Page 65 of The Second Dance
“They thought you looked hot, Andy. They were talking about trying to bang you. It freaked me out.”
I shake my head. “Whit, I have pictures from that night. I was not hot. I was awkward.”
She stares at me for a few seconds, before disappearing again. She returns with a photo album in her hands. Flipping through the pages of slumber parties and camping trips, she stops at the pictures of our Junior Prom.
Whit’s dancing with a beautiful girl. Curvy. Glowing.
I don’t recognize myself at first. Almost like one of those magic eye puzzles, it takes a few seconds for the picture to rearrange itself.
It’s me.
And for the briefest second, I think maybe I saw it.
What Bo’s been trying to tell me.
Back then… I was pretty. “Why are you showing me this?”
She winces. “Having you here has forced me to do some introspection. I’ve been thinking back. Time and experience are putting a new perspective on some of those memories. I always meant well, but I don’t think I always had it right.”
“We were just kids, Whit. We were just trying to figure things out.”
“Yeah, I know. But I’m still sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry about.”
She frowns, shaking her head.
“You think they’re just screwing with you.” She clears her throat. “Imagine if you turn the tables showing up in this dress.”
I glance at it. The slinky gold fabric pools over the edge of the couch. “You think?”
“I know. They’ll die, Andy. I’d pay good money to see their faces.”
37.
Bo
The Farmer’s Ball is essentially prom for grown-ups.
We always looked forward to this night. Fancy get-ups. Lots of booze. Music.
It’s a good time.
But Andy’s gotten into my head.
And the more I look around, the more I realize most of the good folk of Silver Bend never really got past high school. We’re all trapped in a time warp, myself included.
I scan the auditorium. They’ve got sparkly streamers hanging all over the place. The lights are dimmed and a disco ball dusts squares of light over the floor like snow.
Cody came back for the weekend. He’s with a few of his classmates, and a few of dad’s classmates, doing shots by the bar. It’s an unholy alliance, dads drinking with their grown kids, and just adds the general surreal feel of the event.
I spot Skyler and Dusty in the corner and make my way over. It’s strange to see these old boys in tuxes. I probably look ridiculous, too. Like I’m playing dress up. They nod at me as I walk up. “Josh and Erin coming?”
Skyler points with his beer to a table on the far end. Josh and Erin must have found a babysitter. They’re sitting with Josh’s folks. The four of them have their heads bent together, thick as thieves. Erin looks radiant with her hair up like that. She’s got on a pretty green dress.
I’m happy for Josh, but it feels a little weird to have him way over there, when we’re standing right here.
Oh well, time marches on.