“Guys! I’m gonna be late,” I whined. Hanna shooed me toward the car before Mom could start her my-little-girl-is-all-grown-up speech. Meanwhile, Dad opened the door for me to get into the limo, as if I were a princess or something on my way to a ball.
Here goes nothing.
■ ■ ■ LATER
The limo pulled up in front of Ruth’s house and honked.
“Can you open the sunroof?” I called to the driver. I stuck my head through and waved at Mrs. Song, who was peeking out the window.
“Parvin, what’s going on? I thought we were meeting at school!” Ruth shouted, appearing in the doorway. She looked stunning in her pink tulle dress, and she had her hair up in two buns on the top of her head. I held up the corsage I’d gotten her, made of white roses with a sparkly pink band.
“Get in, loser,” I shouted. “I’m taking you to Homecoming!”
Ruth squealed. “Let me get my purse!”
Mrs. Song appeared in the doorway, smiling.
“Annyeonghaseyo, Parvin!”
“Annyeonghaseyo, Mrs. Song. Thanks for helping me with the surprise.” I’d texted Mrs. Song from the museum asking if I could take Ruth to Homecoming as a friend, even though Mrs. Song was scary. Thank goodness she’d said yes. Hanna had helped me find a dress that matched Ruth’s, and I brought my makeup kit so I could give her a full Homecoming look in the limo.
“Is anyone else in the limo with you?” Mrs. Song walked toward the car suspiciously, probably thinking I’d squirreled Naomi away somewhere.
“No, ma’am,” I replied. “But we’re picking up Fabián on the way.” He’d been cagey when I asked him whether he had a date, so I’d gotten him a boutonniere, along with some special eyeliner, just in case.
She nodded. “But you’re meeting Naomi at the dance, right?”
“Er . . . ,” I replied, not sure what to say. I stood there awkwardly in the sunroof, staring down at Mrs. Song.
She opened the limo door, and I popped my head back into the car. Mrs. Song sat down next to me. She wore one of those intimidating all-white cashmere sweaters that was probably dry-clean only. “Just make sure Ruth doesn’t get hurt, okay? I don’t want things getting too serious before she has to take her exams. Will you do that for me?”
I nodded. “I will.” Though I was pretty sure Ruth had already decided where she and Naomi would be honeymooning and what they’d name their children.
“Good!” Mrs. Song clapped her hands. “Because if she does get hurt, I’ll tell your parents and you’ll be grounded forever.”
“What?” I cried.
“Just kidding.” Mrs. Song cackled as she exited the limo. But I didn’t think she was joking.
Ruth reappeared with her purse, and Mrs. Song insisted on taking a billion photos of her bright pink outfit. Ruth ran to the limo as soon as she finished the photo shoot.
“Wait!” Mrs. Song shouted. “I need a photo with both of you!”
“Come on, Ruthie,” I said, gesturing to the sunroof. We both popped up, and she wrapped her arm around me as Mrs. Song snapped photos of us on her phone, the two of us grinning like idiots in our first-ever limo ride.
“Bye, Oma!” Ruth shouted. We ducked back inside the limo as the driver started the car. “I can’t believe you rented a limo!”
“I wanted my friends to have a good Homecoming,” I said. I placed the corsage around her wrist.
“You mean best friends,” Ruth corrected. Then we were off, heading to Fabián’s so we could arrive in style.
■ ■ ■ HOMECOMING 7:00 P.M.
Fabián, Ruth, and I looked like we were in a music video, that’s how awesome our outfits were. Hanna had helped me wash my hair properly (with sulfate-free shampoo), moisturize (with facial oil and SPF), and do my makeup (with warm colors that flattered my skin tone). Basically, I looked Instagram-famous.
Fabián went all out on his outfit. Ruth had helped him embroider a black mariachi jacket with silver thread, and I gave him an excellent smoky eye in the limo. His red charro tie matched impeccably with his red Chuck Taylors, and his boutonniere of black roses was the perfect accessory.
The limo dropped us off at the main doors, and we got out as classmates stared. Did they think we were sophomores, or even juniors? I grinned at Fabián and Ruth, and they both grinned back. It was nice to be the center of attention, even if some people thought it was too loud or too showy or too obnoxious. I had given my friends the Homecoming entrance they deserved, even without Ameh Sara’s help.
We strolled into the gym, and Ruth gasped. The entire space had been absolutely transformed.
“Don’t get too excited”—Fabián rolled his eyes at the decorations—“these are the set pieces from Twelfth Night with balloons.”
Still. It was impressive to see wooden trees hung with gold streamers in every corner.
“Ruth!” a voice cried out. Naomi floated over in a vision of light blue, her locs twisted into a complicated updo studded with tiny pearls. Her brown skin glowed, either from her expertly applied highlighter or from sheer joy.
“Naomi!” Ruth squealed. “You look incredible!” They stepped onto the dance floor, and Ruth looked blissed out in Naomi’s arms. It made me glad I was able to help give her the fairy-tale entrance she’d always wanted. As Naomi and Ruth slow-danced, staring into each other’s eyes, I realized that it wouldn’t be just me, Fabián, and Ruth anymore. Our little circle was growing.
“They look so happy,” I said to Fabián.
“Yeah,” he said. “Wanna dance?”
“Please don’t make me do a death drop.”
Fabián laughed. “I won’t.”
We swayed on the floor, and my orangey-pink dress next to Fabián’s dark outfit made us look like the perfect Halloween duo. I could tell Fabián was holding back, his feet itching to do more complicated steps, but he kept it simple for me.
“So, you turned Emerson Cheng down,” Fabián said.
“Yep.”
“And Sir Thompson.”
“How did you know?” I asked.
“And Matty Fumero,” Fabián continued,
