“And I never paid you back.”
“Derelict.” I smile to hide the tears that are beginning to burn in my eyes. My heart is hurting at the thought of him not having enough money to buy a school lunch and going hungry and I’m struck with the realization that perception is often far removed from reality. While we always think someone’s life is so much better than ours, they’re more popular, they run with a cool crowd, members of the opposite sex adore them, we don’t actually know the pain they harbor or the challenges they face.
And he remembered all these things about me. Details. Details that I don’t think even Connor could answer.
“So, let me make you breakfast as payback. I can actually cook.” When I hesitate, he continues. “There are a lot of bedrooms in my house if you’re not interested in sleeping with me.”
“How romantic.” My sarcasm is as heavy as the damp air surrounding us.
“Those are words you will regret, Miss Rosie Cheeks.” He laughs. “Look, I got to give you back something that I had no right taking from you, and now I want to pay you back for being the sweetest person I knew in high school, and for taking care of me, even if you didn’t realize that is what you were doing. And if I’m really lucky,” his smile grows even wider, taking on that wolfish cast, “maybe I’ll get to live out a few of my teenaged fantasies.”
Say yes, he mouths, but doesn’t verbalize the words.
“Call your pilot. I need to go pack.” And hopping down from the wall, I look up at my high school crush and wrap my arms around his neck, and this time it’s me pulling him in for a kiss, making one of my teenage fantasies a reunion reality.
4
Danny
Holding hands, we enter the ballroom in search of Des so that Rose can let her know we’re leaving. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see that asswipe, Connor Powell, watching us. Whatever he did to this woman, it wasn’t good. What I saw earlier in her defensive posture, the pained look in her eyes, and her sharp words, showed me exactly how much he had hurt her.
It’s hard to get through this room without being stopped every two seconds by people who once did not want to give me the time of day, people who thought they were too good for me, but now want to act as if we were best friends throughout our high school years. These are people who never would have pulled three dollars from their backpack to make sure I didn’t go hungry. To them, I was just a grungy derelict. That misfit. And now, they want to be able to brag to friends and colleagues that they know me, the guy who created Misfits.
But they don’t know me at all. They never did.
“Hey, you two.” Des smiles as we approach. “Looks like we’ve got a new prom king and queen here.”
“John Waters already did that one. It was called Cry Baby,” I recall the film about the bad boy and the good girl, another pair of misfits living out the roles into which they were cast.
“We’re going to head back to LA tonight.” Rose tells her best friend.
“Want to come?” I offer. “We could pick up your husband on the way to the airport.”
“Th
anks, but no thanks. Just driving in a car these days makes me nauseous. We’ll take a raincheck on that, though.”
“You sure?” Rose asks her friend and I can see she’s a little nervous about leaving with me.
Bending down, I whisper in her ear, “I’ll drive you home, if you want. But then you’re going to miss my famous cannoli pancakes.”
With our hands still intertwined, she swings our arms back and forth, and smiles up at me. “You didn’t say it was going to be cannoli pancakes.”
Leaning to her ear again, I can’t help but smile as I deliver the news. “I also didn’t tell you I like to cook nude.”
Enjoying the surprise in her eyes almost as much as I’m relishing her laughter, she calls me, “Derelict.”
“Yup. That’s your boy, Rosie Cheeks,” I concur, finding her lips for a kiss in front of Des and the rather surprised group gathered with her.
As we turn to go, I lock eyes with Des. “Thank you,” I mouth the words.
“I told you, I’d take care of it. I’m that good,” she responds, her smile smug.
“I owe you one.” I leave her with a wink as Rose and I exit. Reunited.
Epilogue
Rose