Chapter Four

October 2002

No Doubt blasted from the CD player on Mandy's dresser, shaking the special collection of shells and sand dollars she kept displayed there, and the pile of M Mandy was sure of it. Or at least it was a way for Isa to not be a third wheel whenever Mandy and V went out. Not that Mandy minded, but she was afraid that Isa might. And no matter whom Mandy dated, they had to know she was a package deal with her best friend. She may have been in love, but she loved her best friend just as much, so no way would she ever leave Isa behind.

When the song ended and the next one came on, Mandy turned the music down, flopping back onto her bed breathless, and Isa collapsed next to her.

There was a knock, and the bedroom door cracked open with Mom's petite frame sliding into view. "Girls, pictures downstairs in five." She waved her special digital camera with the fancy lens at them and was dressed for the occasion even though she wasn't going to the dance—but when wasn't Mom camera ready? Her blonde hair was swept up away from her face, and her pencil skirt and blouse were perfectly pressed. It was rare her mother ever dressed down. Mandy didn't think she even owned a pair of jeans.

Mandy pushed herself up on her elbows. "We're almost ready."

"Are you sure you don't want me to whip you girls up a snack before you head out?" Mom asked. "I have those little bagel pizza things." Mandy's mom wasn't exactly known for her culinary skills, although they would probably be safe with something that came from the freezer as long as she set a timer—and actually listened for it.

Mandy and Isa exchanged a glance, having a conversation with just their eyes. Their group of friends wanted to meet up for food before the dance, but Isa felt weird about the whole thing. Mandy agreed, so they had picked up something at the mall when they got their hair done earlier and were just going to meet up with all their friends at the dance. Afterward if they were hungry, they would grab something from a drive-thru. "No, we're good."

Mom stood for a moment and really seemed to be studying Mandy. "That doesn't look like the same dress you showed me before." She was right, it wasn't the same dress, because Mandy knew her mom wouldn't approve, so she had showed her something similar—the same color and length but not jersey, and definitely not two pieces.

"Well, it is." Mandy shrugged.

Mom narrowed her eyes. "I guess those shoes you wore to Dad's holiday party last year will work."

"Nope. I'm all good." Luckily, she was on the far end of the bed with her feet on the ground, so Mom couldn't see she had already put her shoes on. Mandy had been kind of hoping Mom wouldn't notice them at all, but that was wishful thinking. Mom always noticed everything.

"I don't want to know what that means, do I?" Mom asked.

"Probably not." Mandy shook her head.

Mom looked at Isa.

"She's wearing tennis shoes." Isa was never able to keep a secret from any parental figure—Mandy was surprised she lasted as long as she had. Probably because the topic had never come up.

"Oh, Amanda." Disappointment dripped from Mom's voice—a sound Mandy was extremely used to.

"Mom, you said this was my event and I could do whatever I wanted." Those were the exact words Mom had used.

"?‘Within reason.' Tennis shoes are not reasonable. And I still don't think that is the same dress."

"Well, it is, and I do. And it's my event."

With a glance at Isa, Mom tried once more. "Help me out here."

"I tried to tell her." Which was true, and likely another reason Isa picked out those hideous earrings, since Mandy ignored her opinion about her footwear.

"Perhaps you can put on those holiday party shoes for pictures," Mom reasoned. "I'm sure Isa's mom would appreciate it too." Mom would be sending all the pictures to Isa's mom since she had to work and couldn't be there.

"I'll think about it." Which meant she absolutely would not be thinking about it at all.

Mom huffed—most likely realizing she wasn't winning this one—then closed the door.

Mandy jumped up, grabbing a tube of Viciously Vamp lipstick from her makeup table, and applying another coat. It was Mandy's night, and she was not going to let her mother ruin it.

"Oh, good idea." Isa reached over, pulling a tube of sparkly lip gloss from her clutch.

"Lip gloss makes kissing really sticky." Mandy had purposely not used it when she applied Isa's makeup, instead opting for a soft pink that complemented her skin tone, but Isa loved her lip gloss. Especially the kind that smelled and tasted like bubble gum.

Isa scrunched her nose. "I don't even know if I want to kiss Justin."

"Ugh. Come on, Isa. You've got to get your first kiss over with at some point."

"I told you, I'm not sure I'm into Justin, you know?"

"Does it matter?" For Mandy it mattered—totally and completely. She couldn't kiss just anyone, because anyone she did kiss would also be the recipient of her heart. But maybe it would be different for Isa. They had talked about it only in the hypothetical sense before, and tonight it could be a reality for Isa.

"It matters."

Mandy shrugged. "Fine. But if you do think you want to kiss him, trust me and wipe the lip gloss off first."

Isa turned back to the mirror, applied another thick coat of the shiny gloss, and made a loud smack as she puckered her lips.

Mandy handed her lipstick to Isa.

Isa tipped her head to the side. "You could just carry your own purse."

"Or you could hold this for me, so I don't have to." Mandy batted her eyelashes.

Isa let out a huff and took the tube, making a show of dropping it into her clutch.

Mandy kissed the air in response—knowing Isa didn't really care about carrying Mandy's things, she was just annoyed with her about all the kissing talk.

As soon as Isa buckled up the straps on her heels, they each took one last look in Mandy's mirrored closet doors and went downstairs for pictures. Usually, Mom would have them pose in front of the fireplace, but this time, she immediately ushered them out to the backyard—where she'd had the gardeners plant fresh seasonal flowers just for the occasion. She also had the lawn mowed and the hedges trimmed, and did she have the fountain bleached? It looked brighter than the last time Mandy had been back there. Granted, it had been a while. The yard was more for aesthetics than it was for anything else. Just like inside Mandy's house, the outside always had to look picture-perfect, or magazine-ready, as her mother called it. As a designer, Mom couldn't ever be off her game. Mandy hated how everything always had to look immaculate.

The yard—just like the house—was too stuffy for Mandy. As stuffy as the outdoors could be, she supposed. The new flowers were pretty and had Mandy itching to go back inside to get her paints instead of going to a dance. But they would probably be just as inspirational tomorrow after she woke up.

Mom had the camera strapped around her neck and held it off to the side in one hand. "So this is the look, huh? No other shoes? Not even for pictures?"

Mandy was not going to let Mom bully her into those shoes even for one second on her special night. "You said…"

"Fine." Mom's lips puckered like she was holding in all the words she wanted to say, but then her face relaxed. "You're right. It's your night and you both look beautiful," she said. "Let's get you to stand by the begonias." Mom ushered them across the yard, positioned them each just so, and took a step back.

"You're cutting our feet out, aren't you?" Mandy asked.

"I'm getting some close-ups," Mom said, and the camera clicked a few times. She turned the camera this way and that while Mandy and Isa changed positions—facing each other with hands on hips, arms over each other's shoulders, leaning in for air-kisses. The whole time her mom never took a step back or changed her position in order to get their full bodies. She was being ridiculous. Mandy loved her outfit, and that included her shoes. Why did Mom have to be so stubborn?

"Now if you two could switch places, we'll do that all on the other side," Mom directed.

Mandy hiked up her skirt and held her foot up at her waist. "What about this? That way you can get all of me."

"Amanda!" Mom looked scandalized, like Mandy was showing off her underthings to the entire world, not an empty backyard. "Pull your dress down. It's a good thing Isa's abuela isn't here to see this." Mom's head pivoted as though she was making sure no one else was watching even though they were the only ones there. "I was getting to it, jeez."

Abuela would probably laugh and tell Mom she was being too prudish, but Abuela had an appointment she couldn't reschedule, which was why Mom was in charge of all the pictures.

Isa didn't copy Mandy, but she did say, "I'm sure my mom and abuela won't mind, Mrs. Dean."

"See." Mandy dropped her foot and leaned in and kissed Isa on the cheek.

Click.

"Fine." Mom took a few steps back, and this time, as Mandy and Isa posed, Mom surely got their whole bodies in the frame.

"You are really glowing tonight, Isa," Mom said. "Excited about the first big date?"

Isa glanced at Mandy, that single eyebrow of hers threatening to perk up in a please save me kind of way.

"It's not that big a deal, Mom," Mandy answered for her.

"Our little flower is finally ready to bloom," Mom said, either ignoring Mandy or not listening to what she just said. "I always knew if we gave you time…"

Isa's cheeks flared, and she reached over to squeeze Mandy's hand.

"Let's get some over there." Mandy gestured toward the corner of the yard, where a giant tree that kept them supplied practically year-round with lemons grew.

"Let's hide behind it," Isa said, "and we can pop out of each side and look at each other."

"Oh yes, that would be adorable," Mom agreed.

Mandy avoided stepping on a few lemons that had dropped to the ground since the gardeners had been there, and braced herself against the trunk. This tree had always been a favorite of hers. When she was little, she loved to climb it and get the lemons that were near the top. Per Mom's request, Dad would stand below Mandy, ready to catch her in case she fell—she never did though. But when she got high enough to see over the stone wall into the Browns' yard, their dog would bark and bark and bark. Then Mr. Brown would come out and say, "Shut up, you dumb mutt," and then Mrs. Brown would get mad at Mr. Brown, which made the dog bark even louder, and Mandy would laugh and laugh and laugh. The Browns didn't live there for long once the divorce papers were filed.

"Let's get you over by the fountain," Mom said, pulling Mandy from her thoughts.

She and Isa sat on the edge, legs crossed with their hands folded over their knees.

Mom clicked a few photos. "Lean back just a little bit."

Mandy did as she was asked, but Isa must've taken the direction to heart, as she screeched and grabbed on to Mandy, pulling her down toward the water. Mandy's elbow hit the side and luckily kept them both from toppling into the fountain. After a moment, Mandy glanced at Mom, who was still taking pictures, and then at Isa, and they both burst out laughing.

"Did you get the shot, Mom?" They both could've ended up going swimming, and Mom hadn't even budged from her spot.

"I would've helped if you fell in," she told them. "You're going to love these."

And that sent her and Isa into an even bigger fit of giggles.

It was then that V and Justin arrived. Mandy jumped up to greet her date, throwing her arms around V. Isa calmly rose and smoothed down her dress before welcoming Justin.

"Wow. You look beautiful," Justin said as he slipped a white rose corsage onto Isa's wrist. He wore a gray suit with a blue tie that almost matched Isa's dress. Isa never mentioned it, but they had to have planned it, which was what Mandy and V had done.

"My girl is gorgeous." V pressed her cheek to each of Mandy's cheeks. Since they both were wearing lipstick and they still had pictures to take, kissing would have to come later. And Mandy was already ready for some kissing with the way V looked. Her dress had cap sleeves and a princess-type skirt—it didn't match Mandy's, but the colors were complementary, and V also wore a new pair of Vans—not that you could see them under that skirt, but she and Mandy had picked them out together. Her dark hair was wrapped up in a bunch of small buns all over her head, and her dark skin glimmered with glitter from her peony-scented body lotion.

"That's a lovely dress." Mom gave V a hug. "Very classy." She quickly glanced at Mandy.

Mandy rolled her eyes.

"Are you kids hungry? I could whip up something really quick," Mom asked as she snapped pictures. Mom loved to try to feed people when they came over—the hostess inside of her was never satisfied until someone put something in their mouth. But tonight they had more important things to do than eat.

Justin unbuttoned and buttoned his suit jacket. "My mom made pho tonight, so I'm all set, Mrs. Dean."

"I'm good," V said.

"Mom, we're fine." Mandy looked at her friends and rolled her eyes.

"Well, let me grab a few pictures real quick before you all head out. You all look absolutely stunning." Mom never dropped the camera from her eye, continuing to snap photo after photo. At this rate there would be hundreds of pictures—probably thousands.

After a few group shots, Dad showed up in the doorway to the backyard. His normal work uniform of a suit and tie had been traded in for khakis and a polo—his casual weekend look. "We have a little issue with the cars out front." He sounded stern, but stern was his default tone. Dad had always been a man of few words, so the ones he did say held a certain amount of urgency that wouldn't register if someone else had said them.

Justin didn't have any experience with the tall man with thick white hair and a gruff expression, so his normally warm-toned skin paled. "Why did I park on the street?" he mumbled to himself.

Mandy caught the way Dad's lip curled up on one side just for a moment. He was up to something. And that, combined with the way V's fingers tightened around Mandy's, made her feel as though someone poured milk over a bowl of Rice Krispies inside her stomach—a tickly snap-crackle-pop rising up through her whole body. She pulled V through the house, threw open the oversized front door, and squealed.

A shiny black limousine sat parked in their roundabout driveway with a tuxedo-clad driver—complete with top hat and white gloves—waiting by the open back car door.

"Thought my princess needed a carriage to take her and her friends to the ball." Dad lumbered up and squeezed Mandy into his side. Although she was taller than Mom, she was still much shorter than Dad, bringing the top of her head close to his armpit.

"You're the best, Daddy." It wasn't often Mandy called him that, but it made him happy, reminding him that she was and would always be his little girl—at least that's what he had told her.

He kissed the top of her head before Mandy pulled V toward the car.