side of her lip was turned up in disgust.
“Yes. Why? Do you think I’ll look stupid?”
“No, but it looks more like something you’d wear to a softball game. Hang on a minute,” she said leaving the room.
A couple of minutes later she returned with a tan skirt, black satin tank top and a pair of cute black flip flops.
“Here. Try these on.”
“Are you sure?” I asked.
Kellie was crazy protective over her clothes, and even though she and I were about the same size, she was stingy about sharing anything with me.
“You have a date with Aaron Turner, and I have a reputation to uphold here. I can’t go having my younger sister looking like a slob.”
“Thanks!” I excitedly said as I tried on the outfit.
Three hours and a gallon of Aqua Net hairspray later, I nervously awaited for Aaron’s arrival. Kellie was out with her boyfriend, Kristie was in our room reading again, and Mom and Dad were in the living room watching television, while I stared nonstop at myself in the mirror above the couch.
My shoulder-length blonde curly hair and big bangs were puffed out as big as I could get them, and my blue eyes looked nice with the touch of pink eye shadow and black mascara. I opened my mouth to make sure I didn’t have any of the light pink lipstick on my newly “braces free” smile.
“How do I look?”
“You look beautiful,” Mom reassured me.
Just then a car pulled into our driveway.
“Oh my gosh! He’s here!” The nervousness I had been feeling all day doubled.
A second later, the doorbell rang. Dad got up from his chair to let him in.
I had been on a couple “friend” dates with guys in my grade, but we always went out with a group of friends. This was the first time I would be on a date by myself and this realization made me even more nervous.
“Hi Mr. and Mrs. Stewart. I’m Aaron Turner.” He reached his hand out to Mom and Dad.
“It’s so nice to meet you,” Mom said with an approving smile.
“Hi Kate,” he said shyly.
“Hi,” I said, taking in how handsome he was. He had on khaki shorts and a white short sleeve collared shirt, and his brown hair was combed neatly off to the side.
“Are you ready to go?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“I thought we would go out to eat first and then see Dirty Dancing at the movie theater, if that’s okay with you.”
“Yes, that would be fun.”
“It was great meeting you two,” he said to Mom and Dad.
“You too. Have fun and make sure you’re home by midnight.”
“Okay, we will.” I waved goodbye to them and then followed Aaron out the front door.
“It sure is a gorgeous night,” he said as we walked towards his white Ford Taurus.
“Yes it is,” I responded, privately wondering how many times I had already said the word “yes” to him.
“Your chariot awaits,” he said in a charming voice as he opened the passenger door for me.
“Why thank-you!”
“So are you nervous?” he asked once he got in the driver’s seat.
“A little.”
“Me too.”
“Really? You’re not acting like it.”
“I’ve been a ball of nerves all day.”
“I have to admit that when you first started talking to me last night, I thought you had mistaken me for someone else.”
“Why would you think that?”
“Because you are the hottest and most popular senior guy in our school, and I’m only going to be a sophomore.”
He busted out laughing, and I was instantly embarrassed by my blunt and stupid comment.
“Sorry for what I just said.”
“Don’t be. I like the idea that you think I am “hot”, and if it matters, I think you’re one of the prettiest girls I’ve ever seen.”
I blushed at his compliment.
We arrived at the restaurant, and our nonstop conversation continued throughout the meal.
“So where do you want to go to college?” I asked as I nibbled on my onion ring.
“Ohio Northern to be a lawyer, and after I graduate, I want to work for my dad and grandpa’s law firm here in town. How about you?”
“I really want to be an interior decorator or an art teacher.”
“I’ve noticed your artwork in the display cases at school. You’re very talented.”
“You’re not a creeper, are you?”
Throwing his head back, he let out another hearty laugh. “It kind of looks that way, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, but that’s okay, I like it,” I grinned.
“I know I mentioned us watching a movie, but would you be up for going to my grandparents’ house instead? They have this little gazebo in their backyard, and ever since I was little I have loved to lie on the ground next to it and stare up at the stars. Tonight the sky is full of them.”
Feeling like I could trust being alone with him, I agreed.
His grandparents lived in a nice section of town, and when we pulled into their driveway I was in awe of how beautiful their home was. It was a large two-story brick colonial house with a two-car attached garage. Aaron took my hand as we made our way in the dark to the back of the house.
“Shouldn’t you let them know we are here?” I asked.
“Nah . . . They’re probably in bed sleeping by now.”
We rounded the side of the house and when we reached the back, my breath was taken away. Gorgeous mounds of flowers decorated the yard and there was a stone sidewalk leading to a pretty gazebo. Aaron grabbed a blanket that was lying on a bench and unfolded it on the ground. Taking my hand, he pulled me down beside him. I was a little nervous wondering if he wanted to do more than just talk, but that feeling quickly faded as he started pointing to the millions of stars up above.
“I like to see how many different crazy things I can come up with for the
