“Of course, Bootsi. But I am there for you, too. You did not do anything wrong, just like you said. It is just circumstances. It will be hard, but everyone will be okay with it, eventually.”
Bootsi almost ran out of the bathroom.
Sara sighed and started to wash her hands. Her eyes went to the mirror over the basin. She saw the stall door open and Trinity come out.
Sara whirled around. “Oh, Trinity!”
Trinity’s eyes were huge. Tears were streaming down her face.
“Trinity, I am so sorry!”
Through huge wracking sobs, Trinity managed to say, “It is okay. They did not do it on purpose. I even told them it was okay. I kept wanting to say something while Bootsi was telling you, but I could not even move.”
“Trinity, what do you want me to do? It is last period study hall. I could take you home.”
“No,” Trinity said after a few moments. “Let me fix myself. I will be out in a minute. I am just glad no one else came in.”
“Are you sure you do not want…”
“I will be okay, Sara, really,” Trinity insisted. “I just have to find a way to make everyone feel okay.”
“They will be,” Sara said. “You will be, too.”
“I wish Daddy was here,” Trinity said.
“I know,” Sara said softly. “Maybe, if you call, he can get back.”
Trinity shook her head. “Cannot even get in touch with him until next Friday.”
When Sara left the bathroom she went to find Miss Murcheson.
“Of course I will be there,” Miss Murcheson said, after Sara explained and asked her to come to the house right after school.
Trinity cried in Miss Murcheson’s arms for some time, the teacher murmuring words of comfort to her. “Why not stay with me, tonight,” Miss Murcheson suggested.
“Daddy knows I am here. I think I should stay,” Trinity said. Sara and Miss Murcheson could both see the wishful look on Trinity’s face.
“Miss Murcheson, you could stay here tonight. We have plenty of room. Or you could spend the night in Trinity’s room, if you wanted.”
Trinity’s look was now hopeful.
“We have anything you might want. You would not even need to go home first.”
“Trinity?” Miss Murcheson asked.
“Please?” Trinity asked, the tears starting again.
“Of course I will, Trinity,” Miss Murcheson said.
“I will go let Jason and the staff know you are staying, too,” Sara said.
By the middle of the evening Trinity’s tears had finally stopped for good. She was able to think and talk rationally. She, Sara, Jason, and Miss Murcheson talked then. Even Jeannette contributed constructively. Trinity had come up with a plan to let Bootsi and Alan know that everything was all right.
All except Jason headed up to the bedrooms. Miss Murcheson cut her eyes over to Sara when Jason said, obviously specifically to Sara, “I will be up in a while. I need to check something in the shop.”
Sara nodded. She noticed Miss Murcheson watching her and said, “I think I should probably explain.”
Normally, Miss Murcheson, being the person she was, would have casually brushed off the offer. But the last two years, dealing with Trinity, Jason, Sara and their friends, as well as the new experience of falling in love with Mathew Vandeuson, had brought about a few changes in Miss Murcheson.
So she said, “I suspect it will be interesting.”
With a wry smile Sara replied, “You may choose other words when you hear it. Just come on in when you want.”
Sara stepped into the bedroom as Trinity took Miss Murcheson to the room they would be using.
Trinity and Miss Murcheson were both in the bedroom with Sara, talking, when Jason entered. He glanced at Miss Murcheson, but went directly to the bathroom.
“Perhaps we should go to our room, Trinity,” Miss Murcheson said.
“You need not,” Sara said.
“It is true,” Trinity added. “Just wait and watch.”
And Miss Murcheson had to admit the two girls were right. Jason did not seem to mind their presence. When he came back into the bedroom from the bathroom, attired in pajamas and robe, he simply slipped into the bed, flipped off the lights on that side, rolled over and pulled the blankets up over his shoulder.
“See?” Trinity said.
Miss Murcheson noted that both girls spoke in quieter tones, but did continue to talk.
“So I see,” she said after a few moments.
It was only two days before the prom and Sara, Trinity, Bootsi and Pricilla were still working out details.
“Bootsi, it really would have been okay for you and Alan to go to the prom to-gether,” Trinity was saying.
“I know,” Bootsi said. “But with so many of us not going with anyone special, we both decided to go with a group, rather than as a couple. And Trinity… You will dance with him?”
“Sure,” Trinity replied. “He is a good dancer. I wish he would quit worrying about me. Things happen. Not to be too blunt about it, I loved him, I guess, but he really was not the love of my life. I knew that before everything happened.”
“I know. And I guess I feel the same way. I do not see us getting married,” Bootsi said. “Like you said. Things just happen. I am sorry about the way that particular thing happened. I am glad we stayed friends. All of us, including Alan.”
“Me, too,” Trinity said. “So, back to the subject at hand. We five rent a limo, go together, then come back here for the night. Right? This time?”
“That has been what I have said from the first,” Sara replied.
“Well, Pricilla was the one that wanted… OW!” Bootsi said when Pricilla reached over and pinched Bootsi’s leg.
“Look! I was just thinking out loud, okay? Marvin and I are not going to go to a hotel and do it.”
“Yeah,” Trinity said quietly. “Alan and I actually talked about prom night being our first time.”
Bootsi hung her head. “Me, too. Uh… Not Alan. When I was going out with Tom.”
“I did not even think about thinking about it,” Kathy said. “I am not sure who would kill me first, my mom, my dad, Sara or Jason.”
“You guys think about it way too much,” Sara said. “It is the Senior Prom, sure. But it is our Prom, not our Wedding night.”
“Easy for you to say,” Trinity said. She looked over at the bed. “You have someone special, even if it is not like we were talking about.”
Sara looked at each one of them. “You guys do know that nothing is going on. You believe it.”
“I would anyway, I think,” Bootsi said. “But we were all there when Jason took you to the hospital when you had the problem with your period. We heard the doctor say you were still a virgin.”
“Of course, that was months ago. Things could have changed by now,” Kathy said. She was grinning and already diving off the chair, away from Sara.
The others laughed as Sara growled at them. “You guys are so one minded. I thought boys were supposed to have this on their mind all the time, not us.”
There was a knock and Jeannette entered the room. She wore only a pair of panties and crop top tee shirt. “You guys know where Jason is? I want to see what he thinks of my prom outfit.”
“I am sure he will like it. All the boys will,” Bootsi said.
“Not this! I wanted to show him my dress. I just do not want to put it on unless I can show it to him. He is the one that said I should get it. If he changes his mind, I may just kill him.”
The others grinned. All had heard the casual comment Jason had made when they were all out picking prom dresses. Jeannette had taken the comment to heart.
“Are you sure you do not want to go with us?” Pricilla asked.
“Brodrick really wants to get a limo himself. I am beginning to think he just wants to show off.”
“With you on his arm, he will be able to,” Sara said. “Jason was right. You are going to be beautiful in that dress
.”
Jeannette actually blushed. “Cut it out. You four are probably the prettiest girls in school, with the possible exception of Joanie. And me.” She grinned. “Where is Joanie? I thought she would be here for the last minute meeting.”
“She had to go with her mother to take her brother to the dentist.”
“I guess I will just have to catch him later. I need to go get my hair done.”
“You are not going to wait until the day?” Bootsi asked.
“No. I am wearing it down. I just need a trim and wash. Then I will wash it, dry it, and brush it the night of the prom.”
“Smart,” Sara said, grinning at the others.
“Yeah, just because that is the same thing you are going to do,” Trinity replied. “Some of us have at least a little idea of style.”
“I still say you should wear yours up, Sara,” said Bootsi. “All that beautiful red hair!”
“It is too much work,” Sara said. “I do think you are going to look fantastic with yours the way you plan to wear it. Jason is right about that, too.”
“If he was going with us, I would say he was just trying to get a harem together, just the way he likes it, with all the suggestion we wound up prompting, then taking,” Trinity said.
“Does anyone know who he is taking?” Pricilla asked.
They all looked at Sara. “Why are you all looking at me? You know our arrangement.”
“We know that,” Bootsi said. “But like Trinity said, you guys talk. It is almost like the way my parents talk to one another.”
“Hey, do not get carried away here. We already had that conversation, anyway,” Sara replied.
“I sure would like to know who the lucky girl is,” Pricilla said. “I really thought he might ask me, but… Oh, well.”
“You really thought he might?” Bootsi said. “I thought… just maybe… When he found out that Alan and I would not be going together, that he might ask me.”
“Really?” Trinity said. “Me, too… sort of… Sara and I talked about it a long time ago. I thought she should get him to take her. Then when Alan and I split up, knowing Jason, I really thought he might ask me. You know… Sympathy.”
“I actually asked him,” Jeannette said, standing by the door. “Since I am a guest here, and with all the other nice things he has done… I thought he would take me, if I asked.”
“I do not believe you guys!” Sara said, rather annoyed. “He is not some prize! And sure it is okay to ask a guy… I still think all of you should have… But I have no room to talk there. Anyway, Jason has the right to go with someone he wants to go with, not because he feels sympathy, or obligation or anything else. Just because it should be a fun time and he wants to be with the girl. Geez!”
The others looked a little sheepish.
“But he is so handsome in his tuxedo!” Pricilla finally burst out.
“And the way he dances!” Bootsi said.
“He pulls out your chair and opens doors and just does all those gentlemanly things!” added Trinity.
“I have never seen him get upset, about anything, even when I am… less than perfect,” Jeannette said.
The other girls chuckled. Except Sara. She frowned.
“That is what I mean,” Sara said. “You each want him to take you for something specific. He should just take someone that wants to have a nice time.”
With that, Sara stood and said, “I think I will go down and see if Duchess has the food ready.”
“I think we upset her,” Bootsi said when Sara left.
“She gets really defensive of him, sometimes. And the funny thing is, I really do think they just share the room and the bed,” Jeannette said, thoughtfully.
“Oh, well,” Trinity said. “Jason is not taking any of us, or Sara. We do have a plan, and no doubt will have a good time. It is just like Halloween a couple years ago. We just have to wait to see what surprise Jason comes up with.”
Bootsi said, “I can hardly wait.” She grinned. “You think Sara will mow him down, this time?”
The others laughed and Pricilla said, “He has a knack of staying just out of her reach, when she is ready to throttle him.”
“Mine too,” Trinity added. “And he has given me reason, lately.”
“Your Dad and Miss Murcheson?” Bootsi asked.
Trinity nodded. “I cannot believe how well that is going. I think they are going to get married. But not until after I graduate.”
“That is so cool,” Pricilla said. “She is great. And your dad is too. They deserve each other.”
Trinity smiled. “Yeah! I just hope Daddy does not lose his nerve.”
“Jason,” Sara said, two days later, as she put the finishing touches on her makeup, “you are going to be late.”
“I have plenty of time,” he replied, laying on the top of the blankets on the bed in his robe. “You have to leave early to pick up the others. It is just easier to wait until you finish up.”
Sara turned to look at him. “I did not think I got in your way all that much. I have tried not to all this time.”
“You do not. There has never been any problem. You know that. You are just stalling, hoping I will tell you who I am taking to the prom. Now, if you do not hurry, you will be late getting the others. The limo has been here for almost ten minutes.”
“Okay, Okay.”
Sara stood and looked at herself in the full length mirror. “Do I look okay?” she asked.
“You are beautiful, as always,” Jason replied.
“You always say that,” Sara responded. “I better go, then.”
“There is one thing…”
Jason rose as Sara hurriedly checked her appearance again.
“What?” she asked.
“The necklace Mrs. Erickson gave you looks nice, but it really does not go with the dress.”
“It does not matter,” Sara said, surprised Jason would mention it. “I wear it because I love it. And because Mrs. Erickson gave it to me.”
“I know,” Jason replied. “And as pretty as it is, I thought you might want something just to match the dress.”
Jason slipped a jewelry box from his pocket and handed it to Sara. “This is a prom present. I thought I might start a tradition, or something,” he said.
“We only have one Senior Prom, you know, Jason,” Sara said.
Then she opened the box. “Oh, Jason! No! I cannot accept this!” She stared at the beautiful necklace, even as she tried to hand the box back to him.
“Why?” Jason asked, simply looking at her face.
“It is too expensive! I… do not have anything for you… It is not appropriate!”
“For the dress and the prom?” Jason asked.
Sara’s eyes lifted to Jason’s face. “For you to give to me when I do not feel the same way toward you that you do toward me,” she replied softly.
“We are friends now, Sara, above all else,” Jason replied, just as softly. “That necklace suits you, the dress, and the prom. And, if it will ease your mind any, I actually got all of you something. Prom Presents. It is tradition with me. Did you not know?”
Jason took five other similar boxes from the drawer of the nightstand and handed one to Sara. Setting hers down on the bed, Sara opened the box Jason handed her. Her eyes lifted to Jason’s face.
“They are all the same,” he said.
“You did orchestrate the whole thing!” Sara said. “You influenced every one of them in some way. The necklaces will look great on each of them.”
“Tradition,” Jason repeated.
“These together are not worth anywhere close to what mine does alone,” Sara said, still protesting.
“So? You think any of them will care?”
“No! Of course not! Things like that do not matter to them! Oh…” Sara’s words trailed off.
“But I have nothing for you. Again.”
“If you wear that, it will give me great pleasure, Sara. What more can a person want?” The slightly quirky sm
ile formed on Jason’s lips. “And, after everything is resolved, sometime in the future, you can always hock it and use the money to hire a hit man to get me.”
“Oh, no,” Sara said, her hand going to Jason’s face, her eyes on his. “If I want you maimed, I will do it myself.”
Her hand dropped and she quickly cut her eyes away. “Okay. Because we are friends. But you have to let me do something more than just give you pleasure in seeing me wear it.”
“Dance the next to last dance with me tonight?”
Sara smiled slightly. “Not the last dance?”
Jason, too, smiled. “Not appropriate. I will dance that dance with my escort, as is proper.”
With a growl, Sara handed Jason the one box, removed the necklace he had given her from the box on the bed and moved to the dressing table to exchange it for the one she wore.
“Now you are perfect,” Jason said when Sara turned around again.
“No one is perfect,” Sara replied quietly. “Especially me.”
“True, but you are very close,” Jason said. He handed the other jewelry boxes to Sara.
She took them with a surprised look. “Would you give these to everyone? I do not want to do it at the prom, and you will be seeing them… Brodrick will be here to pick up Jeannette momentarily. You can catch her if you hurry.”
“Coward,” Sara said.
“Yes,” Jason replied.
“Okay. But you owe me for it.” Sara smiled at Jason and touched the necklace at her throat. “This in no way makes up for it. There are going to be five, probably blubbering, women to deal with.”
“I know. You just name you price tomorrow and I will gladly pay it.”
Sara just shook her head and hurried out.
Jason took his time getting dressed. It had been a very long time since he had worn a kilt. When he thought he had things just right he checked his research notes to make sure everything was as it should be. He had already cleared the wearing of the dirk and sgian-dubh with the school officials.
He was not sure he was going to get out of the house. Mrs. MacDougal took one look at the evening dress kilt attire and hugged him. Her eyes filled with tears. Candy was grinning when she and Jason finally made it to the limo.
The Contract Page 34
