Page 25 of Absorbed

“Because it was afraid of getting crushed nuts!” Ms. Moreno put her hands over her lap, and Stacey opened her eyes wide in shock.

They both laughed.

“I’m glad you came back tonight,” Ms. Moreno said. “I missed painting with you the last week.”

“Me too. Thanks, Ms. Moreno.”

“You can call me Sage if you want.”

Stacey wrinkled her nose. “Uh… no. I can’t.” She hopped off the table and headed for the door. “But thanks.”

“O-kay…,” Ms. Moreno said over her shoulder, a fallen expression clouding her face. “One last thing, Stace. Remember, whether we like it or not, everyone’s life is messy.”

Stacey was taken aback. “Yeah…”Sure. But not as messy as mine.“See ya.”

Ms. Moreno turned away and walked to her desk.

As Stacey walked to her car she realized she couldn’t remember her teacher ever looking sad before. The hot night air was still and insects buzzed in the mustard weed bushes beside the parking spaces. The lightness she had felt after the first time she painted with Ms. Moreno hadn’t returned. Everything felt heavier and Stacey wasn’t sure she liked it.

Chapter Ten

You never miss the Juvenile Delinquents,” Gabe scolded Stacey through the phone. “The Valley College Ska Fest is their biggest show yet. We’ve looked forward to this for over a month.”

“I haven’t had a day out of the sun all week,” Stacey whined. “It’s going to be like a million degrees in that quad.”

“Seriously? You sound like an old lady. Who cares if it’s hot? SkipTooth is headlining. It’s gonna be awesome.”

Stacey didn’t want Gabe to know the real reason she was bailing: Jessie. Chad and Desiree were going to the beach, and Chad invited Jessie to surf with him. Desiree asked if Stacey wanted to go to keep her company. It was basically a double date, one that could lead to something major with Jessie!

“It starts at two?” Stacey asked reluctantly. Desiree said they were leaving for the beach at eleven, and she’d already picked out her bikini.

“Yeah. I’ll even drive. Come on. We haven’t hung out all summer.”

“Who else is going? Jenny? Kyle? Dan?”

“Not with me. I haven’t talked to Jenny since school got out. I don’t know if those guys will be there or not. I was looking forward to hanging out with you.”

Stacey’s chest swelled. Gabe really wanted to be alone with her! Maybe this meant he wouldn’t treat her like a kid-sister-best-friend like at the No Doubt show in May. Was Gabe finally realizing they should be more than friends? If there was even the slightest chance this could spark a real relationship, she couldn’t resist.

In his best sing-song voice, Gabe said, “We can get Slurpees on the way…”

“Okaaayyy…” Stacey said, grinning. “If there’ll be Slurpees, I guess I’ll go…”

Stacey hung up and called Desiree to cancel, then put on her Juvenile Delinquents tape and picked out her outfit—a short, red plaid skirt, a white baby-Tee and white knee socks with black, steel-toe Doc Martins. Maybe if she dressed sexy for her date with Gabe, she could finally win him over.

Standing at the full-length mirror on the back of her door, she put on heavy eyeliner, thick mascara, and red lipstick. She swooped her bangs and hair into a perfect pompadour ponytail, and tied a red bandana as a headband. At the No Doubt show in May, she wore jeans, Chucks, and a T-shirt.Boring!She envied the strutting Rude Girls with their short skirts, fishnet stockings, and pin-up-style make-up and hair. Today, she wanted Gabe to think she was sexy, like those girls. She looked nothing like herself, not her usual self, anyway. But looking like Stacey Chapman hadn’t worked with Gabe so far.Go big or go home.This time Gabe would see her as Gwen Stefani skipping toward him, and if that didn’t get his attention, she didn’t know what would.

Gabe watched her catwalk-stroll out to his car. He affected his voice. “Do-do-do-do. Do-do-do-do.”

“Shut up! Stop trying to be Rod Serling! This is notThe Twilight Zoneand you will never be Rod Serling!” Stacey laughed.

“Says you, Gwen Stefani!” he said as Stacey opened his passenger car door. “Seriously, what’s up? You went all out.”

“It’s a ska show, right? So, I’m dressed for success.” She pulled the short skirt under her bare thighs, hopeful the dark vinyl wouldn’t burn her when she sat. It was still pretty hot, so she slid down to avoid the skin on vinyl contact, then curled her exposed lower back away from the seat.

“You are a total dork. You know that, right?” Gabe asked.

“Um, hmmm…” Despite her awkward position, Stacey batted her eyelashes up at him as she buckled the seatbelt. “Now, I’m ready for that Slurpee whenever you are.”

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