Days of Darkness

Chapter 48

"I know everything there is to know about dunking a ball," Caleb whispered, "I'm just not tall enough to do it." I covered my mouth and held back a laugh. Again he surprised me. Orchestra nerd with a sense of humor.

"Where are you going after you graduate?" I asked, shifting closer. His humor had shrunk my personal space. Caleb was becoming one of those surprising people you wouldn't mind knowing better.

"Not sure," Caleb said, moving a step away under the guise of examining a tux further down the rack. "I've been accepted to MIT, but my parents want me to go to Stanford." My eyes widened. I didn't know he was that smart. I didn't think anyone at our school went to those types of schools.

"Wow," Was all I could say. Caleb shrugged.

"I would prefer Northwestern," Caleb sighed. "I love the violin more than math, and they have a killer program." He looked at me, and I saw sadness in his eyes. "My parents only see dollar signs."

"Have you told them?" I asked, more interested than someone who barely knew him should be.

"Yep," Caleb replied, nodding. I could see his parents dislike of the idea on his face. I didn't like the resignation.

"You know," I said, lightening my tone, "I don't think I have ever heard you play. I mean, I've heard the orchestra, but never just you."

"I'm playing on Saturday," Caleb said, "I've been invited by the Smooth Gliders." He looked at me with apprehension. "Well, their sax player, at least."

"You mean for money?" I asked. I didn't know he was that good.

"Not this time," Caleb smiled, "though I have done weddings and things." He was proud of his music. I could hear it in his voice.

"So, like, you just jam with them or something?"

"Sort of," Caleb replied, turning toward me, "Tom, the sax player, was a speaker at a music workshop I attended last year. He played something that really got to me." He smiled deeply. "You know, when a song just sort of grabs you?" I nodded knowing exactly what he meant. "Well, it was a work in progress, and Tom and I improvised on it instead of eating lunch." Caleb chuckled as he remembered. "It was like I knew where the tune was headed. Violin and sax are a really odd pair, but it worked. We've been trading emails every since."

"You're going to play it for an audience?"

"Sure," Caleb said, "music is for ears. The more, the better." I couldn't imagine getting on stage and performing for a crowd. Again, his confidence impressed me. "It's just a side piece, nothing headliner, but it will be fun to play with a professional."

"Wow," I said again. I had Caleb sorted beneath me on the social scale. Now I wondered if it was me below him. High school was ending, and the normal sorting was quickly disintegrating.

"If you'd like to hear," Caleb said, his voice weakening as he spoke, "I can get you a seat."

"Sure," I agreed, "I can promise at least one standing ovation." It had been a long time since my words had made someone outside my family happy. His face lit up, and he stood taller.

"Okay," Caleb said, "give me your number and I'll text the information when I get home." I was giving him my number when Gene walked out of the changing room.

"Damn," Samantha said too loudly. Gene's eyebrows raised at her word. He turned into a three paneled mirror.

"Damn," Gene repeated. He looked beyond handsome, even if the pants did need altering. It was a black two button jacket cut short at the hip. A shocking white shirt with point collars was held firm by a champagne bow tie. Between the shirt and jacket was a champagne four button vest. I don't think Gene ever looked so good.

"You, my man," Gene said to Caleb, "are my new best friend."

"It looks really good," I said. "Maybe you should dump Samantha."

"Shut your eyes girl," Samantha said, moving toward Gene quickly. "This one is mine." It was the first time I had ever seen Gene's cheeks color. "We are going to look so good together," Samantha continued as she brushed her hands along the jacket. Her happiness was contagious. I found a true smile for her as my idiotic jealousy finally took a backseat.

"I feel like 007," Gene said smiling.

"Get the pocket silk to match," Caleb said, moving forward.

"The what?" Gene asked.

"Handkerchief," Caleb clarified, "it sticks out of your pocket. You know, like 007." Gene laughed as Samantha nodded in agreement. It was another hour before Gene was measured and his tux, with pocket silk, was on order for the prom. Caleb left in the middle of it. I could sense that he thought he was pushing his welcome into our group. I didn't want him to feel uncomfortable, so I didn't dissuade him. I only reminded him to text me the details of his concert.

"You made a date with the math geek?" Samantha asked with surprise.

"Don't call him that," I said quickly. Maybe too quickly.

"Sorry."

"It's not a date," I clarified. "He's playing in a real band, so I told him I'd come and support him."

"Well, he does have that Beatles hair thing going on," Samantha laughed.

"Stop it," I said and laughed with her. It was true.

"The man has good taste in clothes," Gene said, sliding up next to us.

"He does have that," Samantha said, grabbing Gene's hand. "I thought he didn't know anything about tuxes."

"About as much as he knows about dunking basketballs," I said, hiding my smile.

"Well, I owe him," Gene said. "At least, I won't look like a dweeb at the prom."

"You'll be with me," Samantha bragged. "That alone will remove any dweebiness." I laughed louder than I should have.

Like clockwork, Zane called at the appointed time and begged another hour from me. I was in a good mood, so I acquiesced. It was nice to feel Mom and Dad's flash of approval at Zane's happiness. Sometimes, it wasn't a nuisance.