“Hey, Colten, it’s me. The dance competition is over, and we did fantastic. Now we’re waiting for the awards ceremony.”
Rachael wondered where Colten was. It was a Saturday night, but because he was still on restrictions, he couldn’t go anywhere. He must be in the shower or out rollerblading.
“Boo,” Travis whispered in her ear.
“Hey. Where did Trisha go?”
“Back over with some friends.”
“Oh, okay. Did you guys work things out?”
“No. We are just friends. It’s better for us both that way. She was never really my type.”
“I think I remember you saying that before you started dating her.”
“Yes, well I had to learn the hard way. How about you? What’s up with the jammies and swollen eyes?”
“Oh, so you noticed?” Rachael looked down at the ground.
“There’s not much about you that I don’t notice, Rachael. Although I have to admit to liking the shorts. I think I could make a pretty convincing argument they could pass for regular shorts.”
“Oh, really. Well, I was bawling my eyes out earlier because Colten is going skiing for the winter break. He’s grounded over some problems with grades, and I won’t be seeing him again until Valentine’s Day weekend.”
“Bummer. But I think I might have something that will cheer you up.”
“What’s that?”
“My parents have a surprise bonfire party planned for Maysie tonight to celebrate the band competition. Just close friends. She doesn’t know yet. I have been assigned the job of getting you and Shannah there. Gabe will take care of getting Shannah there. He and I already discussed it. Are you in?”
“Of course! A bonfire party…that’s not exactly something I have ever done on the Island.”
“I figured as much. Don’t worry. Your mom already knows. My mom called her. You have to be home by midnight. But we will have to stop by your house and get you some jeans. It’s a cool night, and you might freeze in those shorts you wore. Don’t get me wrong. I like the Florida shorts…a lot.”
Rachael slugged Travis in the shoulder.
Shortly afterwards, Maysie, Amber, and Shannah announced it was time to go meet everyone at the concession stand for the awards ceremony.
Once at the stand, the band director advised them that, for the awards ceremony, they would need to take the field with all of the other bands and stand in formation. The announcer would announce who had won each category.
They marched onto the field and anxiously awaited the announcements.
The master of ceremonies began to talk over the loudspeaker. “First of all, we’d like to thank all of the bands that participated in today’s competition. Many of these bands came from all over Florida and beyond to be here. We recognize the amount of time, dedication, and effort every band has put into their programs that we were honored to see here today.
“We would also like to extend a special thank you to all of our sponsors and fundraising partners that helped to make today’s competition a success. In addition we’d like to thank our host school for generously allowing us to use their field and facilities. Finally, a round of applause to all of the parents and friends of the band members. Without their support, tonight would not have been possible. Thank you!”
After the applause died down, the master of ceremonies continued. “The Class A Champions are Lake Jessup with a score of 86.95.”
Next the announcer rattled off the names of ten or so other schools and their scores. Rachael tried very hard to listen and follow it all, but being that this was her first band competition, she was pretty clueless as to how it would proceed. The only thing she knew for a fact was her high school was a Class AAAAA school. If they had won any awards, she wouldn’t know for quite a while.
The announcer worked his way through the Class AA, Class AAA, and Class AAAA schools. Finally he began to announce the Class AAAAA winners.
“The Class AAAAA Champions are East Manatee High School from Bradenton, Florida, with a score of 91.83.”
Rachael’s entire band erupted in applause!
After they had quieted, the announcer announced the remaining top ten Class AAAAA schools and their scores. Next he announced the Field Show Competition Grand Champion winner, which was some enormous school from South Florida.
By the end of the competition the band had won Superiors in both Music Execution and Visual Execution. But the best part of the night was when East Manatee High School was recognized in the Special Awards segment of the ceremony for having the Best Dance Team!
When the awards ceremony came to an end, everyone proceeded to the parking lot where the band director announced that if you had friends and family here you didn’t have to ride the bus back to school.
Maysie grabbed Rachael’s arm. “We’re riding back with my brother.”
“Good.” Rachael was relieved not to have to ride the school bus all the way back to Bradenton. It made for a long trip.
Shannah and Gabe rode with Amber and Clay. Maysie, Adam, and Rachael rode with Travis. They all listened to music and sang along to their favorite songs.
When they neared Adam’s exit on the interstate and Travis sailed on past, Maysie yelled, “Travis, are you on auto-pilot or what? You just passed Adam’s exit!”
“He’s not going home,” Travis advised her.
“Where’s he going?”
“It’s a surprise,” Travis answered with a knowing look.
Everyone exchanged glances.
Next they were in the country out near Rachael’s house. When Travis flew past the road where he would have turned off to run Rachael home, Maysie squealed, “Okay, you guys, what’s going on?”
No one answered her. Everyone just kept singing along with the radio.
Great. We forgot the jeans. Oh, well, it’s cool out. At least there won’t be any mosquitoes.
They finally got to Travis and Maysie’s house, where they could see the huge bonfire blazing in the pasture.
“A bonfire! You shouldn’t have.”
“It wasn’t me. It was Mom and Dad’s idea.”
When they got to the house, several of their friends’ cars lined the driveway. They walked out to the pasture, passing the lighted barn on their way. There was music and food that smelled like barbeque. Out at the bonfire a lot of kids were talking. Wooden benches and lawn chairs were grouped all around the fire as people roasted marshmallows for s’mores.
Rachael carried her dance bag and ran inside to change into her shorts and tank top.
When she came back outside, she took a seat at the bonfire and grabbed a long stick for roasting marshmallows. She piled three on the stick and cooked them in the fire until they actually caught fire.
“Remind me to never let you cook anything for me over an open fire.” Travis referenced her burning marshmallows as he took a seat beside her. “They look a little burnt.”
“That’s just the way I like them. Don’t knock it until you try it.” She pulled them from the fire and blew out the flames. Then she continued with her marshmallow instruction. “After you blow them out, you let the outside cool a little, then peel off the burnt crispy part and eat it!” She demonstrated. “Um. Mmmm. That is good. Next you eat the melted center.” She had gone on a few camping trips with her Aunt Margaret a couple of years back. S’mores had always been her favorite camping treat.
As Rachael licked her fingers, Travis asked, “But that kind of defeats the purpose, doesn’t it? Now you don’t have one left to make a s’more.”
“That’s the point. I have to make another one. Maybe after five or six I can make a s’more. Right now I’m just burning and eating marshmallows.”
“Okay, I don’t usually eat them burned, but I’ll give it a try. You’ve got me convinced.”
“I’ll make you one. I can’t trust the burning of marshmallows to just anyone.” She grinned.
A few minutes later Rachael pulled a burning stack of marshmallows from the fire. Aft
er they cooled, she quickly pulled the outside crunchy part off and ate it herself. She then handed what was left, the ooey-gooey sticky centers, to Travis.
“Hey! No fair! You took the best part!”
“Okay. Okay. I’ll make you another one.” Rachael burned another stack of marshmallows and this time willingly handed it over to Travis.
He took off the outside of one and ate it. “Yep. That is good.” Then he offered Rachael one from between his fingers. But as she reached to take it, he popped the entire marshmallow in his mouth. “Mmm, mmm,” he teased. “So good.”
“Oh, that wasn’t fair.” Rachael snagged her stick back. “Go get your own stick.”
“I will.” He jumped up and returned with another stick and a box of chocolate bars and graham crackers. “We’re all set.”
As they made s’more after s’more, they talked about the competition.
“I can’t believe how well we did tonight!” Rachael started.
“I know. It shocked me too.”
Rachael slapped Travis’ leg for that comment.
Then he amended his previous statement. “No, I really wasn’t surprised at all. I don’t usually get to see you guys perform, because I’m always in the locker room at half-time, but I know Maysie is a good dancer and I figured you wouldn’t exactly suck.”
Another smack on the knee from Rachael and Travis ducked his head, expecting another blow.
“In all seriousness ,I saw you dancing with Fred Astaire at homecoming and knew you at least had some rhythm.” He laughed as Rachael seized his stick.
“No more marshmallows for you, sir! I think all the sugar is going to your brain. You better stop with the dance comments while you are ahead,” she warned.
“I will now that you are armed with two sticks. I wouldn’t want to end up impaled!”
“Yeah. You better watch it.” Rachael was laughing, and so was Travis.
Just then, without even realizing what she was doing, Rachael leaned in to kiss Travis…but stopped herself right before she did it. “Oh, sorry, Travis. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“Don’t apologize, Rachael. You don’t think I haven’t thought about doing the same thing?” He paused, then said, “Believe me, I have. It’s just that right now you have a boyfriend, and I don’t want you to ever regret kissing me. And if you kissed me tonight, you would regret it. I don’t think I could handle that.”
Rachael nodded. “I’ve gotta go.”
She jumped up and found Mrs. Baxter and asked her to run her home. Mrs. Baxter agreed.
Five minutes later Rachael was lying in bed at home, staring at her ceiling. She couldn’t possibly even look at her picture frame tonight. She felt too guilty.
I almost kissed Travis Baxter.
22
THE WINTER HOLIDAY CAME AND WENT. Rachael had enjoyed the quiet time away from school, friends, and most importantly, the time away from both Travis and Colten. Colten and his family had gone to Park City skiing as planned. Rachael had needed the alone time to figure out what she was feeling for both of them and how to move forward.
Now, back at school, the days rolled by, one after the other, until the weekend of the Sadie Hawkins Dance finally arrived. Rachael had seen very little of Travis since the near kiss and, unfortunately, when they bumped into each other, things were even more awkward than they had ever been before.
Rachael’s cell rang just before dawn and she rolled over to answer it.
Who could that be? No one ever calls this early.
Worried it may be her mother with another bad news update on her father, Rachael rushed to answer it.
“Hey, it’s Colten. You never called me back last night.”
I know I didn’t.
Rachael had been avoiding talking to Colten for the last few weeks. They had spent no time together. She wasn’t sure how she felt about him anymore. Then there was the near kiss with Travis at the bonfire and the guilt Rachael felt. Rachael knew she’d been avoiding Colten. She knew she was being unfair.
“Rachael? Are you there? Did you still want to go to the dance tonight?”
“I was just thinking. Yes. I would love to still go to the dance with you. There is nothing else I’d rather do. What time will you be here?” Rachael was being honest. Just hearing his voice made her realize how badly she wanted to see and talk to him.
“Around noon. I thought I could go with you to get your hair and nails done.”
“Sounds good. I’ll see you then.”
If Colten would be here by noon it meant he was leaving Palm Beach now. He had really planned this out. Rachael decided to get up and get dressed. She had made an appointment last week at the salon. Her dress, shoes, and accessories were ready to go. She would do her makeup a little later, right before it was time for Colten to arrive.
She went out to the kitchen and heard a beep from her phone. It was Shannah texting her: Is Colten coming tonight?
Rachael responded: Yes.
Shannah texted back: Good. Cu there.
Rachael’s morning dragged by. She did her chores, had breakfast, checked the mail at the end of the driveway. Oh, who was she kidding? She was really checking for Colten’s Jeep! She slowly walked back to the house. She even watered the flowers in the flowerbeds in front of the porch—something she never did.
Okay, I can hang outside all morning waiting for him to get here, and it won’t accomplish anything…except maybe needing some more deodorant or a shower.
Rachael decided to wait inside in front of the TV. An hour later she heard a car pull up. Maybe it was a Jeep. She ran to the front door and opened it before Colten even had the opportunity to ring the doorbell.
Rachael threw her arms around him and kissed his neck. “I can’t believe it’s you! It has been a long time.”
“Yes. Four months and ten days. I’ve been keeping count.”
This time Rachael really kissed him. Afterwards, Colten set his bag down in the foyer and said, “Come on, favorite girl. Time is wasting! If we need to shop for a tux for me, we better hurry.”
“You don’t have a tux?”
“No. Thought we could go get one together. I figured it might be something you would enjoy getting to choose.”
“Okay. But I don’t know where we can find one same day.”
“I do. I called ahead earlier this week. There’s one tailor in the area that will do it same day for a price. We have an appointment.”
“Fun,” Rachael said as she closed the door.
*
Rachael and Colten arrived at a small tux and suit store on St. Armand’s Circle in Sarasota sometime later. Rachael browsed the tuxedo slacks that were in-stock in Colten’s size.
“I like these,” she announced.
The tailor came over and looked at the pants she had selected. They were solid black with a small, thin piece of satin black fabric trimming the outside seam of the leg. They were simple, yet elegant, but also a little flashy like Colten himself. The jacket was black as well, with the same thin black satin trimming the pockets and collar. Rachael suggested a red-and-black-checked cummerbund. A white shirt and black satin bow tie completed the look. The tailor advised them the alterations needed were very minor and would be finished by five o’clock.
Rachael and Colten headed to their favorite ice cream parlor, where Colten again ordered the Kitchen Sink. Rachael sat watching him eat it until she couldn’t stand it anymore. She needed a bite—just one bite.
Okay…maybe ten bites.
“Hey, no fair. This is my Kitchen Sink. Go get your own,” Colten protested.
“I think you could have eaten the whole thing on your own.”
“I could have. I love this ice cream. I can’t stop eating it.”
Rachael and Colten finished their ice cream and then went to the hair salon for her appointment. The stylist asked Rachael how she wanted to wear her hair. Rachael turned to Colten and asked, “What do you think?”
“Down and straight. Yo
u look so elegant and striking when your hair is straight.”
But I have naturally curly hair…
Rachael looked at the stylist and nodded anyhow. If Colten liked straight hair better, then straight it would be.
Next, with a very sophisticated, sleek hairstyle, Rachael went over to have her nails painted. She did a simple French manicure this time. Afterwards she and Colten went to pick up his tux.
By the time they arrived home, it was nearing six o’clock. They barely had time to grab a bite to eat, change, and run out the door.
When they arrived at the Sadie Hawkins Dance, they made their way inside to join Rachael’s friends. It was all couples of course. Maysie and Adam. Shannah and Gabe. Amber and Clay.
Where is Travis? Rachael thought but decided not to ask. It was the Sadie Hawkins Dance, which traditionally was girl-ask-guy. Maybe no one had asked him.
Unlikely. More likely was the chance that twenty girls had asked him, and he was hiding out at home avoiding them all.
Colten was the perfect date, charming and pleasant. He engaged the entire table in conversations about England and his hometown of Manchester. He, Clay, and Gabe enjoyed a lively conversation and debate about American Football versus Rugby, and ultimately which was tougher and more physical.
It was just nice to be near Colten again. To hear his heartbeat in her ear as she lay her head on his chest. When the dance had ended, Rachael and Colten turned down the invitations to after-parties, preferring to spend the little time they had together alone.
They drove home, got changed, and sat on the couch to talk. Colten told her how school was going. The improvements he had made in regards to his grades. The fact he was no longer grounded and could now come visit her again. Rachael was relieved to hear all of these things.
Rachael shared with Colten the news about her father’s upcoming trial in the fall. The fact that he may actually do some jail time. While Colten didn’t admit to knowing any of this, Rachael could tell it wasn’t news to him.
He must be following this in the local news more closely than I know.
Rachael loved Colten for the fact that he simply listened. He didn’t judge her or her father. He didn’t feel a need to humiliate her further by letting her know he was already aware of the details. He just let her talk.
Redneck Debutante Page 25
