Appearing satisfied with her answer, Warner said, “I thought something was going on this past month. You haven’t come to watch us practice or hang out with Randy the way you used to. Since you weren’t interested in Randy, I thought maybe the rest of us losers might have a chance getting you to notice us.”
His comment produced a more sympathetic response from Margo than from Vicki or Sierra. “You’re not a loser, Warner. Don’t talk like that,” Margo said.
Vicki parked the car and walked close to Sierra while Warner and Margo took their time.
“Would I be correct in assuming a few things are going on in your life that I haven’t heard about?” Vicki said in a low voice.
“You mean about Paul?”
“Of course about Paul. Or did you just say that to get Warner to leave you alone? Because if you did, I wouldn’t blame you. He kept following me around last year and drove me crazy.”
Vicki and Sierra had to part ways to go to their separate classes. They were already late, so Vicki added, “Wait for me here after class.”
Sierra did wait afterward, but when Vicki didn’t show up after a few minutes, Sierra hurried to her next class. One tardy a day was more than enough. The pair didn’t catch up with each other until after school in the parking lot.
“Do you want to go shopping with me?” Sierra asked. “I need to run by Wrinkle in Time to look for something to wear for my picture for Paul.”
“Is this the picture I’m supposed to take of you when the rain stops?” Vicki asked.
Sierra nodded.
Vicki looked up at the billowy clouds that seemed to herald clear skies. “We could take it today.”
“I couldn’t find anything to wear, so I thought if I could buy something at Wrinkle in Time, I’d feel a lot better about the picture.”
“I have time,” Vicki said. “Do you want to drive or should I? I have to be home by five.”
“Let’s take both cars.”
“On one condition,” Vicki said. “When we get there, you have to tell me absolutely everything about Paul. Every single detail that I somehow was not informed of, like, for instance, when you two actually became a couple.”
Sierra nodded. She had a twenty-minute drive alone in which to find a way to explain her relationship with Paul to Vicki. That wouldn’t be so hard if only she knew how to define it herself. Was he truly her boyfriend? What if he were still living in Portland? Yes, she was certain they would be dating. Wasn’t it the same now even though the miles separated them?
Sierra coaxed her unreliable car out of the school parking lot and into the three o’clock flow of traffic with Vicki right behind her.
Yes, she convinced herself, it was the same. Paul was her boyfriend.
ten
SIERRA AND VICKI ARRIVED at the small vintage clothing shop at the same time. As soon as Vicki exited her car, she began to pepper Sierra with questions about Paul.
Sierra heard herself say, “We’re dating by mail. We write each other almost every day. I just sent him a four-page letter.”
Vicki looked delighted. “I knew he sent you a picture for your birthday, but I had no idea you two were this far along in your relationship. It’s great, Sierra. You know I think he’s wonderful, handsome, and even a little mysterious.”
Vicki had met Paul at the Highland House last spring. At that time, Sierra thought Vicki was interested in him. But as far as Sierra could tell, Paul had never showered Vicki with the kind of attention she was after. Sierra was surprised, since Vicki was the center of attention in most of the circles in which she orbited. Now Sierra was glad Vicki knew Paul and thought he was wonderful. Sierra felt it confirmed that she hadn’t made all this up.
“Now can I tell you something?” Vicki said.
“Of course.” Sierra felt a little shiver of concern that Vicki was going to say she had a secret crush on Paul and was jealous of Sierra. That’s what had happened in the spring between Sierra and Amy, who had been Sierra’s good friend at the time. Amy had a crush on Drake, and then, out of the blue, Drake had asked Sierra out. It caused a lot of tension even though Amy said at the time that she didn’t mind. Now Amy and Sierra had little contact, since Amy was at a different school and was wrapped up in her boyfriend, Nathan. The strange thing was, Amy and Vicki had been good friends the year before and had a similar sort of rift in their friendship when they both liked the same guy. Sierra was enjoying Vicki’s friendship and hoped that what Vicki was about to say would have nothing to do with guys.
“Remember?” Sierra joked. “I’m a certified hotline adviser. You can tell me anything.”
As they opened the door to enter the quaint little shop, Vicki smiled and said, “I think Randy and I might be getting together finally.”
Sierra hadn’t expected this news. “Really?” In her mind, she went over the last few times she had seen Randy and Vicki together. She hadn’t been aware of a dating relationship blossoming between them.
Vicki nodded and smiled. “You know I’ve liked him for over a year.”
“You have?” Sierra was still trying to process all this. She knew Vicki had invited Randy to a formal dinner in the spring and that lately Vicki had been hanging out with the band, but Vicki hadn’t said anything about her interest in Randy.
“Of course I have. I thought it was obvious. But all along I thought Randy was interested in you, and only you, from here to eternity. So, not that I’m really humble or anything, but I was waiting to see what was going to happen with you and Randy. And now that you’re going with Paul, I finally feel as though we can talk about Randy and me.”
Sierra stood in the doorway, staring at Vicki. “This is all news to me.”
“Good.” Vicki slipped off her jacket in the warm shop and gave Sierra a contented smile. “I didn’t want to get in the way if there was a chance of something happening between you and Randy.”
Sierra assured Vicki, “Randy and I have been through this evaluation before. We’re just buddies. I thought you knew that.”
“Who knows anything for sure with relationships? All I know is that if it’s time for something to happen between Randy and me, I’m ready for it. Your going with Paul makes things nice and uncomplicated.”
The curtain to the changing room next to where Sierra and Vicki stood opened, and the customer, who couldn’t have helped but hear their conversation, stepped out.
“Amy?” Sierra said. Sierra and Amy used to come to the Wrinkle in Time often, since they both loved vintage clothes, but they hadn’t seen each other for several months. Amy’s long, wavy, black hair was now cut short, with bangs that hung to the tips of her eyelashes and fluttered every time she blinked.
“Amy!” Vicki went up to her and offered a hug. “I’ve been hoping to see you. Did you get my phone messages about a month ago? I wanted to talk to you.”
Amy didn’t respond. Sierra had seen her this way before. Amy would clam up in situations that would cause Sierra to be wildly vocal.
Vicki plunged on. “I’ve been trying to call you because I wanted to tell you something. I went to camp this summer and got my life back on track with the Lord. I’ve asked several people to forgive me for stuff I did, and I wanted to apologize to you for what happened last year. You know, that big fight we had. I was wrong. I’m sorry, Amy.”
Amy looked shocked. For a moment she didn’t move. Then she said, “I’m sorry, too. I’m sorry everything went the way it did with us.”
Vicki offered Amy another hug, which Amy hesitantly returned. “Thanks, Amy. I hope we can start over.”
“We can start over. If that’s what you want.”
“That’s definitely what I want!”
Sierra felt as if she should step in and ask forgiveness for something or offer a hug, too. She and Amy had talked heart-to-heart a few months before, but they hadn’t exactly become friends again.
“It’s so good to see you,” was all Sierra could think to say.
Amy gave Sierra a quizzical l
ook. “So you and Paul are together?”
Sierra nodded.
“When did he come back from Scotland?”
“He’s still there. We write each other every day almost.”
Amy smiled. “That’s great. I’m happy for you. He’s writing you every day?”
Sierra nodded, feeling herself blush a little. “Just about every day. I write him every day. You can get to know a lot about a person through letters.”
“And the distance solves the purity problem, doesn’t it?” Amy tilted her head and gave Sierra a knowing look.
The two of them had heatedly discussed physical intimacy when Amy confided how she and her boyfriend were getting involved. Sierra had come down hard on Amy, pushing Scripture verses at her and telling her how she needed to remain a virgin.
Vicki touched the ends of Amy’s short hair. “I love this. When did you cut it?”
“A few weeks ago. Don’t try it, either of you. You’ll be sorry afterward.”
“Are you going to buy that?” Vicki said, pointing at a blouse Amy had draped over her arm.
“No. It didn’t fit. You want to try it on?”
“Yes, it’s adorable,” Vicki said. “Are you looking for blouses?”
Amy shook her head. “Just looking around. Killing some time.”
“Then you can help us find the perfect outfit for Sierra. She’s going to send Paul her picture for Christmas, and she needs something original.”
Amy, who had always been enthusiastic on her shopping sprees with Sierra, took on a happier look. “Did you see those hats with the rolled brims over there?” She went over to a large wicker basket that sat on an old trunk and pulled out a soft black hat. “Try this on,” she said, placing it on Sierra’s head.
“That’s so cute on you,” Vicki said.
“It looks like a Sierra hat,” Amy agreed.
Sierra gave her reflection in the oak cheval glass a quick glance. “I don’t necessarily want to look like me in the picture. I mean, look the way I always look.”
Amy and Vicki exchanged confused glances.
“I want to look like me, only better. Does that make sense?”
“Ah!” Amy said knowingly.
“I saw just the dress.” Vicki dashed over to the display in the front window. Without asking the store clerk, she reached into the display and lifted an emerald green, crushed-velvet dress from the peg where it hung on the side of the display.
“Just picture yourself in this,” Vicki said, holding the dress up with a dramatic flare, as if she were the keeper of a fine Parisian dress shop. “In this dress, you will most definitely be transformed into the Sierra you long to be.”
Sierra laughed.
“Go ahead,” Amy urged. “Try it on.”
“Are you guys sure?” Sierra asked, eyeing the short green dress. It wasn’t like anything she had ever worn before.
Vicki held it up to Sierra and said, “Look, it’s going to be a perfect fit.”
“Perfect,” Amy echoed.
Sierra took the dress from Vicki with a tilt of her head and slipped into the dressing room. It felt strange yet natural that the three of them should be shopping like this. What felt good was that their long-standing disagreements and conflicts appeared to be cleared up. They could be friends and have fun together. But it was all so unexpected that Sierra felt surprised, too.
“Ta-da!” she announced, stepping out of the dressing room wearing the long-sleeved, scooped-neck dress. The dress was cut well. Sierra felt regal, elegant, and dressy as she smoothed her hands over the velvety curves of her frame.
“That’s darling!” Vicki exclaimed.
“When did you get a figure?” Amy blurted out.
Sierra blushed. She had noticed her body making subtle changes over the summer, adding some gentle curves and rounding out in all the right places. It was embarrassing, though, to be seventeen and just beginning to have the kind of figure all her friends started to acquire when they were much younger. During most of high school, she had suffered the silent agony of a late bloomer.
“Sierra, you look five years older in that dress,” Amy said. “I can’t believe how different it makes you look. You’re gorgeous!”
“You think?” Sierra stood with her shoulders straight, taking in a full view of herself in the mirror. She couldn’t stop smiling. She liked the way this dress and the attention of her friends made her feel. She didn’t think of herself as the freckle-faced little tomboy dressed in baggy jeans, or the free spirit who wore long, gauze skirts. She felt like, well, like a young woman worthy of the honor of being called Paul’s girlfriend. If she sent Paul a picture of herself in this dress, he would definitely notice how much she had matured. And if he harbored any doubts about Sierra’s being old enough and mature enough to enter into a serious relationship, the sight of her in this green velvet dress would dissolve any such thoughts.
“I don’t even want to know how much it costs,” Sierra said to her friends, turning slightly and examining her backside in the full-length mirror. “I have to have this dress.”
eleven
THE THREE REUNITED FRIENDS each bought something at Wrinkle in Time. Sierra purchased the dress and had enough money for the black hat, which she thought would come in handy with all the rain they had been having lately. Amy bought a small leather purse and Vicki bought the blouse Amy had been trying on when they entered the shop.
They were enjoying their time together so much that Vicki suggested they troop down the street to Mama Bear’s to celebrate becoming friends again. The welcoming fragrance of cinnamon invited them to enter the store and find a quiet table.
Sierra felt content. She and her friends were nestled in a cozy corner. She was enjoying a hot cup of tea, and the new emerald green dress was in a shopping bag in her car. All that was missing was Paul. She wished it were possible for him to step through the door and physically enter into her life. The best she could do was write another long letter tonight and tell him everything—everything, that is, except about the green dress. He would have to be surprised when he saw the picture of her wearing it. It was a delicious thought.
“What shoes are you going to wear with that dress?” Vicki asked. “It won’t exactly go with your cowboy boots.”
“Oh, you don’t think so?” Sierra pretended her response was serious.
Amy chuckled. “You still have those disgusting boots? I thought they would have gotten up and walked away on their own by now.”
“I love those boots,” Sierra said with a pout.
“We know!” Amy and Vicki responded in unison.
They all laughed and picked at a shared cinnamon roll in the center of the table.
“So,” Amy said, turning to Vicki, “you and Randy might be the latest couple around Royal?”
Vicki smiled. “Maybe. You never know. He cut his hair real short. Did you hear about that?”
Amy shook her head. “I don’t hear much from anybody at Royal.”
“He stopped a riot over the school dress code almost single-handedly,” Vicki said. “He’s my hero.”
Sierra and Amy laughed.
“You and Randy,” Amy said, shaking her head. “Is it ‘senioritis’ or what? Everyone is ending up with someone I’d never expect them to be interested in.” Amy talked about some people Vicki knew who had gotten together, but Sierra didn’t know them.
“How are you and Nathan doing?” Vicki asked. “How long have you guys been together, six months now or seven?”
Amy swished the last sip of latte around in her cup. Without looking up, she said, “We broke up.”
Sierra felt a squeeze in her heart. She never had wanted Amy to become involved with Nathan, but that didn’t matter now. What mattered was that her friend had had her heart broken, and Sierra ached for her.
“Oh, Amy, I’m so sorry,” Sierra said.
“You are?” Amy looked up, surprised.
“Yes, of course. It hurts, I’m sure, to break up after being
together so long.”
Amy looked down. “Yes. It hurts.”
“What happened?” Vicki looked at Sierra and then at Amy. “I mean, if you don’t mind my asking. I’m not trying to pry or anything.”
Amy was silent for a moment. Then she looked up at Vicki. “We were doing fine for a long time. He’s a great guy. He was there for me when my parents started their divorce.”
“I heard about that,” Vicki said. “I’m sorry. I should have been there for you, too. All those stupid arguments we had that we never resolved. I look back now, and I think it was so immature and pointless. I hurt a valuable friendship by not coming to you and trying to clear things up.”
Amy drank her last sip of latte. “Well, it doesn’t matter now. We’re all back to being friends, and I’m glad for that. When I really needed someone, Nathan was there for me, and I’ll probably always love him for that.” She looked off into the distance as if pulling back a memory that she had sent far away.
“You don’t have to tell us anything if you don’t want to,” Sierra said.
“Yes, she does,” Vicki said, flashing her bright smile at Sierra and Amy. “We want to hear every gory detail.”
Vicki’s joking tone lightened the mood as all three of them chuckled. Then Sierra and Vicki sat silently, waiting for Amy to continue.
“I guess I was too demanding. That’s what he said. I kind of lost my life and became wrapped up in his. We started to fight, which we never did the first few months. Then I found out he had lied to me about something. It wasn’t a big thing. He told me he was going to stay home one night, but I found out he went to the movies with a bunch of other people, and I got mad. He said he just wanted a break from me. We didn’t talk to each other for about a week, and then we got back together at work that weekend. We did okay for about another week and a half, and then it started all over again. We broke up for good about two weeks ago. He’s already going out with someone else.”
“That’s awful,” Sierra said.
“I thought you would say that that’s what you had been praying for, that we would break up,” Amy said. “Or at least I thought you would want to give me a good ‘I told you so.’ ”