The Reluctant Prom Date (The Reluctant Series Book 4)

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  The Reluctant Prom date

  By Melanie Brown

  Copyright 2004, 2017 by Melanie Brown

  Published by DopplerPress

  A division of Janglewood LLC

  Copy Editor Tom Peashey

  Editor Amy McGrady

  Publisher Joyce Melton

  First Kindle edition June 2017

  Cover image copyright: MrPants via iStock

  Image modified and typography chosen by Joyce Melton

  The Reluctant Prom Date

  by Melanie Brown

  Copyright © 2004-2017 Melanie Brown

  Chapter 1

  Bleary-eyed, I peeked at the alarm clock. Six thirty-five in the A.M. I hadn’t been awake before seven thirty on a Christmas morning in years. A pale shaft of moonlight pierced through the curtains. I slowly pulled myself out of bed and took a look outside. The east was just starting to take on the glow of dawn. A coat of frost glistened on the lawn. All the snow we’ve had this month, and none of it falls on Christmas Day.

  I shook my head to get my hair to settle down. In the soft dawn and moon light, I looked at myself in the mirror. I was wearing the Christmas nightgown Diane had gotten me. My hair cascaded over my shoulders and down almost to the middle of my back. My first Christmas as a girl. I thought back over the roller-coaster ride that was the past few months. I picked up Jeff’s picture from my dresser and wondered, how the hell did I get here?

  Looking at Jeff’s picture brought a longing and a loneliness to my heart. I smiled as I ran my finger down the image of Jeff’s face. I’m totally in love with a boy. I would’ve called you nuts if you told me a few months ago that I’d be so crazy for a boy that I almost couldn’t think of anything else.

  There was no point in trying to go back to sleep. I quietly opened my bedroom door and padded in my sock feet down the hall to the living room. I could see the soft glow of the Christmas tree lights as soon as I entered the hallway. I thought Dad must have forgotten to unplug the tree again.

  As I entered the living room, I was surprised to see Diane sitting on the couch staring at the Christmas tree. She was wearing her Christmas nightgown as well. At first, she seemed lost in thought. When she saw me come in, she gave me a big smile and whispered, “Merry Christmas!” and motioned for me to sit next to her.

  As I sat down, she gave me a big hug, and we kissed each other on the cheek. She took my hand and looked back at the tree. Without looking back at me, she said, “You know, this is my first Christmas back at home in five years. What was I thinking? I wasn’t that far away,” she sighed. “I was so grown up, so independent. I didn’t need Mom or Dad or family traditions.”

  “We certainly missed you,” I said. Well, Mom and Dad did anyway. “Mom never said anything, but I could tell it bothered her each time when you said you weren’t coming home.” It was true enough, but it’s fun to twist the guilt knife when you get the chance.

  Diane turned back to me with tears welling up in her eyes. Sobbing slightly, “I cried every Christmas morning, and then I’d lie to myself about how I was too grown up to bother with silly things like coming home for a holiday. I had my own life, right? My own friends to hang with.” She looked back to the tree, “But all my friends went home for the holidays…” Her voice trailed away.

  I suddenly felt ashamed for trying to add to Diane’s guilt. I gave her a big hug and said softly, “It’s okay Diane. We’re all here now for at least one more Christmas.” We then hugged and cried together for a minute or two.

  We were sitting quietly, holding hands and staring at the tree when Mom dragged herself into the living room, desperately needing her morning cup of coffee. She looked at us in surprise and said, “Hey… Merry Christmas. I haven’t seen you two up so early for Christmas morning since you were both little gir… er, boy… ah, both little.” She then shuffled off to the kitchen.

  We were both watching Mom when a voice vaguely resembling my Dad called from the hallway, “Hey, kittens. Look over here.” The moment we looked in that direction, we were instantly blinded by the flash of Dad’s camera. Dad chuckled as he entered the living room, “Let me get some coffee and let’s get this show on the road.”

  It was a Christmas morning like we hadn’t had in our house for many years. All of us together and up early to open presents. It made me feel like a kid again. And the new level of my relationship with Diane made it extra special. This morning was also very different from past Christmases. I didn’t get one single computer or console game. Not one! Being a girl really changes the kind of presents you get. Just as a quick example, Mom got me some new panties and a skirt. Diane got me some really cute earrings, make-up, some hair clips, and a Barbie doll. She said every girl should have at least one. Dad gave me some music CD’s.

  Diane was handing out the presents and she saved all of Jeff’s presents for last. I looked at the brightly wrapped presents in front of me for a moment. Presents from my boyfriend. I wished Jeff could be here to watch me open them. I opened them slowly.

  One package contained more earrings. At first I thought they were real diamonds, even though I didn’t think Jeff could afford them. Then I saw the “CZ” label. They were still very pretty and I couldn’t wait to wear them. The second package contained a pretty sweater. The final package was small and contained a necklace with a heart shaped pendant engraved with “Chrissy & Jeff”. I started to cry when I saw it and with Diane’s help, clasped it around my neck right then.

  Dad let out a belch.

  Groaning a little while standing, Dad surveyed the torn wrapping paper all over the floor and muttered, “Another Christmas shot to hell.” He scratched himself and walked off towards the kitchen.

  Diane picked up Jeff’s earrings, “These look nice. Let’s see how they look on you.”

  A few moments later, I had the studs in my ears and Diane and I raced to the bathroom to look in the mirror. I turned my head this way and that, watching the light sparkle.

  “Very pretty!” exclaimed Diane. “You’re so lucky. He loves you, Chrissy. I think he really does love you.”

  I just giggled and smiled at her, as I felt tears welling up again. I wished Jeff was here so I could show him how much I liked his gifts.

  We heard a pan rattling from the kitchen. Diane suddenly looked up excitedly, “Mom’s making breakfast. I haven’t helped her make Christmas breakfast in years!” She disappeared from the bathroom. Christmas breakfast was another tradition in our house. Every year we had scrambled eggs, sausage and blueberry muffins. The menu never varied and none of us ever minded.

  I stood there in front of the mirror for a few more moments looking at my earrings and necklace when it dawned on me that Diane had left. “Hey!” I squealed as I bolted out of the bathroom. “I want to help too!”

  Diane and I bounded into the kitchen within seconds of each other. Mom looked up from the refrigerator with a surprised look, “Oh, my! Two helpers! I don’t know if I can handle that or not.”

  Diane playfully pushed me back, “Get lost, squirt. We need real cooks in here.”

  “Hey! I know how to cook!” I protested.

  Mom nodded in my direction while looking at Diane and said, “That’s right. She’s a very good cook.” Mom handed me a muffin pan and said, “You can
make the muffins, and you…” Mom handed an egg carton to Diane, “can make the scrambled eggs.”

  Mom stood back with a satisfied expression as we started on our assigned duties. “I can get used to this!”

  Dad was already at the table, ready to eat when Diane set down the platter with the food piled high. He was already digging in as I set out the glasses of orange juice.

  As I sat down, Diane said, “This looks really good. I can’t tell you guys how much I missed this.” Mentally I begged her not to start another crying fest.

  Between mouthfuls, Dad said, “Yep, it’s great to have the whole family together again. It’s just like old times.” Dad glanced over at me and as he looked back into his plate for another bite, he muttered, “Well, almost.”

  Mom reached across the table and took Diane’s and my hand, squeezed them, “I feel truly blessed to have such two wonderful daughters!”

  Diane smiled, “It helps to have two really great parents!”

  I felt I had reached sugar overload and would explode if this mutual admiration society didn’t stop. So I said, “I’m thinking about keeping my job at the theater. Gwen can use the help Diane, so why don’t you ask her for a job, too?”

  Wrinkling her brow at the sudden topic change, Diane let out a short laugh and said, “You’re not serious are you? In a month or two after I start mass-mailing out my résumé, some big company is bound to jump at the chance to hire me for some high-paying

  position. I don’t have time for a teen’s job at a theater. I need to spend my time practicing my job interview skills.”

  It was Dad’s turn to belch a short laugh, “Diane, I hope you don’t think it’s that quick or easy. It could take months, maybe quite a few months, to land a job. And it won’t be at the top.”

  Mom frowned at Dad, “Dear, don’t try to discourage her. Diane’s a very capable young woman.”

  Diane looked smug as she said, “Enjoy this Dad. This could be the last time all of us are together for Christmas. I might be at some high-paying job in California, basking in the sun this time next year. And who knows? Jeff and Chrissy might be married and starting a family.”

  Dad coughed some scrambled eggs out his nose. He looked over at me, eye twitching.

  “Diane, don’t be goofy,” I said. “Jeff and I aren’t going to get married and we certainly wouldn’t be starting a family.” Hmmm… Mrs. Kowalski… Christine Kowalski… Mrs. Jeff Kowalski…

  “You can always adopt,” Diane grinned. “Don’t you want to be a mommy?” She giggled.

  Before I could answer, the phone rang. Mom got up saying, “Now who could that be?” She picked up the phone and spoke a minute before handing the phone to me. “It’s for you, dear.”

  I took the phone, “Hello?”

  “Hey babe! It’s me! Merry Christmas!” said Jeff through the phone.

  “Jeff! Hi honey! It’s so great to hear from you!” I squealed. I saw Diane roll her eyes.

  “It’s great to hear you too, babe. Have you opened your presents yet? I’m not sure what time it is there.”

  Diane started making kissy faces, so I turned towards the wall, “Yes, I did! And thank you so much for the presents! The sweater is great and I really love the earrings and necklace. I’m wearing them now. Have you opened yours yet?”

  I could hear some other voices through the phone as Jeff answered, “No, not yet. We all just got up here. It’s kind of a zoo.”

  “Are you having a family reunion or something?” I asked.

  “Yeah, something like that.” In the background I heard a girl’s voice ask him who he was talking to. Though muffled, I heard him say, “It’s just a girl back home. I’ll be through in a minute.”

  My words started to ice up, “Oh, now I’m just A girl. Not THE girl, huh?”

  He didn’t try to muffle the pickup on the phone, but his head was turned away as he said, “Sorry, I should say it’s my girlfriend back home,” to me, “sorry. I wasn’t trying to imply that you weren’t special to me.”

  Acid dripping from my words I asked, “Just curious Jeff, who was that girl you were talking to?”

  He paused a moment before saying, “That was just Lana. She’s… she’s my… ah… cousin… She’s been showing me the sights here in Tucson. They’ve got an old military aircraft graveyard museum and an old west movie lot here.”

  I regretted it almost as soon as I said, “Lana, huh? Well, I hope she’s not showing everything there is to see in Tucson.”

  Jeff sounded annoyed, “Babe, she’s just my cousin. Sheesh! It sounds like you don’t trust me!”

  Right then, I didn’t trust him any further than I could throw him, but I said, “Oh no, Jeffy. I trust you. I just miss you, that’s all.”

  “I’ll be home soon. Listen, babe. I gotta go. Have a merry Christmas and I’ll see you soon.” To me it seemed like an afterthought as he added, “Love you.”

  I disconnected the phone and started balling my eyes out.

  * * *

  “Can you believe that guy?” I asked as Diane and I walked along the sidewalk. Even though it was still pretty cold, it was sunny and we had decided to go for a walk around the block.

  Diane smirked, “Sis, there’s nothing that guys do that surprises me anymore. But you know, maybe he was telling you the truth. Maybe this Lana person really is his cousin.”

  I let out a short laugh and said, “Yeah, like Phil’s cousin?”

  Diane winced, but said, “Jeff isn’t Phil. Not every guy is a jerk. I guess. Besides, you two have a much deeper relationship than any I ever had. Mine were always mostly about sex.”

  I paused a moment, then asked, “Should we be having sex?”

  Diane stopped walking and turned to me. “There’s no law that says you have to. But most relationships lead to that eventually.”

  I shuddered. “But I don’t know if I want to have sex with a guy!”

  Diane smiled and said, “Technically sis, you already have… with Eddie.”

  I shuddered again and started walking. “But I felt so… so ashamed afterward.”

  “Did you enjoy it at the time?” Diane asked. I didn’t answer as we continued to walk. “Did you enjoy it?”

  I stopped walking and turned to Diane. In a small voice I said simply, “Yes”

  Diane studied me for a moment before putting her arms around me for a hug. “Listen sis. You and Jeff are in love. Guys can’t stop being guys. You have to trust them until they give you a good reason not to.” She started walking again.

  Diane continued, “You two have a relationship that I could only dream about. I’ve been nuts over lots of guys, but I’ve never had a love as deep as the one you have. Don’t worry about sex. If you get to that stage… well, I think it would only make your bond with Jeff even tighter.”

  “And if it doesn’t?” I asked.

  Diane shrugged. “Trust your heart. You think too much.”

  * * *

  I was sitting on the couch listening to one of my new CDs with my portable player, when the phone rang. I saw Mom answer it. A moment later she handed me the phone and said needlessly, “It’s for you.” As I took off my headphones, she looked quizzically at me and added quietly, “It’s some boy.”

  “Hello?” I asked into the phone.

  “Chrissy! Merry Christmas!” said the voice on the other end. There was a pause before he said, “It’s me, Danny.”

  “Oh, hi Danny… And a Merry Christmas to you. Did you have a good Christmas?” I asked.

  “Yeah, sorta. Mom and Dad actually were in town this time.” He paused a moment then said, “Can I ask you something?”

  Now what? With dread in my voice, I asked, “Like what?”

  He paused a few moments, then said, “Wednesday, would you take me on a date? With me dressed as a girl and you pretending to be a guy? Please? I just want to know what it’s like to be on a date as a girl. I’ll give you the money to pay for it.”

  I asked myself, does Danny even
know what it’s like to go on a date as a guy yet? Trying not to sound uncomfortable, “Gee, Danny. I don’t know…”

  Excitedly, Danny said, “I’ve been working on my make-up, like you showed me. I bought a new wig that looks just like real hair!”

  “Gee Danny, I don’t know…”

  “Oh come on. It’ll be fun!” exclaimed Danny. “Since in reality I’ll still be a guy and you’ll still be a girl, it’ll still be okay. What else do you have to do?

  I had a sudden vision of Jeff, walking hand-in-hand with that Lana chick. Hmmm… what else do I have to do?

  * * *

  Chapter 2

  I just sat in the car, parked in front of Danny’s house for a minute or two, thinking about how stupid this was. I felt foolish. Here I was, sitting in my Mom’s car, dressed as a boy, about to take another boy, dressed as a girl, out for a date – all because I was jealous of Jeff’s so-called cousin. I wasn’t sure if you’d call this just a date, a gay date, or just a plain old dumb date.

  It felt weird to be wearing one of my old sweaters and regular guy jeans and my old sneakers. I had my hair pulled back in a loose pony-tail. I had gotten all the way to starting to open the car door to leave when I realized I still had Jeff’s earrings in and I was carrying a purse. Mentally kicking myself, I went back into the house to move my driver’s license and money to my old wallet and take the earrings out.

  I thought about telling Danny the truth about me. He’d probably be mad at the deception at first, but I bet he’d enjoy the fact that I’m a boy, living full time as a girl. Despite his denial when I first met him in the women’s restroom at the theater, I had a sneaking suspicion that if he could, Danny would prefer to stay Dani all the time.

  I looked at my watch, took a deep breath and opened the car door. I felt very self-conscious walking up to Danny’s door. After finally concluding I was a girl, I felt weird trying to be a guy again. I knocked on the door.