Mrs. Homely’s hand clapped over her mouth. Mr. Homely smiled and removed his reading glasses. “Did you do something to your hair?” I loved his deadpan humor.
“Funny, Dad.”
“Unbelievable.” Mrs. Homely approached, touching Michelle’s straightened locks.
“Can you believe it?” Michelle gushed.
“Not if I wasn’t seeing it with my own eyes,” she murmured. She cupped her daughter’s face in her hands and said, “You are simply stunning. Not that you haven’t always been a beauty.”
Mrs. Homely hugged Katy and me. “Thank you for bringing it out, girls. Super job. Maybe you two have found your calling.”
We laughed and skipped back to Michelle’s room to finish culling though her wardrobe. We pulled together a handful of outfits, and promised to take her shopping for new clothes. Our mission accomplished, we plopped down in the family room with soda and popcorn to watch TV and gossip some more. Later, as our chatter died down and we drifted off to sleep, I was aware that despite the diversion our little gathering provided, shame, worry and confusion over Alec still percolated beneath my surface.
11
The Undoing
My father called to me from the kitchen as I walked in the door with my mother, coming home from Michelle’s. He held the phone out and mouthed, “Alec.” Luckily, he didn’t lurk.
“Hi, beautiful. Where you been hiding?”
“Katy and I spent the night at Michelle’s. We planned it last-minute.”
“Is it true girls do kinky things at sleepovers? Like play doctor or kiss or anything fun like that?”
“Gross…no!” I glanced around the kitchen to be sure no one eavesdropped.
“A few chicks tangled up together? That’s not gross, baby, that’s hot.”
“Don’t get your hopes up.” As if.
“That’s not all that’s up. Maybe I could swing by for a few minutes, and you could take care of it. I can’t stop thinking about those lips of yours.”
“No,” I said swiftly, then tried to recover. “I have a ton of homework.”
“I’ll drive you home tomorrow after school then, princess. I want to spend some time with you.”
“Um, well, right. Bye.”
“See ya, gorgeous,” oozed his deep voice. If they could bottle charm, that’s what it would sound like.
The dial tone buzzed in my ear and I replaced the phone on the receiver.
“Was that the football ape?” Anthony asked, walking into the kitchen. Inky black grease was smeared across his sweatshirt from working on his car. He chomped down on the apple in his hand, not bothering to close his mouth while he chewed.
“He’s not an ape.”
“He’s not far from it. He’s a total jock goon.”
Anthony could be so irritating. Even though I had issues with Alec, I didn’t like my brother passing judgment. “What do you have against this guy anyway?”
“He’s too old for you, for starters, and I don’t like the way he looks at you—like you’re his personal possession.”
“I’m not,” I retorted with false assuredness.
“Most guys only have one thing on their minds.”
“Don’t I know it.”
Anthony’s face contorted. “What? Has that asshole been trying stuff on you?”
“Um, no,” I stammered. My brother would kill Alec if he knew the truth.
“You better tell me if he gets out of line. I’ll take care of him.”
“Thanks, Ant.” Even though he could royally piss me off, at least he had my back.
As promised, Alec drove me home after school. It sure beat riding the bus—we made it to my house in ten minutes, driving faster than the speed limit in his bitchin’ car. The bus took three times as long with all its squeaky-wheeled stops. I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans and tried to calm my nerves.
He walked me to the door. “Are we going to hang out?”
Predictable. “I’m not allowed to have boys over when my parents aren’t home. Sorry.”
He leaned against the house. “Who will ever be the wiser?”
I rummaged in my purse for my key. “I can’t.”
“Just for a drink of water?”
Crap. “I guess that would be cool but after that, you have to motor. Or, we could sit outside on the porch and talk.”
“Where’s your brother?”
“He’ll be here any minute. That’s another reason you can’t stay. Ant won’t think twice about ratting me out to my parents.”
“Your bro’ gives me the evil eye at school. He thinks he’s some sort of mafia hit man or something.” He chuckled.
I unlocked the door and invited him in. “He’s not too happy about us dating each other.”
“I’d feel the same way if I had a sister as fine as you.”
I filled up a glass with water at the sink. Alec moved my hair, exposing my neck, and kissed it softy. I turned and handed him his drink, my shaky hand spilling a little while some alien did round-off flip-flops in my stomach.
“Are you gonna show me around?”
I hesitated, but took him on a brief tour of our modest house. He had seen half of the rooms on the main level on the way to the kitchen. I showed him the rest, my bedroom last.
“So this is where the princess sleeps.”
I grimaced. “I’m no princess.”
“Is that a waterbed? I have always wanted one.” He set his glass on my dresser and jumped on the bed, the liquid swooshing violently from side to side in protest, almost knocking him off.
I laughed. “Careful. One wrong move and you’ll be airmailed across the room.”
He bobbed with the waves, then grabbed me and pulled me on top of him. “I’ll bet sex is fantastic on a waterbed.”
“Maybe, but we aren’t going to find out. You’re not even supposed to be here, remember?”
Alec flipped me on my back and put his hand on my crotch. “We’re going to find out alright.” He groped me while crushing his
