“You haven’t told anyone in your family what happened to you?”

“You going to answer that?” I asked Joanna on the phone’s third ring.

She shrugged but reached for the instrument. “Hey,” she said into the mouthpiece.

“Who’s it?” I asked but she shushed me.

“Oh, hey, Jordan,” Joanna grinned, nodding at me.

Jordan? My sister? Why would she be calling? Wait, wait, wait…. Jordie was friends with several girls on the freshman cheer squad. Madrigal! Katalina’s little sister had been at the party last night!

“Why would you think Pete would be here?” I heard Joanna asking.

Had Maddie told Jordan she had seen me at the ice cream party?

“Yeah, no, yeah, no. Uh huh,” Jo was saying. “Pete brought Megan to the party and they spent the night in a guest room. Uh, huh, yeah! Probably. Oh, yeah, Pete kicked ass on some gate crashers, so we let him stay.” She laughed, winking at me.

Was she running a bluff on Jordan? My head buzzed with confusion and anxiety.

“Nope,” said Jo. “I haven’t seen him this morning.” Grinning she pointed at what I was wearing. The bridesmaid dress! God! Why had I let Joanna talk me into dressing up?

I covered my face with my palms and put my thumbs in my ears. I didn’t want to hear any more of the conversation. I already felt like shrieking or grabbing the phone away from Jo.

After a bit, I realized Joanna must have hung up and took my hands down.

She was looking at me, her expression amused. “You haven’t told anyone in your family what happened to you?”

I opened my mouth then closed it again, settling for just shaking my head.

Jo rolled her eyes. “Jordan says your boyfriend called about your date this afternoon.”

“I— what? — you? — she?” I babbled. “Lee called my house!?! She said Lee Frick, not….”

“No, she didn’t call him your boyfriend,” she laughed. “I did that. But not to her.”

I scowled at her. “You’re having too much fun!” I accused.

She cackled at that. “Don’t pout, Petey-Gayle. You’re way too cute when you do and it’s wasted on me. Wait till Lee hogs the popcorn bucket.” She cackled again. “Oh, hey!” She got up and opened a cabinet and took something out of a bowl before handing it to me. “Free upgrade coupon for two large drinks and a large popcorn when you buy mediums!”

I blinked, taking the slips of paper. Joanna’s dad owned the theaters in town and she had an endless supply of the coupons, which she freely distributed since you had to buy tickets and the medium stuff to get the upgrade. “Uh, thanks,” I muttered, then frowned as I realized I had no pockets to stuff them in.

“If you want to wear that dress to the show I’ll grab you the matching purse,” Jo offered.

“Way too much fun,” I accused again.

“I’d love to be there when Lee sees you in it,” she added.

I just glared at her.

She didn’t mind but went back to what she had heard on the phone. “Jordan said Lee will pick you up at three in his van so you don’t both have to look for parking.”

I nodded but had nothing to say to that.

“The matinee will give you two time for a drive up to Lookaway Point afterwards,” she added.

I flipped her off for that and she snickered.

“That van of his has a big back seat and no one will see….”

“Knock it off, Jo,” I said, meaning to sound tough but it didn’t come out right.

She reached across the table and took my hand and I grasped hers back. We sat there for a moment and it sank in that Jo was my friend now. Not just Jake’s girlfriend, but something different, something like what Jake and I used to have with a lot of friendly teasing.

I squeezed her hand and she squeezed back then I let go to wipe something off my cheek.

“What are you going to wear on your date?” she asked.

“My clothes?” I said. “Not a dress,” I added firmly.

She looked seriously at me. “Will your boy jeans still fit your curves?” She made a motion. “Your round little butt is even rounder than before and not so little now.”

I stared at her. “My clothes fit last night!”

“We’d better check if they still do,” she mused then cackled again when she looked at me. She patted my hand. “Relax. We’ve got hours, we can go shopping to find something that fits!”

I scowled, or tried to, remembering that my face still hurt.

She pointed at me. “Your face, Petey-Gayle!”

“You’re still enjoying this too much, Jo,” I complained.

“Uh huh,” she agreed. “I am! As long as you’re not trying to date Jake!”

Still frowning, I decided I’d have to figure some way to get back at her.

Wanna see Pete in the wedding dress? Click to read the next half chapter on Patreon. :)