Chapter 23 Yes, No,Maybe
-Annie-
Meg was not letting up about my next guy.
She had started two weeks ago asking Yes, No, or Maybe about guys around school.
The first few days, I had pretty much said no to each new name that she listed.
“Aaron?” “No.” “Aaron K?” “No.” “What about James?” “No.” This has been our pattern.
Each lunch, she had a list of guys. It isn’t that I’m not attracted to any of them or that I didn’t think of some of them as nice guys.
Rather, I didn’t trust myself to make a good choice.
I had gotten pulled in by a guy because I had lusted after him, and look where that got me.
Meg was determined to get a maybe out of me and would love to hear a yes.
I worried about saying either, because I know my best friend.
I know that she will start her next plan or scheme.
Today, she went as far as telling me I needed to figure out at least two maybes, as prom was right around the corner.
“Are you telling me that I can’t go in the same limo with you all—” (I wave at our little friends group) “—if I don’t have a date?
” I ask her. “Nope, you aren’t allowed to join us,” she says in her most serious voice.
“Annie, you want to go to prom with me?” Craig asks next to me.
“UGGGHHH, Craig, that doesn’t count,” Meg says in annoyance.
“Well, I need a date, too; I don’t want to be cut out of the limo,” he responds.
“You aren’t helping her, Craig, you know that, right?
” Meg says, staring him down. “Wait, Craig, I thought we agreed neither of us could ask Annie?” Luke snaps.
“Well, I made that deal to get you to ask Kim.” Craig shrugs as if it isn’t a big deal.
“I say they can’t go together—I agree with Meg.
” Luke gives Meg a nod from his side of the table.
“Everyone just calm down: no one is being cut from the limo, date or no date,” Drew cuts in and takes Meg's hand on top of the table. She gives him the same look she just gave Craig but doesn’t contradict his statement.
Luke starts a conversation about whether anyone has the answers to the math homework, and the subject change is just what I need.
***
Soccer practice goes long today, and Miles left without me—I just know it.
We have a game at the end of the week, and Coach wanted us to run a full scrimmage today.
When we go back to the locker room, I don’t even change back into my school outfit.
I know that I am going to have to walk home because there is no way that Miles is still here.
Just in case, I walk to the parking lot, finding it mostly empty, and Miles's car is not one of the cars left. I start to make my way across the lot to the sidewalk, heading towards our neighborhood, when I hear a “Hey, Campbell, wait up.” I turn and find Max walking out of the football locker room. He jogs over to me. “What are you still doing here?” I ask him, because from the look of the parking lot, the team was dismissed well before I made it to the lot. “I was talking to Coach about some colleges I could try out for as a walk-on next year. He thinks after winning state, he can use that to help me get into the summer practices at State,” Max replies. “Well, that’s pretty nice of Coach to help you with that, and good for you for not stopping if you want to play college ball,” I reply.
“Thanks, Campbell. Why are you still here?” he counters.
“We scrimmaged today, so practice ran long. I’m just about to walk home,” I reply.
“Don’t be crazy, Campbell. I’ll drive you home.
” He smiles and looks over to his SUV. “Are you sure, Max? I really can walk home.” Max shrugs his shoulder, “Yes, Annie, I’m sure.
I don’t mind.” “Sure, then I’ll take the ride: to be honest, my legs are not into any more miles today.
” My comment earns me a smile. As we walk to the car, Max says, “How have you been anyway? Since the end of football, you haven’t been to any of the parties.
” I go to make an excuse, but then I change my mind, “I just didn’t feel like adding any flame to the fire, to be honest with you.
” “Well, I’ve missed seeing you. If I text you next time we are meeting up, do you think you’ll come?
” he asks me. I smile as we get into the car.
I open the door and get in. “Yeah, I think I’d like that. ”
After Max drops me off at the house, I feel a little lighter, and when I get to my room, I pull out my phone and text Meg. She is going to freak out with my revelation.
Annie
Put a Maybe next to Max
Meg Patterson
Please tell me this is Annie Campbell and she is being serious
Annie
I take it back
Meg Patterson
Nope, texts are forever
Marked as a MAYBE
Anything happen that I need to know?
Annie
He asked me if I’d go to the next party with him and I said I’d like that
Meg Patterson
That isn’t a maybe Annie that is a YES
Annie
Whatever you say, he hasn’t asked yet
Meg Patterson
I bet you get that text by Friday
Annie
Well what you betting?
Meg Patterson
I win I get to pick your outfit for the party from my closet
Annie
If I win?
Meg Patterson
Then I’ll let you dress me
There is no chance I’m losing
***
The Thursday night after my soccer game I get a text from Max, as if he scheduled it with Meg to come right before the end of our bet.
Max Nell
Nice win today Campbell
Annie
Thanks for showing up at the game
Max Nell
You have plans for Saturday night?
Annie
None yet, why?
Max Nell
I’m asking you to come to the party with me
Annie
I think I can make that work
Max Nell
Pick you up at 7?
Annie
Is everyone getting to the party so early?
Max Nell
Thought we could go to dinner first
Annie
That sounds nice, 7 it is
Max Nell
See you then Annie
***
Meg is so excited on Saturday morning at her house.
She asked me to come over to try on some outfit options before tonight.
Three different outfits are laid out on the bed, ranging by levels of exposed skin.
She keeps looking at the clothing and looking at me.
“What is the plan: do we want him to lose his mind or make him want to jump your bones?” I go to answer, and she keeps talking out loud.
I realize she is thinking and not asking me for my opinion.
I did agree to let her dress me if she won the bet, and she won fair and square.
She finally hands me a black mini dress.
“Try this one on—I want to make sure it isn’t too long on you.
” I don’t argue with her. I change into the dress, and I look at myself in her floor-length mirror.
It’s a scoop neck top that gives a taste of my cleavage, and the skirt is nowhere near long enough, coming to barely mid-thigh standing up.
Meg joins me at the mirror, thinking about the outfit and then looking at what she has laid out on the bed.
“I should have you try on something else, but this is the first one I picked out before you came over. and I still like it best. “That’s my final decision,” she says as she picks up the other outfits and puts them back into the closet.
I change back into my normal clothing, and we hang out until I need to go home to get ready for my date.
***
I am about to come downstairs when I hear the knock at the front door.
Before I get there, I can hear the door open and my brother asking Max, “Why are you here?” Miles lets Max know the plan was to meet at the party.
I come down the hallway right before Max can answer.
When he sees me, he gives me a look that starts at my legs, hovering over the curves that the dress is accentuating.
When his eyes finally make it to my face, he is wearing a little smile.
“I’ll see you at the party, man,” he says to my brother before he makes his way over to me, “Annie Campbell, you look good all dressed up. Has anyone ever told you that?” I blush; my skin is the worst. “Thank you,” I say.
Then he takes my hand, and we walk out of the house past my brother and onto the driveway.
Max is nice, but I don’t get goosebumps when his hand is in mine, at least not yet.
He opens the door for me, and we head off to dinner.
We have a fun dinner, talking mostly about football, and then we head over to the party.
Max opens my door for me, and I wrap my arm around him as we walk to the bonfire.
He asks me if I want anything to drink, and I let him know that I do.
He lets me know he’ll be right back, and I head over to my group of friends.
“How’s it going?” Meg asks, bouncing on her toes in excitement.
“It’s been nice,” I reply, because it has, but it hasn’t been anything more than that.
I think I have deflated Meg because she stops bouncing.
“Just nice?” she questions. “It’s early, it could get better,” I try.
“Yeah, maybe you need him to kiss you first.” “Yeah,” I agree. “You're probably right.”
Max finds me holding a can of beer and a bottle of water. He hands me the beer and cracks the lid on the water. After he takes a drink, he wraps an arm around my waist. Again, it just feels like an arm around my waist: there are no goosebumps or warmth to my body.
We have fun at the party. Near midnight, I let him know it is time to head home.
We both say our goodbyes and head out. At my house, he walks me to my door.
We say our good nights, and he leans in, placing his hands on my hips.
He kisses me and I kiss him back. It’s a nice kiss, but I can’t find the spark to let it continue.
I pull back, thank him again, and slip inside the house.
I let him down easy the next week at school, letting him know that I had a great time, but I think we are not meant to be more than friends.
Craig and I move forward with our plans to attend prom together, and Meg keeps us on the list for the limo.