On the Edge (6 page)

“To my place it is,” he says as he hands me back my phone.

             
    
 
              *   *   *

I barely make it home in time for my two o’clock curfew.  Geez, Tommy makes me lose track of time.  My brother is up watching television in the living room when I close the front door behind me.  “You were out late, sis.”

“Yea, I lost track of time.  I meant to be home earlier than my curfew.”

“You sure are hung up on Tommy, aren’t you?”

I blush.  “Yes, I am.  Michael, I think I’m in love with him.”

“Abby, please be careful with him.  He gives me a bad feeling.”
             

“Mike, please don’t.  You’re starting to sound like Mom and Jeremy.”

“Well, have you considered that maybe we are right?  Abby, three people who love you have a bad feeling about this guy and Jason, well, he absolutely hates him.”
             

“Jason?”

“Yes, Jason told me about the confrontation with Tommy at the hospital.  Abigail, do you realize that Jason loves you?  I don’t mean love as in my love for you, but love as in he wants a relationship with you?”

Really
?  Is that what all those longing looks meant?  Why didn’t he tell me this before I fell in love with Tommy?  “No, he doesn’t love me, Mike.  I’m like a little sister to him.  That’s all.”

“You and Jason can deny it all you want, but I’ve seen the love building in him for years!  I think it would be neat if you guys started dating.”

“Ok, enough talk about Jason.  I’m going to head to bed.  Katherine and I have a date with the wretched mall tomorrow and I need my rest if I plan to keep up with that girl!”

I walk over and give Michael a kiss goodnight and make my way to my room.  I am so tired that I forget about taking a shower.  I just slip my pajamas on and crawl into bed relieved that this day is finally over but dreading the trip to the mall tomorrow. 

             
             
*   *   *

It’s 9:30 before my eyes spring open.  Shit!  I overslept.  Dammit, no time for a shower.  I hurry out of bed and rush over to the closet and grab the first items I touch.  I’m running around trying to get dressed when my cell phone vibrates.  I pick up the phone and see it’s a text message from Tommy.

Hey angel, I would love to see you today.  When you’re done shopping, come over.

I quickly respond with an ‘
okay’
before making my way out of the house.  I get to Katherine’s house with two minutes to spare.  I almost faint when I look up to see Katherine.  She’s actually ready to go on time!  I suppose there is a first time for everything, including Katherine.  “Hi,” she says.

“Hi, yourself.  Look at you, all ready to go and not a minute late!”

“Yea, I figured I wouldn’t keep you waiting today.  Speaking of ready to go, you look like hell Abby.  You look like you are wearing yesterday’s makeup,” she says as she grabs my iPod and begins searching it for music. 

Damn, she’s good.  “Actually, I did.  I didn’t get home until late and then woke up later than expected.  Do I look that awful?”

“I wouldn’t say you look
that
bad, but you aren’t something to gawk at either,” she explains as ‘Gotta Be Somebody’ by Nickelback flows out of the speakers.  Now it starts.  Katherine belts out the lyrics.  Will her squawking ever not make me giggle?  After some time, I decide hell with it, if you can’t beat them, join them!  I begin screaming the chorus with her as we drive to the mall.

We walk around the mall buying make-up and jewelry for the prom next Saturday.  The worst part of this trip is the shoes.  We didn’t buy shoes when we bought our dresses so now we have to buy the “right” shoes, according to Katherine.  I have a feeling that this is going to be as tedious as dress shopping. 

We are finally out of the mall at three o’clock.  I was correct.  Shoe shopping with Katherine is just as big of a chore as dress shopping!  She was dragging me from one store to another and then another.  Low and behold, she bought the very first pair of shoes she tried on.  I swear, that girl is going to be the death of me if I don’t strangle her first!

After I drop Katherine off, I turn and head toward Tommy’s apartment.  I pull into the guest parking and make my way to his
unit.  I ring the doorbell and am greeted by a smiling hunk of a man that is my Tommy.  He looks gorgeous.  His hair is still damp from a shower.  He is wearing black denim jeans and a white t-shirt.  Oh, I’ll never get tired of looking at him.  “Howdy, darlin’,” he says with a stupid grin on his face.

“Howdy yourself, may I come in?”

“Oh, yea, of course,” he says as he steps back.

             
Tommy is so happy today.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this happy before.  What is up with his yo-yo type mood swings?    One day he’s happy and the other angry.  Before I have time to question his demeanor, he closes the door and scoops me into his arms, spinning me around.  He puts my feet back on the floor and kisses me deeply, passionately.  That’s it; I’m lost in the passion behind that kiss.  We kiss as we quickly make our way to his bedroom.  He closes the door without taking his lips from mine and we begin to swiftly remove each other’s clothes.

Chapter
Six

Prom day has finally arrived and I’m a nervous nelly.  Katherine and I have salon appointments this afternoon and I hope that she is more relaxed during her appointment than she was picking out her dress and shoes.  However, this is Katherine and the chances of her making anything easy are almost impossible.  Her middle name should be Impossible or maybe even Difficult.  I giggle to myself as I grab a button up shirt from my closet.  Lately, I’ve been wearing long-sleeved shirts to cover the bruises that Tommy left on my arms.  The hickey has been easy to cover with make-up.  As I change into my shirt, I look at the bruises.  They have lightened up enough that I can put a little loose powder on them and no one would even know they’re there.

              My brother is still staying with us.  I am fairly certain I heard my parents talking about taking him back to Bayford tomorrow after dinner.  I’m going to miss him.  I’ve had fun spending time with him since he’s been home.  I am confident that we have watched every movie that we own and have eaten our weight in popcorn since he’s been home.

             
I grab my purse while dad fishes his credit card out of his wallet.  I give him a smile before taking it from his hand.

             
“Please, don’t go spend crazy with this thing.  Your mother is bad enough,” he says as he looks toward mom.

             
I can’t hold back the laughter.  My dad hit the nail on the head with that description of my mother.  “I won’t, Daddy.  I’m just going to get my hair done and I’ll bring it right back.”

             
I climb in my car and head over to Katherine’s.  “Fire” by Bruce Springsteen plays through the speakers and I can’t help but sing along.  This is such a classic song but it’s too short.  I really wish the song was longer.  Another song begins playing as I pull into Katherine’s driveway, but I don’t take the time to hear the words.  I turn the radio down as Katherine comes sulking to the car.  She places her garment bag with her prom dress in the back seat along with a bag that contains her shoes and accessories for the big night.  “What’s wrong?” I ask as she climbs in the passenger seat.

             
“I look hideous!” she sobs.  She doesn’t look hideous but she doesn’t look like the Katherine that I’m accustomed to seeing.  Her hair is stringy and falling all over the place and she doesn’t have make-up on, but hideous is not the word I would use.  She looks natural and beautiful.

             
“Put you hair in this until we get to the salon,” I say as I hand her a pony-o.

             
“Thanks,” she grumbles as she struggles to pull her hair back.

             
Honestly, Katherine is quite beautiful without make-up.  I wonder why she doesn’t see that.  I consider telling her that, but I change my mind when I notice that she is pouting.  If I compliment her appearance, I’ll be forced to point out all the beauty in her and then hear her remarks about each part I point out.  Some things are better left unsaid.

             
I decided on a hairstyle last night but Katherine is still indecisive by the time we arrive at the salon for her scheduled appointment.  Her appointment was before mine but since she can’t make up her mind I ask to go ahead of her.  I sit in the chair and explain to the beautician that I want a soft tease up-do.  The stylist suggests that I have my hair trimmed and layered for this style since my bangs are past my shoulders.  What the hell, I might as well get a new every day hair style while I’m here.  After she cuts about three inches off my hair and completes the layers, she starts putting my hair in the up-do.  My bangs are pulled to the right side of my forehead and the rest of my hair is pinned up with a soft tease on top. 

             
Just as she’s finished placing the last bobby pin in and sprays my hair with a little hairspray, Katherine exclaims that she has finally decided on a hair style.  It’s about damn time!  If she didn’t have a style picked out by now, I’m sure the beautician would have kicked her out and she would have to attend our prom without an up-do.  “I want the Romantic Twist,” she says with excitement in her voice.

             
I get up and she takes my place.  Since Katherine gets her hair trimmed and styled every six weeks the stylist doesn’t have to do any prep work on her hair before taking the curling iron to her.  In forty-five minutes, her hair is curled and the ringlets pinned, loosely, to the top of her head with a couple of little ringlets hanging on either side of her face.  Not sure why it’s called a twist since her hair isn’t twisted, but she looks absolutely stunning, even without make-up.

             
We arrive at my house a little after four o’clock.  We make our way to the kitchen for a light snack before we head to my room to finish getting ready.  Chris Tamblay and Tommy are supposed to be here by six o’clock.  I grab two yogurts and two bottles of water.  We eat our snack and chit chat about mindless things until my brother walks in.  “Hey, you two clean up nicely,” he says with a smile on his face.

             
Katherine puts her half eaten yogurt on the counter, grabs her water and heads to my bedroom.  I swear, she is overly dramatic sometimes and for no good reason. 

             
“What’s wrong with her?” Michael asks truly looking a bit concerned.

             
“I don’t know.  Maybe she’s embarrassed that you saw her without her make-up?” I take a guess.  I never really know what’s going on inside Katherine’s head.

             
“I don’t know what’s up with that girl, Abby.  She’s very gorgeous even without make-up on,” Mike says as he takes a bite out of Katherine’s yogurt cup and scrunches up his face.  Mike doesn’t like yogurt so I’m surprised he even took a bite.

             
“You’re not telling me anything I don’t already know, Mike.”

             
“Well, I can’t wait to see you both once you’re finished getting ready.”

             
“Thanks,” I say, as I throw the yogurt cups away and grab my water.

             
“Sis, may I ask you a question?”

             
“Well, that was a question right there, but sure, ask away.”

             
“Ha ha, funny.  How would you feel if I asked Katherine out?”

             
I about fall over; not in a million years did I expect to hear my brother ask me that.  I have never pictured my brother and best friend as a couple.  These two are polar opposites.  “Umm, well, I’m not her keeper, but I do know that she has a crush on you and has for some time.”

             
“So, if I asked her out, you wouldn’t be upset?”

             
“Absolutely not!  If you like her and she likes you, then you two should be together.  However, I don’t want to be stuck in the middle of your squabbles.  Every couple has issues and I don’t want to be drug into the middle of that or, God forbid, forced to choose between my brother or my best friend if your relationship ends,” I say as firmly as I can.  I love both of them and don’t want to lose either one because they can’t make a romantic relationship work.

             
“Thank you, Abigail.  I love you!  I promise that I will not make you choose between us.  I wouldn’t ever do that to my little sister.”

             
“I love you too, Mike,” I respond as I make my way out of the kitchen.

             
My head is spinning with the question Michael asked.  I did not see that one coming.  I knew that Katherine had a crush on him but I didn’t think that the feelings were mutual.  Wow, that’s all I can think about as I walk in my room.  I look over at Katherine.  She’s sitting in front of my mirror, her make-up kit open, staring at herself.  I know, without asking, that she’s deciding on what make-up products to use.  I sit on my bed and wait for her to finish her make-up.  She’s supposed to do mine because, according to her, I’m hopeless when it comes to make-up. 

             
“Ok, I think I’ve figured out what I’m going to do,” she says to herself.  In all honesty, she decided quickly.  I was expecting her to take her sweet time and cause us to be “fashionably” late.

             
She begins to apply her foundation and bronzer while I flip through my iPod looking for a good song.  I settle on “Flightless Bird, American Mouth” by Iron & Wine.  I love this song.  Bella and Edward from
Twilight
danced so gracefully to this at their prom.  Oh, to have a love like that would be so amazing.  What am I thinking?  I have a love like that.  Tommy loves me and would move Heaven and Earth to keep me safe.

             
“Ok, Abigail, your turn,” Katherine tells me.

             
Oh, Katherine looks lovely.  Her skin looks so flawless with a light bronze on her cheeks.  Her eyes are absolutely stunning.  She has a light green eye shadow on with a trace of glitter in it.  Her top eyelid has liquid eyeliner that slightly pulls up at the end of the lid.  I believe I’ve heard her call it a ‘wing.’  She has false lashes on that make her lashes look longer and fuller and she has black eyeliner on her water line.  Her lips are glossed with a rosy tint.  “Now, remember, Katherine, I don’t want a lot of make-up on,” I remind her.

             
“Shush!  Sit down and let me work my magic!” she orders.

             
I do as I am told and let her have her way with me, or my face at least.  It doesn’t take her long until she’s done.  I look in the mirror and I am speechless.  She has applied a light amount of foundation to hide my blemishes and added a light pink blush to my cheeks.  I have a light beige eye shadow covering my entire lid with a modest amount of mascara on my lashes and light eyeliner on my bottom eyelid.  My word, Katherine does fantastic work.  “I love it, Katherine,” I say, holding back tears, “Thank you so much.”

             
“Anytime, love.  Now, let’s get dressed.  We don’t want to be too late.”

             
Katherine slips on her prom dress first.  It’s an exquisite strapless, floor length mermaid dress.  She picked a light green dress embodied in green beads in a diagonal fashion along the breast area.  Her shoes are white, open-toed heels that increase her height by four inches and accent the dress brilliantly. She puts her diamond studs in her ears as I clasp her single diamond necklace around her neck.  I stand back and gaze at this beautiful woman standing before me.  She is absolutely astonishing.  “You look amazing, Katherine.”

             
“Do you really think so?” Katherine asks.  When someone gives her a compliment, she always fishes for a bigger one.

             
“Yes, of course I do.”

             
“Thank you,” she says as a huge smile creeps across her face.  I love this girl to death but she really needs to be able to see herself for what she is; a beautiful girl with potential to become anything she puts her mind to.

             
I fish my dress out of its garment bag and slip it on.  Katherine helps zip me up.  My dress is a sophisticated column square sheath that reaches the floor.  I decided on a champagne color embossed with rhinestones under my breast.  I slip on the same white heels that Katherine is wearing and put my diamond drop earrings on as Katherine clasps the matching necklace around my neck.  I turn to face myself in the mirror and the reflection is overwhelming.  I look like a princess.  For the first time in my life I feel beautiful.

             
“Well, Abby, what do you think?”

             
“Oh, we look so beautiful, Katherine.  I have to agree with Michael, we clean up nicely!”  I give her a hug and hold back my tears of joy.  As we are releasing each other we hear a knock at the door.

             
“Come in,” I say

             
“Wow!  You two look amazing,” Michael says sounding rather shocked.  He is more focused on Katherine and she does take notice to this.  She looks quite surprised that Michael can’t take his eyes off of her.

             
“Thank you, Michael,” she says

             
Mike walks up and, first, gives me a kiss on my cheek and then Katherine.  I think I see her eyes dance a bit after that. 

             
“May I escort you ladies to your waiting dates?” He asks with both arms out for us.

             
“Oh, the guys are here?” I question.

             
“Yes, they just arrived and are waiting in the living room.”

             
“Well, then, better not keep them waiting,” Katherine announces.

             
Those pesky butterflies have made their infamous appearance as I walk down the hallway toward the living room.  Will I always feel that fluttering with Tommy?  Katherine makes her way into the living room before I do.  All eyes turn to face us and I am floored when I see Chris and Tommy.  These two men really look great.  They really clean up a lot nicer than Katherine and I do. 

             
Tommy is wearing a grey suit with a tie and vest that match the color of my dress perfectly.  His hair has been trimmed and he is sporting a goatee.  I love the way that Tommy looks now but nothing compares to his bad boy look.  Too bad he couldn’t wear his leather jacket for the event.