The two workers behind the counter, and everyone standing in line, were now staring at me, and not because of my red eyes. I’m not certain they could have distinguished them from my red face. But I was still irritated and in no mood for gawkers. “What, haven’t you people seen anyone with red eyes before?” I said, causing them to quickly turn away. With that I stood and went outside.
Mickie was leaning against the passenger door of the Falcon, eating her yogurt.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I’m mad at my mother, and I’m taking it out on you.”
“Why are you mad at your mother?”
“Because she always does this.”
“Does what?”
“I was content to stay home.”
“So was I.”
“Well, say no, and we can both stay home.”
“You haven’t asked me yet.”
“I asked in there.”
“Doesn’t count.”
“Fine. Do you want to go to the prom with me?”
“Yes.”
“What? You just said—”
“I said I was content to stay home. Now I want to go.”
“You’re just doing it to spite me and appease my mother.”
She put the yogurt on the roof of the Falcon and folded her arms. “Have you ever known me to do anything to appease anyone?”
I hadn’t. Mickie stood her ground, I’d give her that.
“Then why are you?”
“Because I think it could be a lot of fun, that’s why. Because it means I get to spend the night with my two best friends. It means I get to spend time with you.”
I felt about two feet tall. “I’ll pay for everything,” I said. “If you need a dress . . .”
“You’re not paying for my dress, Hill.” She’d resumed eating her yogurt.
“I just don’t want . . . I know this is . . .”
“Do you want to shut up now?”
“I’m sorry about the way I asked you.”
“You should be.”
“I know. You’re doing me a favor—”
She groaned. “Stop saying that. It’s not a favor, Hill. Why can’t you get that through your thick head?”
“You don’t have to say that.”
“Hello! Have you ever known me to say anything I didn’t want to say?”
Again, I hadn’t. “No. Usually you say things I don’t want you to say.” She smiled and put the spoon in her mouth, being playful, and at that moment—I’ve heard people say things like being struck dumb—but it was as if I had never really seen Mickie before, seen how truly beautiful she was. Her head was tilted, and her hair, caressing her neck, had streaks of gold that glistened and made her eyes stand out, a vivid blue.
“What?” she asked wiping at her chin with the napkin. “Do I have yogurt dripping down my face?”
“No,” I said.
“You okay?”
I nodded and briefly contemplated telling her what I had been thinking, but I knew Mickie would not take me seriously. She’d blow it off and say something sarcastic like I should get my eyes checked again.
“Okay,” I said. “Saturday night then.”