“You look gorgeous.” I hear Todd’s voice from behind me. I’m afraid to turn around.
“Are you wearing what I think you’re wearing?” I ask with my back to him.
“A tux?”
I smile as I turn around, and there he is in a powder blue tux and the same ruffled shirt. One huge positive is the blue really makes his eyes pop.
Despite the fluffy, ruffled shirt and tailored, blue tux that is older than he is, he still looks amazing. He could truly wear anything.
I press my lips together to try to hold in my laugh. “I love it.” I step closer to him and run my hand over his giant lapel. “It’s perfect.”
“You’re lying.” He places a loose curl behind my ear as he steps closer to me. “Sorry I couldn’t tell you. We made a pact when we were kids that we’d wear these to our senior prom.”
“Of course you did. I should’ve known. But you do look good in ruffles.”
“There’s a sentence I hope to never hear again.” He pulls me in closer. “But you really do look incredible. I love your dress.”
I love my dress, too. It’s a light blush color with the most beautiful details. There is small beading and silver embroidery along the bodice. It’s vintage and feels very old Hollywood, which is the theme for this year’s prom. After trying on hundreds, I knew it was my dress as soon as I put it on.
I step up on my tiptoes to wrap my arms around his shoulders, although I don’t need to step up quite as high as usual since I’m wearing heels. That’s another thing I’m much better at than last year—heels!
“Hamilton, get over here!” Brian shouts from the large gate that separates his front yard from his back.
I can see the setting sun glisten off the water through the gate. I cannot imagine growing up in this house with this as my backyard.
“Tux pictures on the dock!” he shouts to the boys.
When Todd looks at me, as if silently asking for permission, I push him toward the rest of the guys. “Go.”
I watch as he does a slow jog to catch up with everyone. It’s so good to see him running with two healthy legs, even if it sounds ridiculous to appreciate something so simple that so many people take for granted.
I head into the house where the girls are gathered around the kitchen island. The entire back wall of Brian’s house is made up of large glass sliding doors so we can see the guys doing body building type poses as they line the dock.
“Can you believe them?” Gretch asks with a laugh as we watch them pose together. “I can’t believe Ryan didn’t tell me about the tux.”
Gretchen is stunning, as usual, wearing a gold dress that hugs her body perfectly, and her long, blonde hair is down with gorgeous, loose waves. It’s really not fair.
“Join the club,” Blythe says with a chuckle. “Did you know, Ash?”
“Nope. No idea. And I live with one of them.”
“Man, they are good,” Blythe says, impressed. “That’s a little scary. Who knows what else they are hiding?”
Blythe’s dress is incredible. It’s a peachy tan color and clearly from the 1950s. It has gorgeous, subtle beading throughout, and the color is perfect for her skin tone. Her red hair is up in several braids, making up a loose side bun with a few curls framing her face. It’s messy perfection. She looks like she’s going to the Oscars, not prom. She’s so sophisticated, but something about it is still edgy. It’s perfectly Blythe, and of course, she paired it with her favorite worn-in brown cowboy boots.
“Sorry we’re late,” I hear from the front doorway. I instantly recognize that grating voice.
Well, this was perfect. I think I blocked out that RTS was coming with us. I know Blythe isn’t a big fan of hers, either, but unfortunately, she still has her hooks in Gretchen.
Blythe has a look on her face I can’t read, so I turn around to see for myself, and my eyes land on Casey. I feel like all breath is stolen from my body. What is he doing here?
“Hi,” he says with a small wave.
I can’t imagine what my face must look like right now, but if it’s anything close to how I feel, I must look pretty frightening. I can’t even pretend to hide my shock.
We hear the guys coming toward the glass doors with all of the parents behind them. They are all laughing as they slide the large glass door open.
“We need our dates for pictures!” I hear Brian’s voice, but I can’t turn around. I can’t move.
I close my eyes and then open them, hoping it’s not true. He’s not really here. It’s just a figment of my imagination.
“What is he doing here?”
All laughter stops. You could hear a pin drop it’s so silent.
Brian asks it, but I know everyone is thinking it.
“He’s my date.” RTS interlocks her arm with his.
“Rebecca,” Gretchen says with such disapproval, “what were you thinking?”
“Yeah, what exactly were you thinking?” Todd steps away from the crowd, and Ryan grabs his arm.
“Not here,” he says low but loud enough for us to hear. “Not tonight.”
I feel Todd stiffen from across the room, making it clear how angry he is. He can’t control himself when it comes to Casey. There’s too much history there.
“Rebecca, a word,” Todd says calmly, stepping toward her. “Outside.” He gestures to the patio.
He’s a gentleman, even now. He opens the large, sliding glass door for her, allowing her to go first. When he closes it behind them, he gives me a sweet smile, but as soon as they take a few steps away from the house, his arms start flying with emphatic gestures. Although I can’t hear his words, I know they are not kind.
I walk up to Casey. I don’t want to; I need to. He looks handsome in his black tux. Just by the tailored fit, I can tell it’s not rented; this is something he owns and has worn before. I sometimes forget what a different life Casey has from the rest of us.
“Why?” Feeling a large lump in my throat, I try with all my might to push it back down. I will not cry here. However, no matter how many times I repeat those words to myself, it’s not stopping the tears from welling up.
“She asked?” He shrugs, but his tone is hard, unsympathetic.
I want to hide how upset I am from him, yet it’s impossible. As soon as he realizes it, I see his look soften a little.
I feel Ryan’s eyes on me. I know everyone’s are, but it’s Ryan’s I feel. I know he’s seconds away from coming over here.
TODD
I’m so angry I keep squeezing my hands together at my side. Open, close, open, close. Concentrate on that, so you don’t hit a girl in her prom dress.
I would never even think of hitting a girl, but she has pushed me over the edge so many times I’m at the brink of losing it. Actually, it’s already lost.
“Why exactly did you bring him here?” I calm down enough to ask.
“I needed a date.” She shrugs as if my anger is unfathomable. “It has nothing to do with you, Todd,” she says sweetly.
I shake my head in disbelief. “It has everything to do with me.”
“No, really. This was for Ashley. One last, little gift.”
I squeeze my eyes shut tightly. “I can’t believe you.”
“She ruins everything. We were close.” She steps closer to me, and I instinctively step back. Disappointment washes across her face, but she continues. “We were together, and then she came along. We had the Sour Lollipops, and now you don’t even want that. And I know it’s not you; I know it’s because of her. It’s all her.”
“NO!” I shout. “No, Rebecca, you’re wrong. None of that is because of Ashley. All of that is because of me, because I want to be with Ashley. I love her. Her! And you need to understand that, even if she wasn’t in the picture, I would never be with you!” I’m inches from her face, screaming with so much venom spit is flying out of my mouth, but I don’t care. I can’t stop myself.
I can’t read the look on her face. It’s as if she’s enjoying it, but I don’t stop to think. I need to get all of this out. We were friends; I dated this girl; and still, I can’t believe how cruel she is.