At Zach’s bedroom door, she knocked, waited for a “come in,” and opened the door. He sat in that expensive new game chair of his, playing something on his Xbox. She touched his head, scratched his hair. His hair was still damp from football practice. He lifted up into her touch, straining like a flower toward the sun.
“We’re going to the mall to buy Mia a dress for the dance. You want to come?”
He laughed. “I’m not even going to the dance, remember? Amanda will be in L.A. with her family.”
Jude sat down on the bed. “I hate that you’re not going. It’s senior year. And Mia tells me you’re a shoo-in for homecoming king.”
Zach rolled his eyes. “Big deal.”
“You should take a friend to the dance. Someday you’ll look back—”
“If I care about that crap in the future, shoot me. Really.”
Jude couldn’t help smiling. “Okay, fine. But at least come shopping with us. It would mean a lot to Mia.”
“I thought Lexi was going.”
“She is. What does that have to do with it?”
“Mia has a friend with her. And I am not sitting outside a dressing room while my sister tries on dresses. No way.”
“Okay, but I’m not giving up on the dance.”
“There’s a shock,” he said with a grin. “You’re not giving up on something. And do not buy me jeans again. I mean it, Mom. You don’t get what I like.”
“Fine. Fine.” Jude scratched his head one last time and turned away from him.
She left Zach’s room and met Mia in the hallway. Together, they went out to the garage. In fifteen minutes, they had picked up Lexi and were on their way to the mall.
At the first store, Mia wandered among the racks, looking a little confused and overwhelmed, and then suddenly she pulled out a dress. “Look at this one,” she said, holding up a floor-length salmon-pink dress with lacy sleeves and a tiered skirt. “What do you think?” she asked Lexi.
Lexi smiled, but it was a little distracted. “It’s great. Try it on.”
“Only if you’ll try one on, too. Please? I can’t do it alone. You know I can’t.”
Lexi sighed. She went to the rounder, found an aquamarine-blue gown with a beaded, strapless bodice, and followed Mia into the dressing rooms.
When they came out, Jude was stunned by how beautiful they both looked. “Those are perfect,” she said.
Mia studied her own reflection as she spun around. “These are definitely our dresses for homecoming, don’t you think, Lexster?”
“I’m not going to the dance,” Lexi said. “I don’t have a date.”
Mia stopped twirling. “Then I’m not going either.”
Lexi muttered something under her breath and walked back into the dressing room. When she came back out, she was dressed in her jeans and T-shirt. “No more dresses for me,” she said. “I can’t afford one anyway.”
“Come on, Lexi,” Mia pleaded. “You’re my best friend. If you don’t go to the dance, I won’t go.”
“She could go with Zach,” Jude said.
Mia shrieked. “That’s a great idea, Mom. We can totally double-date.”
Lexi gasped. “I am not going to force your brother to take me to a stupid dance.” On that, she walked away from them.
Tears immediately brightened Mia’s eyes. “Did I hurt her feelings, Mom? I didn’t mean to.”
Jude watched Lexi leave the store. “You didn’t do anything wrong,” she said softly. “We all just … forget sometimes that Lexi doesn’t have the same opportunities that you do. We should have been a little more sensitive. Come on.” They walked over to the register, where Jude paid for both dresses. She had the clerk box up Lexi’s. “Go get dressed, Poppet. I’ll take care of Lexi.”
Jude walked out of the small boutique and into the busy mall, carrying a shopping bag. Everywhere she looked, she saw packs of girls, no doubt armed with their parents’ credit cards. No wonder Lexi was out of sorts. It had to be difficult to be different from all the kids you knew, from your best friend, who just expected to get what she wanted.
Jude saw Lexi sitting on the bench outside the bookstore. She was slumped forward, with her long black hair falling across her downcast face.
Jude went to her, sat down. Lexi scooted sideways to make room for her.
“Sorry for the rant,” Lexi mumbled.
“I should have been more sensitive. I know those dresses are expensive.”