Rachel nudged me a few moments later, giving me a nod. She was ready to go. I smiled back, and as Holly waved to us we made our way to where the others were probably waiting. Mary was the first to appear. She waved shyly, which seemed unusual for her. Rachel patted my arm.

  “It's okay. I said so.” she said to me, and then hurried off.

  “Huh?” I wondered, gazing after her as Mary came over. She took a deep breath, and let it out, clutching her hand over her chest.

  Ahh -- wait... now I see what's going on, I suddenly realized.

  “Um,” Mary began hesitantly, a wry smile on her face. “So... oh, you did great tonight. Really great. Dad was so proud of you guys, all of you -- especially you,” she told me.

  “That... means a lot, it does,” I nodded back.

  “I'm glad,” she smiled. “Um. So, Sean... um, Rachel said it was okay to ask you this,” Mary said, her voice going up a pitch as her cheeks colored. I felt my own cheeks burning too. “And... ugh. I know what she said, but it still feels awkward...” she told me.

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  “Y-yeah...” I nodded. “But... I said I was okay with Jo asking Rachel... so...” I then said, filling in the blanks for her.

  “So... so you will? You'll go? With me?” Mary replied, a less anxious and more hopeful look on her face now.

  Well how can I say “no” now, with you looking that way at me?

  “Yeah,” I nodded back.

  This still feels weird. It felt weird when Joanna asked Rachel... but... ehh? Am I more critical of myself doing this than I am her? Even if we are technically doing it so we can be there together...

  “Yes, I'll go with you.” I told her. The smile on her face just then. It wasn't Rachel's smile, but it was hard not to feel something on seeing it. She wrapped me up in a big hug, which I returned.

  “Thank you.” she whispered to me a moment later.

  “'Welcome.” I returned. Mary then let go, and took another deep breath.

  “Come on, the others are waiting.” she smiled, and with that I followed after her to where our other friends and family were.