Inevitably Yours

Christy kept calling, so I finally answered the next day after dinner. “Q, finally. Why are you ignoring me? Jaxx showed up here in a rage and said you cheated on him. What is going on?”

“We aren’t together anymore,” I said. I wasn’t sure I should tell her I only wanted to be with Michael, even if he was far away.

“But why? What happened? I know you guys were fighting more than normal, but I thought that was just all the school stress. You seem to have your head underwater this semester,” she gushed.

“I don’t really want to talk about it. We’re broken up, and it’s better for everyone, okay?” I urged her. M didn’t make me explain anymore, and I still didn’t want to. Carl witnessing everything was embarrassing enough.

“Okay, if you’re okay, I have your back. I am a little sad. Bree and Jaxx left last night together, and Bree said he was still pretty upset when they parted,” Christy explained.

“I’m sure he will work through it,” I gritted out. Sapphire wanted me to admit it, scream it to the rafters so she wouldn’t have sympathy for him, but I just couldn’t bear the embarrassment or disappointment from anyone.

“You’re still my best friend, no matter who you date,” she assured.

“Thanks,” I said.

“Maybe we should hang out this weekend,” she suggested. “Just us girls.”

“I have a tournament and a mountain of homework,” I told her.

“Sleepover soon?” she asked.

“Maybe. I’m sure by spring break we’ll be able to get some real girl time in,” I told her.

“Deal,” she said.

–

“No, no, no,” Carl said, shaking his head at me. We sat in the lunch room, barely touching our food. “Prom is after AP tests finish. We are going, Q.”

“Do you even know how expensive it is to have a car?” I shot back at him, my eyes glued to my study sheet. “I would have to request off of work and be approved for that request. Weekend tips are the best.”

“So tutoring is officially over?” he asked.

“Yea, since spring break. He said I did my job above expectation because she now had a B average. So yea, I worked myself out of that gig,” I complained. My phone rang. Another sweet joke from Michael.

“I’m thrilled your mystery man keeps you happy virtually, but if he isn’t coming to take you to prom, we’re going. We are the only ones of all our friends that don’t have dates,” he demanded. “Plus, all you do now is school and work. You need a night of fun.”

“Carl, what would I even wear?” I asked him.

“I’m sure your parents would let you get a dress, or you could borrow something from Christy,” he tried.

“She is taller and skinnier than me,” I told him. “I cannot fit in her clothes.”

“Fine, then your mom. Ask her,” he suggested.

“Seeing as I am now paying my phone bill on top of everything for my car, and they already told me I need to pay my band fees and test fees for next year, I am going to guess that a prom dress isn’t in the budget. I haven’t even asked about senior portraits.”

“Q, please. Go with me. I honestly don’t care what you wear, and we don’t have to do flowers. Your car, I’ll pay for the gas and tickets. No expectations, just a night to have fun,” he pleaded.

I sighed, looking up at him finally. “I’ll see what I can do,” I told him. He immediately smiled. “But it’s only if I can get off work that night, so no promises.”

“Great. I was thinking pizza for dinner,” he joked. I rolled my eyes and went back to my study guide. “Okay, fine, cheeseburgers!”

–

“I wish I were taking you, but you’ll still have fun,” Michael said over the phone. I found a dress that would work so I didn’t have to buy anything and my boss happily gave me the night off. I was officially going to prom with Carl.

“I wish I was going with you, too,” I told him. “Maybe we could figure out how to make it happen for senior prom….” I knew it was probably too much to ask, but I couldn’t say I hadn’t thought about it. Prom with my friends sounded fun, but prom with M sounded perfect. I wasn’t super into that sort of thing, but you were only a senior in high school once.

“Who knows where we’ll be in a year,” he said. I frowned. I looked at the dress hanging from my closet door. I knew he promised he was coming back for me, but it stuck in my mind – when?

“So, uh, how’s Nic? Her text was funny the other day,” I said. She had sent me this long text in all caps from his phone about how she wanted to meet me and just knew we would be fast friends.

“Normal Nic,” he chuckled. “She can be a handful. I’ll do better at hiding my phone from her. I don’t think she’s going through it, just trying to talk to you.”

“It’s okay,” I told him. “As long as private things stay private.” My cheeks burned, thinking about the possibility of her finding any of our more intimate exchanges on his phone.

“No,” he said. “I wouldn’t just share that. Even with her. Not without your permission, that is.”

“Okay,” I said, knowing I could trust him. I rolled over, staring at my ceiling fan.

“What’s my favorite blue-haired girl thinking about?” he asked.

“I hope I’m your only blue-haired girl,” I countered. He laughed.

“What’s on your mind, baby?” he asked more gently.

“I’m just tired. AP tests start next week, and I’m terrified. I can’t get more than one good night of sleep every week, and Sapphire is starting to become more of a visitor than my companion. I haven’t shifted in Goddess knows how long,” I rambled. I stopped myself with a sigh. “I think I just really need some sleep.”

“I could help you relax,” he said, his tone playful.

“I’m not really in the mood for that,” I told him. That was usually his first thought.

“Then how about I sing to you? You just put me on speaker phone and close your eyes. Let my magic do its job,” he suggested. A small smile crept up on my face.

“Okay,” I agreed.