The Romeo Club

I stuck out my tongue and clicked talk on my phone. “Hey, what’s up?”

“Double Dee, how’s it going?” Rex said on the other end.

Okay, so I had no idea why he called me Double Dee, because anyone who’s seen my chest knows I’m lacking a lot in the boob department. I’d be lucky to be called Double A. I supposed I was closer to a B-cup, but still.

“I’m getting ready to head to the mall with my brother.” I tugged the rubber band from my shoulder length blond hair.

“Oh, I thought you might want to hang out with me today. I was gonna hike up to the falls.” He sounded disappointed.

My chest tightened as guilt seeped in. “Sorry. Maybe if we get back early we can go up and grab some pizza or something.”

“No. It’s okay. I’ll try to get a hold of Sam or Jake.”

“Wait, do you want to go with us to the mall?”

My brother shook his head no, making a cutting motion across his neck.

Rex chuckled on the other end. “Um—no. Because I know how long it takes you to shop and I’d actually like to get out and enjoy the sunshine.”

“Fine. But don’t you dare complain about not spending time with me this weekend,” I said.

“Don’t worry—I’ll catch you at school tomorrow. Love ya, babe.” He hung up.

I tossed my phone in my purse then went to my dresser to pick out something a little more mall appropriate. Once I had my outfit in order, I set a pair of ballet flats on my bed. The dirt under my fingernails made me cringe. “Let me get a quick shower, then we can head out.”

“Please tell me, Dog Boy isn’t going with us.” Drake quirked an eyebrow.

“Nope. It’s just us. Oh, and by the way, you’re driving. I have no gas money.”

“If you wouldn’t have spent it on that obnoxious new purse, you would have some. That thing probably cost as much as a small country.”

I snorted. “No it didn’t. And I needed it. Besides, for your information, most of the cash I had went for a new pair of cleats—not this.”

“Fine—I’ll drive.”

“Operation ‘Get Drake a Girlfriend’, now underway.” I hip checked my brother.

He groaned. “Please don’t make me regret this.”

“You won’t. I’m gonna make you fabulous.” When I was done with Drake, he’d be the talk of the school. Girls would definitely notice him.

Chapter 2

Drake sat in the beauty salon chair, his head covered in foil as we waited for the timer to beep. “I’m beginning to feel like the star of some sci-fi flick.”

“It’ll be worth it—trust me.”

Our first stop had been to the eye doctor, who luckily had an opening this afternoon. He gave Drake a temporary pair of contacts until his prescription ones came in. Already they’d made a huge difference. He went from wizard look-alike to surfer guy in 2.1 seconds.

The timer went off and Sandra came over to peek at his hair. She smiled. “Looks good. Let’s get these off and get your hair washed and styled.”

I watched her do her magic. Cutting and fashioning. When she finished she stepped back for me to see first.

“Oh. My. Gosh. If you weren’t my brother, I’d think you’re totally hot.”

He glanced in the mirror and touched his newly blond hair. “Wow. I hardly recognize myself.”

With a grin, I snapped a pic with my phone and sent it to my BFF Kenadi, with a quick message.

What do u think?

Drake groaned. “No. Don’t send it to everyone.”

“It’s only Kenadi—geesh.”

A second later my phone buzzed with a new message.

Holy hotness. Tell him if I didn’t have a boyfriend I’d be all over that.

“See, even she thinks you look good.” I showed him the message.

His cheeks turned red as he pretended to stare at the fake plants lining the window-front of the salon.

Once we paid for the hair, we grabbed our shopping bags, and headed back out into the mall. Light beamed from the giant skylights above. I glanced over the side railing to see crowds of people walking below, an array of purchases in hand. Across the way, music from the carousel twinkled, reminding me of the amusement park Drake and I loved so much.

The scent of cookies and hot pretzels wafted in the air. My stomach growled. But before I could sniff out the nearest food court restaurant, my gaze settled on the prom dress hanging in the Fashionista Forest window. Not just any prom dress. The prom dress. The one I’d been dreaming about since seeing it in a catalog about three months ago. Light blue satin, with a lace overlay.

The same fab dress that it’d take me like three years to save up for. Okay, maybe not quite that long, but it was way more than my measly allowance would allow for. Sure my parents made good money, but they were also the President and First Lady of the Cheap Parents Club. They told us they’d provide for things we needed. School clothes. A vehicle. Money for sports. But apparently “expensive” prom attire didn’t make their list. Obviously they had no idea about my needs. My brother on the other hand worked part time at the video game store, which is why he always had cash.