Chapter 10
Then
Scott still wasn’t home, and I needed Michael’s number.
Maybe he was at Jen’s.
But would he even give me his number? I picked up the phone and called Jen’s apartment.
Hopefully, April wouldn’t answer.
But then, I could ask her. Yeah, probably not.
Jen answered. “Hello?”
“Hi, Jen.
Is Scott there?”
“Yes, hold on.”
I heard her cover the phone and yell Scott’s name.
“He’s on his way.
He’s out front fixing the brakes on my car.
“Thanks.”
I heard the phone set down, and soon, Scott picked it up.
“What’s up?”
“Well, I need Michael’s number.”
I cringed.
“Why?”
I knew it.
“I…I do.
That’s all.”
“Tell me why.”
Why was he making it such a hassle? But I did need to think of a reason.
“He was just here on a motorcycle, and I think he dropped something.”
“Like what? Just tell me, and I’ll call him.”
“Okay.
I want to call and see if Michael wants to go to the dance with me.”
There, I said it.
But, of course, he began laughing.
“Stop laughing.
He already asked, and I said no.
Now I’m changing my mind.”
“You’re kidding.”
“No, I’m not.
Now, are you going to give me Michael’s number?”
“Fine,”
he said and read out his number.
I copied it down and hung up.
Now, I needed courage if I was going to call him.
I looked at the time and saw it was three hours before the dance.
Hopefully, he went straight home after dropping me off.
I dialed his number and panicked when his answering machine went off.
“Hey, you’ve reached Michael Danforth.
I’m not here.
Leave a message.”
I waited for the beep and cleared my throat.
“Hey, Michael.
Jill here.
Um…if your offer still stands for the dance, I would like to take you.”
Saying I’d take him made me feel like maybe I felt bad for turning him down. “So…”
“Hey, Jill.
I just walked in.
What’s up?”
“Oh, Michael.
I felt bad after you asked me to go to the dance.
And since you gave me a ride on your new bike, I would like to take you to the dance.
As a thank you.”
It was a lie, but I didn’t want to sound desperate.
“Sure.
What time should I pick you up?”
In my mind, I was jumping up and down, doing my happy dance. “Um…six?”
“Perfect.
I’ll jump in the shower and be there at six.”
“Awesome.
Thanks,” I said.
“No problem.
See you later,”
he said and hung up.
I couldn’t believe it.
I was going to the dance with Michael.
I was the happiest girl alive.
Little did I know that my whole life would change and that my life as a young teen would never be the same. I should have never let Scott give me his number. I was too young to understand that Michael would affect everything in my life. And by the time I was old enough, it was too late.
I wasn’t sure I wanted to dress grunge and searched my closet for something sexier.
But nothing screamed sexy.
So, I wore the dress I bought and borrowed Mom’s black stockings and high-heeled shoes.
I was surprised she had high heels and let me wear them.
At six o’clock, the doorbell rang, and my stomach jumped.
Mom called from downstairs, and I stared in the mirror.
My hair was down, and I tried to blow it out straight.
Stepping out of my room, I walked as gracefully as possible in the heels down the steps.
Michael was waiting by the front door, dressed in a suit. God, he was gorgeous, and I pictured him dressed for work, remembering the suit bags at the mall. Michael smiled at me, and I thought I saw a spark in his blue eyes. Did he see me differently?
“Hey, kid.
You sure clean up,”
he said.
It wasn’t the most glorious compliment, but to me, it was everything.
Michael was looking at me, and I felt unique and pretty in his eyes.
“Hi.
You look great, too.
One of the suits you bought?”
“Yeah, it is.
On its maiden voyage—just for you.”
Just for me.
He was holding a box.
“I wasn’t sure what color you were wearing.
So, I went with a red rose.
Can’t go wrong with roses,”
he said as he opened the box.
Inside was a single rose corsage with baby’s breath.
He took my hand and placed it around my wrist.
I loved the feel of his hands on my skin.
They were well-manicured and strong-looking, with an expensive-looking watch on his wrist.
He even took the extra time to buy me a corsage, and I had nothing for him.
“I’m sorry,”
I said.
“I wasn’t expecting this and didn’t get you a boutonniere.”
“Not a problem.
I got a pretty girl on my arm,”
he said with a wink, lifting his elbow.
I wrapped my arm around him just when Dad walked in.
I looked at Mom to soften the situation.
After twenty-some years, she had the technique down.
“Arthur, this is Scott’s friend Michael.
He’s making sure Jill gets to the dance safely.
It’s better than two young girls going alone.”
She stressed the alone part.
Michael held out his hand.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Hudson.”
Dad stared at Michael’s hand and then shook it.
“And you’ll make sure she gets home safely.”
It wasn’t a question.
“Of course, Mr. Hudson.”
Dad gave Mom another look and then retired to the front room, where his clickers were set next to his chair.
“Ten o’clock,”
he yelled from the room.
Michael smiled down at me.
“Yes, sir,”
he said, and we walked out the door—me on his arm.
His Corvette was parked out front, and my already Michael cloud number nine was elevated to hyperdrive.
I was arm-in-arm with Michael, going to the dance in his Corvette.
What else could a girl want? I could die happy now, all because of this moment.
I couldn’t know then what heartbreak would be in store for me.
He opened the door and helped me inside.
The car was just as grand inside as out.
Black leather seats that shined and smelled of luxury.
Once in the driver’s seat, he kissed my hand.
My eyes widened, and I wondered if he would kiss me on the lips by the end of the night.
“Which way, my Princess?”
he said and started the car.
“Take a left at the end of the street and then another left.
The school is ten blocks from there.”
I couldn’t believe I was here, here with Michael, and the smile on my face never left the entire ride there.
Soon, we were pulling into the school, and I couldn’t wait for everyone to see us together.
He opened the car door, and as we walked together to the school, I tried to remain calm, like this was an everyday incident.
But the smile on my face said it all.
I was in Heaven.
Once inside, Tammy spotted us and waved us over.
She, too, was not wearing combat boots.
I took Michael over to where Tammy and Ryan stood and felt everyone’s eyes on us.
It was my red carpet moment.
I didn’t know that someday, I wished these same eyes would stop looking at me.
Tammy did her best to compose her look.
But underneath, I knew she was screaming: Holy Shit! You are here with Michael.
“Michael, remember Tammy; this is her date, Ryan.”
“Nice to meet you, Ryan,”
Michael said, shaking Ryan’s hand.
I loved watching Michael interact with my friends and see his adult business side.
While most guys in my class wore nice jeans and a polo, Michael was stellar in his suit—tie, cufflinks, and a shiny watch to set it all off.
He was a cover for GQ magazine—and I was falling hard.
“So, you guys want to get some soft drinks and find a table before the DJ starts?”
Tammy asked, and I felt a little embarrassed that all we could have were soft drinks.
Michael was a man who drank beer and wine, and I wanted to fit into his world.
“Would that be okay, Michael?” I asked.
“Sure, whatever you girls want to do.”
Eyes followed us to the soda bar, and I felt intimidated by all the attention I was getting with Michael as my date.
Especially when he wrapped his arm around me, I pushed that feeling away and wrapped my arm around him.
He looked down at me with a smile, and I thought he liked it just as much as I loved his arm around me.
We ended up with white sparkling grape juice in champagne glasses, and I felt more to Michael’s level—though it contained no alcohol.
Even though I was in a gym decorated with pink and white balloons, I fantasized I was a princess at a ball, and Michael was my prince.
“To the class of ‘98,”
Michael said, raising his glass, and we all clinked them together.
He was a good sport, and I feared maybe he would feel out of place.
But I hardly doubted Michael would feel out of place anywhere.
He would always be the center of attention, no matter where he was.
We found a table, and Michael pulled out my chair.
Ryan had already sat before Tammy, and she gave him a look, warning him that he could learn some manners from Michael.
Everything Michael did made me feel special, and these would be the things I would only look back on and realize none of it was real.
I would learn that human nature can behave briefly but not for a lifetime.
The DJ began with the announcements, and the lights dimmed as the music started to play.
He began with a few pop songs, Madonna, and I hoped Tammy wouldn’t mention how I loved Madonna.
I knew Scott hated her, and probably so would Michael.
But before I knew it, my shoulders were already moving to the beat.
“I think someone’s ready to dance,”
Michael said, taking me onto the dance floor by the arm.
Again, all eyes were on us because we were the only ones on the floor.
I soon lost my reserve and fell into the rhythm, dancing with Michael and his moves.
He was a good dancer, and I had only danced with friends or alone in my room.
He made it fun, and soon, I was just as comfortable as alone dancing in my room. Tammy pulled Ryan to the floor, and the four of us were the main spectacle, and it was also just what the party needed. Because after that, the dance floor filled up. All because of Michael.
We were about to return to our table when Shania Twain’s “You’re Still the One”
started to play as the first slow-down song.
“Hey, they’re playing our song, Kid,”
Michael said, pulling me into his arms.
It no longer bothered me when he called me kid; maybe it was just his way of warming up or breaking the ice.
He held me closer this time, and I lay my head on his chest.
It was broad and warm and firm and all man.
I closed my eyes and listened to the beat of his heart and Shania’s voice. I knew that from then on, here is where I wanted to stay—forever. And a part of me always did. The part I was never able to get back.
The song was over, and as we walked to our table, Tammy wanted to use the restroom and asked me to go with her.
I excused myself from Michael, and we left for the bathroom.
Our walk there was all cool and calm, but our excitement exploded when we hit the bathroom door.
“Oh my God.
Oh my God.
I can’t believe this night,”
she said.
Her voice was a few octaves higher, and her exuberance was contagious.
“I know.
Having Ryan and Michael is much better than going stag.
I mean, is God shining down on us tonight or what!”
We were giddy and in all our glory.
It was too bad it was our last year in high school because tonight would have set the level for all our school days.
But one thing was sure: we were set for the rest of our senior year.
More so than I would ever know.
Andrea Felky and her mean girl minions enclosed us when we exited the restroom.
She was the girl who was voted for everything—even if she wasn’t participating.
It had much to do with being the only Asian in our class.
We needed to treat her extra special and make her welcome.
But ironically, she was born and raised right in St. Jo.
“So, decided to bring your cousin, Jill? Or is he your uncle? Because he sure looks old enough,”
Andrea snidely remarked, and the rest of the minions stood around with their arms folded.
I wanted to say something clever but couldn’t think of a thing.
That’s when I heard Michael from behind.
“Neither.
Jill walked into my apartment one day with a pizza, and I thought: ‘Who is this beauty?’ I couldn’t let her leave until I had a dance with her.”
He looked at me, stretched his arm, parting the mean girl minions, and reached for my hand.
“Do you remember that, Jill?”
God reached down, gifted me some nerve, and replied, “A day I will always remember.
And, whenever we’re together, they play that song.”
Even though Michael thought it would benefit the minions, it was the truth.
I will always remember that day and wish it never happened.