“You owe me big time girl!” Lupe came crashing into the dorm with a lot of shopping bags swallowing her small arms. “Classes begin in a week and the formal is in three days. And I rule.”
“Yeah, so what? I already have all my school supplies and we pick up uniforms at the end of the week,” Kalli said, not bothering to look up from her book. She had brought school supplies from home and the uniform was part of her scholarship. Other than that she really wasn’t concerned.
“What about the dance? Do you even have a dress yet?” Lupe demanded dropping all her bags and putting her hands on her narrow hips.
“No, I don’t. I told you before: I’m not going,” Kalli articulated clearly trying to get her message across. It amazed her with how fluent Lupe was, how much the language barrier affected her when she wanted something.
“But it’s gonna be huge! Not even huge, ginormous!” Lupe whined.
“That’s exactly why I’m not going!” Kalli said slamming her book closed and looking up at Lupe annoyed. She didn’t like big social events, much less ‘ginormous’ ones.
“But…”Lupe reached into one of her bags.
“It’s not happening, Lupe, no ‘buts’ about…what is that?” Kalli asked. Lupe was holding a white knee-length dress with silver and gold sparkles; it was far too tall for Lupe’s petite frame.
“Oh no! You didn’t! Did you?” Kalli snatched the dress and looked at the tag. It was her exact size. “I can’t believe you!”
“I thought you might reconsider if you had something to wear.…”
“Take it back to the store. It’s too much, too much money.”
“I didn’t pay for it,” Lupe taunted her.
“Who did?” Kalli played into Lupe’s game knowing full well it was the only way she was going to get any answers.
“Percy. In fact, he helped me pick it out for you.”
“And why didn’t I know about this?” Kalli demanded, standing from her bed and crossing her arms.
“If you had, you would never have let us,” Lupe said matter-of-factly.
“Well you’re right about that,” Kalli cried out in frustration. “Fine, I’ll try it on. No promises! But I’ll try it on,” She grabbed the dress roughly, but she was careful not to tear it. She fully intended to make Percy return it. This was just for Lupe’s sake.
“Yay!!!” Lupe began jumping up and down excitedly.
Kalli slipped on the white dress. It was the perfect size. It fit like a glove. “It’s perfect.” Kalli was out of breath at her own reflection. Amazing what a good dress can do.
“Wow! Percy has awesome taste! Turn for me,” Kalli did a full turn slowly. “Girl, in that dress you are the girl all the other girls are worried about stealing their boyfriends,” Kalli giggled even though it hit a little too close to home. She felt so beautiful. “Will you please come to the dance in that?”
Kalli deliberated her options. “Fine. I’ll go. But only because of the dress,”
“Yes!” Lupe was grinning wildly as Kalli slipped her jeans back on. She hung the dress up and put it on top of her closet door so it wouldn’t wrinkle. “Now you need a date.”
“Oh no! Just be happy I’m going, no date.” Kalli said firmly.
“Escort?”
“No.”
“Friend?”
“Why are you pressing this?” Kalli stared at Lupe whose eyes were growing wider and wider with hope.
“I don’t want you to not have a dance partner. It’s usually a lot of slow songs, some fast but only at the beginning. You can’t dance ballroom by yourself.”
“Then go with a guy who can dance,” Lupe said, as if it barely mattered.
“If someone asks me, then I’ll think about it. But other than that--no freaking way.”
“Fine. Whatever, I’ll take what I can. However, if someone asks you, be warned, I will know and I have no problem telling him you not only say yes, but scream like a school girl.”
“I am a school girl.”
She ignored her and looked at the dress for a moment; she couldn’t wait to wear it again.
“I feel like I owe you a compliment, Percy,” He cocked his head. He and Kalli were on their now-daily walk through the gardens. “You have excellent taste,” he smiled brightly at the praise.
“Well my mom taught me well. It was mostly just her and I when I was growing up,” Percy kicked stones off the path.
“If you don’t mind me asking--I don’t want to pry but--what happened with your father?”
“I don’t mind. Let’s just say, he disappeared for a very long time. He comes back from time to time, whenever things start to go right for my mom and me. He shows up, my mom takes him back, and he leaves again. It breaks her heart. I was seven the first time he left,” he looked down as if realizing how much taller he had gotten.
“I’m sorry. But I can relate to losing a father.”
“Really?”
“My dad was the main supporter of my music; my mom never thought I could amount to anything. They were divorced, my parents, I wanted to go with my dad, but my mom got custody. Anyway my dad brought me the brochure and applied me in secret.”
“So what happened?”
“He died of cancer three weeks before I got my acceptance letter.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Percy didn’t know what else to say.
“It’s ok. We had known for a while so it wasn’t a big shock. Just sad.”
“I understand. I appreciate you telling me. I feel like I understand you a lot better,” He gave her a crooked grin.
“Me too. Nothing explains the present quite as well as the past,” She grinned widely.
“Yeah. That is nice,” They continued the rest of the walk in silence except for comments on the scenery.