Free Shine On by Allison J. Jewell Page B

fitting for where we are going,” Emmie said, looking at herself in Ava’s full-length mirror.
    “Of course! I have just the thing. This is way too short on me, so it should be perfect for you. And here put these on.” Ava tossed a dress and what seemed to be fifteen pounds of pearls on the bed next to Emmie.
    “All these?”
    “Yes, and this is for your head,” she added, throwing a brown headband with a cluster of white beads on the front.
    The girls got ready with lightning speed, barely talking as they rushed around the room. Ava stood in front of her friend, gave a little spin and put her arms out for inspection.
    “You look gorgeous,” Emmie said because she did. Ava had the body and personality to pull off this crazy eclectic look. Her dress was black lace dropped and cut out in all the right places.
    “What about me… are you positive I don’t look ridiculous?” Emmie asked.
    Emmie was stunning; Ava could never understand how she didn’t see this about herself. She could wear men’s overalls and have dirt caked on her hands and still be pretty. Emmie didn’t need all the makeup and fancy clothes but she wore it well.
    “Will you believe me if I tell you look amazing?” Ava questioned.
    “Probably not,” Emmie smirked.
    “Then let’s just see what Silas says… So, are you happy, you know about you and Silas?” Ava asked, leaning in to her friend.
    Emmie fidgeted with her beads. “Yeah, I mean it’s kinda early…”
    “Pish Posh. It’s not early. Silas kissed you, again. That was a real kiss. He’s crazy for you, I just know it,” Ava bounced.
    “It was real, wasn’t it?” Emmie touched her lips.
    ***********
    Silas drove. Ava and Gabe took the back, which left Emmie smashed next to Trick in the front.
    “Where are we going?” Emmie asked for the hundredth time. They’d driven away from town toward the north end of the county.
    “Patience is a virtue,” Silas replied.
    “If we are going to some field party, we are all sorely overdressed,” Emmie warned.
    “I promise you that we will not be partying in a field tonight,” Gabe laughed.
    The drive was long. It seemed they had been in the car forever. Emmie was sure she would have a permanent imprint in her leg from whatever Trick had in his pocket.
    “Ooh…” she called out when they went through a particularly sharp curve and she was slammed into him.
    “Good grief, Trick. What is that?” She felt around on the outside leg of his pants.
    Trick just smiled, “That’s a little personal don’t you think?”
    Silas tried to look disinterested in their conversation. He failed.
    “Really Trick, what in the world is that?” It tinged when she tapped on it. They went over another bump and it… sloshed?
    “Patrick McDowell! I know what that is,” she laughed.
    He faked his best innocent smile then took the flask out of his pocket and had a sip. “Sweetheart if that bothers you, you’re not going to like where we are going,” Trick said.
    “Shush, Trick. You’ll ruin our surprise. And I just love surprises,” Ava cried.
    “It doesn’t matter. We are here anyway,” Gabe said, pointed to the row of shops in the small downtown area.
    “This is the surprise… Smith’s Grove? You wanted to eat here? What does this tiny town have to offer that we don’t have in Bowling Green?” Ava asked confused.
    “Just trust me, eh?” Gabe said kissing her hand.
    They pulled up to a row of three connected buildings: a bank, a general store and a run-down restaurant.
    Emmie looked up at Silas with her eyebrows raised in question. He decided not to say anything. Her curiosity was a part of the fun for him. He wondered how she would take this. It would either a wonderful night or a total disaster. Either way he needed to know this about her. She was such a good girl but if she was really going to be with him, he needed to see how she would handle the unexpected. This was definitely going to be unexpected. Silas smiled in spite of