Chapter 30 Heaven
Heaven
I double-check all of my stuff and then head back into the kitchen, where Mom is having a very serious conversation with the dogs over a piece of cheese.
“All set?” she asks.
“Yup. I got everything.”
“Good. I talked to Cristine like four times, so she should have everything set up for you. And you’re sleeping over there tonight?”
“Yup.” I ignore the butterflies in my stomach and try to relax. Saylor and I have been spending a lot of time together, but never at her house for obvious reasons. I feel like it means something that there’s gonna be a change of venue. I have to get through the party first.
“Your dad and I are going to the movies, but we’ll be back by ten. Call me if you need anything; come home if things get weird. And if you’re worried about anything with the tattoos, Kelly’s at the shop. She said she’s finishing another large piece, but she’s on standby.”
“Okay. Thanks, Doc. I’m gonna rock this,” I say.
I’ve been trying to hype myself up for the actual job at hand for like four days.
I think it’s kind of working. I’m faking the rest. “Mrs. Ford is going to write my apprentice recommendation for Kelly herself. Heaven Goo-Campbell is so professional and confident with a bunch of twelve-years-olds. No doubt she can handle potential customers. You’d be silly not to take her on. ”
Mom laughs. “I’m pretty sure you are not gonna have any problems getting in at Ink & Pearl, but I am proud of you for trying this.
I’m sure at least three of my patients will be there, and you’ll get to see just a fraction of what I deal with.
But you got this, it’s in your blood.” She winks at me.
It’s go time. I head out to my car and drive over to Saylor’s house, reminding myself the whole way that I got this. I’m gonna be amazing.
I pull up to the Fords’ house and park behind a white cargo van.
Before I can hop out, I hear the front door slam and turn to see a very happy Mrs. Ford and her new bob practically running down their front walkway.
Saylor’s mom is moving so fast, I’m actually shocked she didn’t smack her face on the car door frame as I’m trying to roll the window down.
“Heaven, you made it!” She beams. “You ready?”
“I did and I am. Everything good to go?” I ask as I climb out.
“Oh, you know I’m ready. It looks like a balloon factory exploded in there, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. None of the kids are here yet so you have plenty of time to get all set up. Let me help you with your things.”
I just nod and give her my overnight bag.
The faster we get inside, the faster I can see Saylor.
I know just talking to her will calm me down.
I follow Mrs. Ford into their home. As soon as I step inside, it’s clear that she really has decorated the whole house.
There are pink and purple balloons by the door and this fancy sign that says Leave Shoes Here with Midsummer Slumber Party below those instructions in delicate script.
“We got you all set up in your own tent out back. You can keep your shoes on for now,” Mrs. Ford says.
“Okay.” I follow her through the house and try to act normal as I take in all the decorations and the food-serving staff standing around the kitchen.
She hired waiters for a sleepover. There’s a craft table with piles of folded T-shirts, a tent where a DJ is almost done setting up, and a tent for me.
There’s also an ivy leaf step-and-repeat with a Midsummer Slumber Party purple neon sign and this photographer sitting by in one of the deck chairs.
There’s more balloons and other themed decorations pretty much everywhere.
Even the chairs are wrapped and draped in color matching tinsel.
“Marci, Lupe, this is Heaven,” Mrs. Ford says. “She’ll be doing some fun temporary tattoos for the kids. Marci will be providing some sick tunes, and Lupe will be documenting this lovely event for us so that I can be a present parent.”
“Hi,” I say, and get a round of hellos back.
“Here, I’ll show you your setup.” I follow Mrs. Ford down the steps toward the tent where she has everything Miss Kelly told me to ask for. “I have to go change, but Saylor should be right down. Let me know if you need anything else and I’ll get it for you.”
“That sounds great. Thanks.”
She flashes me that Ford smile and then disappears back into the house with my duffel.
I start unpacking my backpack, suddenly nervous.
I know the Fords do over the top, but for some reason, I thought this party would be kinda normal.
I mean the twins are only twelve or something.
I forgot how influencer moms do things, though.
She must have a lot to prove to her followers.
I start setting up my stuff. I’m glad Miss Kelly suggested the plastic frame to showcase my flash, so I don’t have to let the junior partiers touch my table.
“So, Heaven.” I turn around as Lupe makes her way over to me. She tilts her chin toward my T-shirt. “You look a little young to work at Ink & Pearl.”
“I am. I’m seventeen. I’m just doing little pen designs. My friend’s parents own Ink & Pearl. Kelly Yeun? She helped me get ready for today.”
Lupe picks up my flash sheet of kittens at the beach and gives me one of those nods of approval as she looks over the four designs these tiny terrorists can pick from.
“I see why they hired you. These are good.” I take Lupe’s word for it.
She has a really detailed half sleeve of a snake wrapped around a rabbit weaving up her arm.
“Thanks.”
Marci the DJ makes her way over too, looking at the sheet over Lupe’s shoulder. “Aww, these are hella cute. Let me get that cat buried in the sand if we have time.”
“Sure. I’d be happy to,” I say, hoping my voice isn’t shaking.
The back slider opens and they both snap back to attention and start heading back to their stations.
I look around Marci as she goes and see Saylor coming down the porch.
My face goes hot the second I see her, and she smiles at me.
She’s wearing this CCHS basketball T-shirt and another pair of super-short shorts.
Her red curls are up in a braid crown. She looks so cute.
“Hey, sorry.” She skips down the stairs and kisses me on the cheek.
“Hey.”
“I would have been down here waiting for you, but Stella made Scarlett cry and I was trying to talk some sense into them before their little friends get here. Seriously, be glad you’re an only child. They are such dicks.”
“Should I leave now? There’s only gonna be more of them.”
“No. I’m glad you’re here,” she says sweetly.
“Besides, their friends are fine. Watch out for Stella’s bestie, Kylie, though.
She is the worst. Anyway, what do you think of the setup?
Needs more decorations, right?” She laughs as she motions around the yard.
“You know my mom has a lady whose whole job it is to manage the balloon waste?”
“She what?”
“Yup. She uses enough latex balloons in a month to kill every dolphin in the ocean, so she promised Scarlett she wouldn’t let any of them fly away.”
“That’s intense.”
“Intense doesn’t even describe it. Stella is so mad about the matching haircuts,” Saylor replies.
“Do you feel like you also need a bob?” I joke.
“No!” She laughs. “My dad is going through it, though. He’s not used to this much change all at once.”
“I can imagine.”
“I gotta help my mom with a few more things, but then I’ll be back, and I can be your trusty assistant,” Saylor says with a big smile.
“Okay. I think your mom took my stuff up to your room.”
Saylor looks down at the table in my little station. “What do you mean?” she asks.
“My overnight stuff.”
Her expression changes, and not in a good way. “I thought we were staying at your house?”
“No—my mom said she talked to your mom, and she said I could stay over here since we’ve been at my house all summer, basically.”
“Yeah, for a reason,” Saylor says, clearly annoyed, and it sets off this sour bomb in my gut. I get that Saylor and her mom have issues, but I definitely don’t want to be in the middle.
“I would have texted you, but I figured you knew.”
“No, it’s okay. I’ll talk to her.”
“I think we should stay here. My parents are taking this as their date night, and we have been over a lot.”
“No, I get that. I just don’t want to stay here,” Saylor says. I don’t think she’s mad at me. Just the situation. Still, it feels like if I say the wrong thing, we’ll be on our way to our first fight. She sighs, and then she flashes me a sad smile. “It’s fine. Let me go help her.”
“I’ll be here getting ready, being super professional and stuff.”
“I’m sorry.” She smiles for real this time. “I know you’re nervous and I know this means a lot to you. You’re gonna kill it. Let me go help my mom and then I’ll be back to help you.”
“Sounds good.”
She kisses me on the cheek again and darts back inside. I feel like the crisis was averted. It would have been cool if Mrs. Ford had at least talked to Saylor about me staying over. When we get a second alone, I’ll make sure that she’s alright.
“Oh, okay then,” I hear Marci say, and I realize she’s talking to me.
“Okay then what?” I say, looking around the yard. Marci glances over at Lupe, who covers her mouth to hide her laugh.
“I see what happened. You’re dating the other daughter. That’s how you got the gig,” Marci teases.
“Oh no. We’re just friends,” I say. We still haven’t told our parents we’re anything more than friends, and after seeing the kind of comments Saylor gets just for changing her hair, I definitely don’t want myself or our relationship to be a part of Mrs. Ford’s content schedule.
“Uh-huh. My friend who is also my wife looks at me like that too.”
“Hey, leave those gal pals alone,” Lupe says before she winks at me. My whole face feels like it catches on fire. I know they are just messing with me, but I’m still embarrassed that we got caught being so obvious.
“I’m serious. Just friends,” I say.
“Yeah, for now,” Marci mutters.
“We’re just giving you a hard time, kid,” Lupe says. “Besides, the best way to get started in anything is with help from some friends.”