Opposite of Always(21)

“Franny, I’ll be there.”

“Yeah?”

“Absolutely. And if he gets crazy, don’t worry, we’ll kick his ass. Or at least I’ll jump on his back and try to steer him into a wall while you kick his ass.”

“The Coupon won’t know what hit him.”

“He’ll wish he was still locked up.”

“Right,” Franny says. He rolls onto his side, facing the wall.

And for a moment I imagine Franny’s dad, wrapped in a blanket, staring at a similar blank wall—but I can’t imagine what he’s thinking.

“He’ll wish,” Franny says, his voice trailing off into nothing.





Status Unclear


KATE: Jack, can we talk? Can I call you?

Which is sorta scary. Can we talk can absolutely be a good thing, a happy thing, but for me, its needle has firmly leaned bad. Granted, my sample size is awfully small, but still.

ME: That’s cool.

“Hey,” Kate says on her end of the phone.

“Hey,” I echo.

“So.”

“So.”

“Before I agree to go to prom with you, there’s something you should know.”

“You’re from another planet and the window for your homeland return coincides with the middle of prom?”

She laughs. “No, my return window expired years ago.”

“Oh, so you’re stuck here.”

“I prefer to think I’m a permanent alien delegate,” Kate says.

“And that makes you feel better about being stuck?”

“Well, it did, until this Earth boy ruined it.”

“Typical Earth boy.”

“I’d say atypical.”

I don’t know if atypical is good here, but it doesn’t feel bad. Makes my heart do cartwheels across my chest.

“So, what do I need to know before we can go to prom?”

She sighs. “I told you I was recently out of a relationship?”

The cartwheels cease. “Yeah. I remember.”

“I don’t think I’m all the way out, Jack.”

“What does that mean?”

“It’s hard to explain. There’s a lot of components to it. But.” She pauses. “Essentially, he’s been with me through some pretty crazy times. It’s hard to completely extract someone who’s always been your go-to.”

“Are you saying you still wanna date your ex?”

“No. I don’t think so.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I’m saying, he’s still around. We’re not together, but we’re not yet separate entities, either.”

“So your status would be it’s complicated?”

“Nope. We’re status-less.”

“So, where does this leave us?”

“Going to prom, also status-less? Maybe status-pending?”

“Hmmm.” Because of course I want to go to prom with Kate, but I’m naturally clumsy and these attached strings are trip hazards.

“I just wanted to be honest with you. All of this is new and confusing for me. I think you’re a cool guy, Jack. And I’d love to be your prom date, if you’ll still have me?”

And before my brain can spit out the cost-risk analysis, my heart chimes in. “We’ll have you.”

Kate laughs. “We?”

“I mean, me. Me’ll have you.”

I can feel her smile through the phone. “Oh, I can’t wait to be awkward with you in person, Jack.”

“The feeling’s all the way mutual.”





I’ll Build a Mighty Moat Around Your Love


Kate and I decide she should probably meet the people we’re tag-teaming prom with. My parents are out for the evening, so the four of us end up at my house.

“Guys, this is Kate,” I say. “Kate, the guys.”

Jillian laughs. “In addition to being one of the guys, I also play a girl. Hi, I’m Jillian. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you, too. I’ve heard a lot about you,” Kate says. And then adds, “About you both.”

“That’s an awesome shirt,” Franny says, pointing at Kate. “Don’t tell me you’ve seen Mighty Moat live.”

“Okay,” Kate says. “I also won’t tell you that the drummer is my sister’s current beau.”

“Get out of here. You serious?”

“I don’t joke about Mighty Moat,” Kate says.

“Oh my God. You have to get us tickets. Can you get us tickets?”

“Babe, relax,” Jillian intercedes. “Can you at least let her take off her coat before you ask her to fly you to the moon?”

“It’s okay,” Kate says. “I can absolutely get us tickets. What are you doing two weeks from Friday? And would you be down for a road trip to Detroit?”

“Are you kidding!” he shouts. He hops onto a kitchen table chair, pumping his fists like a maniac. “This is a joke, right? You put her up to this, Jack?”

“Don’t look at me,” I say.

Kate smiles. “I promise you, I don’t joke about things of this magnitude.”