Page 3 of Right in Front of You

“Oh, you’re serious, then. I’m giving you an easy way out of here, Carter. You should definitely go dance. There’s no need to feel sorry for me because I’m sitting under the table. I like it here.”

“I’m not feeling sorry for you. In fact, this will be my favorite spot from now on. And I’m not sure if you know, but friends don’t accept any kinds of outs.”

“I don’t know. Who would I dance with?”

“Today you can dance with me. And if I’m not here, you should dance by yourself. Dancing is fun. Come, let me show you.”

He took my hand, and I had no choice but to leave my secret hiding spot. The music started again and Carter was moving his limbs like a monkey. I laughed until my belly hurt. There was something funny about a boy who danced as if no one was watching. He didn’t even care that others were pointing at him, chuckling. When he took my hand and we started whipping our bodies around, I forgot about anyone watching us as well. Even a few adults joined in. On the next song, our friends twirled and jumped with us, and no one was pointing fingers any longer. Carter had a way of bringing everyone together. I’d never met a boy whose personality and outlook on life was so contagious.

Once we tired and more adults took over the dance floor, I pulled on Carter’s hand to get away from the crowd. “Come, I want to show you something.”

We stepped outside the abandoned barn that had always served as the Fall Fest venue. The night was warm, with a gentle breeze whistling between the trees every few minutes. I tilted my head up.

“What?” he asked.

“Look at the clouds there.” Strings of lightning bolts cruised across the sky in the distance, followed by a loud clash a few seconds later. Their continuous sparks created an electrical spider web, and the puffed clouds were illuminated from behind.

“It’s beautiful. It’s like magic is being created right up in the skies,” he said.

The first raindrops fell, but we didn’t move. I lifted my face up to the sky to feel each drop of rain splatter over my skin. Moments like these, away from home, in peace, were priceless. A loud shriek of happiness drew my attention back toward the dance floor.

“Looks like Daisy is having fun,” I said.

“Yeah, she’s definitely something.” He looked at her for a moment longer, but then turned back to me with more interest. My heart warmed, and I got a nervous feeling in my stomach, one I’d never felt before.

“Do you like her?” I asked.

He reached up and pulled his fingers through his hair, the way I’d seen his older brother Maxwell do. The gesture shaped deep grooves in his hair, and it looked nice. I wished I could style my hair with the pull of my fingers, but my curls would get stuck in between.

“Ahm, I do, but I also like you.”

“You should take her out on a date.”

“I dunno. What if I want to take someone else out on a date?”

“Who?”

“You.”

What? No, that couldn’t happen. Dating a boy would bring too much attention from Father, and the last thing I wanted was to be on his radar. I’d ducked enough times to avoid him, and I wasn’t about to put a bull’s eye on my back again. Besides, we were only ten, and dating was out of the question. I shouldn’t have even asked.

“You can’t. I can’t. There’s no way Father would ever let me.”

“I could ask him.”

“Carter, we’re ten. We’re not supposed to date.”

“You brought it up. Besides, Nick and Jo are dating.”

“They told you that?”

“No, but they’re always together.”

“They’re best friends, the same way we are.”

“You think your father would disapprove?” he asked.

“Disapproval is the least of my worries. I can’t date now, and I won’t date in the future. Dating is not even an option until I’m… thirty, I think.”

“You sound way too mature for your age. I just thought we could have ice cream together, or maybe hold hands?”

“Carter, I can hold your hand when we’re together, but promise me you’ll never ask me out again. Please,” I begged. “Promise me. I need a friend, not a boyfriend.”

I wish I had known at the time that I could have both. I wish I hadn’t carried the silly belief of boyfriends and friends being a separate thing into my young adult life, but that was the lesson I’d been taught: avoid boys.

Carter stuck out his hand, extending his pinkie my way. “I pinkie swear, Molly. I will always be your friend.”

I reached mine out and hooked it with his.

Carter Clark always knew how to put a smile on my face.

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