Page 54 of Until Now
She’s smiling like she’s having fun talking with me. Am I imagining that?
“Are you two going to the dance next Saturday?” Hunter finds the courage to ask.
“What dance?” Frankie asks.
“They’re having a welcome back to school dance for all the grades,” Hunter says.
“Bing’s band, The Other Side, might be playing,” Beth adds.
“You have a band? I love music.”
Across the table, I see Hunter reach for Beth’s hand under the table.
The sound of a cheap microphone pierces the great moment.
“Attention, students! Attention!”
Mr. Wilson, the Principal, already looks like it’s next June. His hair is a mess, and his eyes look tired. But he has the announcement we’re waiting for.
“The votes have been tallied, and The Other Side will be performing at our first dance of the school year. Thank you to all who tried out. It was a close count, but The Other Side had the most votes. Thank you.”
Well, he didn’t have to add that. We thought we’d win in a landslide.
I turn to Frankie, and she smiles. It’s good to be a rockstar.
* * *
It’s been one whole week since we started our weight-lifting routine. I may be fooling myself, but it looks like my pecs and biceps are a little bigger. We hung a mirror in Hunter’s garage so we can watch ourselves as we lift. Mom told me Dad used to do that. For some reason, it makes me happy to think about it.
“I’ve got a great idea,” I say to Hunter.
He’s getting used to my great ideas, and what I like about it most is that he joins in my plans.
“What is it?”
“I want to give Frankie some cool flowers for the dance. Make a grand gesture she won’t forget.”
I get a sneer for my effort.
“You know, like high schoolers do for proms.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, and she told me she loves flowers. Her mom works in a flower shop. I could make points with her too.”
Hunter makes a loud groan as he reaches the limit of his curls. “Awwwww!”
“I guess it would be something a girl would like.”
“So I googled it, and there’s a Tennessee flower called the Frances Fan. It’s this small red flower that looks like a Japanese fan. Don’t you think that’s awesome?”
“I guess. Where do you buy it?”
“That’s the thing. We have to go dig it up.”
“Where?”
“It’s in the entry of the caves by the river. I know exactly where.”
“Are you crazy? That’s at least an hour and a half away. And we need to be at school at five-thirty.”
“That gives us plenty of time. It’s only ten in the morning. Come on! Help a brother.”
“We’re supposed to take care of the dogs today. Did you forget your mom and Maxen are going on a picnic?”
“We’ll take the dogs. It’ll be an adventure. Did you forget we’re the Explorers?”
