Somewhere in the Middle Read Free

formals." Not to mention girly-girl things like
corsages, glam dresses, and God forbid, heels.
    "But it's your senior year. Aren't you worried that you'll look back
one day and regret not taking advantage of everything McAlister High had
to offer?"
    "Not so much," I said.
    "What if I buy the dress? Would you then?"
    "The most expensive gown in town would not hide the fact that I'm a
klutz. Surely you haven't forgotten my dance recital." Forced by Mom to
take tap lessons for a year when I was four, I'd been totally out of sync
with the music and my fellow dancers. Yeah, so much for magically curing
my awkwardness.
    Dad wasn't buying it. "I've seen you dance with Eli. There's nothing
wrong with your moves. Now who's asked you to go? And don't tell me 'no
one.' I dang well know better."
    In truth, three guys had. I'd refused each for the same reason. At
McAlister High, a single date was automatically construed as "going out"
which equated to "going steady." That meant I'd actually have to break up
with my dance partner if I wasn't interested in a second date. "I've
explained all this before."
    "And I still don't get it. You need to find a boyfriend, get out of
this house, and enjoy what's left of your high school years."
    "I will get out," I told him. "Tomorrow's library day."
    "That's not what I meant."
    "Can I get that book on cars?" Eli asked, an interruption I
welcomed.
    "If it's back on the shelf." One of his friends had shown him a kid's
encyclopedia of automobiles through the ages. We'd been trying to check
it out ever since, but couldn't seem to catch it in the library.
    "Just wait 'til you see it, Dad." Eli gnawed on his drumstick.
Diverted from my nonexistent love life, our father grinned at him.
    I watched for a minute, my heart swelling with affection for my little
bro. The only unplanned child in the family, he'd been a late-marriage
shock to my parents. But he'd had us all wrapped around his little finger
since that first newborn smile, and I adored him just as everyone did.
That's why I played Candy Land with Eli after dinner and then reread all
seven of the books we'd be returning the next day. After that, I tucked
him in, making sure he had his special blanket and his stuffed animal,
Justin Beaver.
    I took more than one mental snapshot before I left him. He was growing
up before my eyes. I wanted to preserve the memories.
    Click!
    * * * *
    Eli and I got to the library around ten on Saturday. Dayna, Julio, and
Chico were already there. All three boys immediately ran over to the
storyteller's corner and sat cross-legged on the floor. Dayna and I went
to sit at a table nearby. The moment the woman with the book began to
read the tale of Hercules, my friend and I relaxed. The boys loved
superhero stories. And though Hercules wasn't one in the comic book
sense, he'd definitely do.
    "Cute top," I said, eyeing her glittered tee.
    "I'll loan it to you anytime." Fashionable Dayna with her big brown
eyes, long brunette hair, and perfect sense of style was dying to dress
me.
    But just like my Dad, I was a jeans and tees kind of person. Today my
shirt said BAMA on it, a reference to the University of Alabama. Cory had
bought it for me on sale at the college bookstore. "Was it made in the
USA? I don't wear clothes made by children in sweat shops."
    "Oh God. Here we go."
    "I'll spare you the lecture. You and Gav going to the dance?"
    "Of course. Want to come with us? I'm sure I could find you a date."
She sided with my dad when it came to my extracurricular activities,
specifically the lack thereof.
    Not that I didn't have any. I did. Just not the ones most teenage
girls had. I favored rallies for things that mattered: breast cancer
awareness, neighborhood recycling, gay and lesbian rights. The list went
on and on. "No thanks."
    Dayna tossed her ponytail before leaning closer to look into my eyes.
"It would be so much fun to double."
    "Someday, I promise."
    "You keep saying that, but our final year together is half