Bruno (3 page)

I ram my car into his and we play cars for a while longer. I am so lost in pretending to be kid again, back when skinned knees were the biggest pain you could ever get, and blue metallic Band-Aid’s really did make them all better, that I don’t notice my mother walk in. My brothers are close behind her, carrying more bags of groceries. She tells one of them to stick some nuggets in the oven, because we have guests. Hearing we have guests and we’re having nuggets for dinner let’s my brother’s know Alex is here.

They start playing cars with us. One of my brothers even gets his old hot-wheel set from the same closet I got the Rug City carpet from. They start setting up, talking about the old toys we had in the 90’s, and asking Alex what new toys are hip these days. I let the boys play alone to go talk to my mom. I find her upstairs, getting wrapped boxes from under her bed.

“Yes. The Castino’s haven’t fully recovered from the financial burden of Bruno’s treatments from last year. And with the chance that he might need more costly medical care, this Christmas isn’t going to be a good one. I just wanted to help them out and get Alex a few things. I was over at their house and noticed his toy trucks are almost unusable anymore.”

That’s probably why his mom wouldn’t let him bring them over. Riding in the car on top of Alex’s lap would make them even more beat up, and they are already having a tough time lasting till Christmas. I’m glad my mom is thinking of Alex. Usually the siblings of sick kids go forgotten. Bruno would never let that happen to Alex.

“When were you over there?” I question, getting freaked that she knows something I don’t.

“Your father was doing some business with Mr. Castino. Since we are in a good place to let people in on our business ventures, we thought it’d be a good idea to offer it to Mr. Castino.”

I love my mom. She’s always thinking of ways to help others.

A hear something fall downstairs. My mother pops hear head up, waiting for a cry, but nothing happens. They probably just knocked over the unbreakable lamps my mom has learned to purchase after having four boys. I stand to leave anyway, just to make sure, when my mom brings up the dance.

“You aren’t going to your senior homecoming? You were so excited for it last year. You said you couldn’t wait till next year so you could have a chance at queen.”

I grimace. She was right. I had always wanted the crown just as bad as most girls do. Wearing a tight ball gown, dancing in the spotlight with whatever cute guy won king. It would be a night to remember. I had been asked by around 15 guys by now, and I had turned them all down. I didn’t have a date and the dance was the following week. Besides, there was only one guy I wanted to go with.

“I’ll see, Mom.”

“I thought you’d say that. I asked Mrs. Castino if Bruno had a date for the dance. She said Bruno hasn’t been to a dance since Middle School, and with all the things he’s going through, a dance isn’t something he’d have time to plan for. I told her you’d been the same way, preoccupied with something I don’t know of, but that it’d be cute for you two to go together. I told her I’d make the arrangements and Bruno just had to show up.”

Normally, most teenage girls would be mad if their mom set them up. But going to the dance with Bruno was an idea a really liked. A LOT. I smile and yell “That sounds great, Mom!” Just as we hear another crash and someone say “That one was you!” A second later, an argument breaks out.

“I told your father to hide Grandma’s glass vase”, my mom mumbles, as we rush downstairs to pull apart bodies from a dog pile. Even as I’m sweeping up broken glass, I can’t help thinking about the dance. It will be so magical. The first dance I’ve been to with Bruno; and Bruno’s first dance, ever. Our senior homecoming, the dance that’s almost as big as Prom. It’ll be me and Bruno; happy together. We won’t have to pretend. 

FOUR

“You look beautiful.”

Bruno’s eyes stare up at me as I walk down my curving staircase. He awaits me at the bottom, surrounded by my parents, brothers, and my brothers’ dates. The pink-rose corsage he is holding steals my attention. Roses are so beautiful; I’m such a sucker for flowers. Flowers are the only thing just as pretty after death. Sure, they aren’t as colorful and look kind beaten, but they’re still beautiful because they’re death represents a good memory that ended and is now forever graved in the giver and owner of the flowers’ heart.

No expense was spared on this dance. As soon as I came home from school and told her not only had I gotten the dance tickets, but that I also was on prom court; she rushed me out the front door and into the mall. We bought a brand new dress, make-up, strapless bra, jewelry and shoes. She even paid for my manicure and pedicure the day before. I really did miss all of this pampering. Being a girl does have its good times. But there is way more to life than just looking good.

The flash of the camera brings me back into the present. Bruno’s hands are on my sides and we’re posing the way parents make you do for pictures. I’m so used to these same poses that my body reacts naturally. It doesn’t matter that I’ve done these same poses with multiple guys before dances before, with Bruno it felt different. It felt better.

“We better get going before the food runs out at the buffet.” My brother calls down the hallway to make the picture-taking finish up. At the mention of food, the rest of the boys bid their goodbyes to the parents and head for the cars.

My mom pulls me aside and adjusts my corsage. “You look so beautiful, baby,” she says, kissing my forehead.

“Thanks, Mom.”

“My little girl is really all grown up,” my dad adds, pulling me under his arm for a quick hug. It’s ironic that he would say that. I’ve been to countless dances, pageants and on dates since before I can remember. He’s never said that I looked all grown up. I guess when the chance of death occurs to parents you know, you appreciate the fact that you’re children are still growing up healthy.

I wave goodbye to my parent’s and meet Bruno in his SUV. It’s been so long since I’ve been in a guy’s vehicle. Bruno had borrowed this car from a family friend. He wanted to use something that was more his then my car was. I can tell he did some intense cleaning and scrubbing in preparation for this date. His work really paid off, and I appreciate his thoughtfulness. But truthfully, I’d walk to the dance as long as I was with him.

The drive on the way to the dance is anything but quiet. I turn the radio on to 95.1, “Call Me, Maybe” comes on and he changes the station to one I’ve never heard before, a bunch of classical love songs start playing. He knows them all by heart and sings each one perfectly.

“Look at how pretty it is outside.” He says, switching off the radio after finishing up his third song.

The leaves are still on the trees. It’s nearing Thanksgiving and the trees look like they do in the spring. Through the corner of my eye I can see Bruno glancing over at me, but then I realize he’s looking past me; out of my window and out at the scenery.

“It looks the way it always does.” I respond.

“Yes, and it’s always beautiful.” His smile makes me agree.

As soon as we get to the dance, Bruno offers to get me something to drink. I smile and thank him, not because I’m thirsty, but because I want a moment to compose myself. Besides, it’s too soon to use the ladies-room excuse. I have never been so giddy about a date or a dance in my life.

Behind me, I hear my brothers enter. They’re rowdy and loud, slapping hands with everybody they can reach. Melanie approaches me and offers me a piece of gum. Sometimes its little acts of kindness from people that know I need it more than I do that make me really see how beautiful people are.

She smiles weakly at me. “Have some fun tonight, girl.” She shakes her hips, imitating an old dance move I was known for doing to lighten the dances up. I bump her hips back as my brother approaches and whisks her away. She waves and I chump down harder on my gum.

Bruno returns with a soda for me. I take a quick drink and then set it on the chair next to me. I grab his hand and lead him to the dance floor. I start going crazy and dancing all around. He stands still, shocked at first. A smile creeps onto his face and I feel the happiest I’ve ever been. It feels so good to make someone else happy, just by doing things that also makes you happy.

“I haven’t seen you dance like this since two years ago,” he yells over the music.

I dance harder. One, because dancing feels good and makes me happy, and two, I don’t want to talk about the past. This is here, right now. This is what matters.

“I’m as good as I ever was,” I scream back, making his smile wider.

The music continues and our body movements go from dancing near each other to on each other. His hands are on my back, pulling me closer. I don’t resist. I go from igniting the dance, to letting him lead. For a nerd, he has great dance moves. Most guys I’ve danced with in the past had two left feet. His movements match mine. I am lost in a trance of my old passion. I don’t notice the stares or the gawking’s from the students surronding us.

A slow song comes on. I stop dancing. Without hesitation, he pulls me into his arms and starts swaying our bodies back and forth. I thought it’d be uncomfortable to be this close to him for the first time, but it isn’t. He isn’t even sweaty. His axe deodorant smells so inviting. My head is pressed against his chest; his heart is beating rapidly. Maybe it’s because of the excessive dancing, or maybe it’s because of me. I don’t really mind, it’s just good to feel someone else’s heart beat besides my own.

“Excuse us; I need Saige’s advice in the girl’s room.” The words break through the dying notes of the music. Bruno seems startled because he doesn’t question Melanie as she signals for me to follow her into the bathroom.

Once inside, she waste’s no-time explaining. “Tim’s here.”

My mouth drops. I peek through the gym doors and see Tim standing alone. He’s wearing a new tux, which I’m sure costs a couple thousand dollars, and his hair is spiked the way it usually is for special occasions. I take a step forward to go and ask him why he’s here, when I see Adrian appear out of nowhere. She is holding his arm when she doesn’t need to, I mean they’re just standing around for Pete’s sake, and smiling too big as she brushes her hair off of her shoulder. My heart drops and I feel sick to my stomach.

I back away from the girl’s room door, retreating deeper inside, as if the farther back I hide the more the hurt will go away. It doesn’t.

“They just showed up. I thought he wasn’t coming.” Melanie’s word’s travel like air.

Upon realizing her careless word choice, she tries to make it up. “They probably just happened to show up at the same time, alone. You know Tim’s had such a hard time since you broke up with him, and Adrian… well, she can’t get anyone.”

I storm out of the gym in a huff. It is only as I’m looking for my car that I remember I came with Bruno, and I recall the great moment we just had. Ugh. It’s really tough making the right choices. I head off towards my brothers car, hoping he still keeps the doors unlocked and the spare key under the driver’s seat, when I hear footsteps behind me.

“Oh,” his face falls, but he continues, “Well you could have told me. I would have left with you. I’ll take you anywhere.” He tosses his keys back into his hand. His keys are my ticket to leaving this parking-lot and getting away from the sight of Tim and Adrian.

I’m glad he didn’t ask for a real explanation. ”Let’s go.”

We climb into his SUV and he asks me where I’d like to go. I don’t really have a special place in mind, so he decides to take us to the closes Dairy Queen. It’s going out of business because a brand new Sonic opened up across the street, so most of the time it’s deserted. I’m glad I don’t have to see anyone and I remind myself to thank him later for choosing such a great location. He orders food for himself and chicken nuggets for me.

After filling up my drink, I realize he already choose a booth for us in the back. There’s an elderly couple sitting in the front, and one man who’s ordering to go, so it’s like we are all alone back here. He already has the food and has set it up so I just have to sit and eat.

He doesn’t say anything at first. He just eats his banana split in silence. I take a couple small bites out of one chicken nugget, and slurp my mountain dew on purpose. The silence is killing me, but talking will kill me more.

“Well… I thought I didn’t. But I haven’t seen him in so long. Since right before I met you. I didn’t even see him when he came home for the summer, because I was so busy with you. He used to text me every so often, but I haven’t gotten a text from him in months. And then he just shows up at MY dance with another girl, without even telling me, it just… sucks, ya know?”

“Yeah. I know.” The hurt in his voice makes me ask him how he could possibly know. “When we first started talking, I thought I never had a chance for you to even give me the time of day. But then you did. I tried not to get more attached than just basic friends, but you’re so hard not to like, Saige. I thought about you all the time. Then you choose to go to last year’s homecoming dance with Dave. I had planned on asking you. That was the first dance I ever planned on attending since Junior High. But I didn’t go because I couldn’t stand the thought of seeing you with Dave.”