Page 28 of You Started It

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

It’s Saturday. December 19. The day of winter formal, and a huge amount of snow fell last night. Toronto has practically shut down since there aren’t enough plows to deal with the amount of snow that dumped on our city, and even when they do manage to plow the roads, there’s nowhere to put it all.

Olivia calls. She’s freaking out because she’s head of the social committee and people keep messaging her, wanting her to reschedule the formal, as if it’s that simple. As she puts it, it’s “effing impossible.” For one, we’d lose our deposit. And secondly, the CN Tower is all booked up for the rest of the season. The fact that we got it at all, according to Olivia, was a miracle.

“It’s still early in the day. I’m sure by the evening they’ll have most of the main roads cleared off,” I say, trying to reassure her over the phone. But the news station playing in the background in a constant loop paints a completely different picture.

“Even still, how am I going to get my hair and makeup done?”

“Can you come here?” I ask. “All my mom’s customers canceled. I’m sure she’d be thrilled to help doll us up for the formal.”

“Oh my god. Yes!” Olivia basically shouts into the phone. “I don’t care how long it takes me to dig out my car, I’ll be there.”

“Be careful,” I say.

“And what about you?” she asks. “Are you ready for tonight?”

Am I ready for tonight?

“Let’s just worry about getting there first. Then I can worry about the performance. What if Axel doesn’t show up?”

“His friends will make sure of it. But you better check with them,” she says, a bit less reassuringly.

“Right,” I say. “Okay, I’m going to practice a few more times and then take a shower. When should I expect you?”

“I’ll text you updates. Too bad Ben isn’t here to help me shovel. What good is having a big, strong boyfriend when you can’t use him in emergencies?”

“I’m sure if you asked, Ben would shovel a path to your house.”

She laughs. “Probably. Okay, wish me luck! And hopefully I’ll see you soon.”

“Good luck!”

I end the call and tell my mom that Olivia is attempting to come over and will require her services. Mom’s strained smile isn’t exactly comforting. I know what she’s thinking. We’re all thinking it. I go to my room to try to take my mind off everything by rehearsing. After running through the song ten times, I take a much-needed shower. My stomach growls while I throw on clean sweats (I mean, I think they’re clean—they weren’t on my floor). Remembering there’s leftover Chinese in the fridge, I head downstairs excitedly, the thought of day-old chow mein making my mouth water. The front door opens and I’m met with a snow-covered uncle and…

“Axel?” I say, blinking in surprise. Axel’s cheeks are all red. His curls are tucked in a toque, a few tendrils peeking out as he closes the door behind him. “What’s going on?”

“I need to get into the garage for a second shovel,” Eli says, opening the console in search of the spare garage door remote. “The remote in my car is dead and the keypad is frozen.”

Axel rubs his hands together, trying to get warm.

“Why? Where are you going?” I ask, still on the landing of the stairs.

“Work,” Amo says, like I’m clueless. “With this kind of weather, we could get a lot of walk-in customers. Peter will need extra hands.”

“You’re working tonight?” I ask Axel.

“Sure.” He shrugs. “What else have I got to do?”

“The formal,” I spit out before turning to my uncle. “He’s performing at the formal. He can’t work tonight.”

Axel shakes his head. “Jamie, there’s no way the formal is going to happen. The roads are a mess. It took me half an hour just to walk here. As it stands, getting to Shawarma Sitty is going to be nearly impossible.”

“No,” I practically shout. “You have to be there.”

“Why?” he asks, his eyes narrowed at me.

“Because,” I say, stalling, begging my uncle to read my face, but he’s completely out to lunch. “Because everyone is expecting you to kick off the party.”

“I think the three people that show up will be fine without me.” His voice is dry and devoid of emotion.

“Amo, can I speak to you, please?” I ask, cocking my head to the family room.

“I have my boots on,” he whines, grasping onto the spare garage remote.

I roll my eyes. “Fine. Axel, do you mind waiting outside for just a minute?”

“Whatever.” He sighs as he steps outside.

I take the final few steps down the stairs and close the door behind Axel. “Amo!”

“What?”

“Tonight is the formal. Axel is supposed to perform. He has to be there.” My words come out sharp as I over-enunciate each syllable.

“He said he didn’t want to go anymore.” My uncle clicks his tongue, like he’s annoyed with me.

I click my tongue right back. “Tell him you don’t need him. Peter will be more than enough help.”

“Jesus, woman. If your eyes get any bigger, they’re going to bulge out of your head.”

“Please. It’s important.”

“Sorry, babe. He asked if he could work. I already told him yes.”

“You’re so stubborn!” I whip open the door and Axel turns to face me. “You can’t miss the formal.”

“Jamie, the formal isn’t happening. Face it!”

“Oh, it’s happening,” Olivia says, rounding the corner. “If I got my little Beamer to make it over here, the senior class will find a way to make it downtown. Come hell or high—what’s the saying?” She pauses to ask me.

“Water,” I answer.

“Right. Come hell or high water, the formal is a go! And I expect you to hold up your end of the agreement,” Olivia says, eyes on Axel.

“Verbal agreement. I didn’t sign anything,” Axel says before looking back at my uncle. “You ready?”

I exhale loudly at my uncle as he passes me with a shrug. “I’ll work on him,” he whispers, but I know it’s a lost cause. The whole thing is.

“Artists are so temperamental. We have bigger problems anyway,” she says, rolling her eyes. She proceeds to remove her coat and boots. “There are one hundred and fifty-two full-time students in the senior class.”

“Okay,” I reply stoically, watching the front door close with a thud.

Olivia types furiously into her phone. “I have an idea.” Before I can ask what that idea is, she pulls my arm, leading me up the staircase.

Once we get to the top, she stalls.

“Which one is yours?” she asks.

“Follow the mess,” I say, nodding to my bedroom. The floor is mostly cleared off because I needed space to rehearse my performance, but the rest of my room is probably in the worst shape it’s ever been in.

“My room is ten times messier,” she says with a laugh. “It drives Ben crazy.”

“He hated my room too!”

“He’s so uptight.” She flops down on my bed, and for a moment I think to myself how strange it is that Olivia Chen is in my room.

I pull up my desk chair and sit across from her. “So, what’s your idea?”

“One sec.” She holds up a finger before typing into her phone again. I glance around my room to see my formal dress hanging in the closet and sigh. What if Axel doesn’t change his mind? Is there even a point in hoping anymore?

“Okay,” Olivia says, bringing her attention back to me. “One hundred and twenty-one students are attending the formal.”

“One hundred and twenty-three, if you add Axel’s friends. One hundred and twenty-four, if you count Axel,” I say.

“Here’s my idea. We charter two buses! All of us live close enough to the school to make it there, even if by foot. And then from the school we’ll take the bus to the CN Tower. It’s the best way to ensure the most people come.”

I cock my head at Olivia.

“What?” she asks, oblivious.

I breathe out an exhale, feeling like a mean parent who’s about to burst the bubble of my child’s ridiculous dream. “First of all, how are we going to charter two buses this late in the day? It’s almost three o’clock. Secondly, how do you expect to pay for these buses? Thirdly,” I say, while throwing an arm to my bedroom window, “did you forget Frosty and all of his descendants exploded all over the city last night?”

Olivia straightens while crossing one leg over the other. “The snow stopped hours ago. Plows have been working overtime. I have no doubt that Front Street is clear. In terms of cost, the social committee’s accountant just messaged me that we have a surplus. We were going to use it for senior prom, but we’ll just find another way to raise money before then. As for booking two buses, I’m already on it. Don’t worry so much. I’ve got this,” she says, giving me one of her signature smiles. I can’t imagine being that confident. It’s probably one of the reasons I was so envious of Olivia in the first place. She doesn’t question everything like I do. She just goes for it.

“You are really good under pressure,” I say.

“Yeah, I’m totally faking it. Goes with the hair extensions, nails, and”—she opens her mouth wide and points—“these two teeth.”

We both laugh.

“I’m so glad we got past our differences, because I like hanging out with you,” I say. “And I’m pretty sure Ben loves that we hang out now too.”

“Aww, Jamie. That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. I’d hug you if you looked like a hugger, but I can tell you’re not.”

“You would be correct.” I nod. “I’m going downstairs to tell my mom you’re here and heat up some leftovers. Meet me in her salon when you’ve got the bus situation all sorted out.”

“Will do,” she says, bringing the phone up to her ear. “And Jamie?” she calls out. “Can you heat some food up for me too?”

“You got it!” I smile.

Olivia spends most of the time on her phone while Mom does her hair. She’s working really hard to pull everything together last minute, and I can’t help but feel useless because all I’m doing is stewing in my own drama.

I snuck off to my room for a bit while Mom worked on Olivia, practicing my routine again and texting Diesel and Finn relentlessly. They keep telling me not to worry and that Axel will be there, but my confidence is waning.

In everything.

Once we’re dressed, Olivia and I, both in boots, head out to her car. She drives us to the school (which is a terrifying experience) and parks.

“Oh no!” she says. “You forgot to bring your shoes.”

“Oh!” I look down at my combat boots. “It’s fine. I can dance in these. I’m sure it’s fashionable…to someone.”

“You can totally rock it. As for me”—she reaches into her backseat—“I’ll be bringing these strappy things to change into on the bus. You ready?” she asks, holding onto her shoes and purse.

“No.” I shake my head while reading my latest message. “I’m not. My uncle just texted. He said Axel is still at work. I’m worried his friends won’t be able to convince him to come, and even if they do, the roads will be a challenge. It’s just…” I slam my phone face down on my lap and rub at my temples. “Nothing is coming together the way I expected it to.”

“Look at us,” Olivia says, pulling one of my hands away from my head and forcing eye contact. “Never in a million years did I think I’d be going to winter formal with you. But here we are. Life can surprise you.”

“I’m tired of the surprises. I just want to know if this will all work out.”

She squints at me and smiles. “Are you? Haven’t the surprises been the best part of the last few months? Axel. Me .” She grins. “Your own metamorphosis.”

I sigh and frown at Olivia, still unsure.

“You’ve got this, and even if you don’t, I’ve got your back. So does Ben.”

She’s right. Even if things with Axel don’t go as planned tonight, I am walking into that formal a new, better version of myself, with friends.

“Okay. Let’s do this,” I say, exhaling another sharp breath.