Go Baby Grow

Chapter 13 – Time to Charm

Friday, April 30th

One of the benefits of being eighteen and a legal adult was that Ryder could write his own excuses for school. Much to Ms. Tottingham's dismay, Ryder wrote and signed notes excusing himself on the counter of the attendance office. To say he was reveling in his newfound freedom was an understatement.

On Thursday, Ryder excused himself from 5th period and headed across town to Julie's school. As she sat in the cafeteria with a group of friends, Julie and other girls laughed as another girl dramatically described the horrors of her weekend date. The guys nearby rolled their eyes in disbelief, hollering out commentary disputing the tale. With a uniform different than the ones worn by the students at Julie's school and carrying a bouquet of flowers, Ryder stood out. Rather than shrink as students honed in on him, he relished the attention as he searched the crowd for Julie.

"Oh…my…what's your name, handsome boy?" one of Julie's friends questioned rhetorically with flirty intrigue.

Another friend commented to her girlfriends, "Well, hi there, Hottie. I don't even need to know your name."

A third sighed, "Oh… prayers do come true. Holy Handsome Prep School Boy."

Focusing on her cuticles and slouching, Julie commented with indifference, "What are you three cooing about?"

"Not what," the first friend said. She nudged Julie's elbow and emphasized with euphoria, "Who… Look. At. Him."

Julie's hair was in the process of falling out of its messy bun, and she reluctantly followed her friend's subtle forehead point. At the same moment, Ryder spotted her. He stood up a bit taller and flashed his winning smile as he walked across the room toward Julie.

"Ohmigod! He's coming over here," one friend stated excitedly as she tried to fix her hair with her fingers.

"No way," said another friend anxiously as she licked her teeth hoping to remove any stray bits of lunch from her smile.

"Oh pleeeeeaaaasssseee," Julie groaned. "That's Ryder."

"Ryder? Like, you mean, BFF Ryder that you've told us about?" one attempted to clarify.

"And you've been hiding him from us all year? How dare you, JJ," another teased with mock anger as she used Julie's school nickname that had stuck with her since 7th grade.

Julie rolled her eyes as she glanced at Ryder with an unimpressed smirk. He stopped across the table from Julie and flirted briefly with the gaggle surrounding her.

"Ladies," Ryder philandered. He slipped a few flowers out of the bouquet and handed one to each of Julie's friends. Their eyes widened with wonder and infatuation, but Julie folded her arms and tilted her head away.

Sounding like an impatient mother or teacher, Julie voiced, "Ryder, what are you doing here?"

"I need a moment of your time," he stated professionally. "Can I steal her away from you?" he coyly requested as his captivating green eyes wandered from one of Julie's friends to the other.

All of them tripped over their words and clumsily mumbled some form of 'yes.' Noticing all eyes were on her, Julie stood and tried to subtly gaze around the cafeteria.

"Follow me," she instructed as she grabbed his hand. Before Ryder turned toward her, he winked at one particularly beautiful girl and raised his eyebrows.

As he walked, one of Julie's friends stretched to acquire a better view. She commented, "He looks as wonderful going as he did coming."

"Did you see that he winked at me?" another asked as she stood to watch him as long as possible.

"He did not," the third argued. "He winked at me."

"Oh you wish," one of the guys at the next table scoffed. The guys started mocking the girls, cooing, "He winked at me!" and "He's so cute."

In a deserted hallway, Julie gritted her teeth and grumbled with mild frustration, "What are you doing here?"

"I brought you flowers," Ryder grinned widely.

"I see that. Thanks," she responded flatly as she snatched what remained of the bouquet out of his hand. "Now what can I do for you, Mr. Hunt?"

"Why are you so tense, JJ?" Ryder teased as he used the nickname he'd overheard moments before.

"Because if I get caught in this hallway, I'll be busted. And if I'm busted, Father Dearest will be contacted," Julie stressed. "Really, Ry, I can get in huge trouble for being back here alone with a boy."

"Shall we make it worthwhile, then?" he chuckled and winked.

Exhaling with a grumpy expression on her face, Julie declared, "I'm going back in the cafeteria. You're not funny right now, Ry."

"You are wayyyyyy to uptight, JJ," Ryder smiled. He would not relent.

Widening her eyes impatiently, she honed in on his face and begged, "Ryder, please. Do you need something? The longer we're back here, the more likely I'll be caught." Her pleading eyes communicated her desperation, and Ryder realized he needed to stop teasing.

Whispering, he leaned against a locker and sighed, "Two… no three things."

"Ok," she shifted on her feet impatiently.

"First, the flowers. Check," he praised himself. "Second, a burner phone." He reached into his pocket and handed it to her. "Check. Next time Captain Consequences takes away your phone, you'll have a backup. I already programmed my number in it."

"Thanks," she smiled gently with appreciation. "And third?"

"You're going to think I'm kidding, but I'm not," he declared.

"What?" she smiled with interest.

"I'm really being serious. Do you believe me?" he inquired.

The change in his eyes from Casanova to the rare sight of vulnerable Ryder convinced her. She nodded and grinned in anticipation.

Looking down at his shoes uncomfortably, Ryder became antsy. He glanced up at her, then back to the floor. As he avoided eye contact, he began, "Well… umm…"

Julie bent down so she could see his eyes. Softly, she asked, "What is it?"

"Will you go to my prom? As… well… with me? As my date? But like as a friend date… I won't try to make any moves or anything inappropriate," Ryder sputtered.

"Yes," she responded quickly with a wide smile. "If you'll come to my prom as my friend date."

With an ear-to-ear smile, Ryder beamed, "Deal. I'd love that."

Julie blinked and urged, "Now get outta here before you get me killed."

"Wait! When's your prom? Don't you need to know the date of my prom, too?" he chuckled.

She smiled, "We'll make it work. I promise. Go!"

Quickly, he pecked her on the cheek and giggled like a little kid, "You've made my day." He turned and ran toward the closest exit, glancing over his shoulder before he disappeared around the corner. Julie re-entered the cafeteria, hearing a teacher's high heels clicking in the hallway as she closed the door. She held her cheek and tried not to swoon. A friend date. That's all. Friends, she reminded herself.

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After school, Julie rushed home to ask Adam about the two proms. She was fairly certain he would approve, since she was attending with a friend he knew. Even so, she was antsy.

"Dad?" Julie called out when she came through the front door.

"Upstairs, Itsy Kit," Adam hollered back.

Julie walked into Adam's room and found him in front of the bathroom mirror fussing with his hair. He was wearing his summer whites, which she assumed he'd worn to the base earlier that day. With a giggle, she inquired, "What are you doing, Dad?" As she stood next to him, she was surprised to catch the scent of cologne.

"I… I have… a thing. I have a thing tonight," Adam sputtered.

Pulling her face to the side and looking into the mirror out of the corner of her eye, Julie lengthened her next word, "Ddddaaaaadddd." She smiled and nudged her shoulder against his, "What's going on? You don't primp for meetings at the Base."

"I didn't say my thing was at the Base, Julia," he attempted to sound firm.

With a sigh, Julie insisted, "Here. Turn around." He complied and she studied his hair. "I'll be right back. Sit tight."

Adam didn't even notice he dutifully leaned on the counter. He interlaced his fingers and twiddled his thumbs forward and backward while he waited for Julie to return.

Breezing in with hair products in hand, Julie walked right up to her dad and ran her fingers in his hairline.

"What are you doing?" Adam quizzed with concern. "Don't put that crap in my hair."

Spraying some gel and scrunching his hair, Julie dismissed him and advised, "Sit still. I'm making you cute for your thing."

"I don't need crap in my hair for my thing," he insisted.

"Shhhhhh," she responded as her eyes focused on his hair. Julie grabbed the hairspray and sprayed his hair. Adam coughed.

"Waaahhh," Julie giggled. "Turn around and look. You'll be grateful."

"Wow," he responded. She'd arranged subtle waves in his now-gelled hair and slightly raised the hair at his hairline. "I look younger."

"No, Dad, you look styled instead of like you have a standard military haircut," she observed.

Narrowing his eyes, Adam questioned with a half-grin, "Why are you doing this?"

With a flat, matter-of-fact tone, Julie informed him, "Because you're a horrible actor, and I'm fairly certain that your thing is a date."

"Crap," he sighed. "I probably should have sat down and talked to you about this first."

"Why?" Julie scoffed.

"It's my first date since your mom died. What's that like for you?" he asked with concern.

"Dad…" Julie shook her head with pursed lips that held back laughter. "This is a good thing. I'm happy for you."

"Really?" he sought to confirm.

"C'mon, let's figure out what you're going to wear," Julie pulled him along as she headed to his closet.

"I'm already dressed," he protested.

"Uh… no, Dad. You're not wearing a Navy uniform on a date," Julie laughed. "Is your date in the Navy?"

"No," he responded.

"Then no Summer Whites, Dad," Julie shook her head. She thumbed through his clothes, nearly all of which were military issue. The clothes were organized from dark to light. Each hanger held clothing that did not touch the clothing on either side of it. "Do you have anything non-Navy?" she pled.

Adam stepped to the hangers and pulled out two long sleeved shirts. One was burgundy and the other was navy blue. Proudly, he held them out and smirked.

"Really? We have two choices? What about ties?" Julie pressed.

"Maybe back in that box in the corner," Adam shrugged. "Or I have my black ties from dress uniforms."

"Do you have black slacks that don't have a gold line down the seam?" she questioned.

With a sarcastic grin, he informed her, "Yes. I have black slacks both with and without gold ribbons, dear. Khaki slacks, white slacks, navy slacks. A wide variety of four colors awaits you, Coco Chanel."

"Black. Black slacks, burgundy shirt, black tie," Julie declared.

"The shirt needs to be ironed," Adam commented flatly.

"It does not. There are no wrinkles in it," Julie argued.

"The edges aren't sharp," he observed.

"Riiiiiiiiight. They shouldn't be," Julie emphasized. "Work with me, Dad. C'mon. Now throw these on and come downstairs. What time is your date?"

"1700," he shared.

"You have just under an hour. I'll see you downstairs," Julie explained.

After Julie stepped out, Adam undressed, tended his uniform, and put on the burgundy shirt. With shaking hands, Adam tied his black silk tie. He slid a black belt, US Navy issue, into the slack's loops and slipped on his black dress shoes.

While Adam was dressing, Julie sent a text to Ryder that read, OMG Adam has a DATE tonight.

NFW, Ryder responded immediately.

Right? She typed.

Is he wearing dress blues or summer whites? Ryder joked, half-worried she'd respond with one of the choices as an answer.

Ha! Black slacks, shoes, tie and burgundy shirt. All the black is Navy issue, but wouldn't let him use the blacks with the gold ribbon ;-)

Ryder roared as he typed, You're good to him. He owes you.

Here he comes. More later, she signed off.

With her hands in front of her shoulders, Julie exclaimed, "You look great!"

Shaking his head, Adam commented, "Something's not right."

"You're fine, Dad," Julie insisted.

"Yeah?" he asked.

"Honest," she smiled. "Now, before you leave, can we talk?"

"I suppose," he responded with slight hesitation. He walked to the kitchen and grabbed two bottles of water. Reentering the Living room, he sat next to his daughter and inquired, "What's up, Its?"

"Promise you won't freak out," she began.

"No way. I have no idea what you're about to say," he stared blankly.

"Ryder asked me to his prom today. Just as friends, not a date-date," she disclosed and explained quickly.

"Hmm," Adam glanced at the ceiling as his hand clasped his chin.

"And I kind of asked him to mine," she confessed.

"Really?" he questioned with a lowered chin and raised eyebrows.

"Just a friend-date. Honest. No boyfriend-girlfriend stuff," she explained again.

"What did you say?" he asked.

"Umm… yes," she admitted with an endearing yet hesitant grin.

"You two will have a great time. What do you need to make this happen?" Adam agreed readily.

Julie, shocked, sputtered, "A dress, shoes, maybe money for my hair and stuff like that. I dunno. I've never been to a prom."

"Why would you buy hair?" he inquired, yanking her chain. He knew full well what she had meant.

"To have my hair done… you know, styled like a girl instead of like a Navy brat," she laughed.

Adam smiled and looked at his daughter wistfully, "Your mom would've known exactly what to do. I have no idea."

"It's ok. Maybe Lissa or Dr. Shepherd can help me," she proposed.

"I'll admit it, I'm ok with skipping the dress shopping," he chuckled. His phone buzzed and he pulled it out of his pocket. "Well…"

"What?" Julie wondered aloud, hoping he wasn't being stood up.

"My date," he stated proudly. He read the text aloud, "Looking forward to seeing you soon." She already likes me," he chuckled.

"Write back something flirty," Julie urged.

With disbelief, Adam repeated, "Flirty?"

"You know, something cute and funny," Julie counseled.

Pretending to type, he stated, "I anticipate reporting on time, Ma'am."

"NO!" Julie exclaimed.

"I was joking, Itzy," Adam shook his head. He searched his brain for witty words, and admitted to himself that he was woefully out of practice when it came to flirting. He proposed, "1700 can't come soon enough?"

"Nerdy, Dad. Besides, no military time. It's stodgy," Julie weighed in. "How about: I'm sure you'll be easy to spot – you'll be the most beautiful one in the crowd'?"

Adam deadpanned, "Julia Claire Caldwell… that is nerdy… and a little desperate." He thought up a message and hit send before giving Julie an opportunity to veto his choice.

"Oh no…" she groaned with trepidation. "What did you write?"

"The sentiment is mutual. I've been watching the clock all day waiting for 5pm," he reported.

Nodding, Julie affirmed, "That's perfect, Dad. Very fetching and very you. Watching the clock… ha ha, yes. You do that. Very sweet."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'