Chapter Ten

Georgie's Point of View

"I think you should totally go with black," Carmen says as we look through the Dillard's dress selection.

"Yeah that's what I was thinking. Short right?" I ask examining a black dress that has feathers on the bottom. It's not my taste, but I mean kudos to whoever could pull it off.

"Yeah short for Hoco, long for Prom," Wendy says as she looks at this cute little navy blue dress.

"Yes Wen get that one!" Carmen exclaims. Lucky for her and Eileen they found their dresses right away. Carmen picked a beautiful red one, and Eileen picked this really pretty peach colored one.

"What do you think Gia?" She asks holding it up from me to see. The top is nothing but this sparkly beading, and the skirt has a sparkling belt thing, while the skirt itself is a navy blue silk. It's sparkly and beautiful, and it fits Wendy perfectly.

"I think you'll look smoking," I say with a smile. She would look good in anything honestly.

"Thank you sweetheart," she says.

"Here Gia try this one on," Eileen says handing me a black lace dress.

I walk into the dressing room and slip the dress on. It looks stunning on me. The bottom is this scallop pattern, and the black lace over my chest is just beautiful. The little keyhole on the back is a nice touch as well.

I walk out for the girls to see, and they all smile. "You look drop dead gorgeous!" Wendy says.

"Hermosa!" Carmen says inspecting the dress.

"Love it. It looks great on you," Eileen says.

"Great it's decided then," I say and step back into the dressing room. I change back into my normal clothes, and we pay for our dresses.

"Now we just have to find dates," Wendy says making us laugh.

"Oh no I'm good," I say. "After the whole Jesse thing I just want to spend time with my friends."

"Understandable," Wendy says. "Do you think your brother will be available?"

I laugh, and roll my eyes. "Good luck getting him in a tux," I joke making the girls laugh.

"I was thinking of maybe asking Tommy," Carmen says.

"Really?" I ask.

"Yeah. He's really sweet, and he's cute," she says with a smile.

"You like him girl just admit it," Eileen says.

"I don't know I haven't really spent alone time with him so," Carmen says.

"I'll make it happen," I assure her.

"But seriously your brother and me would make an adorable couple," Wendy says.

I laugh. "What happened to your Breakfast Club fantasy?"

"That's been replaced with a Hannah Montana movie fantasy," she says as we burst into laughter. "Those wranglers whoo baby!"

"Oh my goodness that's enough," I say laughing.

"What about you Lena?" Wendy asks Eileen.

"Oh I don't know," she says. "Can I be your date Gia?"

"Of course hottie," I say and wink at her, making us all laugh.

"It's settled then," Wendy says with a smile.

"Mama I'm home!" I call as I walk into the house.

"Hey baby," she says coming down the stairs. "Lemme see your dress."

I hold up my dress for her, and she smiles. "Do you like?" I ask.

"I love it. You'll look beautiful," she says and kisses my cheek. "Now go hang it up, so it doesn't get messed up."

I walk upstairs and into my room, hanging the dress up in my closet. "Hey little sister," Colt says as he leans against the door frame.

"Hey big brother," I say.

"How was dress shopping?" He asks.

"It went great," I reply. "I actually have to ask you something."

"What?" He asks.

"Would you mind being Wendy's date?" I ask.

"You want me to take your friend to Homecoming?" He asks.

"Yeah she's kinda into you," I say.

"Okay sure," he says.

"Great," I say and smile at him. We walk back down to the living room, and see mom making dinner.

"How's about a nice home cooked meal yeah?" She asks.

"Sounds perfect mama," I say, and sit down on one of the bar stools.

"You have the day off?" Colt asks.

"Yeah, told them I wanted to spend the day with my babies since we're all back together again," she replies smiling at Colt.

"How's Joey been Georgia?" My mom asks.

"He's been good. Him and the guys actually just made me their band manager," I say.

"Very cool," she replies. "Who are the guys?"

"Stone Keller, Tommy Walter, and Andy Vince," I reply.

"Very cool," she says.

"How's work?" I ask.

"There's this sweet little boy on my floor who always gives me a flower everyday," she says with a smile. My mom is a pediatric surgeon. I don't know how she does it. I would cry all the time honestly, having to see all those poor sick children. My mom really is a saint.

"That's cool mama," Colt says.

"Yeah. Meet anyone yet Colt?" She asks.

"Not necessarily, but I'm going to take Georgie's friend Wendy to Homecoming," he says.

"Wendy? Who's Wendy?" My mom asks.

"Yeah I just recently made friends with Wendy Summers, Carmen Alvarez, and Eileen Scott," I say.

"But aren't they cheerleaders? Weren't they mean to you?" She asks.

"No that's just Olive Turner and her little minions," I say. "Not all cheerleaders are bad, it's honestly the person not the title."

"Very true honey," my mom says putting our plates on front of us. We begin to eat, and it feels so nice to be a family. Even if it's only for a few hours, before mom has to rush back to the hospital.

"I got a job," Colt says.

"That's wonderful sweetie!" My mom says. "Where?"

"Summerland Ranch," he says. You could hear a pin drop. My mom's face is as white as a piece of paper, and I'm stunned. None of us have been anywhere near a ranch since Daddy died.

I was a freshman in high school the day my father died. We moved down here to Florida because he was offered his dream job of running a ranch. While he enjoyed being a mechanic, he always wanted to go back to his roots. Raising horses and running the rodeo. That's what my Papa, my dad's father, did until he died.

"Doing what?" My mom asks. The tension is evident in her voice.

"Ranch hand," my brother responds. My mom looks like she's on the verge of tears.

"Colton James you be careful okay," she says.

"I will mama," he says.

"I can't lose another one of you," she says.

"I know mama," he says.

"What time is it?" She asks.

"Eight," I respond.

"I have to be back at the hospital by nine. Better get going my darlings. I love you," she says as she gathers her stuff.

"Love you too mama," I say.

"Love you mama," Colt says as she walks out of the house.

"Colton are you stupid?" I ask once I'm sure she's gone.

He sighs. "They were willing to give me a job cause of dad," he says.

"No shit. Daddy died there. They probably feel guilty," I say.

"It's a job Georgia. I don't wanna work there either, but they were the only place hiring and I know what I'm doing, so they hired me," he says.

I sigh. "Okay just be careful please."

"I will. I promise," he says.

I want to scream at him and tell him how stupid he's being. How much mom is going to be going out of her mind worrying about him, but I don't because my phone rings.

"Hello?" I answer.

"Hey Georgette," Stone says with a nervous laugh. "Wanna come bail us outta jail?"

"You've got to be fucking kidding me," I respond.