I’d abandoned them more than I should have for Ava, so eventually I gave in. We agreed that Bill and Sarah would drive Bill’s car, and Carlos and I would go in Gram’s. That way, if the whole thing sucked, the bored parties could leave.
Gram made everyone come to our house for pictures.
“Smile, Tucker!” she said, snapping shots with an actual camera rather than a phone.
Bill and Carlos acted like their usual moron selves, striking dumb poses and making Sarah laugh. Carlos played the role of my date, kicking up his foot with a big stupid grin while pinning a boutonniere on my lapel. They might be total dorks, but they were trying.
We stopped by the drive-through at Mickey D’s the way we always said we would on prom night, orderingBig Macs and Happy Meals in our fancy clothes. When we arrived at the dance, I had to admit, it was cool. Arches of balloons with yards of streamers covered the entrance to the hotel ballroom. Flashes popped in one corner where couples lined up for official pictures.
A long table along the side wall was covered with snacks and rows of bottled water.
Carlos smacked my arm. “Where’s the punch bowl? How can anybody spike a bunch of bottles?”
Bill shoved him aside. “This isn’t 1950.”
“I wanted a punch bowl,” Carlos grumbled.
A DJ surrounded by equipment played a hair band rock anthem, and my thoughts instantly turned to Ava. If she had been here, I could have requested “Highway to Hell” and it would have been the perfect joke.
Bill elbowed me. “We should dance. Beats standing around.”
“No way,” Carlos said. “You’ll find me at the snacks.”
“Oh no,” I told him. “You dragged me here. We’re doing this right.”
We skirted clusters of dancers to find a spot in the middle. Bill started spinning Sarah in circles. Carlos shuffled self-consciously for a bit, then must have decidedscrew it, because he launched into a head-banging, arm-flailing spectacular.
A ripple of laughter went through the crowd at first, but then a few others found their 80s jam and followed his lead. I had enough of a lingering headache to avoid tossing my brain around, so I stepped aside from the fray, taking it easy while Carlos stole the limelight.
The next song slowed down. Bill brought Sarah in close. Carlos attempted to continue his head-banging, but it wasn’t funny anymore.
I wandered back and nudged his arm. “Refuel.”
He shrugged and followed me over to the snack table. We grabbed a plate of little fried somethings and found a piece of wall to lean against. Only a smattering of round tables filled the far corner, and they seemed to be taken up by hordes of girls, all chatting and watching the dance floor.
“So much fresh meat over there,” Carlos said. “Maybe I’ll make their day.”
“You go right ahead. But I wouldn’t call them meat if you want a chance.”
“You still hung up on Ava?”
It took a lot of control not to shoot back an angry reply. Carlos had never had a girlfriend. He didn’t know. “Yep.”
“But look at them.” He gestured with his plate.
“All yours, Romeo.”
He handed me his food. “I’m going in.”
I walked over to a trash can. The music picked up, but I stayed in the shadows. I was here. It was prom. I’d done the thing. If Carlos struck gold with some girl, I could consider my wingman duties complete.
I had Gram’s car. I could drive by Ava’s old duplex if I wanted. Maybe I would reclaim the flowers I brought Ava that last night. I doubt she was able to take them from the porch next door. Having some small thing of hers might make this night less horrible.
Carlos returned with not just one girl, but two. “Told you,” he said. “This is Sheila.” He took off for the dance floor with the other girl.
Sheila fiddled with the red wrist corsage that matched her bright dress. “Sorry. He sort of dragged me here.”
“Carlos is like that,” I said. “Didn’t we take chemistrytogether last year? Mr. Cameron relied on you to have the answers when nobody else did.”
