The Perfect Prom Date (16 page)

“I like how your mind works,” he smiled, cradling my head between his hands.

Slowly he bent his head to kiss me, the whole world ceased to exist. I forgot all about school, detention, spring break, and prom. None of it mattered when I was in Brennan’s arms.
 

His kisses were slow and intimate - a sort of promise that there were many great things yet to come. Brennan took his time exploring my mouth. I was gasping for air by the time he turned his attention to my neck, kissing the sensitive spot behind my ear. My hands roamed underneath his shirt, feeling his strong back, pushing him closer to me. I could never get close enough.

“I love you,” I whispered, in between kisses. It took several seconds for my brain to catch up with what I had just said. I hadn’t even realized it was true until I heard myself say it, but I knew it was. However, I was terrified about how Brennan was going to react to my confession. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for that to slip out,” I apologized, practically tripping over my own words. I sat up, covering my mouth with my hand.

“Why are you apologizing?”
 

“I feel so stupid – that’s why.” My face was red and I felt like I was on the verge of tears. No guy wanted his girlfriend gushing all over him, saying that she loved him.
 
Guys were scared of girls like that. It caused them to run in the other direction – and fast!

I stared at my feet.
 

“I don’t understand.” His voice filled with confusion. “Look at me.” Brennan gently touched my chin, lifting it to face him.
 

“It’s just that everything has been so great between us, and I went and ruined it,” I sputtered, trying my best to explain. “I know you don’t feel the same way about me, and that’s okay. I don’t want you to feel awkward around me now. Please, let’s pretend I never said anything.”

“You want me to pretend that I didn’t hear you say that you love me?” He shook his head in disbelief.

I nodded my head, yes.
 

He chuckled, “You silly girl. I can’t pretend that I didn’t hear you.” He was smiling in a way that made my insides melt.

“Why not?” I asked softly.

“Because I’ve been waiting to tell you the very same thing.” He pierced me with his blue eyes, “I love you, Josephine McCall.”

“You do?” I choked. I was completely taken by surprise. However, I desperately wanted to believe his words were true.
 

“I do.” He lightly brushed his lips against mine. “Why do you think I invited you to go on vacation with me and my family?”

“Because…I’m your good luck charm?”

Brennan laughed. “No, I invited you because I love you, and I want to spend time with you.”

“Oh,” I said quietly, letting everything sink in.
 

Next thing I knew, we were tangled up, kissing each other again. Only this time there was a sense of urgency about our kisses. We stayed that way until we heard the bell ring, signaling the end of first period. Brennan helped pull me to my feet, and then we took off running and laughing back toward school.
 

As we settled into our seats in math, I wondered if the students around us knew that something had changed. I felt different. Could they sense that Brennan and I had just confessed our love to each other? I couldn’t stop smiling. I looked over at B-Man, and he looked just as happy as I did.

Mr. McCormick took attendance and asked the class to hand in their homework.
 
As he was collecting it, the classroom phone rang.
 

“Sure, no problem,” he said, and then hung up.

“Brennan,” he nodded at him, “Josie,” he nodded at me, “you’re both wanted in the main office. You are to go directly there,” he warned.

“Okay,” we answered at the same time. We gathered our things and left. We both knew why we were being summoned.
   

We slowly walked to the main office and sat down in the hard plastic chairs. I was in such a good mood from what happened out on the soccer field that I didn’t even care that I had been called down to the Principal’s office for the first time ever.
 

The principal called us into his office one at a time. In the end, since it was a first offense for both of us, and we were both model students, he let us off easy with a phone call to our parents and a week’s worth of detentions.
 

Detention was the easy part – sitting in the cafeteria working on homework for an hour every day after school with Brennan across the room. The phone call was the hard part -my mom wasn’t going to be happy with me when I got home.

***

“I can’t believe it,” My mom said, meeting me at the back door.
 

“What?” I said, hoping that she was referring to something other than the fact that I had skipped out in the middle of class. My parents took school serious.

“You know what I’m talking about, Josephine Rose. The principal called me today.” She looked mad. She had her hands on her hips and her feet were shoulder width apart.
 

I cringed inwardly, but stood my ground. I really hadn’t done anything wrong.
 
“Yes, I know. He said he was going to call you.”

“Don’t take that light attitude with me.” I nodded, and looked briefly at my toes.
 
My mom continued, “He said that you and Brennan cut class. What’s this all about?
 
You’re a straight A student. I expect this behavior from Ellie, but not from you.”

“Exactly- I did my homework. I left because I shouldn’t have to sit there for an hour while the teacher reads to the class because nobody, other than Brennan and I, bothered to do the assignment.”

“That is hardly the point,” she huffed, not really listening to anything I had just said. “You can’t just walk out in the middle of class.”

“I think Mrs. Perkins needs to do a better job and actually teach something. All she does is cater to the idiots in my class.”
 

“Josie,” my mom said, shocked.

“Well it’s true.” I shifted my bag.

“What has gotten into you lately?” My mom frowned. “First you’re out until 11p.m. on a school night, and now this. Is it Brennan? I thought he was a nice boy, but now I’m not so sure. You’ve never acted rashly like this before.”

“It was my idea to skip out on class – not Brennan’s,” I said defensively.
 

“Either way, it doesn’t matter. Cancel your plans for tonight. You’re grounded.”

“I’m grounded? That’s funny,” I laughed. “You’re punishing me for having a shitty teacher.” My eyes flashed with anger.
 

“That’s enough! You’re grounded because even if your teacher is lousy, it’s not an excuse for you to be rude and disrespectful.”

“Ellie gets away with murder, and I do something wrong for the first time in eighteen years, and you’re punishing me. That’s unfair,” I shouted.

“This has nothing to do with Ellie.”

“She cuts class all the time, yet, I never see her staying in on a Friday or a Saturday night.”

“I wouldn’t worry about Ellie if I were you. You should worry about whether or not we’re going to let you go to Florida with Brennan and his family.” My heart stopped and I froze. “Today’s little stunt didn’t buy you any bonus points.”
 

I held back tears. I turned and raced up the stairs. Slamming my door, I flopped on my bed and sobbed. How could my day go from being the best day ever, to being one of the worst? How was I going to convince my parents to let me go on the trip? I cried harder.
 

Rachel must have heard my distress signals from her house, because suddenly my phone rang. “Hello,” I said, my voice cracking.

“Josie?” Her voice was filled with worry.
 

“Yeah, it’s me.”

“What’s the matter?”
 

“My mom grounded me for walking out on Mrs. Perkins’ class. She said that because of my bad behavior, I might not be able to go to Florida with Brennan,” I cried into the phone. “What am I going to do?”

“Oh no, Josie. I’m so sorry,” she sympathized. “I’m sure it will all blow over in a couple of days. Look at the bright side, Ellie is always getting into trouble and your parents never punish her.”

“I already reminded her about that,” I sniffed.
 

“Don’t worry, everything will work out.”

“I hope so,” I sighed, feeling a little bit better. Talking to Rachel always made me feel better. Just then I got a beep, “Hey Rachel, can I call you back? Brennan is on the other line, and I have to tell him the bad news.”

“No problem. Call me later if you want to talk.”

“I will.”

I clicked over to B-man, explaining to him that I was grounded and couldn’t hang out like we planned. He was bummed, but like Rachel, he was optimistic that my parents would get over it quickly.
 

I spent the whole weekend in my bedroom - painting my nails and rereading “Jane Eyre.”
 
I barely spoke two words to my parents. I was angry and hurt. I thought the weekend would never end. I couldn’t wait to be back at school.
 

***

Brennan was waiting for me by his car in the parking lot on Monday morning. He looked so handsome, leaning up against his car, wearing jeans and a t-shirt. My heart began to race and my breath caught in my throat. I felt complete again. I jumped out of Rachel’s car, and ran to him.
 

“Hey, Rubylocks,” Brennan said, catching me and pulling me against him in a tight hug.
 

“Hi-ya B,” I wrapped my arms around his middle. “I missed you this weekend,” I said into his chest. He smelled so good, like he always did, a combination of soap and pine. It made my head spin. I didn’t want to ever let go.
 

“I missed you too.” He ran his hands over my hair and down my back, making me shiver.
 

“If my parents won’t let me go with you to Florida, I’ll go crazy. I don’t know how I’ll survive an entire week without you. One weekend was pure hell.”

He laughed. He put his arm around me and we headed to class. “Well then, we’ll have to make sure that they say, yes. Let’s start by getting to class on time.”

***

“Josie, come downstairs. Your dad and I would like to talk to you,” my mom called.
 

“Okay,” I responded, without any real enthusiasm. “I’ll be right down.” I put the book I was reading on my desk. Over the past several days, whenever I was home, I locked myself away in my room. I was still angry with my parents for grounding me, and they still hadn’t given me an answer as to whether or not I could go on the trip with Brennan and his family. I was punishing them, by giving them the silent treatment.
 

My parents were seated at the kitchen table, where all serious discussions took place. My dad pointed to my chair, and I slowly sat down. I waited for them to begin.
 

“Josie, we’ve been thinking a lot about Brennan’s invitation,” my mom stated. I held my breath. “Even though we aren’t happy with the stunt you two pulled last Friday, we have decided to look at the whole picture. And the truth is, that you’ve always been a very responsible kid. You’ve given us little to complain about over the years. You study hard, and you get good grades.
 
So,” my mom paused, and looked at my dad who nodded, “we’ve decided that you can go.”

I jumped out of my chair, finally releasing my breath. Speaking for the first time in days, “Thank you, mom. Thank you.” I gave her a big hug, and then went around to my dad and did the same.

“Do not make us regret this decision,” my mom stated firmly.

“I won’t, mom. I promise.” I was ecstatic. My face was beginning to hurt because I was smiling so hard.
 

“It’s good to know that you are talking to us again,” my dad teased.
 

I flushed, embarrassed for having acted like a toddler for the past week.
 

“Don’t you think you should call Brennan and tell him?” my dad asked with a twinkle. Initially I was surprised my dad was so cool with all of this, but then I remembered that deep down he was a big softie, always giving in before my mom.
 

“Yes, of course.” I gave them each another quick hug, and then I dashed upstairs.
 

***

I thought Friday would never get here. I spent the week packing, and then repacking. I analyzed everything from the clothes I was bringing to what it would be like to spend a week with him and his family. I fretted over whether to bring my bikini and shorty-shorts, or more conservative clothes. What about pajamas? Normally I slept in a big t-shirt and pajama shorts. After I finally decided on what to put into the suitcase, I began to worry about his family and what they would think of me. What if they didn’t like me?
 

The moment finally came for Brennan and his family to pick me up on Friday afternoon, and I was a nervous wreck. I was waiting on my front porch with my parents when they arrived. Brennan jumped out to help me, “Hey Ruby, you all set?”

“I think so,” I said, handing him my suitcase. I almost dropped it on his toe, my hand was shaking so much. “Sorry,” I winced.

It was a tight squeeze with eight people and everyone’s luggage, but Brennan managed to find a space for my suitcase. After cramming it in, he pulled me into a hug.
 
“Don’t be nervous,” he whispered in my ear. “I promise you’ll have a great time. You’ve had fun helping me babysit, right?”

I nodded my head. “But what if they don’t like me?”

 
“They already do.” He let go of me and took my hand, walking around to the side of the mini-van with the door open. My parents were still talking with Brennan’s parents. I hoped they were almost done.

Before Brennan could even get one foot inside, Madison said accusingly, “Brennan, you promised Josie could sit next to me.”
 

Brennan looked back at me, letting me decide.

“Brennan, you promised that I could sit next to Maddie.” I tugged on Brennan’s arm, shoving him out of the way playfully, making Madison laugh. Then I climbed in first, sitting next to Madison on one side and Brennan on the other. The three boys were in the back row.