“You’re a pig. Why are all these clothes layin’ all over your house? And your bed’s a mess, it looks like you never make it. I’m tellin’ mom you don’t make your bed. You know how she hates that.” Bryanne’s words came right from the other side of the door.
Both Kitt and Austin stood staring at the door. Austin nudged Kitt, moving his hand in front of his mouth, trying to get him to say something. Nothing came out because Kitt’s heart was pounding so badly in his chest, he couldn’t hear to think.
“Kitt, open the door! I want you to see my all white, head cheerleader uniform. I look good in it! You need to tell me how pretty I look! Besides I’ve seen you in just a towel. Open up!”
“Bryanne, go on, I’ll be there in a little while. I’ll see you then,” Kitt said lamely, and as an afterthought, he threw out. “Of course you look beautiful. You’re the prettiest girl in school.”
That one earned Kitt a silent double high five from Austin.
“Yep, that’s true! Okay, hurry! Don’t be late! I don’t want Margaret Hines’ dad to get all the attention because then everyone will be lookin’ at her. And don’t wear your hair stupid. Look good Kitt!” The bells on Bryanne’s sneakers made it clear she was walking away.
After hearing the front door close, Kitt stuck his ear to the bathroom door and listened to see if she might still be inside ready to jump out and scare him. After several long minutes, he heard nothing.
“Just go out there and see if she’s gone,” Austin whispered.
Kitt’s heart slammed so badly he couldn’t think how to move, little alone do anything else. Austin stepped back and opened the door, letting the door hide him as he pushed Kitt forward.
He kicked into action, scanned the house and looked through the front window. There was dust on the trail. Austin came to stand behind him, and he jerked at the sudden touch. Austin laughed, but Kitt couldn’t return the gesture. It was times like these that always hit home with him. Just when he thought everything was going smoothly, that he and Austin were safe and doing a good job at hiding, something happened to prove him wrong.
“You aren’t supposed to be here in the day light hours,” Kitt said in a stern voice, pointing a finger in Austin’s face.
“Aren’t you getting tired of that rule? We could just be friends. No one knows what we’re doing in here. Or, the few people that don’t already know what we’re doing could think we’re just friends, Kitt. Guys do hang out with each other.”
“No, we start breakin’ our rules, then we get relaxed, and it slips out more. No daylight hours.” Kitt ran his fingers through his hair and stopped, patting his head. “It’s all messed up now, isn’t it?”
“It’s my fault. Come back to the bathroom, let me redo it.” Austin pivoted on his heels. “Besides, if you would just have followed the rules and agreed to come over tonight, I wouldn’t have been forced out in daylight hours to come talk to you. Ever think of that?”
“Wear these,” Kitt said, sitting down on the toilet handing Austin his pants.
~~~~~~
Mirror balls and colorful flashing lights spun in time to the music blaring in the high school’s gymnasium. Kitt sat with some of the other parents at the designated chaperone’s table listening to whatever Taylor Swift song was now playing. The kids danced closely together under the hanging twinkle lights that represented some theme Kitt was sure he wasn’t getting. What Kitt did know, Bryanne danced too close to her current boyfriend, but he didn’t need to get involved. The principal stood ready to pounce, separating any dancing couple who actually got close enough to touch chest to chest.
Regretfully, they served no beer. Kitt knew how that sounded in his head, but after two hours of the Spring Fling dance, Kitt sat at the small table past ready to hit the road. Even at this point, spending the evening with Seth and Cara sounded preferable to this. Micah sat in the seat next to Kitt, looking pretty much just as miserable. His wife, Heather, came to the table and sat down in a huff. She looked exhausted as she plopped her feet up on an empty chair.
“Kitt, I have someone I want you to meet, and you can’t say no. She’s one of those Dallas girls you like so much. I met her when I was buying the decorations for tonight. I got her phone number. She’s smart, pretty and single. Here, look at her picture. I told her I’d be calling to set up the date. When’s good for you?” Heather fired out word after word, working with her phone and shoving a picture of a pretty woman in his face. If this was Heather exhausted, he wondered how Micah kept up.
“I told you not to do this,” Micah said. “I’m sorry Kitt.”
“And, I told you he needs a wife and kids. It’s time he got one.” Heather shot right back at her husband.
“Kitt, I’ve been meanin’ to talk to you, buddy.” The Future Farmers of America Agriculture teacher came up to the table, taking the empty seat next to Kitt, effectively saving him from any answer he needed to tell Heather.
“What’s up?” Kitt asked, hoping the relief wasn’t showing on his face.
“No Henry, wait! I need to get this done tonight.” Heather interrupted them, typing on her phone. “Kitt, when’s good?”
“Heather, leave him alone. Kitt, don’t answer her.” Micah took the phone away from her which started a whole new argument, leaving Kitt free to focus on the Ag teacher.
“The cattle drive runs next week. Tuesday through Thursday, during spring break. I need parent volunteers. Got any time to go with us again this year?”
And, that’s when Kitt remembered why he dodged the FFA teacher. All of a sudden, he wished he was scheduling a date with Heather’s girl rather than sitting here talking to his high school buddy.