About Prom Impossible
1 girl + 1 prom + 3 guys = Prom Impossible!
Cassidy knows that Michael Greenwood is her one true love—he just doesn’t know it. She spends her senior year helping him figure that out in time for prom, but instead, she comes close to losing her true identity, her friends, and the chance at the real thing that’s right in front of her.
Laura Pauling
Also by Laura Pauling
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A Royal Heist (2015)
Text copyright 2014 by Laura Pauling
Redpoint Press
All rights reserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher and author.
ebook ISBN: 978-0-9852327-6-4
Edited by A Little Red Inc.
Cover design by Laura Pauling and Steven Novak
Find out more at laurapauling.com
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Contents
The night my life changed forever.
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
The night my life changed forever.
Smoke billowed out through the side doors of the high school gym in great puffy clouds, creating exactly the effect we’d wanted. It filled the night sky with the sweet—okay, the smoky—scent of revenge.
At the time, we were juniors. The underclassman. The underdogs. And my cousin, Jules, was in an all out war with the senior class queen bee. We’d endured a year of lost battles, detentions at failed pranks, and lies, thanks to Bea Wallace.
It was senior prom, and it didn’t take long for everyone to stampede into the parking lot. Flashes of brightly colored dresses appeared through the smoke, the girls panicking and the guys pretending they were all macho and protective when they were probably peeing their pants. We just set up a few strategically placed smoke blasters to add a little excitement to their lives. Stories to tell their grandchildren. In a few years they’d be thanking us and laughing about it all.
The whole idea had started when my Uncle Rudie and Dad sent the grilled pizza up into flames. I’m not even sure who came up with it first, but suddenly Jules and I were planning revenge with words like prom and smoke machines sneaking into the conversation.
We didn’t even debate. There was no doubt. We knew we’d settle the score the night of senior prom as our way of saying goodbye and good riddance.
The fire trucks zoomed into the parking lot faster than we’d expected, their lights flashing and sirens blaring.
The smoke in the air tickled my nose and back of my throat. “Um, do you think what we did could be considered more than a prank? Like a felony? Maybe we used one too many blasters.”
“No way. It’s just smoke, Cassidy.” Jules peered around the corner of the building.
Firemen stormed the side lawn and rushed into the gym with gas masks and hoses at the ready. A sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach mushroomed into the need to puke behind the bushes.
I nudged Jules and couldn’t help but glance at the trail through the woods that led to our getaway. “We really should get going. I’ll go start the car…”
Nothing I said would’ve changed her mind. She was set in her spot behind the landscaping, her eyes fixed on the parking lot in hopes of finding Bea.
“Just a few more seconds,” she finally whispered back.
My skin prickled and my armpits were sticky and uncomfortable. A sure signal I needed to leave. “I’ll see you back at the car.”
“Uh-huh.” She was still fixated.
I stepped out from behind the bush, my feet itching to run.
“Stop right there, miss,” the deep voice called from the shadows.
Mistake one? I didn’t stop. The heat of getting caught flared and my armpit sweat morphed from a trickling stream into a river. Slowly, I moved toward the woods while spitting out the planned excuses. I held out my chemistry book. “Just getting my chem book for finals, officer, sir.”
“Stop. Now.” His voice grew deeper and more threatening.
My getaway slowed to a crawl. I waved the thick text. “Got to get studying.”
I glanced at the woods. What if I outran him to the waiting car and we ended up in a high-speed chase through the neighborhood? All I could picture were the explosions and fire and flipped over cars that usually ended those chases. I didn’t want to end up like that.
It was almost our senior year. I was too young to die.
“Hands up!” the cop ordered.
Slowly, I turned and raised my hands with the heavy text. Why hadn’t we picked English Lit so I could hold up a slim copy of poetry?
I didn’t even give the cop a chance to ask any questions. I produced a few crocodile tears, which wasn’t hard, because I was in complete panic mode.
“Oh, please, sir, I’m just trying to achieve high grades. My senior year is coming up and that means college applications.”
“You had nothing to do with this?” He nodded toward the fleeing prom couples.
“That’s the truth, sir.” My voice came out shaky like I was about to break down.
“Then I guess you won’t mind coming down to the station and taking a polygraph while chatting with the detective.”
This was where I realized I watched too many crime shows and interrogations where the cops shouted and played mind games. I blurted out the truth.
“Okay, yes, I lied. I’m sorry. I panicked and cops scare me.” His face steeled like I was in for it. “I appeal to your softer side, officer. Maybe you have kids and know they make mistakes. I’ve made mistakes but I’ve seen the light.” He narrowed his eyes and reached for the handcuffs on his belt—or was it his gun? I blubbered. “I’m not perfect, I admit, but please don’t throw me in jail for years. My parents will kill me. They said one more thing and my life would be over.”
“One more thing?” He raised an eyebrow and his face softened. Maybe there was a slight chance.
“It really wasn’t my fault when our storage shed burst into flames or when the fire alarm at the mall went off or when the entire ski lodge had to be evacuated on our vacation. Seriously. I swore I saw someone sneak a homemade bomb into the trashcan. It turned out to be trash but it looked suspicious and we’d just had a bomb threat at school so I had bomb on the brain. They were all innocent mistakes. You can see that, right, sir?”
That was when I realized that what I mistook for compassion was really an amused curiosity. I should’ve stuck to the story. Thank God I didn’t mention all our failed pranks this past year. That definitely would’ve made me lo
ok guilty.
“Why don’t we take a little ride and you can explain your story down at the station. With your parents.”
“Oh.”
I tried not to wiggle when his hand clamped down on my arm like I was a threat to humankind. I didn’t look back once because Jules and I had made a pact that if one got caught, the other wouldn’t squeal.
I just never thought the one getting shoved into the back of squad car would be me.
***
My parents arrived at the station with unusually pale complexions. Mine probably wasn’t any better. I’d hoped for some comfort food like cupcakes or homemade chocolate chip cookies. Even bakery cookies would do in a pinch. But no such luck.
They listened. They nodded their heads, but I didn’t see even one fake smile, for me anyway. They uh-huhed and yessed and said “We completely understand” a lot.
The drive home was silent and scary. Dad finally spoke when we were in the driveway.
“We’ll need time to talk to the school and think about this so we don’t make any rash decisions. Make no mistake. We are disappointed in your decision, and there will be consequences.”
That was all that was said for weeks.
Chapter 1
As the weeks passed, I focused less on smoky proms and rides in police cars and more on Michael Greenwood, the boy destined to become my soul mate and my date to senior prom the next spring.
Jules crouched next to me in the scratchy bushes outside of Michael’s house. Lately, she’d been extra nice. Total guilt complex. I wasn’t complaining.
Only two people knew about my love for Michael: Jules and my brother, Carter. He guessed it from my swoony expressions over certain heart doodles in my room. Talk about nosy. And Jules knew from the very start because for years we’d been more than just cousins. We were best friends even though she was slightly more popular. Okay, a lot more.
She nudged me. “Spying on the biggest dork in school? That’s the big emergency?”
“Hey, he’s got potential. And I’m not spying. I’m observing the behavioral patterns of my future boyfriend.”
She giggled. “Well, he might be kinda cute behind all the dorkiness. I’ll give you that. And I’ve never had a chance to get to know him. Maybe he’s cool.”
I’d known Michael since he peed his pants the first day of kindergarten from pure nerves and the fear of asking how to find the bathroom. We’d been on and off friends and engaged in frequent conversations about Smaug, Aragorn as an alpha male, and Gollum’s greatest moments.
We were destined to fall for each other with a passionate forever-kind-of-love. Someday, he’d take me in his arms and sweep me off my feet with the most romantic, passionate kiss in history.
“This is crazy,” Jules whispered. Then in an act of complete betrayal, she grabbed some pebbles and pelted the downstairs window.
“What are you doing?” I jerked her arm away but it was too late.
“Helping you. I assumed that’s why you called me. You said it was an emergency. You said you couldn’t do it alone.” She stood and brushed the dirt off her shorts. Before I could complain she hugged me. “You can do it, Cass. Good luck!”
A window slammed open.
“Who’s there? I’ve got my death ray gun that can sizzle your brain in three seconds and I’m not afraid to use it.”
“Oh. My. God.” She stifled a laugh. “He’s all yours.” And with that Jules shoved me into open view.
I stumbled forward, tripping and practically slamming into the side of the house. Thanks, Jules. “Hi, Michael. Fancy meeting you here.”
“Oh, it’s you. Hi, Cassidy. And I live here. Remember?”
I giggled. “That’s right. I totally forgot. I was just out for an evening stroll—alone—to take in the beauty of nature and the glimmering stars in the velvet sky.”
“Isn’t that your cousin running away?” He squinted into the darkness. He was wearing his pointy ears again.
I peered into the trees. “I don’t think so.”
“Hmm. Could’ve sworn it was Jules.” He shook his head, mumbling, and dropped into a chair in front of his computer. He blabbed on about some complicated algorithm that I tried to understand.
I nodded my head and said, “Sure.” He took a breath before rambling on, so I jumped at the chance and spoke up. “Any plans for the summer?”
He almost seemed surprised I was still there. That’s a sign of a great boyfriend. He was focused and attentive. I just needed to swing his focus my way. I fluffed my hair and let it dangle by my shoulders.
His eyes went back to the screen. “I’ve been working on this video game, and I hope to work on it all summer.”
“Don’t forget sun block,” I teased.
“Huh?” He doesn’t always get my sense of humor, especially when working.
“Never mind.” One thing with boys is that you can’t pester them too much or they’ll be totally turned off and think you’re a stalker. “Plan on hanging out by the pool?”
“Uh, yeah, sure.”
“Trying to flirt with all the girls?” I hinted, hoping he’d say no.
He mumbled something and looked away. A rosy blush crept into his cheeks. He was playing naïve. Guys sometimes have trouble expressing their real emotions especially when they haven’t admitted it to themselves.
Time to pull out the big guns, or I should say my death ray gun. I sighed and cleared my throat, glad that the dark would hide my reddening cheeks. In my best impersonation of Gollum, which was horrible, I said. “Sneaky little hobbitses.”
He immediately perked up.
I continued, “Wicked. Tricksy. False.”
He jumped right in. “No, not master.”
Then I forgot the lines. “Um, precious ring. Want the ring. Need the ring!” I tried my hardest to get into the role that made me look cute and not like a freaky old guy with no hair. “Where’s the ring? It must be here somewhere.”
Michael huffed. “You messed it up.”
I knew it! “Sorry.” And I’d been practicing that for weeks. Thank God Jules had left or she’d never let me live this down. I decided it was time for me to leave.
“Well, better head back so the ’rents don’t worry.” After one sinful, heavenly moment, in which I imprinted his image into my mind, I slipped back into the night. “Bye.”
“Bye.”
I stepped to the side and listened. Seconds later, I heard the movie clips from YouTube. He cackled and continued with more voice impressions.
It was something about how he said bye—kind of soft, like a murmur. Yup. He definitely liked me. I wondered if I should leave an anonymous note with suggestions on how to ask a girl to prom—ones that didn’t include voice impressions and pointy ears and laser guns that melted brains.
I bounced along the path back home on the wings of love. I walked into my house and joined my family for dinner, my heart all aflutter. When I was almost done with my second piece of garlic bread, I finally noticed my parents subtly glancing at me and then each other.
Uh-oh. I could sense the coming storm. My actions were about to catch up with me. I’d been hoping they forgot about last spring.
Time for an emergency butter-up-the-parents kind of talk. “So, I was thinking about asking Aunt Lulu to get me a job at the country club this summer. Get out in the fresh air for some good old-fashioned hard work. You know.”
Dad coughed. “Hmm. We’ll see.”
“I even thought about putting in some volunteer work. Not just for purely altruistic reasons, but it would look great on the college applications. Right, Mom?”
“Possibly.” She nodded, not committing to anything, but gave my dad the eye.
My suspicions were right.
Chapter 2
I couldn’t tell anyone that Jules had been the mastermind behind my brief dabbling in the criminal world.
But, secrets aren’t that bad. In fact, they might even help out in the dating department,
because secrets add that mysterious element that makes a guy want to know more. I can’t explain how it happens. Just like I can’t explain how whenever there’s a new bag of chips in the house, I’m drawn to them, and then they’re gone in twenty minutes. Or how I automatically wake up two minutes before Carter every morning and so get all the hot water in my shower. I mean, all he has to do is set his alarm.
After the quietest dinner in our history, my parents excused my twin brother, Carter, from the table and told him to read in bed. When he complained that his bedtime had never been 6:30, they gave him the look. The one that said Remember our little talk we had about your sister? After flashing me a sympathetic smirk—if there is such a thing—he headed upstairs.
My parents hemmed and hawed and fidgeted. In the time it took them to start and stop sentences and give each other looks, trying to get the other one to start, I could’ve knitted an ugly sweater for my Aunt Lulu. I can’t knit well, but that doesn’t matter, because Aunt Lulu would never wear it. I just like to see her squirm.
Finally, they ushered me into the living room. I settled onto the couch and pulled the ratty afghan over me, playing with the edges, trying to fight off an extreme case of the jitters.
Mom patted down loose strands of hair, smoothed her shirt, and reached for my dad’s hand. Uh-oh. This was a united front, meaning I’d have almost no wiggle room for negotiations.
“Cassidy, we love you very much.” A smile lit up her face. While Mom talked, Dad made sure to nod emphatically. “We’ve also noticed since our last talk how hard you’ve tried to reign in the impulsive actions.”
This was where Mom paused to gather her nerves while the spaghetti and meatballs we ate for dinner did the cha cha in my stomach. At that moment, I truly regretted the triple-decker ice cream I pigged out on that afternoon.
Dad squeezed her hand and picked up the gauntlet. Kind of like a good cop/bad cop routine. “We’re proud of you, Cassidy, and we have the highest hopes and know you’ll be successful in life. After this coming summer, you’ll be a senior, almost an adult, and your mom and I have a wonderful idea to help you on the road to success. We heard about—”
“I think I’m going to barf.” I covered my mouth and made gagging noises. They told me they’d talk about the consequences and get back to me. Well, that moment had come, and I wasn’t ready for it.
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