swaying tree branches in the dusk The street was empty Nope she answered Not yet Good Lucy plucked her fifth outfit in as many minutes out of the closet and changed into it This one was a dark purple sweater with skinny jeans So who’s this guy Connor is bringing with him tonight Emma asked Connor was Lucy’s boyfriend His name is Daniel Lucy explained He’s one of Connor’s lacrosse buddies from Rush Valley I’ve only met him once at a party Dark eyes Dark hair Dimples Mmmm He’s cute You’ll like him Lucy twirled in a circle Do you think I’ll be warm enough in this Yeah you’ll be fine I don’t know Lucy said as she began to sort through her closet again Emma rolled her eyes and dropped back onto Lucy’s bed Unlike Emma who prided herself on being dependable Lucy changed her mind about as often as a hummingbird changes its flying pattern Oddly enough though that was one of the things Emma loved about her friend The two besties were so different that to someone who didn’t know them they looked like they would fit together like a round hole and a square peg
Lucy stopped searching for a new outfit and turned to face her friend She placed her hands on her hips and said with a very serious expression Emma I say this with nothing but love but are you sure you want to go on a double date dressed like you’re about to walk to the gas station to buy a slushie and a frozen burrito Listen Emma said grabbing a square pink pillow and chucking it at Lucy I dressed for comfort tonight She wore a simple black hooded sweatshirt a pair of her favorite jeans and bright red sneakers Dimples or not I don’t care about impressing this Daniel dude Well you just might change your mind once you see him Lucy said Emma rolled her eyes and checked the time on her phone It was almost seven o’clock If they don’t get here soon we’re not gonna make the movie she said The real reason Emma was excited for her blind date with Connor’s friend wasn’t the boy It was their destination for the evening They were going to the Rialto Theatre one of the only remaining single-screen movie theaters in the state The Rialto was hosting a special premiere of Invasion from Planet X Part 6 the newest installment in Emma’s
all-time favorite movie series The theater would be packed with horror fans Many would be dressed as the half-undead half-robotic main Zom-borg villain in the series Emma had been waiting for this premiere event since the theater had announced it a few months before She’d avoided all of the movie spoilers and set photos posted online an act that had required more self-control than she’d ever imagined But she’d done it Dimples isn’t going to talk through the whole movie is he Emma asked truly concerned Lucy shrugged I don’t know how he feels about movie etiquette Em If he does so help me he’s getting an elbow to the ribs I would expect nothing less from you Lucy said She smiled at her friend before turning back to the mirrored closet door Maybe I should bring a roll of duct tape in case he feels like chatting Emma said Emma relax Lucy said You’ll get to see your movie Honk Honk Lucy gasped They’re here Oh no this outfit is terrible I have to change She quickly shed her
purple sweater and put on a nearly identical purple and white striped wool sweater Emma looked out the window Sure enough a black car with a dented front bumper was now parked in front of Lucy’s house its headlights glaring The stereo volume was so loud Emma could hear and practically feel the bass from Lucy’s bedroom Connor was climbing out of the car When he saw Emma looking out the window he waved up at her She waved back Come on let’s go Lucy said as she grabbed Emma’s arm and pulled her out the bedroom door the They passed Lucy’s parents in the living room Her dad was sitting in a well-loved recliner watching one of twenty-four-hour news channels the television remote resting on his ample stomach Lucy’s mother sat sipping tea and reading a book whose crinkling dust jacket showed that she had checked it out from the library Before the two girls were able to escape the house Lucy’s dad stopped them by loudly clearing his throat Ahem Use your heads tonight girls he said You both have phones I expect you to use them if you need to Am I clear Crystal Lucy answered Your curfew is midnight he said No later Got it
