Randy knocked on the door and I heard Nina greet him. I took a deep breath and took one more look at myself in the mirror. Would he laugh?
He wasn't looking my way when I walked out into the living room. He was eating yet another slice of cake and all I could think about was how great he looked in his jeans that hugged him in all the right places and a black tee shirt with a grey design on it. Nothing really different than he wore to school every day.
"Ready to go?" I asked and set my purse down.
"Yup." He put the last bite of cake in this mouth. "That was so good Ms. Nina." He said then he turned. His mouth dropped open and his eyes scanned me from head to toe.
"Are you okay?" I acted like nothing I wore was out of the ordinary. No way would I show that I had hoped he would react that way.
"Um … Ya. Ya. Let's go." He tried to recover, but he failed. He hit his knee on the couch because his eyes were glued to my bottom as I walked. I smiled, but I didn't let him see.
Randy did not say anything as we drove to the school and I began to wonder if I had done the right thing. Yes, I wanted Randy to see me as girlfriend material, but I also cherished our friendship. I didn't want him to feel insecure or nervous around me. I still wanted to joke and laugh and do the things we always had.
"Um …" He would look my way a moment, and then look away again. Whatever he was going to say seemed to escape him.
We pulled into the parking lot and got out of his car. I began to walk toward the door, sick to my stomach that I had forever changed our friendship for the worst.
"Wait up." He trotted to catch up with me and pulled me back. "Don't get mad at me when I say this … but you look really hot."
Okay, that rubbed me the wrong way. Yes, it was what I wanted, but I was hoping he had always found me attractive.
"Don't be a dog, Randy." I told him and continued walking. It's funny how you want something so badly one minute than not at all the next. I guess it's because I realized how much would change if that line was crossed.
I opened the door and the loud music poured out. Randy and I walked in side by side and he placed his hand on the small of my back. That felt odd and wonderful at the same time.
Laurie saw us and she did not look happy. She stared at me and at Randy and I could see her and her friends talking. I knew it was about us and they probably assumed Randy and I were together in the way she and Randy had been together. I have to admit that it felt good to see the look on her face. It was jealousy. I knew the look well.
We were approached by Randy's friends before we had moved from the door.
"Man, when you said you were bringing your friend Cory, I thought you were turning gay on me." Ted told him and his eyes looked me up and down. "Are you kidding me? This is the best friend you talk about? No wonder you keep her hid."
Randy looked at him inquisitively.
"She goes to this school, Ted."
"No way. I would know if she did."
"You're in my science class." I told him and rolled my eyes. I didn't think I looked that different. I guess I really was invisible. "I'll catch up with you later, Randy." I walked toward the snack table. A cold soda sounded so good, but I could hear their conversation as I walked away.
"I know you're hitting that."
"Shut up, Ted." Randy said and then their voices faded away.
Now, I understood why the clueless club dressed the way they did. The attention was awesome. I remember thinking I could get used to being complimented.
"Sorry about Ted. He's a Moran."
"I already knew that." I had my drink in my hand and I leaned against the wall watching as Laurie danced with Randy's friend, Cody. Her eyes darted to Randy and I knew she was hoping to make him jealous by the way she rubbed herself all over her dance partner. A fast paced song came on and she and her friends started to dance quite similarly to the way they danced on the cheer squad. For some reason I had the urge to show them up. I had taken dance classes and not ballet or clogging. I loved to dance, but I hadn't done it in public since I was real young. I could learn a routine just by watching a dancer or singer on the television and then I could make it my own.
"You still remember that routine we used to do?"
I knew Randy really wanted to make Laurie shut her mouth about how torn apart he was over her. He had already had a few people come up to him and repeat the things she had told them. He had laughed or said "Whatever" but actions spoke louder than words.
I had taught Randy a dance years before. He moved well and naturally moved to the beat.
"Let's go." He was back. My friend of so many years had found his brain and we were walking to the D.J. Where Randy asked him to play the song we always used. We told a story with our bodies and the entire school noticed. We must have looked great together because Laurie stopped dancing and stood with her arms crossed over her chest.
We danced like we were in a music video and I had fun doing it. I forgot that we were at a school function and showed off what I could do. I would not be invisible after that night.