mina was about to get down off of the platform when molly held up something hidden by the folds of mina's dress. "oh look, it comes with a cape and hood."

of course it would, mina thought dryly.

chapter 21

mina couldn't stop pacing in the small carpeted living room, waiting for brody to pick her up. even charlie sat in the window seat, nose pressed firmly to the glass, fogging it up with every breath he took. mina wondered who was more excited.

sara had been unusually quiet and had become more withdrawn as the time of the dance drew near. she did her motherly duty and helped her daughter do her hair. she made all the appropriate comments and oohed and aahed at all the right times. but nothing could get her excited about this evening, knowing the tale was heading toward its climax.

this was one of the tales that had secretly haunted sara as a child. when her grandmother read her the story as a child, she'd wake up with nightmares about a wolf attacking her in her bed. and now here she was, sixteen years later on the day of her daughter's birthday, her greatest fear finally coming to life.

the morning had started out peacefully enough. sara had made mina a two-tiered white frosted birthday cake with light pink flowers and strawberry cream cheese filling. she invited nan taylor and the wongs, who had decorated a section of their restaurant with bright pink and blue streamers, that mina suspected might have been left over from a baby shower.

the wongs sang "happy birthday" off key, while nan and charlie made faces during the whole song. nan went so far as to even add, "you look like a monkey and smell like one too," just so charlie would giggle.

the wongs gave mina her birthday gift in a chinese takeout box, which included a gift card to the mall. nan's gift was a new pair of cute black flats, which she promptly asked to borrow next week, after mina had worn them. charlie gave her a new stationary set and journal, which was a very thoughtful gift for a boy.

mina was surprised when the restaurant door opened and brody walked in. she'd thought he would wait to give her his present later that evening, and was totally unprepared for his arrival. mina's hand went to her sloppy ponytail in distress, then remembered she was still wearing her pajama bottoms, and an ugly, overlarge red sweatshirt.

but one look at her and brody was all smiles. he, naturally, looked as handsome as ever in a white button-up shirt, dark distressed jeans -- probably his family's own label -- and black shoes. his blonde hair touched the collar of his shirt in the back, and it looked like he hadn't shaved in a few days. but the whole look was very pleasing to the eye. mina immediately stepped behind nan to hide her pajama shorts.

"hey," mina called out, embarrassed.

"hey you." brody smiled at her awkwardness and mina immediately felt like an idiot. she knew that brody didn't care what she wore.

she stepped closer and whispered, "what are you doing here? i didn't think you were coming until tonight."

"well, i heard a rumor that you were having a birthday party, and yet i didn't get the invite. i thought i might come and crash it." brody looked past mina to acknowledge nan with a slight nod of his head.

mina spun to look at her best friend. "oh, i see. let me clarify. i bet a little birdy tweeted you the exact time and location. what a smart little bird." nan whistled and suddenly found one of the red and gold paper lanterns in the restaurant particularly interesting.

when mina turned around, brody pecked her on the cheek and handed her a beautifully wrapped present, wrapped in pristine white paper and accented with and a simple red velvet ribbon on top. mina's smiled coyly at brody and pulled the ribbon to reveal a brand new, candy-apple red lg phone.

"what? brody, we can't afford this." mina panicked and looked at her mother in surprise. cell phone plans alone tended to be expensive, especially for such a nice phone as this. . "brody, thank you, but i can't accept it." she handed the box back to brody who held up his hands and backed away.

"can't return it. besides, it's been added to our plan. with how many phones we have, it wasn't anything for our family to add one more." if he said it to make mina feel less guilty, it only had the opposite effect. mina looked toward her mother for help. sara stepped forward. "brody, it's a wonderful gift, but i don't know if i feel comfortable with your family paying for a cell phone for my daughter. maybe next year we can afford one, but not right now."

"i understand, sara. and i wouldn't normally offer this kind of gift, but i felt you would understand the necessity of mina being able to call us in case of an emergency. if she were ever in trouble or needed help, she would need a cell phone to call for help. for my own peace of mind, and so i can sleep at night, i hope you'll let her keep the gift." sara was about to counter again, but brody was too quick. "and by next year if you want to take over the plan, we can arrange it."

sara seemed relieved and nodded her head in agreement. mina felt a hint of panic and turned to brody, worry etched in her face. "but what if we should...or you decide that you no longer..." mina couldn't even speak it. what if they broke up? would he take the phone away?

"it doesn't matter, my offer still stands. besides, i've already programmed my number, your mother's, and the fire department. i think you're covered." he took the red phone out of the box and handed it to mina.

the phone felt light and delicate, and mina knew she was destined to drop it and break it into a thousand little pieces. how could she possibly not lose the device, unless it was stapled to her forehead?

"well, you seem to have missed one very important number." nan stepped forward and took the phone from mina. "what?" she exclaimed, scrolling through the contacts. "you programmed your number as two. two! that definitely has to change. after the emergency department the next number should definitely be her best friend." nan held the phone away from brody as he tried to snatch it back from her. they began to argue over who should be number two one speed dial.

"too late, mine's already there. you'll have to take four," brody chuckled.

"as if! you take four. you've only known mina a few weeks. i've been her best friend for two years. see...two. i should be two," nan continued.

mina looked at her mom and saw a slight grin. maybe, just maybe, everything would turn out alright.

brody left shortly after he challenged nan to paper, rock scissors and won, for the right to be number two on her speed dial. after winning, he conceded to give nan and jared a ride to the dance as well, as a consolation prize. brody gave mina a small peck on the lips, whispered happy birthday and told her he would see her soon.

that was eight hours ago.

now mina had only been wearing heels for an hour and was already eager to kick them off and scandalize the school her bare feet. she could never understand women's obsession with high heels. sure, they made make you look taller and slimmer, but was it worth it to have to limp around the whole night from blisters? mina didn't think so.

just as she was about to find a pair of flip flops in her closet, charlie started waving and knocking on the glass. mina looked down into the street and was surprised to see a stretch suv limo appear, with a familiar blonde head poking through the sun roof. nan was waving like a manic, and a minute later the dark head of jared appeared next to her, looking somber as ever.