Page 47 of Sass in the Grass

There was a dance that night, and one camper was playing DJ. Even Jovian was excited about it. Mostly because he knew Dixon would be there.

“So, we just saw Coach coming from here,” Mike started.

Kathy was not as cagey. “He was smiling all funny. What happened?”

“He likes me,” Jovian said, grinning wider as he pictured the man’s handsome, bearded face. Just picturing him, he got chills.

“We knew that.” Alan said and added, “We toldyouthat!”

Jovian finally sat up and placed his back against the wall. “We’re going on a date.”

“A date?” Kathy asked. “When? Where?”

Jovian’s smile faded. “Oh. Oh, well, after he said a bear would eat me, I forgot to ask.”

They all three stared at him.

“Oh, he was talking about my products and fragrance. He said I smelled good, that he could eat me, and that bears would too, so I shouldn’t wear them hiking or camping away from here.”

All three sighed and Kathy sat on his bunk. “I’m so happy for you.”

“Tell him, Kath,” Mike pushed.

“Tell me what?”

“I am going on a date, too. This guy from Utah. He…doesn’t mind…”

“Doesn’t mind what?” Jovian asked honestly. He thought Kathy was beautiful, even if her skin needed some treatment and she could use a workout. Just thinking those things, however, made him feel terribly guilty.

“That I’m…not physically a girl.”

“Hold on…he’s here, right? So…isn’t he some kind of queer?”

Alan laughed, but Mike explained, “I think he’s pan, so he is more attracted to the person and not the…you know, the stuff below the belly button.”

“Oh! Right. Ciana is bisexual, but mostly when she’s drinking at the club.”

“That’s drunk-sexual,” Alan said. “I know guys like that, too. A little repressed, maybe, possibly bi, but it only comes out when they’re drunk for whatever reason. It happens.”

“Yeah, she’s set on marrying a man, but I’ve seen her get pretty crazy with girls.” He knew they’d gotten off track. “Anyway, Kathy, good for you. Let me do your makeover for the date.”

Alan groaned, “Jovian…”

“No, it’s okay! I think that could be fun.”

“Thankgod, I’ve been dying to do it.”

They were going to the dance together, so Jovian got out his makeup case and started dumping products out on the bed, handing a few to Kathy. “Take this, and this, and this. Shampoo, deep conditioner for at least two minutes, then place a bunch of this on your hands and run it through your hair. Make sure you get all of it.” He found moisturizer and body scrub as well. “This is for in the shower,” he said of the scrub, “And this is for after. Use a lot, so your skin is just silky smooth.”

“Jovian, you do this every day?” Alan asked.

“Not just this, obviously, but we’re on a time crunch.”

“No wonder you don’t have time to eat breakfast.”

Jovian sent Kathy to her bunk and made her open her suitcase. “No more yellow. It’s not your color. Reds are out too. They make you look like you’re having a hot flash.”

“It…does?”

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