Wanna Be My Date

The next morning I felt a little discombobulated and my head hurt something awful, but my heart leapt. The warm feeling I had in my stomach and my cheeks was something I had never felt before. This must be what love feels like. Like a sweet cherry on top of a sundae. I could almost taste it.

The idea that Keegan may possibly reciprocate his feelings for me is almost too much to think about. The sun was up already, so I knew mom would be up. I could smell the sweet, buttery pancakes she was making and it made my stomach growl a little. I actually hate when people say that their stomach is growling. It is in fact the peristalsis waves attempting to move food through your digestive tract, but that’s neither here nor there. I needed to get food if I was going to be able to think straight.

As I got out of bed, my tank top strap fell sloppily down my shoulder and my baggy, navy blue, basketball shorts fell slightly below my underwear line. I pulled on my Scooby-Doo slippers that dad had gotten for me 4 years ago. They finally fit. He had bought them for me when I got All A’s in 6th grade and they were way too big. It was truly the thought that counted.

As I poked my head through my door, I could hear voices. Definitely heard my mom and Casey laughing, but who was this other voice. It was too deep to be Bay, but it wasn’t my dad. I turned the corner to find Keegan standing by the door with a bouquet of flowers. His crystal blue eyes looked up and met mine. His curls were still wet from his morning shower and one hung loosely around his eyebrow. He gave me a slight smile and it sent chills up my spine. The chills I got were exuberating!

Did he really bring me flowers? Please don’t let this be a dream. I pinched myself on the thigh just to be sure. I am almost certain I am awake.

“Hey Squirt! These are for you,” Keegan said, pushing the flowers in my direction.

He didn’t try to make eye contact or even look my way when he handed them to me. Why would he buy me flowers if he was going to just be ru…

“They are from Jeff Chandler,” he continued, “I was coming in the door when they delivered them.”

He walked over and grabbed a piece of bacon and straddled a stool. Still not making eye contact with me. He looked so good in his gray pullover and orange shorts. I looked at his tan leg as he adjusted his position on the stool. The way this boy made my skin burn was not fair. It was agony sometimes.

“Oh…,” I stammered, “that was really sweet of Jeff. I need to get them into water,” I said quietly, still wishing silently that they were from Keegan.

Was he jealous? He wouldn’t even look at me. As much attention as he gave me last night, I thought for sure he would scoop me up in a giant, Keegan hug. But he didn’t.

“Read the card James!” Casey chimed in.

I took the card from the little pink envelope. There were two little bears on the front holding a heart. It was super cute and thoughtful.

“Brees,” I started, glancing over at Keegan, trying to avoid him seeing that I was looking at him, “I am so sorry about what happened last night and I would love the chance to make it up to you. Please be my date to HOCO and let me sweep you off of your feet in a different way. Signed Jeff.”

I could feel everyone looking at me, but I felt frozen. I felt like the air had been knocked out of me all over again, but in a good way. No one had ever paid me any attention. I was Baylen’s little sister that everyone treated like one of the guys. Yet, here I sat with a homecoming invitation in my hand, from a pretty cute guy.

“Sweetie, do you think you will go with him?” my mom asked, snapping me back to reality.

“I mean if we have enough room in the car…maybe…I don’t really know him that well yet. Maybe I should say no,” I said shyly.

I tucked the card back Into the plastic “pitchfork” apparatus.

“You should definitely go with him,” Casey campaigned.

“I say no boys at all and you go with Casey and your other friends,” Baylen smirked, grabbing a slice of bacon off of Casey’s plate.

Casey threw her napkin at him, but it fell to the floor, missing him by an inch.

“My mom would like you guys all to come over for appetizers and pictures before Homecoming,” Keegan offered, “She said you too, Missy.”

My mom looked up from her coffee as if she heard something awful. My mom and Kyren, Keegan’s mom, used to be the best of friends in college. Whatever happened, it was terrible and now they don’t speak at all. My mom gets all weird every time Kyren’s name is mentioned.