She ran her hand over the cover just as she had done in English class all those years later. This was the book. This was the book that had brought her here. This was the book that had changed her life. Here she was with her new friends, Janet, a boyfriend she couldn’t even have dreamed up if she’d tried, and apart from the two girls at the end of the table her life was pretty much perfect. As long as tonight went off without a hitch everything would be wonderful. And so, it had to go off without a hitch.
She tapped on his book with her pink pen, trying to remember what she was going to write. She wrote as neatly as she could and signed it love, Peggy. xxx
“The limo is going to pick me up first at seven,” Sammy said. “So, you guys better be dressed and ready by then.”
Peggy was so relieved he’d hired a limo even though everyone else thought limos were for preppies.
“Limos are for preppies,” said Leigh.
“Oh yeah?” asked Lacey. “How are you three love birds getting there?”
“My mom’s giving us a ride,” said Nick. Rochelle made a face and Lacey laughed.
“I’ve seen your mom’s ride,” said Tricia. “Isn’t it that brown station wagon?”
Rochelle stood up flustered. “Let's go.” She motioned for Nick and Leigh to follow and they did.
“Hey!” Amy said, grinning as she perched herself on the vacated seats at the end of the table. “Would you guys sign my yearbook?” She was beaming.
“Of course,” said Peggy, giving her a smile and taking the yearbook off her. She opened it up and spotted a scribbled note in one corner from Mr. Harcourt, the Math teacher Amy was going to end up married to. Peggy laughed.
“What is it?” Amy asked.
“Nothing,” said Peggy. “I just feel like everything is going to turn out for you Amy.”
Amy beamed.
Peggy scribbled her message in Amy’s yearbook and said a silent prayer for everything to turn out for all of them.
Forty-One
Limo
Sammy Ruthven stood on the porch under so many hanging baskets of plants he felt like he was in Babylon. He was dressed in a dark blue suit, white shirt, polished black shoes and he was holding a bright pink corsage. He brushed the hair off his forehead, it fell back into his eyes and he took a deep breath and rang the doorbell.
“You scrub up nice Sammy, what a surprise! I half expected you to turn up in jeans,” Janet ushered him in.
“Thanks Miss Bates, you don't look so bad yourself.” Janet had herself also scrubbed up nicely. Dressed in a red strapless evening dress and matching heels she looked like she was sure to break a couple of hearts as she supervised at Prom.
“Peggy!” she called up the stairs. “I need to get going, are you coming down?”
“Not yet!” Peggy’s voice called down. “Just go ahead and I'll see you there!”
“OK, don't forget to lock up,” Janet called back. She grabbed her black patent clutch and quickly checked her bright red lipstick in the mirror.
She rushed out the door and down the porch steps, but when she saw the blue Firebird parked in the driveway her heart skipped a beat. She knew changing the future may not be possible, but she had counted on the fact that Sammy would leave his car at home tonight. Surely, they could at least change that. Peggy had changed everything for Janet. Peggy had been the family she’d never had. She felt Peggy's fear as if it was her own. She felt her face begin to sweat, she needed to calm down or she'd have mascara under her eyes in seconds.
“God dammit,” she whispered to herself. “When are they going to invent decent waterproof mascara?”
She ran back into the house and straight past Sammy Ruthven and bounded up the stairs.
“He's brought the Firebird,” Janet said, panting as she grabbed some toilet paper and blotted her forehead.
Peggy looked at Janet behind her reflection in the bathroom mirror. “No,” she said.
Janet nodded.
“What do we do now?” Peggy asked frantically.
Janet shook her head. “I don't know, maybe we just can't change it.”
“How can we not change it?” Peggy asked. She had been worried sick these last few months, but the thing that had kept her going was a tiny spark of hope. In that instant it was if the hope plughole was opened and hope was rapidly draining out of her. She didn’t know how she was going to get through the next few hours without it. Peggy turned around to look at Janet, her eyes glistening with water.
“OK, let's say you can't,” said Janet passing Peggy some toilet paper to blot under her eyes. “Let’s for a second say that you can't change it. And this is the last night you're going to spend with him.”
Peggy shakily sat on the edge of the bathtub.
“What do you do?” continued Janet. “Do you go to your room and cry yourself to sleep? Or do you go to prom and freak out about it all night? Or do you go to prom and try to have a good time?”
“Have a good time?”
“None of us ever know when our time is up. I could die tonight, any of us could, we don't know. But we have to keep living, we have to keep loving, even if we don't know how long it's for.”
“I'm still going,” said Peggy, taking a deep breath. “Because I love him. And if this is his last night on earth, I want to make it the best night of his life.”
“That's all we can ever try to do,” Janet said.
Peggy looked back at her reflection and nodded.
“I'm so proud of you,” said Janet.
Peggy looked at her blankly.
“You're so strong,” Janet said.
Peggy laughed. “Me? Strong?”
“Not everyone could do what you've done.”
“What have I done?” asked Peggy really having no clue.
“You came all this way, you started a new life all by yourself with no family, no friends, and look at you now.”
“I couldn't have done it without you,” Peggy said, feeling her eyes begin to water again.
“Your mascara will run,” said Janet sternly.
* * *
Peggy looked stunning as she walked down the stairs in her bright turquoise dress. Her hair was in big soft curls around her shoulders, her lips painted fuchsia.
“Wow,” he said. “I mean you always look wow, but just… wow.”
Peggy smiled. “You look pretty wow yourself.”
“I hope the color is OK,” he said, presenting the bright pink corsage.
“It's perfect.” Peggy's breath caught as Sammy gently took her hand and placed the corsage around her wrist. She turned her hand and looked at it from all angles and a huge smile spread across her face. No one had ever given her flowers before.
But as they walked out of the house and she saw the Firebird sitting in the driveway, the twilight illuminating the perfect blue, Peggy's face fell. She wasn't sure if she could keep it together. She might be stronger than she was, but no one was that strong.
“I know what you're thinking Peg, but I had no choice. The car company called me an hour before they were due to pick us up and cancelled. They'd triple booked.”
Peggy was unable to move.
“It's OK Peg, I'll drive us there and if you don't want me to drive home, we can get a taxi or a ride or walk if we have to. I won't drive it home, I promise you.”
Peggy stayed frozen.
“Peg, you said in your dream it happened on the way home from Prom. Isn't this enough for you?”
She looked at Sammy's pained expression, thinking how gorgeous he looked in his dark blue suit, the glow of the Firebird lighting up like an aura behind him. She looked at her corsage thinking how beautiful it was. She looked at the Firebird again and thought of nothing but flames and death, the end of all this. All she had ever wanted she had right now, in this moment, and it could all be gone in a few hours. She threw herself at him, holding him tighter than she ever had. She kissed him hard, leaving lipstick all over his face.
“When are they going to invent
kiss proof lipstick?” she joked, wiping his face and blinking back the tears.
“I won't drive home, OK? I promise you. Hand on heart.” He put his hand on his heart and she believed him. And she believed that everything was going to be OK. She had to.
And she took a deep breath and walked towards the Firebird.
Forty-Two
Prom
“You guys are late!” yelled Lacey, beaming and rushing to meet them by the door of the gym. She spun around, showing off her short white dress with little black bows down the front.
“You look amazing,” said Peggy.
“So do you,” Lacey said. “Janet did a good job for us huh?”
Peggy nodded.
Lacey hadn't taken her eyes off Peggy's wrist. “That is not... he did not do that.”
Peggy nodded again, casually flinging her wrist about, showing off the corsage as Sammy took her other hand.
“Well I’ll be,” said Lacey.
“You look great Lace, where's Ben?” Sammy asked.
“Thanks Ruthven. He's over at the refreshments, probably spiking the punch if someone hasn't already done it like five times already. It’s gotta be pretty lethal by now.”
“I’ll go get us some,” Sammy said, heading over to the drinks table.
“I can't believe he got you flowers,” said Lacey. “I don't know what you've done to him, or how you did it, but if you could give me some pointers, I'd really appreciate it. I mean, I'm here with that!” she pointed to where Ben and Sammy were now talking. Ben was dressed in powder blue flares, matching jacket, shirt and a paisley tie.
“I think it's his dad's.” Lacey rolled her eyes and stifled a giggle. “I've made it very clear to everyone that we are just here as friends, so please do the same.
Peggy laughed. “It's the best suit I’ve ever seen, I think he looks amazing.”
“Amazing?! It's the stupidest thing I've ever seen. But the band is so awesome!” Lacey pointed towards the stage where a band clad in leather and animal print was rocking out. “I can’t believe they got a rock band, the preppies are so pissed. They actually thought a band called Turquoise Noise was going to be pop.”
Peggy looked around in awe of the scene before her. She felt like she was in a John Hughes movie. Puffy pink, purple and gold dresses whirled around the floor. A group of preppie guys wearing dark wayfarers were standing suspiciously over the drinks table. June-Belle and the prom committee had outdone themselves with the Paradise theme. The gym was full of pink, green and blue balloons, inflatable palm trees and lawn flamingos. The banner across the stage read “Saint Christopher's High School Prom 1983”. It kind of looked like the 3 had been painted over the 2 from the year before, but Peggy didn’t care. She closed her eyes and breathed it in. She was home. She was exactly where she’d always wanted to be. It didn’t matter that she was still in Santolsa, or that she was in the old gym. She was home.
She opened her eyes and looked over at him filling up plastic cups at the drinks table. She was going to stick to him like glue, nothing was going to happen to him tonight. Not ever.
Sammy returned with Ben and enough plastic cups of punch for everyone and they headed to the back of the gym.
“What is Rochelle wearing?” giggled Lacey, pointing at the blonde in a plain short black dress who was dancing with Nick but looking around in all directions for someone else. “Like, make an effort, it's prom!”
Sammy rolled his eyes and smirked at Peggy.
Peggy took a sip of the punch, it was potent.
“I like Amy's dress,” Peggy said. Awkward Amy looked gorgeous. Her hair was still frizzy, but instead of trying to tame it like she usually did, she’d let it run free and it bounced quirkily around her head as she danced. She was either wearing contact lenses or dancing blind, but in her green fifties style cocktail dress she looked stunning. Even Lacey couldn't argue.
“Susie Collins, what a mess,” Lacey said, pointing to a girl who was barely wearing a dress at all. It was skintight, bright orange and hideous. She was getting quite an amount of attention from the boys though, much to Lacey's annoyance.
“This is strong,” said Lacey, wrinkling her nose.
“I should probably swap mine for something softer. Janet’s around here somewhere.” Peggy looked around to see Janet was on photo duty, leading couples through the line to have their photos taken.
“Or go get your photo done before you get too drunk,” laughed Ben, reaching out to hold her drink for her.
Peggy looked at Sammy who shrugged.
“You want a photo?” he asked. She nodded and Lacey passed her some gum.
* * *
They stood in front of the paradise beach back drop surrounded by cardboard cut-out palm trees. Sammy put his arms around her and she put her hand over his in standard prom pose which she'd seen in so many old photos, but never done herself.
He whispered something into her ear and she grinned. A quick flash immortalizing this perfect moment forever.
* * *
A few cups of punch later Lacey had dragged Ben onto the dance floor, no longer caring about his ridiculous suit. The band was good, playing covers of songs they liked and knew. It was kind of like being at the Fire Station but with everyone from school, a lot of balloons and it was a hell of a lot cheaper to get a drink.
“Hey,” said Rochelle as she sat down a little too close to Sammy. Nick, who looked quite handsome in his black suit sat down beside her. They did kind of look good together, Nick and Rochelle. Peggy thought if Rochelle wasn't so mean and still in love with Sammy, they'd make a great couple.
“Hey,” said Sammy. Peggy tried to give her a smile.
“Lacey sure looks like she's enjoying herself,” Rochelle began. “All she did was bitch and whine about tonight.”
Her bitchy comment was met with silence.
“Nice dress,” she said with a tone Peggy wasn't sure to take as a compliment or sarcasm.
“Thanks,” she said anyway.
“You guys got plans for after?” asked Nick, breaking the tension.
“Not sure yet,” Sammy said. “I heard there was something happening at the Fire station but I'm not sure if I should show my face around there again just yet.”
“I bet Lacey wants to go to the Fire Station,” Rochelle said. “Like when will she just get a clue?”
“Rochelle, seriously,” Peggy said quietly.
“Excuse me, what?” Rochelle leaned forward to look over Sammy at Peggy.
“Leave it Rochelle,” Sammy said.
“I won't leave it,” Rochelle said. She downed whatever drink was in her plastic cup, breathing alcohol into Sammy's face.
“It's Prom you guys,” said Nick. “Come on, let's just all get along for once.”
“Get along?” cried Rochelle. It was obvious now how drunk she was. “Get along Nick?” She stood up, arms gesturing wildly. “All I've tried to do these last few months is get along. I had a good thing going before this bitch turned up.” She pointed at Peggy whose mouth was now hanging open.
Sammy stood up. “Hey,” he said calmly, “maybe you should go get a water.”
“A water?” Rochelle spat. “It wasn't so long ago you'd be getting me a water yourself Sammy.” It was amazing how quickly her tone changed from drunk and angry to flirtatious and Peggy felt instantly ill. “Remember how we used to...” she put her hand on Sammy's shoulder, leaning in close.
“That's done Rochelle. It's been done for a long time and Peggy had nothing to do with that. We were done because of what you did, so if you’re looking for someone to blame, that’s how it is.” He gently removed her hand.
“I'm sorry guys,” Nick stood up, clearly embarrassed.
“Sorry?” Rochelle yelled, struggling to stay upright. “No, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I had anything to do with you Sammy Ruthven. You asshole, you broke my fucking heart!” She burst into tears, her pretty face contorting.
“Come on babe,” Nick said, taking her hand and begin
ning to pull her away. “I'm so sorry,” he said again looking at Sammy.
“You!” she tried to lunge towards Peggy. “You stole him right from under my eyes, you whore!” She tried to grab Peggy, but Sammy jumped in the middle of them. Peggy clung to the back of Sammy's shirt.
“Let's go Rochelle,” Sammy said, grabbing Rochelle’s arm. “I'll be back,” he said to Peggy as he and Nick led Rochelle crying and screaming towards the door.
“O.M.G!” yelled Lacey running over. “What the hell just happened?”
“Rochelle just lost it.” Peggy sat back down and took some deep breaths.
“She's totally nuts, I told you,” Ben said, shaking his head. “You OK Peg?” he asked her, resting a hand gently on her back.
Peggy nodded as Lacey put an arm around her.
“At Prom and everything, what is she thinking?” Lacey wondered out loud.
“After everything I'm surprised she's held it together for this long.” Ben started. Lacey shook her head at him as if to stop him speaking.
“What?” Peggy asked. She was clearly missing something.
“Just tell her,” Ben said.
“No way,” Lacey said.
“Tell me what?” Peggy demanded.
“Rochelle is crazy,” Lacey began.
“I got that, thanks.”
“Real crazy,” said Ben.
“And?”
“They were never really together, like together, together,” Lacey said.
“She thought they were though,” Ben added.
“Yeah, I kind of know all this,” Peggy said.
“What you don't know…” said Ben.
“Is that she faked a pregnancy.” Lacey finished.
“What?” Peggy couldn't believe no one had told her about this.
“She told him she was pregnant,” Ben said.
“It was just before we met you,” said Lacey.
“They were talking about what to do,” Ben began, “and he even thought about marrying her, for you know, five seconds anyway. He wanted to marry her because he believes in family and looking after your family and all that, not because he wanted to really be with her though.”
Class of 1983: A Young Adult Time Travel Romance Page 26
