by Rita Delude
Seth said, “Look, I’ll text Cory and tell him to get over here. We need to work this out.”
“I don’t think he’ll come. He’ll be with her. Probably having sex,” Sophie said, and Tara ran into her bathroom and threw up.
“Cut it out Sophie, you’re making it worse. She’ll start…,” Amanda made a slicing motion against her wrist just as Tara came out of the bathroom, her eyes all puffy from crying.
“Sorry, Tara, I shouldn’t have said that. Cory’s not like that,” Sophie said.
“He’s coming now,” Seth told them.
They waited with only the sounds of Tara’s sniffling and their phones lighting up with messages to distract them until he arrived.
Chapter Fifteen
Tara’s sister, Maddy, let Cory in when he arrived and he bounded up to Tara’s room. She still sat on her bed crying, but much more softly by then. Cory pushed through the crowd in the room and sat on the bed beside her.
“What’s the matter, babe? Don’t cry,” he whispered.
“How can I not cry?” she asked as she shoved a picture of him and Honey hugging in front of the stage backdrop they had been painting.
“Oh, that. I hugged her because you left her there in a pool of tears. I just hugged her because you know how I can’t stand to see you or anyone cry. My munchkin sisters at home, when they cry, it breaks my heart. I hug them too. It meant nothing. I was just trying to calm her down.”
Tara shuffled away from him on the bed. “It looks like you were choosing her over me; that’s what everyone thinks. Is that what this is? Do you want to breakup? Because if you do, tell me now,” she demanded.
“No, I don’t. But I do want this shit to stop.” He stood up then and looked around the room at Amanda, Sophie, and Seth. “Honey is new in town, just like I was a few months ago. No one has cut her any slack.”
“The boys have,” the girls yelled together.
“So that’s what this is? Jealousy?” Seth asked. “Amanda, I’ve wanted only you since I was six, so you can’t be jealous. Right?”
“I am. Well, I was. Or, do you want Honey, too?” Amanda stuttered.
“No, I don’t want Amanda.”
“She dresses like a hoe,” Sophie said.
“I’ll admit the first week or so of school she dressed pretty sexy,” Seth said. “But lately, like today, she’s like in sweats or jeans and long sleeves, like all the rest of you. Nothing hoe-ish about that, right?”
The girls didn’t answer, but they nodded their agreement.
“She sucks those damn lollipops all the time and licks them, and you know right well what she’s telling you guys with that message,” Tara hissed.
Just then Mandy popped a bubble and realized her mistake and covered her mouth. “Sorry,” she said.
“There you go. Mandy’s the ‘Bubble Gum Girl’ and has been forever. No one’s ever hated her for that.”
“I can’t exactly say I love it,” Cory admitted. “Sorry, my history with bubble gum sucks. You know, that teacher in elementary school who made me wear it on my nose all day.”
“Yeah, but besides you, gum less, no one picks on Mandy for gum. Why should lollipops be any different? Maybe it’s an old habit or a nervous habit she can’t break. Just maybe if we all got to know her, we’d find out.”
“Half the guys in school have gotten to know her if you get my meaning,” Sophie said.
“Sophie, we can’t assume that,” Amanda warned.
“Amanda’s right. Just because a lot of guys have asked her out, doesn’t mean she’s putting out,” Cory said.
“Don’t the guys tell you two what they do?” Tara asked, moving in closer to Cory.
“If guys talk, they either tell you nothing or brag so much you know it’s a lie,” Cory said.
“So no one really knows what she’s like, whether Honey’s a hoe or just a regular girl trying to fit in?” Sophie asked.
“Exactly what I’m trying to say,” Seth said.
Silence filled the room as each of them thought back over the many weeks since school started and the many encounters each of them had had with Honey in class, at lunch, during club times, and at other places. Amanda was especially thinking of what she’d said to her at Rick’s Creamery.
“Shit,” Amanda said.
“Double shit,” Tara said.
“Ditto on that double shit,” Sophie said.
“Tara, don’t hate me,” Cory warned, “but before you spoke to Honey, I had just invited her to come alone or with a date to my Halloween party.”
“Perfect,” Tara said, and she leaned in and kissed him sweetly on the lips.
“Yes, we’ll start all over there,” Amanda said.
“Don’t wait for then. Try at school, so she feels welcome to the party. Otherwise, she might not come. I’ll talk to Henry. He’s dying to get a second date with her. Maybe he’ll ask her to go with him,” Seth added.
“Beth’s coming with Brody, so she won’t mind. Those two were never really right for each other, I guess,” Sophie said.
“I’m starving. Let’s raid the refrigerator,” Tara said, and they hustled from her room.
Chapter Sixteen
It was like a light switch had been turned on the next day at school. Tara and Cory were waiting outside the bus drop off spot when Honey descended the steps of the bus and started walking toward the school entrance; they kept pace with her. She felt like she was being stalked.
“I’m sorry for what I said yesterday. I really am, Honey,” Tara said.
“Is Cory making you say that?” Honey asked.
“Cory can’t make me say anything I don’t want to say. No one can.”
“Good. Then I accept your apology. Thanks. Honestly, we were just painting and talking. I wasn’t trying to steal him or anything.”
“I realize that now. I’m sorry,” Tara said.
“You said that. Forgiven. Forgotten. Forever. That’s my rule.”
“I like that,” Tara said.
“Hey, you want a lollipop? I’ve got a purse full.”
“Sure. Green if you have it.”
“I’ll have root beer,” Cory added.
They stopped while Honey fished through her purse and found one green and one root beer lollipop all the while sucking on her grape one.
“I know they’ll eventually rot my teeth, but it’s a nervous habit I started a few years ago. I’ve been through some things,” Honey said and reddened.
“I’m sorry,” Tara and Cory said in unison.
“Want to talk about it sometime?” Tara asked.
“It’s a dark secret. I’d have to know you really well before I’d let that one out,” Honey admitted.
“Well, maybe someday,” Tara said. “Hey, Cory says he invited you to his Halloween party. I’m sure it will be great. His mom’s involved and she’s crazy creative and cool, not like some moms. Any idea about a costume?”
“Not yet. I love to read, so I’m thinking maybe a character from a favorite book.”
“That’s so cool.”
“We’re going as Romeo and Juliet. I know it’s kind of cliché, but I want to see Cory in tights; like his tight football uniform.”
It was Cory’s turn to flush.
Honey could feel her heart open and her steps lighten. It was the best she’d felt walking into school since the start of the year. She hoped it wasn’t some kind of trick.
Classes proceeded as always, but in U.S. History class, Henry said he was going to Cory’s Halloween party and wondered if he could pick Honey up to take her with him. She kind of liked the idea of not walking into her first party in town alone. Henry had promised her over and over if she’d ever give him a second chance that he’d be on his best behavior, so she smiled at him, and said, “On one condition.”
Henry was sure he knew what she was going to say. She’d warn him that he wasn’t getting to touch her like he had before. And he was okay with that. Honey, he learned, was not what the guys tho
ught she was when she arrived. She was one of the smartest girls in school, thoughtful, sweet, and willing to help out, like with the play, in ways that didn’t demand the spotlight. He’d agree to that. She was worth it.
“Anything,” he said and meant it.
“We have to go in coordinated costumes.”
“What?” He hadn’t expected that.
“I’ll make them. I sew.”
“What do you have in mind?” he asked.
“Characters from a favorite book maybe. I’m open to suggestions,” she said.
“Wait, you sew, and you’re just telling me this now. Our musicals, our plays can always use seamstresses. But first, the Halloween party—”
“Henry, I asked if Benedict Arnold was a patriot or a traitor,” Mrs. Jackson demanded.
“Oh, oh. Both, I think. For some time, he was one of the great patriots. He fought hard for the independence and freedom from England, and then, he changed. That’s my answer, and I’m sticking to it.”
The class laughed. Henry often took the role of class clown, but did it in such a way that even the teachers enjoyed it and went along.
“Good points made; you’ve bailed yourself out, but try to stay on board with us and participate rather than disturbing your classmates with your side conversations, please.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“We’ll brainstorm at lunch,” Honey whispered.
“You as well, Miss Delano.” She lowered her head.
In the courtyard at lunchtime, they first brainstormed books: East of Eden, Gone with the Wind, Twilight, Lord of the Rings, Little Women, and on and on. Honey was impressed to learn he enjoyed some of the same books that she did. He was a reader. There was a lot to this guy. Then they decided to name famous couples instead: Cleopatra and Mark Antony, Rhett Butler and Scarlett O’Hara, John and Jackie Kennedy, Romeo and Juliet, Lancelot and Guinevere, Paris and Helena, Napoleon and Josephine, Jane Eyre and Edward Rochester, Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy, Pocahontas and John Smith. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, Bonnie and Clyde, John and Abigail Adams, and Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.
“We can’t be Romeo and Juliet. Tara and Cory are coming as them,” Honey explained.
“I’d love to avoid tights, anyway,” Henry said and laughed. Honey liked his deep laugh.
“I don’t want to wear anything too skimpy, so I think Pocahontas and John Smith are out,” she said. “I’d love to wear a big hoop skirt. Could you stand being Rhett Butler?”
“That works for me.”
“My mom has a DVD of the movie, would you like to come to my house and watch it? I could take measurements to get started. It’ll be a lot of work.”
“Sure, that sounds like fun. I work on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, but I’m free other nights.”
“Friday is good. I warn you, my sister Annie will want to watch with us.”
“That’s fine with me. I have two brothers who love to hang out with me. I’m used to it.”
She couldn’t get over how easy going he was, and she appreciated that he hung out with his brothers as she did with Annie.
“And, I want to pay for the fabric and stuff. Costumes are expensive. I know from how much of our show budget they take up.”
“I appreciate that, but I have a stash of fabric you won’t believe. I could practically open a shop. Wait until you see.”
“I can’t wait,” he said just as the bell rang for classes to begin.
Honey met with Sandy after school that day and rushed over to the whiteboard as soon as she got into the office. It was the first time she’d ever written on it. She’d been sketching for years and quickly drew her concept of what her costume and Henry’s would look like for the Halloween party. There were colored markers, so she even added bright blue to the dress she was planning and left white spaces for the lace. Then she turned to Sandy and said, “Tada!” with a huge wave of her arms.
“To what do we owe this gorgeous creation?”
“I’ve been invited to a Halloween costume party. I have a date with Henry, and we’re going as Rhett Butler and Scarlett O’Hara, and these are our costumes. What do you think?”
“I think that’s the best news I’ve heard all month. Where are you getting the costumes? I want that dress.”
“I’m sewing them. I’ll show you when I’m finished.”
“You are a woman of many talents, my dear.”
Honey paused then and sat in one of the comfy chairs across from Sandy who was sitting in one too with high top red Chucks on. “I guess I am. I write, I paint, and I sew. I’m pretty creative.”
“And you are lit up like the proverbial Christmas tree. Did anything else happen besides this invitation?”
“Well, Tara and I had a blowout, but for some reason, she apologized the next day. I’m keeping my fingers crossed this whole apology, party invitation, and all is not one giant trick to set me up for some huge embarrassment.”
“And what would you do if it was?”
“Crawl into a hole and die,” Honey said and snuggled deeper into the chair she was sitting in.
“Now, that’s not the strong lady I know and love,” Sandy said. “Think again.”
“I’d walk out of there with my head held high knowing they were the jerks, not me, and go home and cry into my pillow. Then I’d figure out something I wanted to do to make me happy and say to hell with them and pray college came sooner rather than later. I’m not sure I’d give them another chance, though. I’d be sick, sick, sick of their shit.”
“Couldn’t blame you for that at all,” Sandy agreed. “But let’s hope these are descent kids who just got off on the wrong foot with you and want a chance to start over. Fingers crossed.”
“Fingers and toes,” Honey said.
“Are you really good enough to sew a dress like that?” Sandy asked pointing to the whiteboard.
“I really am. My favorite TV show is Project Runway. Someday I hope to compete on that show.”
“Amazing,” Sandy said, “I have a hard time sewing on a button.”
Honey laughed as she often did when she was in “therapy” with Sandy.
Chapter Seventeen
Things weren’t all smooth sailing. Beth, even though she wore Brody’s letterman jacket around as though it was hers, didn’t want anything to do with Honey. One day when they were assigned to the same science lab, she whispered something into Mr. Moses’ ear and was immediately assigned to another group. Although Honey wished they could be friends, she didn’t let it worry her. She had a few friends then among the girls, especially Tara, Amanda, and Sophie. She didn’t need everyone in the school to like her. In fact, she preferred a few close friends rather than a huge group of acquaintances.
Amanda invited her to a sleepover.
“Who’s going to be there?” Honey asked, not wanting to go if Beth would be there.
“Sophie and her friend, Annette Garcia, from Franklin, will be there. You’ll like her. Plus Tara, of course, and Ruby. I asked Beth, but she’s working.
“Sounds great; what can I bring?”
“Just a sleeping bag and pillow and your favorite pj’s.”
When Honey told her mom about the sleepover, she practically had to hold her down. She seemed to be floating up to the ceiling, she was so excited.
“Mom, it’s just a sleepover.”
“I know, but it’s your first in Laconia. I’m happy for you. Do you want to go shopping for new things?”
“Are you kidding me? I’m not showing up with new pajamas and a new Care Bear sleeping bag. I’ll pass. I’ll get one of our camping sleeping bags out of the attic and air it out for a few days. But thanks.”
She took off to her room, dropped her books, and went straight to the attic to retrieve the best looking of the sleeping bags they had. She didn’t want to look like she was trying to impress, but she didn’t want to gross anyone out either. Before she left the attic, she did a little happy dance. Despite what she told her mom, th
is really was a big deal. It might not be to Mandy and the others, but it was to her.
Splitting time between her pile of homework for her honors classes and the extra Creative Writing class and sewing the two costumes for the Halloween party was really taking a toll on her, but Honey didn’t care if she only got a few hours of sleep a night. It all had to be done. She figured she could survive being sleep-deprived for a short time, and the Halloween party was coming up fast. Maybe I should have turned the sleepover down, she thought. But she knew that would have been the kiss of death. Reject them once and she’d never be asked again. No, at least for a short time, she’d have to be available when people wanted her to be, volunteer for things, help when asked, take on any extra requests, and prove she could do it all. Despite the fact that she didn’t have a real, paying job, she was busier than most of the kids at school.
Her dad was the first to really notice when she seemed to be nodding off at dinner one night.
“Hey, Honey, spaghetti and meatballs is usually your favorite. You look like you want to dream through it. You okay?”
Her head shot up. “Oh, sure. I’m fine. Just tired. Was up studying a bit too late last night.”
“Studying? I thought I heard the sewing machine whirring well after midnight,” he said.
“That too. I’ve got to finish my dress. I’ve got Henry’s outfit finished, but I’m still working on my dress.”
“You’ve only got a few days more. How about I help?” her mom asked.
“You’re busy. I can do it.”
“Take your mom up on her offer. You look exhausted, sweetheart,” her father said. “Why don’t you go to bed early tonight and let her get some work done on it? You don’t have to be superwoman, you know.”
She took it as a blow to her heart, like he didn’t feel she was good enough. “Look, things are finally going right for me. I can do it. I can keep up with the extra school work, the advanced classes, the work on the play, and this costume. I can make friends and spend time with them. That’s what I’ve wanted. Now, I finally have it; just let me be. Trust me, I can do it.”
