AllFreeNovel
Share Us
From what I understand he’s from the west coast, Los Angeles. His family moved here at the end of the school year last year and he and his brothers have been the mysterious newcomers. Once they showed their prowess on the football field, their fate of being popular was sealed. He got the quarterback position; his younger brother is the running back and the youngest brother is the wide receiver. They were always together; you hardly ever saw one without the other. As an only child, I was envious of their relationship. We sit at the table until the lunch period is over, and he walks with meto my next class.
Lennox
I don’t recognize myself in the mirror. My hair, dress, and makeup have me looking like the black Betty Boop. Richie and I decided to do basic black and white, but this dress is far from basic. Strapless black sequin mermaid style dress, black elbow-length gloves, and rhinestone accessories make me look like a 1940s pin-up model. My hair has been straightened and pulled to one side with big curls cascading over my right shoulder and down.
My mom did my make-up, and she did not go overboard everything she has done accentuates my features. I look damn good. Since Richie asked me to the Ball, he has behaved more like my boyfriend than just a date. He meets me in the parking lot of school to carry my backpack and walk me to class. He also sits with me at lunch and walks me to my car when school is over. He has never tried to kiss me, but he has begun to hug me more and for longer.
He is not the typical dumb jock, he is an A student, and he wants to go to school to become a doctor. His mother passed away and his father moved them here for a fresh start, which explains why he and his brothers are so close. I look forward to seeing him and more often than not fall asleep at night talking to him on the phone.
“Len!” My mother calls me as I hear her coming up the stairs.
“Yes,” I say as I turn from the mirror to face her.
“Oh my, you look so beautiful,” she whispers as tears escape her eyes.
“Don’t cry ma, you’ll make me cry and ruin all your hard work” I sniffle
“OK, ok you’re right. Your young man is downstairs with your father, so hurry up and get down there, before you end up with no date for the night.” she kisses me on my forehead and heads back downstairs.
“I look back at the mirror to double-check everything is in the proper place, grab my black sequin clutch, and head downstairs.
Richie
Lennox’s house is amazing, and her parents are nice and down to earth. Her father and I have been talking about what my plans are after graduation and his job at IBM. Her mother is coming back down the stairs and her father, and I come to our feet.
“She’s on her way down. Marshall, do you have the camera ready?” she rushes out.
“Rose, calm down, I have the camera and we’re ready,” Marshall says.
We walk out to the foyer, and I wait at the bottom of the staircase holding her corsage, waiting to see the beautiful Lennox. I fidget with the box for a second and I hear heels on the stairs. I look up and my breath literally leaves me. She is extraordinary, I have to remember to breathe as I watch her glide down the stairs to me. The flash of the camera finally causes me to blink and breathe as she finally reaches me. Lennox, you look amazing I tell her and mean it. She turns bashful, as she drops her eyes to the ground and thanks me. I take the corsage out of the box and place it on her wrist.
“Come on you too turn around so we can get pictures,” her mother Rose says.
“Ok mom, but not too many,” Lennox tries.
“Girl please you will not deny me taking pictures of my only child going to the Ball. And you will take them without complaint, understood?” she announces.
“Yes ma’am,” Lennox and I say at the same time and start laughing.
Her mother almost blinds us as she takes picture after picture. But we do look amazing together. My black tux with a white shirt and black cummerbund goes perfectly with her black dress. Lennox places a white rose on my lapel, and it matches the flower on her wrist. We begin inching out of the house slowly, so her mother doesn’t yell at us again. After about ten more minutes and at least a hundred more pictures, we make it outside where Lennox sees the limo my father paid for, for the night.
“Oh! this is fly I thought we’d be taking your car!” she says happily.
“It’s a gift from my father,” I tell her.
And of course, her parents had to get another round of pictures before the driver opens the door for us. Just before we get in, her father's voice freezes us both.
“Richie!” her father calls out.
“Yes sir,” I say immediately.
“Midnight, and not a minute later.”
“Yes sir,”
Lennox and I hurry up and jump in the limo and head to the Ball.
“I am so sorry, Richie. I did not expect my mom to become the paparazzi.”
