Page 9 of Ten Years and Then…
It wasn’t just a date, no matter how Nora tried to convince herself otherwise. Yesterday, she’d told herself that even if tonight was a total washout, what Daniel had said when he’d asked her out was enough all by itself.
She wanted to believe it, but one conversation couldn’t erase everything she’d thought about herself since she was fourteen. On the other hand, maybe one really fantastic date that reinforced what he’d said could help her start to write a new chapter. In permanent ink.
“I guess I am,” she said after a while. “So can you help me decide what to wear, since I’m not having any luck figuring it out for myself?”
Kim put an arm around her and with her free hand started shoving hangers aside. She didn’t speak for a couple of minutes, except for the occasional “hm” and “uh, maybe” and, once or twice, “ugh!” Then, “There. That’s it! It’s perfect.”
Kim’s hand was on a pale blue floral-print dress. Her aunt Rachel had bought it for her Christmas before last, and it had sat untouched since then in her closet, first at home and now here at school. Nora couldn’t honestly recall packing it—but, hadn’t Rachel helped her pack for college?
She pulled the dress out, held it up against herself. Kim nodded. “It really brings out your eyes.”
“But does it fit? I’ve had it for almost two years and I never wore it.”
Kim took a step back, eyed her up and down. “Looks like it should. You haven’t put on the freshman fifteen, so I don’t see why it wouldn’t. I’m very jealous about that, by the way, but we can talk about that another day.”
“Only one way to find out.” A minute later, she had it on, and it did fit. Better than just about anything else in her closet, truth be told. How had Rachel managed that?
It didn’t matter. What mattered was that Kim was right, it was perfect for tonight. It was cute without being too much—exactly what a girl who Daniel had noticed for being funny rather than for how she looked would wear on a date. At least, she hoped so; she’d only been that girl for a little more than twenty-four hours.
“It definitely fits,” Kim confirmed. “Now twirl for me,” Nora did, and Kim grinned at her and clapped. “And it does totally bring out your eyes. He’s going to love it. Now let’s get your makeup on and get you out the door already.”
Daniel, the same time
Before he walked out of the stairwell and onto the second floor of the dorm, Daniel was already rethinking this. Did he really need to iron his shirt? Nobody noticed little things like that, right?
Of course they did. Maybe not doing the little things like that was why he hadn’t had a proper girlfriend since 1986. Probably not the only reason, but definitely one of them.
He was at the door to Room 218 without even realizing it. Even though it was ajar, he knocked anyway, and a voice answered, but not the one he was hoping for. This was Jeanette Fitzgerald’s room, and while there had to be a dozen people in the dorm who owned an iron, Jeanette was the only one who he knew for sure had one.
“Come in.” It was Anjali’s voice. He’d forgotten that she was roommates with Jeanette. “Daniel? What are you doing down here?” She didn’t sound unwelcoming, just confused. She sat on the bed, looking up at him with those soft brown eyes, pushing dark hair away from her face.
“I was hoping your roommate was here. I need to borrow her iron.” It was only now that he realized he was carrying his shirt. He couldn’t help laughing at himself when he saw her noticing it. “I guess I’m a little distracted today.”
“What, are you getting ready for a hot date or something?” Anjali’s tone wasn’t quite teasing, but almost.
The answer came out before he knew what he was saying. “Yeah. And I really want everything to be just right.” Normally, he never would have admitted that, and if by some miracle he had, he’d be blushing almost into the infrared.
But not tonight. And Anjali noticed.
“Good for you,” she said, staring up at him appraisingly now. He couldn’t recall her—or any of the girls in the dorm, for that matter—ever looking at him quite that way before. “Jeannette isn’t here, but her iron is. I’m assuming you know how to use one?” His hesitation was all the answer she needed. “Never mind. Give me the shirt, I’ll do it for you. Wouldn’t want you burning it.”
It only took her a couple of minutes to iron it. It did look much better now. “Thanks.” He laughed. “It’s kind of weird, you’re the last girl I kissed, and you’re helping me get ready for a date.” He hadn’t expected to say that, either. But why not? Why shouldn’t he be confident enough to joke around? Nora saw—well, whatever she’d seen in him, why shouldn’t he believe she was right to see it?
For her part, Anjali was surprised as well, and then sad, maybe? But only for an instant, and then she laughed herself. “You probably shouldn’t mention that tonight. Your date might not appreciate it.”
For the third time in five minutes, Daniel surprised himself. “Actually, I think she’ll think it’s hilarious. I’m definitely telling her.”
Now Anjali was staring hard at him, and he could almost read her thoughts. Last Christmas, under the mistletoe, she’d kissed him and then touched his cheek, called him sweet and then hadn’t looked at him again the rest of the school year. She was seeing a different version of him now—the Daniel that Nora had seen yesterday. Maybe she was even wondering if that person had been there last Christmas and she’d just missed it.
“Hey, good luck tonight,” she said. “I hope you have a great time. And, Daniel?” She handed back the shirt, patting his hand as she did. “She’s lucky. Remember that, okay?”
“I’ll try,” he answered. “Thank you, Anjali. I really appreciate it.” He hoped she understood that he meant not just the ironing but her words. Her smile—equal parts hopeful and wistful—said that she understood him perfectly.
Nora, 6:55 p.m.
In the end, Kim had to just about push her out the door. “Your hair is fine, your makeup is fine, the dress is fine, now go already,” she’d said, and then locked the door the moment Nora stepped into the hallway. She was halfway to the elevator when Kim opened the door again to shout, “And have a good time! Dates are supposed to be fun!”
It was good advice. If Daniel really meant what he’d said, and if her initial read on him was correct, there wasn’t anything to be nervous about, was there? There was no reason not to enjoy a nice meal with a cute guy and maybe afterwards a romantic evening walk on a moonlit October night, right? The quad got pretty dark, you could see plenty of stars. It would be lovely.
