Chapter 10

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I woke up the next morning, already panicking about our date. I lay there, staring up at the ceiling, then toward the window at the sun shining through the tiny crack of my curtains. I finally managed to slide my feet out from under my warm comforter and let them dangle over the side of my bed for a few minutes as my toes brushed against the soft fibers of my area rug. Today would be different; I just didn't realize how different it would be. I went downstairs to get myself something for breakfast since Mom had already left for the day—no telling where she had gone or when she'd be back. I grabbed a bowl of cereal, went to the living room, curled up on the couch, and found a movie to watch while eating my bowl of raisin bran.

Chloe and Sarah showed up right on time at one with food and their bags. By some miracle, I got a hold of Chloe the night before to make sure she did my makeup and Sarah did my hair. They dropped their bags inside the door and proceeded to the kitchen with the food. They were both talking about how they would do my hair and makeup for my date with Jude. All I wanted to do was run to my bedroom and hide under my comforter.

"Gem, aren't you going to get some fries?" Sarah asked, popping a fry in her mouth.

"I'm not that hungry." As the knot in my stomach started doing flip-flops.

"We got you some coffee, " Chloe said, holding out my favorite iced latte. There was nothing like sipping on an iced Caramel Mocha latte to make me feel better.

"Thanks." I sipped on the iced latte and could feel the magical powers of coffee go to work. Finally, I was starting to feel a little calmer. I knew coffee didn't have magical powers, but it sounded good. Coffee was my go-to when I was stressed out, and I'm glad I had friends who understood that. I took my coffee and went into the living room to sit and enjoy it for a few minutes while they got their food. The longer I sat there, the more anxious I got, so I grabbed my latte and yelled I was going outside for a few minutes. I walked to the end of the porch, set my latte on the little table between the chairs, and sat down. The smell of freshly cut grass tickled my nose, causing me to sneeze. I looked across the yard and saw Ashton's sports car still in the driveway. I was surprised he wasn't out at the beach with his buddies. Whenever it got warm, they'd go to the beach on the weekends, where Ashton would return home having to get ready for a date later that night.

"Don't you have a date to get ready for tonight?" Ashton asked, walking down his porch steps. He had on a tight yellow T-shirt and jeans.

"Not till later." I raised an eyebrow. "You going to the beach?"

"Nah. I've got to get gas and condoms for tonight." He smiled.

"Ew. I don't want to hear about your conquests."

He unlocked his car and laughed. "Later, Gem."

"Man-whore." I reached for my latte and took a sip. I sat there a little longer, watching the neighborhood outside and enjoying the sunny, warm weather. The neighbors across the street were mowing their grass and planting flowers. They were a little older than Mom because I never saw any kids around their house. We didn't know much about them; they moved in a few years ago and kept to themselves. If they had kids, they were married and didn't come around much.

"Gem, are you going to come back inside?" Chloe stuck her head out the front door.

I grabbed my latte and went back inside to join Chloe and Sarah. However, part of me wanted to stay on the porch and continue watching the neighborhood enjoy the spring day while I sipped on my latte.

"Sarah's going to do your hair while I do your makeup. But first, we need to figure out what you will wear tonight." She grabbed my hand, yanking me off the couch and up the stairs to my room. "Okay, where is he taking you?" Chloe asked, studying my wardrobe.

"We haven't decided yet. I thought maybe, The Breezeway."

"You hate video games," Sarah said, plugging in her flat iron.

"Yeah, but Jude probably doesn't." I watched Sarah and Chloe swap glances with one another. It was the kind of glance that they knew what each other was thinking but weren't going to say it in front of me, risking the chance the making me mad. I pretended I didn't notice what they were doing. I glanced out my window and saw Ashton's car sitting in his driveway. Then, I remembered what he said about going for gas and condoms. I could feel my upper lip curling up in disgust as I stared at his car.

"Gem, we need to get you dressed for your date so we can start on your hair and makeup," Chloe said, clapping her hands and trying to get my attention. I wanted to inform her that I wasn't a dog and that she didn't need to clap her hands at me, but I kept my mouth shut and walked back over to my closet. Some things were better left unsaid, and this was one of those things.

"Gem, I'm home!" Mom yelled through the house. "Where are you?" She asked, walking up the stairs. "Wow...You look beautiful." Her mouth dropped when she turned and started to walk into my room. "Great job on her makeup and hair, girls." She stepped into my room, staying close to the doorway. Chloe and Sarah both smiled, nodding in agreement and looking at me. "You're both going to stay the night and be here when Gem gets back later?"

"We'd love to, but we've got to get going soon and get ready ourselves. We're going out with our boyfriends tonight." Chloe started gathering up her makeup brushes. "We'll come over tomorrow and see how it went." She smiled. Sarah nodded her head as she continued to gather up her stuff.

"Well, I'm going out tonight with friends. You girls have a great time with your boyfriends, but not too great. Gemma, have a wonderful time on your date. I need to get ready myself; I have to meet them in forty-five minutes. Bye, Chloe and Sarah. Love you, Gemma." She turned and walked out of my room and down the hall. "Love you, Mom," I mumbled, knowing she couldn't hear me.

"Stay with me until Jude gets here. Please." I pleaded.

"Gemma, we've got to go. You look amazing. He's going to be here in about ten minutes." Sarah looked down at her smartwatch. "We'll  come over tomorrow with coffee and waffles." She hugged me, making sure not to mess up my hair or makeup. "Love ya, Gem." She grabbed her bag and walked out of my room. Chloe hugged me, grabbed her makeup bag, and chased after Sarah.

I looked out the window and watched them get in Chloe's car and drive off down the road. I dropped my curtain, letting it fall close, as I turned to look in my full-length mirror. Who was I kidding? Underneath this makeup was still a nerd wanting to be popular.

I started to walk out of my room when the doorbell rang. "I'm leaving!" I hollered.

"Okay, have fun!" Mom hollered back from her bedroom.

I hurried down the stairs, almost tripping down half of them. I managed to catch myself halfway down before Jude could see me fall flat on my face. I reached the bottom of the stairs in one piece by some miracle. I smoothed out my black floral print dress and made sure my puff sleeves weren't twisted.

I opened the door, expecting to see Jude. "I thought you had a hot date tonight?"

"Wow...You look..." Ashton stood there, smiling.

"Thanks. You don't look so bad yourself." I motioned my hand from his purple button-down shirt to his jeans.

"Thank you. I came over to make sure you were doing okay. I saw Chloe and Sarah leave a few minutes ago. Jude should be here any minute, and I'm about to go pick up my date. Remember the corner booth and watch all the signs. I've got to get going. I'll talk to you later. Again, Wow." Ashton turned and walked to his car.

Jude pulled up in his sports car just as I closed the door. I watched him get out of his car and walk over to Ashton's. I looked at Jude and Ashton's cars, wondering why boys had to have sports cars. What's wrong with an ordinary car like mine? True, it wasn't a shiny black or red sports car, but it got me to where I needed to go in the city.

Jude backed away from Ashton's car while Ashton backed out of his driveway so he could go pick up his mystery date. Jude finally saw me standing in my doorway and smiled. Then, he walked across the yards, not taking his eyes off me, which made me feel a little self-conscious, afraid to move that I'd do something stupid, like hit myself with the door or something.

"Wow...You look amazing." Jude smiled, walking up my steps.

"Thank you." I closed the door behind me.

"Are you ready? I thought we could go to The Breezeway unless you want to do something else?"

"No, that's perfect." We started walking toward his car.