Chapter 12
Just Turn Around
The night of Belleview High's junior prom
It was a pleasant seventy degree night in San Diego, California as yet another high
school gymnasium in North American was transferred via a rainbow of crepe paper,
banners, streamers and balloons in the school colors of red and gold for the 45th annual
Belleview High school's junior prom. Where hearts would be broken and hearts would
be filled with glee. And not just the young students either, many a teacher has fallen
under a spell with another colleague during anything-can-happen night air of a school
dance. Josh who should've been having the best school term ever since he lost
weight and had a pretty and smart girl on his arm was miserable due to all the goings-
on in the Nichols-Parker house.
"Don't you like my pink frills, Josh? You hardly said anything on the drive over here."
Mindy said waving the delicate strands of pink fringe from her shawl in his face. After all
she did tell him earnestly that he looked nice in his rented black tuxedo with a red bow
tie and cummerbund. He did remember the orchid corsage though.
"I told you that you look very nice."
"This has to do with Drake?"
"Yes."
"I knew it."
He pulled out her chair for her as they sat at their table. Two other couples were
supposed to be sitting here too, but Josh and Mindy were the first arrivals.
"He almost bailed on playing here. Until Mom and Dad reminded him about honoring a
commitment and not to mention that the band would have kicked Drake's ass if he
didn't show up."
Josh never let on, since Drake didn't want Josh in his business, that he knew about the
package he put in Torey's mailbox in the middle of the night.
Drake was trying to accept that while she may not want to date him, it was very difficult
for him to comprehend on why she didn't want to be his friend. She did have a new
boyfriend, not that any of them saw him, since he was older and went to college back
East, but you think she would have acknowledged the package to someone.
Even Mindy didn't bring it up. Josh wished he could make it right so everyone could be
happy.
"How come Torey and her date aren't sitting with us?" Josh asked Mindy
"I don't know. She told me two days ago that her and Paul aren't coming until after the
pre-prom dinner."
"Oh. Do you want some punch, Mindy?"
"Sure."
The truth was that Josh couldn't entirely stay out of Drake's business. He had to walk
around to see if he showed up yet.
Drake found a corner to hide in behind the stage where he could tune his guitars.
He knew his band was pissed off at him regarding his attitude of late and they probably
had every right to be. But he didn't want to be playing at the prom where now he had to
see the girl he loved with all of his heart. But couldn't have due to his own stupidity,
dance with some other guy, a few years older, an Ivy League college freshmen pinhead
at that. Drake saw a shadow swaying the red and gold satin curtain and stood up to
kick it.
"Josh! Is there something you want?"
Josh came around to talk to his brother.
"I was just checking to see if you showed up."
"Who did you think was behind the curtain the Wizard of Oz?"
"I guess I should be going now."
"That's what I would do if I were you."
Drake couldn't even take in the laughter over Josh's out-of-date and not vintage in a
good way regarding his mid 1980's style of tuxedo choice. Drake was all dressed up in
a gray suit, white button down shirt, bolo tie, and boots. He couldn't look bad if he tried.
But the spark wasn't there. He knew he looked good, but he didn't care that he looked
good.
He didn't regret putting that envelope in Torey's mailbox at three thirty in the morning a
few weeks ago what he did regret was letting her go and the anti-cheer that played in
his head over and over again like a tape recorder stuck in a reminding loop: Not once,
but twice.
He doubted that Spidey Parker's mistakes were as massive as this wound that would
never heal.
He kind of needed that empty female attention not that he was going to reciprocate it.
It's just a good feeling to be wanted. However when you are on the Belleview unpopular
list you stay there. Well, unless the record label fairy dropped down and handed him a
multi-million dollar contract on the spot. He would bet that's when all of the groupies
would suddenly like him again. It was time to join the rest of the band in the auditorium
where they would practice before the actual dance took place. His heart wasn't in it
tonight. How could it be? He could live with an empty dance card it was the girl that got
away that was doing his head in.
It was inbetween the bites of chicken and mashed potatoes that Josh was hit with a
solution. It must be like how an inventor feels on the verge of something to improve
mankind's lives or a how a songwriter feels when they have to wake up a two in the
morning get something down on paper or on a tape recorder.
"Mindy, would you mind if I go somewhere for a while?"
"During our prom? Josh!"
She didn't care if there were other couples present. Mindy Crenshaw could never keep
her emotions in check.
"I promise I'll be back before the first song gets played."
"Where are you going?"
"It's a surprise. I'll be back, Sweetums." He kissed her on the cheek and ran off.
Josh thought he would have got served with another speeding ticket for certain as time
was a brutal enemy right now and not a comforting friend. He hoped that Torey and her
college boyfriend did not leave for the prom yet. What Josh couldn't believe was that he
didn't think of it sooner. The answer was right in front of him at least it was for the past
few weeks. He ran up the stairs to her house and knocked on the door.
"Please, answer. Please, answer. Please, answer."
He paced like an expectant father in a hospital's waiting room as Torey opened the
door. She was wearing her 1950's powder blue dress. Drake would have loved seeing
her like this.
"Hi, Josh."
"Is your date here?"
"No. Paul's not coming. He just called thirty minutes ago."
"That's great, Torey!" Josh didn't mean to say out loud. "I mean, I'm sorry."
"Look, Josh. The only thing I want to do is get out of this dress and go upstairs to bed. I
have no intention of ever getting back together with Drake. Which reminds me," she
went to her knitting basket and handed Josh the unopened padded envelope. "Please
give this back to him."
"I will. But first will you promise to hear me out? Please, Torey."
"Okay. I suppose."
"I didn't see what Drake put in this envelope but I know what it is. He didn't tell me
because well you know my relationship with my brother kind of sucks right now. You see
the first time you broke up is because Drake knew you were good for him, but you were
too good. Not like those skanks at school who only are interested in one thing…well
they used to be until they put him on the unpopular list like me. The second time you
broke up, he just didn't know how to deal with having a serious girlfriend. It really scared
the Hell out of him and Drake likes to be in control and not show his emotions. It was
also the death anniversary of his biological father. It doesn't excuse what was done, but
if you think he's not going to be faithful, you're wrong. You know how miserable he's
been at school lately? Well it's worse at home especially since our final exams were
earlier in the week. He misses you so much. He's beating himself up mentally over it
and he even literally punched me in the face. He really loves you and Drake has never
loved another girl before apart from his mother and sister, but that's a different kind of
love. Why don't you open up that box and give my brother another real chance?"
"Josh, I…" she opened up the envelope and read Drake's short note. She wondered if
his hands shook while he wrote that? His handwriting was usually neater than that.
It was a ring. It wasn't monetarily valuable but it was the first ring that Spidey Parker
could afford to give Audrey Miller for their first year dating anniversary.
It was a silver plated band with a tiny crystal green heart in the center.
"He hasn't dated at all?"
"Not at all. And if any girl should flirt with him at work or at the Premiere he gives them
the brush off."
"Drake doesn't know you are here does he?"
"No. He'd have prevented me from coming here I can assure you."
"Okay, you better get back to the prom, Josh. I know Mindy; she's probably steaming
right now. I need lots of time to think."
At least it wasn't "I have no intention of ever getting back together with Drake."
"I know, Torey. Just give Drake a chance." Josh said as he left Torey alone in her heaps
of sky blue taffeta to think about the future and whether or not it included his brother.
Mindy tried to block out that it was Drake signing as she danced with Josh who got
back just in time before the first song as he promised.
"Where'd you go?"
"To see Torey."
"I was wondering what happened to her?"
"That Paul guy called her at the last minute to cancel. She didn't tell me why. I took it
upon myself to get her back together with Drake, once I found a common denominator.
And to think I thought you might have hidden the envelope." He laughed into her
shoulder.
"Excuse me?" she stopped and gently pushed him away with the palm of her hand.
"Well you did have a history of sabotaging Drake's life before when you wanted to get
even with Mrs. Hafer for giving you that "B" that ruined your straight "A" average." Josh
had the what's-the-problem? look on his face. He knew Mindy had her serious issues.
It wasn't going to change how he felt about her.
"What's the problem?"
"Are you saying that you thought I deliberately hid Drake's package to Torey?"
"Nooo," he tried to undo the hole he was digging.
"Because I'm Crazy Crenshaw right?" She ran off the dance floor.
"Mindy, I didn't mean it that way."
Josh wondered if he was tempting the Gods. He got involved into something that maybe
he wasn't supposed stick his nose in and now the spirits were sending a message.
Only one of you is going to have a girlfriend.
Mindy went to the girl's room where Josh couldn't follow him. He sat at their table and
realized that it was only he and the class geek Eric who weren't dancing with anyone.
Well except the guys in the band. Josh thought Drake was doing fine. He probably was
in automatic pilot mode but he was still performing well.
He looked at the entrance and still no Torey. Hopefully she would see Drake tonight
and then everything would be okay.
Please let one of us have a happy ending tonight.
Drake thought he was terrible tonight. He missed a few guitar notes and he almost
forgot the words to some of the songs that he wrote.
He was unpopular in the school social circles now, but how ironic that those loose girls
were dancing with their dates to his music.
The lights even though they were the cheap school variety were too blinding so he
couldn't see past the front of the gymnasium.
He just wanted this night to be over. At least he had work tomorrow afternoon. He was
saving up for his car and maybe a new guitar. Next year was their senior year and
Drake didn't know if he could handle another school year in this place. That's why he
made sure to "ace" his final exams in the "C" average category to be sure that he wasn't
held back.
All he wanted was to go home but as the old saying goes 'the show must go on' and
speaking of sayings as the old parental line went, 'you had to honor your commitments'.
Blah.
Josh's prom night went from one half dance with his girlfriend from trying to convince her
to open the car door that she locked herself in after he went looking for her when her trip
to the girl's room was lasting more than twenty minutes.
"Mindy," he knocked on the passenger side window, "Let me in."
"No."
That's when he thought he should've locked the car door when they parked and he
shouldn't have let Mindy put the keys in her little matching pink clutch purse because he
didn't want to leave anything in his rental tuxedo pockets.
"Come on."
"No."
"You realize this is my mom's car?"
"Don't care."
"Open the door."
"Not happening, Josh."
"You're being unreasonable. UNREASONABLE!"
"Good."
Josh put his head softly on the glass and sighed.
If he was being punished for playing God then so be it.
It was eleven forty-five and Drake was putting his electric guitar in its case. He's never
been so tired these past few months have been nothing but pure emotional torture. At
least for three months there'd be no school only his job plus any summer concerts.
The last of the prom goers were being ushered out by the last of the chaperones.
Drake's band left to go to the after prom party at the Premiere.
That was the last thing he wanted to do. Unbeknownst to Drake it was as if he was
starring in a play. You had the janitor with his big push broom, a chaperone who was
done for the night and was ready for their own after prom party at the local bar, and then
there was the entrance of the side door being opened. It was the walk of courage. Who
was to say it would automatically be a little girl's fairy tale come true? Things like that
only happen in sappy romantic movies designed to create delusional women to believe
in real life happy endings that just may not be. Drake was now putting his acoustic guitar
in that case. He couldn't wait to go home and call this night over with.
"drake," Torey was just as nervous, maybe more, "just turn around."
He turned and smiled.
"Torey, you look beautiful."
She stopped dead in her tracks as her nervousness prevented her from walking any
closer.
"thank you. so do you."
He blushed, "Thanks."
Drake took the initiative and walked closer. It was as if time stopped for the both of
them. The janitor even decided to make a pot a coffee in the break room and stay later
to clean up. There may have been a couple like them in every suburban school but those
statistics don't matter when you are part of the cultural landscape. He turned the radio
on before he left. It was then that Torey started to cry.
"You m-us-st h-hate m-e, D-d-rake."
He walked even closer to hold her hands. "I don't hate you."
Later on today they could talk about everything. Drake's fear of commitment, his father
Spidey, his dad Walter, the snooty friend of the Becker family who only wanted to fly in
for activities that weren't on Torey's after prom itinerary, Torey telling Josh she wasn't
going to take him back, the Josh problem, and the Mindy annoyances. But for now only
one thing mattered and that was to get back where they once belonged.
"Will you do me a favor?"
"Of course."
She took the small box out of her evening purse. "I feel bad for not opening this until
tonight. But after all that Josh said."
"Josh said?"
"He came to my house tonight and explained some things."
How was Drake ever going to pay back that debt?
"He did?" He took the box from her as their hands touched.
It was the slowest that Drake Parker ever moved where a girl was concerned.
"You know I haven't seen this ring since I was a kid, even when I put it in your mailbox."
"It's pretty."
He slipped it on her right pinky finger.
"I'm so sorry," Drake began "I promise to be a better boyfriend."
His eyes began to water.
"And I promise to be a better girlfriend."
"Nah, you're perfect," he kissed her hands, "Would you like to dance?"
"Yes."
"I love you, Torey Becker." He whispered in her ear. His heart was beating so rapidly
that he thought he would have a heart attack on the spot.
"I love you too, Drake Parker." She snuggled into his shoulder.
Of all the couples that danced during the prom none of the other couples including the
adults present would have a love so true.
"May I kiss you?"
"Of course, I missed your extremely hot guy lips."
"Let me tell you what else—"
Drake was interrupted when the janitor came back and turned on the full lights. He felt
like the world's biggest killjoy. It was nice seeing two young kids in love. It gave his fifty-
five year old heart hope for the future.
"I'm sorry, but –"
"Don't worry about it, Henry," Drake held Torey's hand tight, "I'm going to walk my
girlfriend home. I'll pick up my things tomorrow."
"I'll lock them up in my office. Before you two go would you like your picture taken?"
"Sure." Torey and Drake replied in unison.
She felt like she was in a dream. At least the there would be photographic proof that this
night actually happened.
"Thanks, Henry." Drake said
Torey waved goodbye to the janitor.
"If my mom's still working the night shift would you like to make out on the sofa?"
He smiled, "Yeah, I do."
He was going to owe Josh the world's biggest apology. How could he repay his brother
for a gesture so selfless that even through their turmoil he was still interested in making
sure that his brother got back together with his girlfriend?
Josh was the best brother a guy like Drake could have.
It was two fifteen when Drake got home. They extended the curfew until one in the
morning. Drake wasn't going to try to wiggle out of this one. If he got punished for this, it
was going to be worth it. The weight he's been carrying has finally been lifted. He never
felt as good as he felt that moment. He had to go upstairs and atone for being such a
jerk to his brother.
"Josh," Drake whispered when they got to their room, "Josh!"
He wasn't in his bed. Were he and Mindy? Eww. Eww. Eww.
Drake thought Josh might be in the guest room again where he's been sleeping on and
off since the "punch in the mouth" incident.
"You're finally home!" Megan put the light on to make Drake rub his eyes.
"Where's Josh? Is he sleeping in the guest room again?"
"No. He's at the hospital…"
To be continued…
