The Nights Were Young by Calvin Wedgefield

doesn’t do that.”
                  Marie shook her head. “You even said he was a dog. You said he’s been with, and I quote, ‘so many girls that you couldn’t count all of them’.”
                  “Yeah,” Kate said, looking down. She traced her finger along the table. “I know, but he doesn’t chase girls. They chase him, and the only ones that chase him are tramps, and that’s all he’s used to. Like that girl at the cliffs who freaked out on you.”
                  Marie’s phone vibrated.
     
    TROUBLE: I won’t I promise I want to make it up to you I was serious about asking you out this weekend you still grounded?
     
    Marie sighed and looked up for a moment.
                  “What’d he say?” Kate asked.
                  “He’s asking me out for this weekend.”
                  “Go for it! We can start double dating.” Kate started rambling about how wonderful a double date would be with her and Joey while Marie tuned her out.
                  Marie looked at her cellphone and bit her lip. She was nervous. There was something about sending a message answering yes or no. It was ridiculous to take it so seriously, but it felt like it would change everything no matter her decision. She hesitated, and then…
     
    MARIE: I’m free on Saturday
     
     
     
                 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

VIII
     
    Marie examined herself in her bedroom mirror – not too impressed . She wore a tank top and some jeans - had straightened her hair and put some make up on, though not enough to alarm her mother. She wanted to look good for Travis, but only to make him realize that she was not just some other tramp, as Kate had put it. At least, that was what she told herself.
                  It was eight o’clock when the doorbell rang.
    Wow , she thought, he’s actually on time .
                  “I got it! I got it!” Marie called out as she ran down the stairs, hurriedly putting on her jacket.
                  Her mother nearly answered the door, but Marie wasn’t about to let that happen.
    She jumped in front of her mother, gave herself a second to fix her hair and catch her breath, and then opened the door.
                  There he stood, as her date, completely different from the way he appeared at school. He was wearing a nice white T-shirt and a belt that held up his jeans. Even his sneakers appeared like he had washed them. He smelled of cologne, cheap but nice, and he was chewing mint gum like always. Before she could think out loud, her mother interrupted.
                  “Hi, you must be Travis,” her mother said.
    Her mother hovered behind her; Marie stood in her shadow.
                  They shook hands. Her mother had on her polite smile that meant in her mind she was sizing Travis up; Marie knew it well.
                  Travis smiled back at her nicely, but he stopped when he realized that hers was only superficial.
                  “You must be Marie’s mom,” he said.
                  “That’s right.” Her mother took her hand away from him and folded her arms. “Marie says that you’re an honor student. You must be very proud.”
                  Travis was dumbfounded.
                  Shit , Marie thought. She gulped, looking back and forth at Travis and her mother.
                  Travis was expressionless for a moment, but he quickly flashed a smile again, and he ran his fingers through his combed hair while he spoke. “Uh, yeah,” he answered. “I’m really proud. I worked hard for it.”
                  “What happened to your face, Travis?” her mother asked.
                  The bruises and marks from his fight with David were still