Then Ambrose walked back to Fern, fell to his knees beside her, and pulled her into his lap, wrapping his arms around her gently, humbly. And he whispered his thanks into her hair as his body began to shake.
“Thank you, Paulie.”
35: Take Care of Fern
Prom, 2002
Fern fiddled with her neckline for the hundredth time since arriving and smoothed her skirt as if it had suddenly become wrinkled since she’d smoothed it four seconds ago.
“Do I have lipstick on my teeth, Bailey?” she hissed at her cousin, grimacing in a parody of a smile so he could see the two white rows of perfect, straight teeth she had suffered three long years in braces for.
Bailey sighed and shook his head no. “You're fine, Fern. You look great. Just relax.”
Fern took a deep breath and immediately started nervously biting the lip she had just covered in a new coat of coral red lipstick.
“Crap! Now I know I have lipstick on my teeth!” she wailed in a voice pitched for his ears alone.
“I'll be right back, okay? I'm just going to go to the girl’s room a second. Will you be okay without me?”
Bailey raised his eyebrows as if to say, “Are you kidding me, woman?”
Fern hadn't been gone for five seconds before Bailey was shooting across the dance floor toward the circle of wrestlers he had been wanting to talk to since arriving at the Prom with Fern.
Ambrose, Paulie, and Grant had come without dates. Bailey didn't know why. If he had a chance to ask a girl to Prom, hold her in his arms, smell her hair, and stand on his own two legs and dance, he wouldn't let the opportunity pass him by.
Beans and Jesse were there with girls, but their dates were huddled a little way off in a serious discussion about shoes, hair, and dresses–their own and everyone else's.
The five friends all saw Bailey coming at break-neck speed in his wheelchair, weaving in and out of dancers on the floor like a man on a mission, and they smiled in greeting. They were good guys and always made him feel like they didn't mind having him around.
“Lookin' good, Sheen.” Grant whistled.
Paulie straightened Bailey's bow tie just a smidge, and Ambrose walked around his chair, giving him the once over.
“You come stag like the rest of us?” Ambrose asked, stopping in front of Bailey and sinking to his haunches so Bailey didn't have to strain his neck to make eye contact.
“Speak for yourself, man. I am with the lovely Lydia,” Beans crooned, his eyes on his date.
Lydia was pretty cute, but she kind of let it all hang out, and Bailey thought she'd be prettier if she had a little of Rita's secrecy. Rita showed just enough to suggest it only got better beneath her clothes. Lydia showed so much you wondered why she even bothered with clothes. But Beans seemed to appreciate that about her.
“Marley looks good.” Bailey complimented Jesse's girl, and Jesse waggled his eyebrows. “Yes, she does, Sheen. Yes, she does.”
Marley's dress was pretty revealing too, but she wasn't as voluptuous as Rita or Lydia, which made it seem less so. She was slight like Fern, but she had long black hair and an exotic slant to her eyes and cheekbones. She and Jesse had been a couple since sophomore year, and they looked good together.
“I'm here with Fern.” Bailey got right to the point, not wanting Fern to come back and see him working the crowd on her behalf. Ambrose immediately rose back to his feet and Bailey sighed inwardly. Ambrose acted like Fern was a Russian spy who had tricked him into spilling the country's secrets instead of a girl who had written him a few love letters and signed someone else's name. His reaction made Bailey wonder if maybe he had feelings for Fern after all. You didn't get that angry over something that didn't matter.
Bailey looked at Paulie and Grant and forged ahead, hoping Ambrose would hear him out. “You guys that don't have dates, would you ask her to dance? Fern's always taking care of me, but it would be nice if she could dance with someone besides her cousin at her Senior Prom.”
Ambrose took a few steps back and then turned and walked away without saying a word. Grant and Paulie watched him go, matching stunned expressions on their faces.
Beans burst into laughter and Jesse whistled low and slow, shaking his head.
“Why does he always act like that whenever anyone says a word about Fern?” Grant wondered, his eyes still on his friend's retreating back.
Bailey felt his face grow hot and his collar felt too tight all of a sudden. It took a lot to embarrass Bailey. Pride was a luxury a kid like him couldn't afford and have any kind of life, but Ambrose's rebuff had embarrassed him.
“What is his problem?” Bailey asked, baffled.
“I think he has a thing for Fern,” Beans said, as if that was the most outrageous thing ever.
Bailey shot Beans a look that made Beans stop short and clear his throat, swallowing his laughter.
“I would really appreciate it if you guys would dance with her. If you think you're too damn good for her then never mind. It's your loss, definitely not hers,” Bailey said, the heat of embarrassment morphing into anger.
“Hey Bailey, no problem, man. I'll ask her to dance.” Grant patted his shoulder, reassuringly.
“Yeah, I'm in. I like Fern. I'd love to dance with her,” Paulie agreed, nodding.
“Me too. I love Fern,” Beans chimed in, his eyes gleaming with mirth. Bailey decided to let it go. It was just Beans. He couldn't seem to help himself.
“You know I got your back, Sheen. But if I dance with her, she's going to know something's up,” Jesse said regretfully. “Marley's my girl, and everyone knows it.”
“That's okay, Jess. You're right. I don't want to make it too obvious.” Bailey heaved a sigh of relief.