let them be happy.”
And they were happy—Alt-Sam and Damon—as his thumb stroked the top of her hand, and she beamed at him through thick glittery eyeshadow.
“I have a surprise,” Humbe said. Then, with a flourish, Humbe removed the tarp from the salmon-pink convertible Mustang parked in the driveway.
“Dad?” Damon asked, clearly stunned.
“It’s a special night. Just drive safe.” His dad threw the keys to Damon, but it was Alt-Sam who ended up catching them.
“Are you sure?” Damon asked again.
Humbe nodded and Damon gave Alt-Sam a smile so genuinely happy that she almost burst from the sight of it.
“This is so awesome, thank you, Mr. Rocha!” Alt-Sam gave Humbe a hug, then let out an excited squeal as she raced to the passenger’s side, opened her door and slid in.
