Invisible (22 page)

“
Way to go, Lola,” Dad says as we drive away. “Congratulations for being a high school graduate and for winning an award. How much is the check for?”

Mom plants a hand on Dad’s arm and shoots him a look, then she turns in her seat to face me. “Lola, what was going on with that boy? What did he say to you?”

I glimpse Dad’s smile melt in the rear view. Phew, I almost want to say out loud. Guess they didn’t hear what Nino said and I’m glad for it. “Ahh, nothing important.”

“
Was he making fun of you?” she tries again. Her face crumples in concern.

“
I’m happy right now. I just wanna let the good feelings in and be proud. It doesn’t matter what that loser said.”

“
That’s the attitude,” Dad chimes in.

“
Has this been going on for a while?” Mom’s nothing if not persistent.

“
High school’s full of buttheads,” Eva chimes in. “God, Mom, this kinda crap goes on all the time. I remember when I was in my junior year, there was this one girl…” Mom waves her quiet and keeps her eyes on me.

“
I’m sorry, honey.” She reaches out to me and I take her hand.

“
It’s really okay.” I give her tiny hand a squeeze. It’s in her eyes

she knows this wasn’t a one-time thing. It’s as if right in this moment she’s seeing me the way the kids in school do. I want to roll into a ball and hide.

Her lips twitch into an unsure smile. “I’m proud of what you said. You gave that boy a dressing down; put him in his place.” Her smile goes out and is replaced by a thin grim line as if a sudden worry has struck her. “Maybe you shouldn’t go to the dance tonight. Is this boy… dangerous?”

My heart takes off in a sprint. “I have a date!” I almost scream. “It’s my first date ever, Mom. You can’t do this to me.” I look to Dad for back-up, my eyes pleading.

“
She’s right, honey,” Dad says. “We can’t spoil her night.”

Mom’s quiet for a moment. Finally, her expression relaxes and she heaves a sigh. “Okay,” she says to Dad, then turns to me. “You deserve to have some fun. Besides, you’ve got that great dress waiting for you.”

There’s more of Grandma Rose in her than I’d expected. Or maybe it’s that I never really noticed before.

“
Thanks,” I reply. “And, no, he’s not dangerous,” I lie. If they knew the whole story – how Nino had bullied me all through high school, how he’d punched me and was planning to give me a really good beating this very evening. And the unspeakable deed he had planned for Charlie. If they knew all that, I’d never be allowed out of the house again. Dad would call the cops and this craziness would escalate.

Nino’s not going to hurt me or Charlie now. Having his plans revealed I suppose has something to do with it. But there’s something more. It’s like in the Wizard of Oz when Dorothy sees the wizard and he’s not so scary or powerful, after all. That’s how it is for me now with Nino. I’ve seen him cry, hell, I’ve
made
him cry and although I’m ashamed of what I did, I think it’s good that he’s scared of me.

* * * *

Once home, I grab a snack and head upstairs to get ready.

“
Hey, thought you wanted my help,” Eva calls after me.

“
I do.” I’m surprised she remembered.

“
Okay, then go to my room.”

I sit at Eva’s make-up table and eye myself in the mirror, while she cracks open her suitcase of cosmetics. My hair’s held up, thankfully. It’s still full and curly. Arching a brow, I smile at my reflection. My teeth have always been straight and white thanks to a full year of braces in grade nine, and whitening strips. They were my only indulgence in four years of high school. My face is taking on a more angular look; cheek-bones are slowly emerging.

“
Close your eyes,” Eva commands.

She dabs on cream and then foundation and smoothes it over my face. “What color did you say your dress was?”

“
Black.”

“
Okay, let’s go for a smoky eye. Keep your eyes closed.”

My lids are brushed, my lashes curled, then mascara is applied. My cheeks are bronzed and finally my lips are lined, then swiped with whatever color Eva deems appropriate. I’m afraid I’m going to look like a hooker or, at best, a pole dancer.

After what feels like an eternity, she finally says, “Okay, you can look now.”

“
I’m beautiful,” I whisper, hardly believing the woman staring back from the mirror is me.

Eva beams.

“
Thank you so much,” I say.

“
You’re welcome.” She takes my hand. “You know, you really are…
beautiful
, I mean,” she says softly, a smile unfurling across her face.

I sit in stunned silence, waiting for the zinger that always follows one of Eva’s compliments, but it doesn’t come. After a pause of a few beats, I risk my heart and allow it to open a crack. “Thank you, that really means a lot to me.”

She looks away as if the show of emotion makes her uncomfortable. We’re so used to fighting, arguing and bickering; kindness is foreign and uncomfortable.

“
And I’m sorry,” she adds.

“
For what?”

“
I’ve been mean. I don’t want to hurt you any more.”

Her eyes mist over. I have to fight my own tears from ruining Eva’s work.

“
It’s okay. I’m mean to you too sometimes. I think that’s how sisters are. I just don’t think you and I understand each other. But I want more than anything for us to be friends.”

She pulls me into an embrace. “We will. I promise. From now on, Lola, you and me will be the best of friends.”

Just when I thought this day could get no better, it has. Right now, things are a little weird and unfamiliar, but I silently vow to not only
be
a friend to my sister, but to
let
her be a friend to me.

“
Let me get my dress on. Be right back,” I announce excitedly.

I run to my room and slip into my dress, put on my heels and jewelry, then make my way back. When I push open the door, Mom, Dad and Eva are waiting and I enter to catcalls and applause.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Dad drops me off at the banquet hall for the dance.

“
Call if you need me and don’t hesitate to tell a teacher if that kid comes near you?” he says through the rolled down passenger-side window.

“
Okay.” I wave and turn to walk away.

“
Is he here? Do you see him?”

I turn back around and shrug. “Don’t know yet, Dad.” Impatience edges my voice.

He rubs his stubbly chin then sighs. “Okay, go on. Have a great night.”

I make my way around to the driver’s side window and kiss his cheek.

“
Thank you, Daddy.”

He cups a hand under my chin. “Love you, my Lola.”

“
I love you too,” I whisper and finally walk away.

A few kids are milling around outside, taking pictures and laughing. I wave to Dad when I get to the front door. But he doesn’t leave just yet. I guess he’s going to hang around for a little while.

The banquet hall is done up in black and silver. Balloons and flowers are everywhere. Cameras flash as I walk into the din of conversation surrounding me. The D.J. is set up and music throbs, giving the room a party atmosphere.

“
Wow,” a voice says from behind and I spin around to find Jon. He’s handsome in his dark gray suit and black and silver tie. His hair’s shorter and is slicked to standing on the top of his head in a faux Mohawk. I loved his wavy long hair but he looks older, more mature, like the college student he’ll soon be.

“
You look gorgeous.” He smiles a big goofy grin and gives me the once-over.

Blushing furiously, I look around at anything but him. “You look pretty cute yourself. I like the hair cut,” I manage to say. The heat of embarrassment warms my chest and neck.

“
Aw, shucks.” He kicks at the floor like a ten-year-old. Jon takes my hands and his expression turns serious. “Tell me you’re mine, Lola.”

He leans close and I’m intoxicated by the smell of him. I put my arms around his neck and kiss him softly. “I’m yours,” I whisper.

The kiss is long and lingering, but when he pulls away, he says, “It’s okay, you know.”

My eyes widen. “What’s okay?”

“
That we didn’t get Nino. Don’t get me wrong, I still hate the guy, but I think it all ended perfectly. He didn’t win a scholarship and you did. This time, the good guy won.”

My heart melts and I pull him to me again.

“
Knock if off, you two,” Charlie says. I turn to find her with her date.

“
This is Robin,” she says.

I hold out a hand in greeting. “Charlie’s kept you a secret. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

“
We met at work,” Robin replies.

Robin’s fair with red shoulder-length hair and her pale blue eyes shine even in the dimly lit room.

“
Your dress is really pretty,” I say.

“
Thanks, Charlie helped me pick it out.”

“
I can’t imagine Charlie picking out anything like
that
,” I reply.

Robin laughs. “She’s actually got good taste.” She smiles at Charlie who’s dressed in black skinny jeans and sneakers, a shiny silver dinner jacket complete with a black dress shirt and a narrow tie, pulled askew at the neck.

“
I picked you, didn’t I?” Charlie says with a wink. She throws an arm around Robin’s shoulders and plants a kiss her on the cheek. “I’ll be right back, okay? I just need to talk to Lola for a sec.”

Robin nods.

I eye Jon and get an approving smile.

Charlie leads me to a table at the other end of the room. “Have a seat.” She pulls out a chair for me and one for her. “You look really nice, by the way.”

“
Thanks. And you… well, you look like Charlie. The Charlie I’ve missed, even though it’s only been a day.” I regard her for a moment. “We’re okay now, right?”

“
Yes, of course. I’m really
really
sorry, Lola. I shouldn’t have…”

“
It’s okay. It was kinda flattering.” I smile and she looks away shyly.

“
How do you like Robin?”

“
She’s pretty and she seems nice. Are you happy?”

Charlie takes a deep breath. “I think I can be happy with Robin,
eventually
. I mean, everything’s so new right now. How about you, are you happy?”

“
Never better.” I beam.

“
I’m so proud of you – for winning and for what you said up there.”

“
Thanks.”

She leans closer. “Have you noticed?”

“
Noticed what?”

“
You can’t feel it?”

A smile sweeps across my face. “What are you talking about?”

“
Look around you. Everyone is talking about you. Lola Savullo, the girl who put Nino Campese and Tyler Campbell in their place.”

I sneak a furtive glace around. She’s right. Eyes
are
on me and when my gaze meets another, there are smiles and nods. So very different from what I’m used to. It feels so damn good to finally be seen.

“
Do you think Nino and Tyler will show up tonight?”

Charlie shrugs. “Hope not. I don’t want to be self-conscious about bringing a girl.”

“
You know what I’ve learned over this last little while?”

Charlie shakes her head.

“
I’ve learned that it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks about you, what nasty things they say or do. The only thing that matters is whether or not you
choose
to believe them.” I stand and pull Charlie to her feet. “Hold your head high. Be yourself and be proud of who you are. You’re a beautiful, kind, loving person and if they show up, you’ll have me, Robin and Jon by your side.”

Charlie thrusts her chin in the air. “You’re damn right. Let’s go get our dates.”

We head back arm-in-arm and as we do, I wonder how much my vanishing had to do with what Charlie said when it first started; she thought I wished it into being. It’s true that not that long ago I wanted more than anything to disappear, to fade into the background.

How many times had I wished that before? How many years did it take to actually manifest and become real? Is there something in my DNA as Grandma Rose suggested that allowed it to happen? And if that’s possible, then think of the potential I’ve unleashed. My real super power is in the discovery I can create with my thoughts.

From this moment on, I’m only letting the good in. I’m building my future one thought at a time.

Epilogue

Six months later…

My dreams of Gran are always the same. She’s painting in her solarium when I walk into her apartment. I want desperately to hug and kiss her and tell her how much I love her, only I’m never allowed past the threshold. It’s as if there’s an invisible barrier keeping us apart.