Page 50 of Pride High

Fakepearl earrings but… “Yes. You loaned them to me last year and never asked for them back.”

“They always looked better on you anyway,” Jessica saidwith a shrug. “Who’s the lucky guy? I didn’t know you had a boyfriend.”

“I don’t. Remember the guy who was over here studying with me?”

“Oh right, tall and spooky,” Jessica replied. “I didn’t think he’s your type.”

He wasn’t. Mindy was usually attracted to preppy guys, but Anthony seemed nice enough and was cute, despite having an unusual sense of style. “Where is everyone?” she asked,

Jessica sighed. “Mom is out hitting garage sales. Dad is reorganizing his stamp albums.”

They exchanged mortified expressions.

“No one must know,” Mindy said in reverent tones.

“The promise cannot be broken,” Jessica replied in the same manner.

They had taken an oath when younger to never let anyone at school discover how lame their parents were. At the time it had been a joke, but they took it more seriously the older they got. Not that Mindy had status to lose. Jessica did though. She ran with the popular kids.

“Tell them I’ll be back before it gets late,” Mindy said. “I have to go. Silvia is probably waiting outside.”

“Have fun,” Jessica said. “You really do look nice.”

Her sister was always encouraging. They picked at each other like all siblings did, but they truly cared about each other. It just sucked being sisters with someone who was so perfect. Jessica wasn’t only pretty and popular. Her grades were good too. The moon might have a certain appeal, but people rarely noticed it when the sun was shining so brightly. That’s why Mindy tended to steer clear of Jessica at school. Not because she was the shame of her big sister, but because Mindy always felt diminished in her presence.

“Don’t get knocked up!” Jessica called after her as she went.

“Too late!” Mindy shouted back.

The sky outside was blue and filled with fluffy white clouds. Her dress would do well in this weather. The neighborhood around her was filled with suburban homes built in the sixties and seventies. Everyone had the same two-car garage attached to a four-bedroom house. She waited on the concrete steps while listening. When she heard the chugging of an old engine, shewalked to the end of the driveway so Silvia could pick her up, relieved to see that nobody else sat in the front seat yet.

“You look great!” Silvia said the moment the passenger door opened.

“You’re not wearing a dress!” Mindy cried. “We talked about this last night. You promised!”

“I didn’tpromise,” Silvia said. “I said I would think about it, and I did. I’d rather be comfortable.”

Which meant a sleeveless red blouse and jean shorts.

“You look nice too,” Mindy said grudgingly. “I just hope I’m not the only one who got dressed up.”

“Let’s find out,” Silvia said, putting the truck in gear.

They made nervous chitchat on the drive over to a large house on the corner of a block. The trees here were older, providing ample shade. Their dates were standing on the wraparound porch. They were talking to an older woman in a wheelchair but began walking across the yard after noticing them. Mindy was relieved to see that Anthony wore a black button-up dress shirt with matching jeans that ended in a pair of checkered Vans. Omar was also dressed in black, except he had on a concert T-shirt and shorts. Maybe he and Silvia were a better match than she’d previously imagined.

Silvia got out of the truck to greet them, Mindy following behind.

“Wow!” Omar said with a broad grin. “You’re both so gorgeous! Hey, I love that dress.”

“Thanks,” Mindy said, turning her attention to Anthony to get his opinion.

He seemed distracted, watching as Omar smooched Silvia, but his eyes eventually darted over to meet hers. “Hey,” he said.

“Hi,” she replied.

That seemed to be all that they had to say to each other. Anthony cleared his throat but didn’t follow it up with anything. He looked like he wanted to apologize.

“I didn’t see this coming,” Mindy said. “Ignoring the time we got engaged in grade school.”

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