Page 18 of What I Like About You

Chapter Seven

The thingabout mud baths was that no matter what, they were always kind of awkward. Even as a “spa expert” Zara was never quite sure if she should get all the way naked or remain in her funky-looking two piece she had for such occasions. At times, she thought at least if she were naked that it would also be awkward for the attendant and maybe they would look away, rather than stare at the plus-sized girl in the socially unacceptable swimwear. But then she would have to be fully naked in front of someone. No thanks.

Monday afternoon, however, as she was climbing into the stone tub filled with clay, ash, and all the other organic materials that made up the detoxifying “mud,” she actually felt incredibly at ease.

“You may want to remove your suit,” Cassie, the spa attendant, said. “We do actually recommend this treatment be done in the nude, since the mud can stain.”

“It’s okay, this suit is just for spa stuff. I’d never wear it in public,” Zara answered.

“But it’s so cute!”

“Thanks,” Zara said, blushing slightly from the compliment. Cassie was so sincere. It was the first time in all the years she’d been doing this that she felt someone had seen her and wasn’t judging her weight as she disrobed.

The mud was gloriously warm and felt good against her skin. There was something truly unique about this treatment, and it never failed in helping Zara relax completely. Something about being fully enveloped in the thick sludge always managed to comfort her. Maybe this is why infants found being swaddled soothing.

Taking in a deep breath, she let her mind wander back to the night that everything in her life had changed. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d thought about her senior prom. It wasn’t a topic of conversation that often came up in adult life. While people might have asked what high school or college you attended, no one ever asked who your prom date was. Although at this point, in certain circles back home, owning up to having gone with Dalton would have ended the conversation immediately, even if the night itself hadn’t ended in disaster.

Zara hadn’t actually planned on attending prom. Not that she didn’t want to, but it’s not like anyone was going to ask her. Forget not being popular, she didn’t even really have many friends. Her only true friend had been Dalton. Their moms had been best friends since they were girls, so naturally, their kids were close as well. However, when puberty hit and Dalton went from being the lanky kid to being one of the best-looking guys in school, while Zara remained heavyset and nerdy, she was sure their friendship would end.

Except it hadn’t.

It changed, certainly. He had a whole other group of friends to keep up with. But despite all that, he was always there for her. He made sure to call her every night to say hi, ate lunch with her when their schedules allowed, and sat with her in class if there weren’t assigned seats. He'd allowed her to drag him to the Fox Theatre for musicals, listened to her drone on for hours about whatever teenage crush or drama she’d had going on at the moment, and had always supported her dream of being a journalist.

It hadn’t all been one-sided, however. He had trusted her with his secrets too. She had been permitted inside the fortress, allowed to see the real Dalton and not just the funny, charming personality that he wore for everyone else. Zara saw firsthand that Dalton felt things deeper than he let on, and he used that charming facade to mask his hurt. That the death of his mother had left a hole in him that could never be filled, and that his father marrying the nanny so soon after her death was like salt being rubbed in the wound. She had known his pain and his heart.

Or so she thought.

Zara had been shocked when Ryan Dennison, one of the more popular guys in their class, had asked her to prom. What had not shocked her was a couple of weeks later when she found out it had been a joke and that he really had no intention of taking her. She’d found out by accident, too, having overheard some of the popular girls in the bathroom talking about how Ryan was really taking Sammie Smith and planned to leave Zara high and dry at home. All dressed up and nowhere to go. Even though she wasn't surprised, she couldn’t say she wasn’t hurt. Though she should have known better, she’d let herself get a little excited about being asked to prom, and the fact that she’d just been a laugh to the popular crowd hurt more than it should have. Being the constant butt of the joke stung, and even though it’d been going on for years, it never seemed to get any easier.

That was until the weekend before the big event, when Dalton showed up at her door.

“Grab your stuff and let’s go,” he’d said.

“Where are we going?”

“Shopping.”

“I don’t need to go shopping.”

“I beg to differ.”

Zara had done as she was told, since it wasn’t like she had anything else to do. Hopping into his sparkly blue sports car, she expected to end up at the mall, so she was more than a little confused when they parked in front of Posey’s, a high-end custom dress shop.

“What are we doing here?” she asked. Her mom had been getting dresses by Posey made for all sorts of events for as long as Zara could remember. They were beautiful, extravagant gowns, and Zara had always dreamed of the day she would be able to wear one herself.

“Well, if I’m going to take the most beautiful girl I know to the prom, then she can’t just be wearing any old frock, now can she?”

Zara looked at him, dumbfounded. There were so many pieces to that sentence that she didn't even know where to start. He thought she was beautiful? He wanted to take her to prom? She was going to wear a Posey’s dress to a high school dance? Who used the word “frock”?

“Prom?” she sputtered.

“Yes, I hear you are in need of a date, and since I am also currently without a date, I thought we could go together.”

“I know for a fact there is a list of girls who are holding out hope you ask them.”

“Maybe,” he shrugged. “But I don’t want to go with them. I want to go with you. My best friend, and the only person on this earth who actually understands me.”

“Really?”