Silver Tides (Silver Tides Series) (19 page)

under the sea

The school dance crept up on all of us. The year sevens had chosen the theme "Under the Sea." In private I joked with Daniel that it was because we had a real live merman at school. He would kiss the smart aleck comments from my lips.

We never discussed his illness or where he’d been during his two years of absence. I pushed the issue from my mind, since all the internet surfing in the world wasn’t resolving the mystery. While I would never admit it, the theme for the school dance was making me anxious.

I met Tamara and Jaimie at Tammy's house to get ready. Despite the kiddy theme we were excited to be going to the dance. Being our senior year, every dance held added meaning as it would be our last autumn dance, or Prom, or whatever.

Tamara saw it as a way to further develop our power as the new popular group, while Tammy was on the prowl for a man. Jaimie just wanted a reason to look stunning and canoodle with Tim. I wanted to survive the dance so we could lounge around Daniel’s home theatre in our pajamas, without having to be cool. Somehow Daniel convinced everyone to have a 90s movie marathon after the dance, instead of the
Twilight
saga that Tammy had her heart set on. I couldn’t wait to show everyone
Interview With the Vampire,
arguably the best vampire movie ever.

Tammy’s bathroom was hot from all the blow-drying and hair straighteners and curlers. The smell of foundation and hairspray permeated the room, giving it a foggy appearance.

Loud music belted out of Tammy’s pink Hello Kitty iPod speakers as we bustled for mirror space and filled any crack of silence with boisterous conversation and teasing. In the girly din I understood why Jaimie was so fond of the group preparations; the atmosphere of celebration and the feeling of belonging was unparalleled. For the first time I let myself revel in the estrogen festival. If I had to be popular, sucking in my stomach and looking indifferent, than I was going to enjoy the impromptu karaoke while we beautified ourselves for the dance.

Tammy’s doorbell rang, and Jaimie ran down to answer the door. It was too early for the boys to be picking us up and unlikely that Miranda had taken up the invitation to join us, but the bustle quieted to hear whom the visitor was.

“The prodigal daughter returns!” Jaimie announced, setting us all on edge.

We all turned in various degrees of concern that Miranda had returned; Tamara’s body stiffened. My stomach constricted as Jaimie led someone up the stairs.

“Jules!” Tamara announced, with as much relief as joy.

“Julia Goulia,” Tammy teased, “welcome back to the pop peeps.”

The others rushed forward and hugged Julia while I gave her an awkward pat on the back; we’d never really been that close.

“Good to have you with us. Miranda isn’t coming?” I asked, trying to be friendly, but also wanting to prepare everyone for what to expect.

“No,” Julia said flat, “but this is our tradition; we’ve always gotten ready here, so here I am.”

Julia stood in the door twirling her lone thumb ring, making no attempt to get ready, while the rest of us were all preening in front of the mirror. Away from Miranda, Julia looked like her own person; she scrunched her hair into messy waves and wore skinny jeans and a grey knitted jumper over a white singlet. I couldn’t imagine Miranda being a knit-top kind of girl, she was always in tiny dresses or logo emblazoned designer tops. I wondered if Julia had gone casual because she knew Miranda wouldn’t be here to judge.

In the past I never would have noticed what my friends wore, but Tamara had been working on me; I didn’t know if I should be scared or pleased by the observation. I really never wanted to be one of those girls who spent hours staring at myself in the mirror, but Tamara had me trained to at least make an effort, even if it was only half hearted. It was the least I could do, so that the others wouldn’t have to be constantly fixing me up. A small part of me took pride in the light makeup that I’d learnt to apply, for maximum effect.

“So, are you going to get ready?” Tamara asked Julia, who still hadn’t moved from the door.

“Yeah... I just...” Julia stammered, guilty.

“It’s fine; we don’t hate you,” Tammy assured her. “You’ve been friends with Miranda for a long time; we don’t expect you to defect from her completely.”

“It’s not that,” Julia replied nervously. There was anxiety radiating off Julia.

“Spit it out,” Tamara ordered, stopping mid-mascara application and folding her arms across her chest.

“I brought a date,” Julia admitted, unable to tear her eyes from the floor.

“Is it Tim?” Jaimie asked, picking up on Julia’s guilt.

“Ewww no, only you like him,” Julia replied, looking up at Jaimie, as we all laughed at her reflexive denouncing of Tim.

“Hey, you all thought he was great before we started dating,” Jaimie defended, pouting.

“That was before we got to know him,” I teased.

Truthfully, we all liked Tim, in a way that you like the big dumb dog down the street that continues to hump your leg, even after the owner turns the hose on him. We also liked to tease Jaimie about Tim, because it always got a rise out of her but rarely hurt her feelings. Jaimie didn’t try to think of Tim as human the way we did; she was happy to have a big happy dog for a boyfriend.

“Then who?” I asked, my curiosity peaking.

“Dylan Sands,” she admitted quietly.

"Dylan Sands, as in Miranda's ex-boyfriend Dylan Sands?" Tammy asked, impressed, putting up her fist for a bump. "He’s hot—fist bump that."

Julia awkwardly complied with the fist bump.

"What about hoes before bros?" Tamara asked, offended.

"That's not a thing." Tammy disagreed.

"It should be." Tamara shook her head. "The hoe code dictates that you don't steal your hoe’s bro."

“Technically Dylan dumped Miranda weeks ago, so Julia’s just picking up a pre-loved bargain,” Tammy argued.

“So then the rule is you don’t date a hoe’s sloppy seconds,” Tamara rephrased.

"Owning a cap doesn't make us ghetto girls," Jaimie challenged. "Anyway, I'm pretty sure in the ghetto, it's every hoe for herself."

"I don't like being referred to as a hoe," Julia said, furrowing her brow.

"I'm not fond of it either," I agreed.

"The point is, Julia shouldn't be dating Miranda's ex." Tamara sighed, like she was observing an idiot convention.

"Tammy dated Tim," Jaimie reminded.

"It was between lunch and the end of school!" Tammy objected forlornly. "When will I ever live that down?"

"My point is, it's not like Miranda was ever in love with Dylan. If you can borrow a friend's handbag or bracelet, it's not much different," Tammy reasoned.

"She's got a point," I agreed. I wasn't super keen on Dylan since he tried to feel me up the night Daniel and I got together, but I wasn't going to rain on Julia's happiness either.

"I love love, so I'm cool with it." Tammy shrugged.

"Do you like him enough to have Miranda hate you forever?" Tamara asked Julia seriously.

"We really like each other," Julia affirmed
, her eyes imploring us to believe her.

We all looked to Tamara for a unanimous consensus.

Tamara exhaled sharply. "Fine, but I don't love it."

"Yay!" Tammy smiled, jumping up and down, causing her mountainous breasts to bounce dangerously.

"So, where is he meeting us?" I asked, wondering if I should call Daniel to pick him up with the rest of the boys.

"Waiting in the car," Julia admitted shyly.

"Well, bring him in," Tammy ordered. "He can sit and have a Coke while we get ready."

Julia looked ready to burst with happiness. "Thank you all so much."

"It's fine." I laughed as she hugged everyone in turn.

"Get your butt in here and get ready after you get him," Tamara ordered, softening after seeing Julia so happy.

"None of you can date Tim if we break up," Jaimie ordered, as Julia retreated down the stairs.

"Not going to be a problem," I assured, saluting her.

"He's all yours," Tamara echoed.

"I know you all like him," Jaimie said defensively.

We all laughed, as we got back to our hair and makeup.

An hour later Daniel and Tim came bounding up the stairs to retrieve us.

“Ladies,” Tim greeted, sounding like he was walking into his own personal harem.

He received a lackluster response.

“Hi, all,” Daniel greeted. Everyone responded enthusiastically, even Tamara, further proof that there was something special about Daniel.

Daniel kissed my cheek. “You all look stunning, so it’s time to get to this dance.”

His words lit a fire under the girls. We cascaded down the stairs like a rabble of lemmings. Tammy’s mum was waiting at the foot of the stairs with her camera, she insisted on taking a photo of us as couples and as a group. Tammy promised us all copies, hugging her Mum affectionately before leaving the house. Tammy’s unabashed love for her family was one of the many things I really liked about her.

Recognition flashed in Daniel’s eyes when he saw Dylan.

“You remember Dylan,” I introduced, trying to be casual. “He’s Julia’s date.”

Dylan offered his hand to Daniel a regretful look in his eyes. Daniel gave Dylan a hard look, unwilling to shake his hand. 

“Nice to see you both,” Dylan said, awkwardly before returning to Julia’s side.

He was a different person around Julia; she lit him up. By the time the photos had finished Daniel was appeased that Dylan was not a threat. Seeing how dizzy, crazy Julia and Dylan were for each other changed everything.

We piled onto the front steps expecting to see the Silver Streak; instead there was a white stretch limo.

“Surprise!” Daniel announced grandly.

“Squeeeeeeee!” Tammy squealed.

“You got a limo for a crappy school dance?” Tamara asked, bemused.

“It’s my first crappy school dance with Mya,” Daniel replied, gushy, as he squeezed my hand. “I want to make it special.”

“Awwwwww,” Tammy sighed.

“I think I just threw up in my mouth,” Tamara said sarcastically.

I playfully slapped her in the back of the head. “Be nice.”

“Watch the hair,” she complained.

Within seconds
we were settled in the huge limousine; Daniel distributed soft drinks to everyone. There was a good vibe in the group; Dylan and Julia seemed to blend into our ribbing and joking seamlessly.

"What will you do for our next dance to make it special?" Tamara teased Daniel.

"Helicopter," Daniel shrugged.

"Excellent," Tim encouraged, as they bumped fists.

It was weird pulling up to school in a limousine. In fact being at school at night was just unnatural. The darkened abandoned grounds were eerily still, and the music thumping through the gymnasium walls was nauseating.

The last school dance I'd attended was in year seven. The gymnasium had been dimly lit, the decorations were sparse, and the only refreshment was watered-down cordial that left a bitter aftertaste. I spent the whole night willing Justin Palmer to ask me to dance, but the only person I danced with was Jaimie. I had vowed to avoid school dances at all costs in exchange for a good book and a block of chocolate.

I absently ran my hand along the concrete gymnasium wall. It had been painted midnight blue to match our school blazers. I had wondered when the gymnasium had been painted, if our uniforms would blend into the side of the building, leaving us with a floating head motif. In practice the color looked like a dusty version of our uniforms, another disappointment from Geebong High.