Chapter 4

"I can't wait for the dance tomorrow night," added Hailey. "I just want to see the faces of everyone when they see my sister with the best-looking guy in the place. He’ll dance with me a few Times. You won't mind, Will you, Christine?"

"Please don't get all carried away, Maddie and Hailey. Mitchell was nice to me today. I admit that it made me feel pretty darn good. But he isn't my boyfriend. You saw how those girls looked at him. What are my chances of keeping him interested in more than a week or two? I never had a boyfriend, let alone one like Mitchell. I'm not good at playing games and using sex to keep him isn't even on the table. I'm not going to take a chance on ruining my reputation, or my future over some boy," insisted Christine.

"Christine, sex should never be used to control a partner, so I can't argue with that attitude. But it doesn't have to ruin your reputation, or your life, if you're mature and responsible," counseled Melissa. "It can be a wonderful experience that adds to your life and relationship. It should never be used for revenge, control, or anything else really, except love."

"Thanks, Mom." quipped Hailey. "I think I'm in love with Christine's boyfriend. Can he spend the night with me?"

"You know the answer to that one, young lady. We will having any young men spending the night with any of our daughters before they are married to them. Believe me, your father will see to that," added Melissa.

While Melissa and her two younger daughters had been talking, Maddie had been active on her smart phone. Suddenly she burst into laughter.

"Christine, I just texted your boyfriend with all of your information. I'm just not sure if you're a B cup or a C cup? I don't want to mislead the guy, but he needs to know. So, which is it, Christine?" quizzed Maddie.

"Mom. Maddie can't do that." cried Christine. "Nice girls don't tell guys their bra size. Now he thinks I'm some kind of desperate slut. Thanks a lot, Maddie."

"Sweetheart, you know your sister's teasing you. Remember how she stepped in with Mitchell when you were temporarily unable to speak to him this evening? You really need to learn to lighten up and laugh a little, as well as to trust your sisters to always be on your side," give a warning Melissa. "She's definitely a C cup, Maddie. Mitchell Will has no complaints."

"Mom. That's not the way to talk in front of your daughters, especially Hailey. She's not even 16 yet. You're making it sound like you encourage that sort of behavior, and besides, he'd never complain about "the girls" for any reason," laughed Christine.

"What happened to our Rhodes Scholar and super nerd?" demanded Hailey. "Suddenly she's bragging about her "girls" and how much her date Will enjoys them? I think Dad needs to have "the talk" with Christine instead of Mitchell."

"Getting back on my original subject," interjected Maddie, "I sent Mitchell our address and Christine's phone number, so you may want to keep an eye on your phone for texts and keep it close enough to hear it ring. Did you know that Theodore Tymen has appointed himself senior class historian and videographer, Christine? He's already begun his duties. Not only does he have some great pictures of the game on his "official" senior class F******k page, but he has a clip of Mitchell thanking you for agreeing to go to the dance with him on YouTube. It already has 32 views."

"I didn't even know he was there," admitted Christine. "This is pretty embarrassing."

"Are you kidding, Christine?" demanded Hailey. "How can that be anything but extremely cool? Of course, you never noticed Theodore Tymen. You didn't even know what planet you were on when Mitchell stopped you in the bleachers. I've seen zombies with better reflexes."

Suddenly Christine's phone rang. Her face turned red as she answered it while her mother and two sisters watched and listened closely to her side of the conversation.

"Hey. Yeah, we're almost back to Highland. I suppose six thirty would be good. Nothing too special, I guess. It's in the VFW hall and a benefit, so people won't be in gowns and black ties. I'll wear a nice dress and you can bring it from there. We all really enjoyed the game, and you were good. In fact, you tricked me with that bet. You knew you'd win that game. Well, if our date helped inspire you, I'm glad we agreed to it. Coach will give me the game ball?" chuckled Christine. "Okay, see you then."

Christine finished the call and then turned to her silent, but intent family, and smiled as she shrugged, "Wrong number".

Christine could not believe how things had gotten out of hand. Her mother's sister, Donna, along with her sixteen-year-old daughter Willow, had insisted on "stopping in" at six o'clock. Then Sally Fields, her husband Ben, and her daughter Molly just happen to stop by on their way to the benefit, which wasn't scheduled to begin until seven. On top of that, her mother and father decided that they were going to attend the dance. They hadn't gone to a function like that in forever, and now they had to go. Of course, Maddie and Hailey were planning on spying on her every move that evening as well. Christine decided that she just couldn't be any more embarrassed, but she was wrong.

At six thirty, the doorbell rang, and the living room suddenly became silent. Christine had been listening to the chatter from her upstairs bedroom as Maddie put the finishing touches to her dress. The sudden silence, she realized, was very unnerving. How would Mitchell feel about such an obvious attempt by so many people to give him the "once over"? She heard Hailey welcome Mitchell and then she introduced him to all the characters perched in the living room. Christine could hear Mitchell greet each person warmly as he repeated their names. Then it happened.

Christine's father, normally a tranquil, intellectual sort, decided to give Mitchell "the talk" right before everyone. Christine loved her dad, but being a CPA, he was far better with numbers than with people.

"Mitchell, I understand that you're taking my daughter to the dance because she lost a bet to you. Do you think a woman should have to do something against her wishes simply because of a foolish wager? I understand that she declined your first request for a date at the dance. How do justify your wager and placin