No Place Like Homecoming

by Dallen, Maggie

  I could totally relate.

  He outright ignored her questions as he shuffled toward the exit. “I actually need to head over to the restaurant. I’m on dish duty until closing. Mrs. Messner, if we’re good here…”

  “Go, go. We’ll see you at the party.” She waved him off as she fitted a straw-covered hat on Callie’s head. “There. If we take in the overalls at the bottoms, you’ll be a perfect Scarecrow.”

  “Uh huh.” She frowned down at herself as Mrs. Messner headed toward a back room. “All the boys will come a runnin’ for sure if I wear this.”

  I blinked in surprise at the bitterness in Callie’s tone. I’d probably spent more time with Callie than anyone else this week—including my aunt, who I only ever saw over dinner, and those conversations were stilted, at best. But in all the time I’d spent having lunch with Callie and hanging out with her between classes, I’d never seen her anything but cheerful.

  This jaded tone was kind of alarming. I could see Willow and Savannah were caught off guard too, and Willow took a hesitant step toward her. From what I knew of Willow, she wasn’t exactly the go-to in an emotional crisis.

  Savannah looked just as wary. “Look, Roman’s just blind, that’s all.”

  Callie nodded, but she picked at the straw on her costume as she mumbled, “He’s not blind when it comes to you.”

  Savannah opened her mouth and shut it. For all her attitude, she looked strikingly upset at the accusation. “I didn’t...I mean, I never tried…”

  “I know you didn’t,” Callie said, and I let out a relieved breath at the hint of a smile on her face. “It’s not your fault you’re hot.”

  Savannah struck a pose that was just ridiculous enough that even I laughed along with the others. “Jealousy is a disease, Callie.”

  Willow patted Callie’s shoulder awkwardly. “There are other guys out there.”

  I winced. She meant well, but it was clear she had no idea how not helpful that comment was when you had your heart set on one guy, and that one guy had no idea you were alive.

  Or that one guy finally noticed you were alive but you had to leave and so now he probably forgot you ever existed.

  I shook off the thought and broke the awkwardness in the room by moving toward Callie with crossed arms. “Who is this Roman and why did he bum you out?”

  Callie’s smile was bittersweet. “It doesn’t matter. I’m used to it.”

  I scoffed and realized that all eyes were on me. Callie was the only person who’d made an attempt to make me feel comfortable in this awful town, and I didn’t have to pretend to be offended on her behalf. “Whoever this guy is, he’s an idiot.”

  Callie’s eyes arched up. “He is?”

  I nodded, pulling up every last vestige of self-assurance that always managed to get me through. “You’re adorable—”

  She looked like she might interrupt.

  “And with my help, you’re going to be undeniable.”

  Her lips quivered and then she grinned. “Undeniable, huh?”

  Savannah was giving me a weird look I couldn’t quite interpret, but I ignored her.

  “Yes, undeniable.”

  Callie gave a short little laugh. “That’s gonna be hard considering he doesn’t even know I exist.”

  “Here’s the thing,” I said, getting into my new big sister role. “Most boys are really basic. They believe what they see. So if you want this guy to think you’re something different, just show him something different.”

  Willow was staring at me like I’d spoken a foreign language. “You make it sound so easy.”

  “It is.” I shrugged, and managed to shrug off some of my own doubts while I was at it. “Callie, you could have this guy eating out of the palm of your hand if you really wanted. The question is, do you want that.”

  She frowned. “Yeah. I do.”

  I shrugged again. “In my opinion, most guys aren’t worth going to so much trouble.”

  Logan being the exception, of course. Everyone knew he was the ungettable get. The prize I’d been working toward. The last piece of the puzzle for my parents to finally realize that I had what it took to be in their world.

  But some loser who worked for a catering company that worked kids birthday parties in the middle of nowhere?

  Definitely not worth the effort.

  “I think what Isla means,” Willow said slowly, doubt in her eyes as she cast me a funny look, “is that if he doesn’t see how amazing you are right now then he’s not good enough to be with you.”

  I met Willow’s questioning look with a shrug. Yeah, sure. That worked too.

  Savannah sighed as she came to stand beside me. “I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but I think the new girl is right.” She wrapped an arm around Callie’s shoulders. “Guys like Roman aren’t worth your time.”

  Savannah cast me another funny look, but this time I thought I understood it for what it was. Approval.

  I was fairly certain they’d all missed the point, but whatever. That was what it came down to. Could Callie get any guy she wanted? Of course. But did she want to? Probably not. In my opinion, the end was rarely worth the sacrifice.

  Was Logan worth it?

  I drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly.

  He’d better be.

  He was all I had left. My last chance to have the sort of life my parents had.

  There was no way on earth I’d let him screw this up just because I was temporarily off his radar.

  “I’ll be right back, I just need to, um…”

  No one was paying attention, so I ducked back out the front door and dialed Logan before I could second guess myself.

  Six

  Isla

  Logan didn’t answer.

  But I wasn’t worried. He was probably busy, that was all.

  I went back inside and let Mrs. Messner ‘work her magic,’ as she put it. Her magic entailed braiding my hair and sticking me in a ridiculous and uncomfortable blue gingham dress. “Please tell me there won’t be a real live dog in this basket,” I said.

  Mrs. Messner reached into a crate and held up a stuffed dog in triumph. “Too many kids have allergies these days,” she said. “We can’t do live animals anymore.”

  “Plus, there were too many accidents, if you know what I mean,” Callie added under her breath. “We found out the hard way just how crazy these rich people can be when it comes to their white carpets.”

  I gave a little snort-laugh that turned into a yelp as she yanked way too hard moving a piece of hair into place. “Ouch.”

  “Sorry, dear,” Mrs. Messner sang in a cheerful voice. “But the better your costume, the better your tips.”

  “Yeah, about that,” I started. “How much do you guys make in tips?”

  And would it be enough to buy a plane ticket home in time for homecoming?

  The girls threw out some numbers that made my stomach sink. Basically, if I worked a gig a night nonstop from now until the end of the month, maybe I’d be able to afford a one-way flight.

  I took a deep breath. I would not get discouraged. I would not get discouraged. Where there was a will there was a way, right?

  “Do you need money for something in particular, dear?” Mrs. Messner looked concerned. But was she concerned enough to up my hourly rate to something that wasn’t so horrifically demeaning? That was the question.

  “Um, well, actually…” All eyes were on me and I debated how much to tell them.

  I hadn’t gotten much from my aunt about Mrs. Messner. All I knew was that they were friendly, but they didn’t seem to be besties or anything. I couldn’t really imagine my cranky old aunt hanging out with the bubbly and frazzled Mrs. Messner often.

  They were waiting. And I decided to try. “I’m hoping to make enough for a flight home.”

  Savannah’s brows arched. “You’re running back home already?”

  My brows came down. She'd managed to say ‘you wuss’ without actually saying it, which was...kin
d of impressive, to be honest. But I was so not in the mood for her attitude. “I’m not running back home,” I said. “I need to get back for homecoming.”

  “Ooh,” Callie said with the sort of girly sigh that made me cringe. “You have a boyfriend waiting?”

  I opened my mouth and then shut it. Kind of. Sorta? He would never be my boyfriend if I didn’t get back there and stake my claim. “I have a date,” I said. “And a crown.”

  Savannah scoffed. “You’re up for homecoming queen?”

  I narrowed my eyes and she met my glare. Somewhere in the distance I was pretty sure I heard the opening whistling sounds of The Good, The Bad, the Ugly.

  “I wish I could give you an advance,” Mrs. Messner said with a wince of regret. “But I’ve been sending every extra cent to Jackson.”

  “Her son,” Willow informed me. “He just went off to college in New York with his girlfriend.”

  “His girlfriend,” Callie echoed with that same high sigh. “I love that he and Ruby finally got together.”

  I nodded. Uh huh. Good for them. I just adored hearing about random strangers’ happily ever afters when my own love life was a steaming pile of garbage.

  Savannah seemed to be thinking the same. “Could we take a break from the sappiness for a second?”

  The words would have been more cutting if she hadn’t just donned a tiara and a magic wand.

  “Back to business,” Willow said. And she sounded very businesslike.

  I exchanged a quick look with Savannah before we both glanced away from one another. I had a hunch she was the only one here who was on the same page as me...for better or for worse.

  “I doubt you can make enough to fly back in time,” Willow continued.

  “Yeah, just look at Flynn,” Callie said. “He’s been busting his butt just to get enough for gas and some food money for the long drive to the East Coast.”

  “He’s driving East?” I asked.

  “His mom and brothers moved to New Jersey to be near her family since their dad left and she lost her job,” Willow said.

  Somehow, Willow’s matter-of-fact tone somehow made me feel that much worse for Flynn. Like, this wasn’t some sob story. Just his life.

  That sucked.

  But also… “He’s driving to New Jersey?”

  “That’s his plan,” Callie said.

  Savannah looked annoyed, and I had to wonder if it was because she was pissed her boyfriend was leaving without her or that they were discussing his life with the new girl or—

  “I just don’t get how he’s going to drive there and then be back in time to finish up the first semester,” she said.

  I frowned. Okay, apparently she was worried about his grades. I mentally rolled my eyes. These people were weird.

  There were obviously way more important things to be concerned with here like, “When’s he supposed to leave?”

  All eyes swung in my direction. Callie shrugged. “As soon as he can pull together enough money, I guess.”

  I nodded. Right. That made sense. What else made sense? Splitting the costs with someone else who needed to get to the East Coast in a hurry. Someone like me.

  For the first time in days, some of my original hopefulness came back.

  This could be a win-win for both of us. All I had to do was ask.

  I cringed at the memory of being in his car. Of saying rather rudely that I didn’t need his help. Of giving him a hard time at every turn. Of being undeniably awful every time we’d interacted.

  Ungrateful and spoiled and every other word my parents used to describe me when I messed up.

  They weren’t wrong.

  I was all of those things.

  I wasn’t proud of it, but I’d stopped caring a long time ago. I mean, why try when it never changed anything. People saw you a certain way and sometimes it was just easier to go with it.

  Besides, if I was spoiled, it was their fault, right? They were the ones who’d thrown money at me instead of attention. And if I was selfish, that was how it had to be. They’d taught me at the ripe old age of five that the only person who was looking out for me was me. Anyone who said otherwise was either being paid to take care of you or had something to gain from earning your trust.

  I know, I know. Jaded much? But I couldn’t help it if I’d learned these lessons the hard way. And then my parents wondered why I had an ‘attitude.’

  Please.

  My only problem was that right now that attitude was going to bite me in the butt.

  Again.

  There was no way Flynn would do me any favors. And there was no way I could ask him for help.

  I sighed as I tipped my head back to stare up at the ceiling.

  “What’s with the new girl?” Savannah asked.

  “She has a name, Savannah,” Willow chided.

  “And she’s new,” Callie pointed out, the comment somewhat redundant. “Give her a break.”

  I arched my brows as Mrs. Messner placed some tacky sequined ruby slippers by my feet. “See if these fit.”

  Slipping my feet in, I tried not to think about who all had worn these before me.

  “A little big,” Mrs. Messner said. “But with some stuffing in the front they should work.”

  Her smile was so bright that I couldn’t help but return it. But in my head all I could imagine was my mother’s horror if she’d heard those words. Mrs. Messner tipped her head to the side. “By the way, how’s your mother doing, Isla?”

  Mrs. Messner was clearly psychic.

  My mind went blank as it tried to imagine a world in which Mrs. Messner and my mother knew each other. “Umm…”

  Her smile broadened. “I haven’t seen her in years. Not since the last time she visited your Aunt Lucy.”

  I blinked. My mother had visited Aunt Lucy? She’d never mentioned that. Not in all her lectures about how good this experience would be for me.

  Interesting.

  “She’s...fine,” I said. As I said it, I realized that I had no idea if that was true or not. My mom’s life always seemed...fine. Hectic. Busy. And fine. But in all of our scheduled calls this week, she hadn’t told me much about what was going on at home.

  And to be honest, I hadn’t really asked.

  My phone’s ringing cut off the would-be conversation before it could get any more awkward and I made a lunge for the front door. Logan. I knew it would be Logan.

  “Isla, wait—”

  “Be right back!” I called over my shoulder before slipping outside and answering just a second too late, because as I clicked the button, I realized—

  “What’s with the braids, babe?”

  It was a video call.

  I scrambled to hold the phone at an angle so he couldn’t see the dress that went with the braids.

  “Just trying out a new look,” I said, tilting my head this way and that with my lips pursed. “The schoolgirl look. You like?”

  His chuckle was low and satisfyingly sexy. “I like any look on you.”

  I grinned, but my stomach was churning because...he wasn’t alone. I could hear people in the background, and a sense of dread filled me before I could stop it.

  It was stupid, but I couldn’t shake it. I headed down the front steps of Mrs. Messner’s house and onto the sidewalk. There were people around, but I ignored the stares as people walked past me to the restaurant two doors down.

  It likely wasn’t everyday that Dorothy appeared before them, ruby slippers and all.

  “What have I missed back home?” I asked.

  He shrugged and glanced over his shoulder. “Nothing new here. You know how it is.”

  I nodded, scrambling to think of something else to say. Waiting for him to ask me about life in the middle of nowhere.

  He didn’t.

  “You coming back soon?” he asked instead. His gaze wasn’t on the camera or me, it was on something happening behind his phone.

  “Yeah. Of course. I told you I wouldn’t be away for long.”


  His gaze finally found the screen and his smile eased some of that dread in my belly. “Right.”

  Someone said something to him that I couldn’t make out. It was a girl’s voice, but between the noises around me on the street and the music playing in the background on his end, the words were indecipherable. But I could guess what the girl said because his smile shifted. It looked way more forced. “You still think you’ll be back in time for homecoming?”

  My smile froze. “Yeah. Of course.”

  “Because Taylor said your parents cut you off, so—”

  “I’ll be there.” My voice was too sharp, my tone too brusque.

  He nodded. “Look, I’d better go. It’s getting loud in here.”

  And before I knew it, he was hanging up. And I had the horrible feeling that nothing was resolved. Did he believe me that I’d be back? Would he wait?

  I cursed Taylor for telling Logan about my mishap with the credit card, and then I cursed myself for ever having told her in the first place. Taylor and I had been friends for years. I knew better than anyone that she could never resist sharing gossip. If it was newsworthy to anyone, she’d be the first to spill.

  For a second, I almost let the dread win. This anxious pit threatened to swallow me whole, and I almost let it.

  Almost.

  But I’d been battling this sensation my whole life and it wasn’t about to win now. I straightened my shoulders. I drew a deep breath.

  I ignored the stares of an older couple walking past, and resisted the urge to snap at them. What, you’ve never seen Dorothy fight off a panic attack before?

  I could do this. Nothing would stop me. Nothing. I would fight and I would win, and in two weeks’ time, I would be on Logan’s arm with a freakin’ tiara on my head.

  I heard a door slam open and saw Flynn and some other guy carrying a giant trash bin out the side door of that restaurant the older couple had just walked into.

  I would get back home in time for homecoming...and I knew just how I’d do it.

  Seven

  Flynn

  The garbage bin landed on the ground with a thud, and Roman wiped his hands off on his apron. “Dude, don’t look now, but Dorothy is staring at you.”