Something She Can Feel

“So he really meant what he said about working things out?”

“I guess so.” I took a sip of my blood-red punch and looked around the room. “Where’s Clyde?”

“Ain’t seen him; ain’t trying to see him!”

“I suppose that’s a good thing,” I said, waving at some of my students walking by.

“He’s been calling me all day,” she said.

“About what?”

“I don’t know. I’m not answering. I don’t want to hear another word about him or Ms. Lindsey. I just want to move on now. I have a clean slate. No more drama in my life.”

“Good for you,” I said, slapping her a high five. Billie and I stood in silence, people-watching and sometimes giggling at the few fashion mistakes and mishaps walking by. And then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a man walk into the room in a sweat suit. I turned quickly to see that it was Clyde. Unshaven and underdressed, he made heads turn in waves as he walked through the tables set up behind the dance floors. “Billie?” I called, noticing that he was headed to us. She was looking in the other direction.

“What?” She turned and because she had her punch to her mouth when she saw Clyde, she nearly choked. “What the hell?” she managed, clearing her throat.

“I need to talk to you,” Clyde said, almost running her down.

“Yeah, I gathered that,” Billie said nastily.

“Look, Billie, I’m not trying to fight with you tonight,” he said. “I just need to talk to you.”

“About what?”

“Outside,” he said.

Billie looked at me, and I put my hands up to say I was staying out of it.

“Can you hold my purse?” she asked, handing it to me.

“Sure,” I said.

I watched Billie follow Clyde charging back through the crowd. Everyone watched, but only the students looked surprised. For us, it was just things going back to normal.

“What was that?” Evan asked, coming up beside me and picking up a full cup of punch.

“He said he wanted to talk to her,” I said. “Looked pretty crazy, too.”

“Hmm,” Evan said, and I could tell by the look on his face that he was thinking something.

“What?” I asked. “Do you know something?”

“When I was at the mall today getting your corsage, I saw him fighting with Ms. Lindsey.”

“Really?” I looked at the door to see if Billie had come back inside.

“Yeah, I didn’t want to get involved, but he looked so torn up when she stormed off that I asked him if he was okay and he said she broke up with him. Said she was in love with her ex and wasn’t coming back to Black Warrior next year. I didn’t say anything because I figured Billie would tell you.”

“She doesn’t know,” I said. “But I wonder what their breaking up has to do with Billie.”

“Who knows with those two,” Evan said, and then Billie came rushing back into the room.

At first I thought she was angry, but then she flicked her hand up in the air and screamed so loud that I could hear her even over the music, “I’m engaged!”

“What?” Evan asked.

“I’m engaged!” Billie said to every face she passed in the crowd. Clyde was behind her, standing tall and proud, smiling at everyone as they congratulated them. Everyone was clapping and then Billie was standing right in front of me with the ring on her finger and Clyde at her side.