by A. J. Macey
“You’re one of the most responsible people I think I’ve ever met!” Aubrey told me with a head tilt, her expression scrunched up with confusion. “You don’t need babysitting, and you certainly shouldn’t need to fight to go to prom, your senior prom at that.”
“Eh, yeah, you’d think,” I muttered, picking at the fuzz on Reid’s hoodie. Having known the unpleasant conversation that I’d be getting into with Mom, I’d worn something I knew would be cozy and remind me that some people cared about me and the way I felt. “But let’s not focus on that. Like you said, it’s senior prom—my only prom here in Nebraska—so I want to enjoy it! Now, who wants some music to listen to while we wait to get hair and makeup done?”
“Oooh, me!” they both shouted. Aubrey skipped over to the Bluetooth speaker, fiddling with her phone as she looked through playlists. “How do we feel about… oh, hey! Party music sounds perfect to me.”
Fun tunes and upbeat melodies filled Aubrey’s basement, the sound chasing away the last of the negativity. Zo and I popped up, dancing around the spacious room until the three of us were laughing so hard that we cried. Collapsing on the floor, I couldn’t contain the fit of giggles when Zo tripped over the ottoman to the chair, going over it backward with a flail.
“My, my, sounds like you three are having lots of fun down here,” a woman said. Glancing over my shoulder, I found two women standing on the stairs wearing bright smiles and carrying cases with them. “Good to see you again, Zoey. You must be Emma! I’m Marjorie, and this is my daughter Carly.”
“Hi,” I greeted between fits of laughter, trying to catch my breath.
“Who wants to go first for hair and who wants to go first for makeup?” Marjorie asked, descending the rest of the stairs with Carly and setting their cases on the coffee table.
“I think Emma and Aubrey have the longest hair, so maybe one of them for hair first,” Zo reasoned.
“That’s a good idea. Emma, how about you first since it looks like yours is the longest? Zo, you can get your makeup done, then we can rotate, like a round robin,” Marjorie offered, plugging in her straightener and curling iron as Carly started shuffling around her makeup. Once I was settled into my seat, the process of getting prettied up began.
Only a few more hours until I would get to go to prom with my guys. Nebraska’s slogan of ‘The Good Life’ was starting to make a lot more sense.
“On three,” Aubrey started, all of us keeping our eyes closed as she counted. “One… two… three!” Opening my eyes, I felt my jaw drop. Aubrey and Zoey both looked gorgeous. Their dresses were similar in shade, a rich sapphire color, but Zoey’s was flowy and swishy, while Aubrey’s was sparkly up top and poofy ballgown style on the bottom.
“Holy crap, your dress is so sparkly!” Zo exclaimed, her eyes wide. “I love it.”
“Thanks, I figured it might be nice having something simple in style, but still glam. You know? But you look amazing too, you both do. Your dates are going to love it.”
“Picture time!” Audrey shouted, hiking up her dress and awkwardly running up the stairs. Zoey and I followed her, albeit more calmly, knowing I’d trip and injure myself if I tried to run in these three-inch heels. “Aunt Marjorie, Carly, Mom, and Daddio, ready to see?” Aubrey continued to holler, this time at the back door of the house where her family had gathered in the yard for drinks around their fire pit.
It went just as every other dance I’d been to had: ‘ohs’ and ‘ahs,’ photos, and gushing over hair, makeup, and dresses. It was so normal, yet I wouldn’t have changed it for the world. Just my friends and me getting to enjoy something simple; no stupid boat shoes, no Brad, no trial, just us. Now all I need are my guys. Right as I had that thought, a knock sounded, our dates all standing on the other side of the door.
I waited patiently for them to come in, situated off to the side of the quickly growing crowded kitchen and dining area. Jason immediately swept Aubrey into a hug, her feet slightly lifting off the ground as he kissed her. Zoey’s date was more subdued, but his bright smile made it obvious he was excited to see her in her dress. Both wore tuxedos, vests, and ties that matched their respective date’s dresses. My guys though… holy crap. Each of my guys wore all black tuxedos, with a black shirt and tie, fitted to perfection.
If we weren’t going to prom, I may have had trouble keeping my hands to myself the rest of the night with them looking so yummy.
“Wow,” Reid breathed, clearly feeling the same as I. The compliment was barely audible in the loud hustle and bustle of the Chasten household, but it made me blush, nonetheless. Stepping closer, I felt their eyes trailing over me, giddy excitement rising within me at their attentions.
“You look…” Kingston trailed off, his mouth adorably opening and closing a few times as he tried to come up with what to say.
“Amazing. You look beautiful,” Jesse finished for him.
“You three look pretty amazing yourselves,” I countered, running my hand down Jesse’s lapel, enjoying the softness of the material under my palm. “Have to say, I dig the all black.”
“Good, because we went back and forth for like an hour trying to decide what color to wear since neither you nor Stella wanted to cough up what the dress looked like,” Reid explained, teasing me.
“Finally decided on a color that would make you the shining star of the group,” Kingston told me. “And shining you are. But you know what’s missing? The final touch. You can thank my mom for picking the colors on it.” My brows knitted together when he said that until Jason came up with two clear plastic containers in hand.
The boutonnieres and corsage. They didn’t disappoint with this one. It was a beautiful arrangement of white, black, and pops of soft pinks, the band around it a soft silver that matched the metal of my necklace and earrings.
“There, now you’re ready,” Jesse murmured, slipping the flowers on my wrist as Kingston and Reid pinned each smaller pink bundle on their lapels.
“You guys are all so cute!” Aubs exclaimed when we were finished. “Now, pictures so we can go get some good dinner before the dance. I need fuel for dancing.” Just like before, we posed for photos, only this time going out front and standing by the beautiful mature tree they had.
“Okay, Emma, boys, your turn,” Aubrey’s mom Barb called, waving us to the front of the tree. We’d done group photos at that point, but the adults insisted on each group getting at least a few photos done. Standing between the three of them, I smiled brightly for the camera. Rotating one by one, I got a picture with each guy individually. Each moment was special in its own way, and I knew I would cherish all of them for years to come.
Good thing the guys got me a photo album for my life in Nebraska because I’m going to need it, I thought with a smile. After a few were taken, we had about ten minutes until the limo arrived, so I leaned into Reid, cuddling under his arm as I flipped through our pictures.
“Can you send those to me?” he asked, leaning his head carefully on my head so he didn’t mess up my up-do. “Oh, probably should send them to Stella and Kaleb too.”
“Might send them to my dads,” I confided, shrugging slightly, his arm moving with the motion. “Since they’re supportive of me. And us. Sam even knows about prom and promised to not tell my mom about it. Well… she suspects I’ll be going, but she tried to remind me she didn’t approve and hoped it would deter me.”
“I think that’s a great idea, Babydoll,” King piped in. “I can send it to my parents so you’re not having to field ten thousand questions or ‘oh my gosh, you all look so adorable’ texts.” Chuckling, I sent the photos in the group chat before opening the thread with my dad back in Cali.
Texting him was easy, no feeling overly awkward about sending it. Sam, though, he was a different story. We still didn’t really know each other. Well, you’re never going to learn about him if you don’t talk to the guy, I reasoned, pulling up his number.
Emma: Hey, Sam. I know we’re still pretty new to each other, but you’
ve missed so many milestones already, so I thought I’d send this over.
Attaching a photo of the four of us, I hit send before I could second guess myself. Thankfully, keeping the antsy energy at bay while I waited for his response, my dad in Cali messaged me.
Dad: You look beautiful, sweetheart. Have a good time, can’t wait to hear all about it.
Dad: Mere said she loves your dress.
Dad: And your hair.
Dad: And apparently everything else because she just keeps listing things. I’ll let you go enjoy your night. Love you.
“You look happy,” Reid noted, “I take it it’s going well?”
“So far. I haven’t heard from Sam yet—” I started but as soon as I did, my phone dinged. “Well speak of the devil,” I joked in a poor attempt to keep my nerves at bay as I unlocked my phone.
Sam: Thank you, Emma. It means a lot to me that you want to include me. You look very nice and I hope you four have fun. Though I’m sure I’m supposed to include some kind of parental warning like be safe and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. So... don’t do anything I wouldn’t do lol.
Emma: don’t worry, I won’t:)
As soon as I hit send on my response, the unnecessary worry lifted and happiness swept in. Just in time too, I thought, taking in the limo as it turned onto the street.
Time to dance the night away.
Anonymous
The group milled about on the lawn, laughing and chatting, but my gaze didn’t shift from the brat. The pain in my ass who always seemed too lost in useless thoughts to be observant. Always surrounded by the others, never alone for long. Fawned over like spoiled royalty just down the street from where I sat watching, my anger pulsing in my chest, but I knew my time was coming.
Soon enough I’d get to make my move. All the perceived happiness would be ripped away, and nothing but me and what I was capable of would remain. I was so close, but I knew if I tried too early, my plans would fail. I won’t let that happen. Digging out the cracked phone, I flipped through the pictures, each bright smile ingrained in my mind.
Oh, the things I could do… It’ll be easy to knock the invisible crown off her head, and then?
I’ll break the brat for good.
April 4th
If you can’t be the prom queen, at least be the dancing queen.
#SeniorProm #YoureOnly18Once #StressfreeSaturday
We pulled up to the building where prom was being held, the glass front of the event center bright in the quickly setting sun. Filing out of the limo, we piled onto the sidewalk, ready and excited. I was stuffed from dinner, but even with my full stomach, I had some pep in my step.
“I’m so ready to bust out my moves,” Reid said with exuberance, busting out into a spin and striking a pose at the end of it. “You best be ready, Cali girl.”
“Oh, I’m ready. I’ve seen your dance skills before, remember?” I replied, giving him a cheery smile. Not even the thought of the party from hell could dim my happiness tonight. My boys and me were all that mattered.
“How could I forget?” he joked, grabbing my hand and twirling me around. The soft, flowy material of my dress flared out, swishing around my legs.
“Okay, the ballroom is on the second floor and to the right,” Jason instructed as I finished my circle. “Yeah, that’s the right one there.”
“They explained where it was on the tickets, babe,” Aubrey told him, holding up the piece of paper that served as our entry.
“Oh, well, guess I should have read it then,” he countered. As we made our way to the stairs, Aubrey’s cheeks reddened as Jason gave her a kiss on the cheek. It was cute, and seeing all my friends having a fun time made the night that much more special.
“Give me a few seconds,” Kingston said when we reached the top of the stairs. Crouching down, he quickly started retying his dress shoe.
“We’ll see you guys in there.” Zo gave a wave, continuing toward the ballroom with the others. It didn’t take long for King to finish up and dust off any lint and dirt that clung to his tux pants, but by the time we reached the entrance, the others had made it inside already. The music was loud and the beat was only serving to pump me up more, but when we neared the ticket taker, I felt my mood sour.
Mr. DeRosa.
“Miss Clark,” he murmured coolly, his scowl growing more pronounced as he looked between the guys. “Having more than one date is against policy, so I’m sorry, but I can’t let the four of you in.”
My stomach dropped, and I felt the blood drain from my face. He can’t be serious… Only based on the triumphant glint in his eyes I knew he was. The guys were stunned silent, but Kingston regained his composure before the rest of us.
“We aren’t going as a group. Jesse is going with Emma, and I’m going with Reid,” he lied smoothly, holding up his ticket. “We all purchased tickets, and nowhere on there did it specify only heterosexual couples were allowed.”
It took everything in me to not sputter, because of all the things I had pictured him saying, that wasn’t one of them. Though it definitely isn’t a bad plan, I thought when I looked over at him. I can definitely see him being a good lawyer. Kingston was calm and collected, keeping eye contact with the school’s assistant principal.
“Oh, so I’m supposed to believe you two are a couple now?” Mr. DeRosa countered skeptically.
“I never said we were. I just said we were each other's dates. Does that violate the rules?” Kingston didn’t back down, and if I was honest, I wanted to clap at his points, but the tension between DeRosa and us kept me standing incredibly still.
“What seems to be the issue over here?” Ms. Ester asked, coming up from behind us. Her face was flat, but based on her thinned lips, I could tell she was irritated. It was the same thing Lyla did when she wasn’t happy with something.
“Ah, Miss Clark, Mr. Parker, Mr. Bell, Mr. Hughes, good to see you four joining the fun!” Mr. Fergusen exclaimed. He held a cup of punch in one hand and had a ‘chaperone’ tag pinned to his dress shirt as he stepped out into the hall from the ballroom. “Ms. Ester, coming to join the chaperone shenanigans?” It was weird to see my normally calm teacher exuberant and peppy, but it was a nice change from the thick air of tension surrounding us.
“I am in fact, I just wanted to see why it was taking so long for these four to gain admission,” Ms. Ester challenged diplomatically, looking to Mr. DeRosa with an expectant stare. “It seems like they all have tickets.”
“Ah, yes, it seems they do,” Mr. DeRosa caved, but his tone was low and harsh, conveying how displeased he was.
Well, too bad for him, that’s what happens when you’re a bully.
“Thank you,” Kingston tacked on after our most disliked school administrator let us pass, the sassy statement making me chuckle.
“I hope you guys enjoy your night,” Ms. Ester told us with a smile after glaring over her shoulder at Mr. DeRosa.
“Yes, stay out of trouble though. Especially you, Mr. Hughes, don’t want to worry about a spilled punch bowl because you got a bit carried away dancing,” Mr. Fergusen teased, patting Reid on the shoulder. As he and Ms. Ester headed to the left, I gave Reid a single brow raise in a silent question. Two patches of pink colored his cheeks, and he shrugged.
“Got a bit excited during sophomore homecoming. It won’t happen tonight, promise. But now that we’ve dealt with Dickhead DeRosa, who’s ready to get this party started?” Reid asked, scanning the room.
I followed suit, taking in the darkened room. A smile spread across my face at the decorations. It was a Roaring 20s theme, so there was black, gold, sparkles, and geometric shapes decorating the space. A dance floor filled with students dominated the center, tables and chairs with black tablecloths and centerpieces surrounding it. Music thrummed through the speakers, a DJ jamming behind the equipment, and the colored laser and lights attached to the stand flared and flashed.
“I’m still full from dinner, so who wants to jump right in?” I asked, glancing bet
ween my three guys. With a round of nods, the four of us headed to the dancing crowd.
After almost an hour of twisting, turning, and just outright going to town with the music, my throat was dry and I was starting to get hungry again. Tapping the guys on the shoulder, I let them know I was headed to the refreshment table.
“Hey, Emma,” Ashley greeted when I was filling my paper cup with the pink liquid. “You having fun?” Ever since the party from hell and the trial against Jesse, my rocky relationship with Ashley and the twins, Ivy and Iris, had smoothed out, almost as if a tender truce had been called. Nodding, I looked over at the three of them, all wearing various shades of rich jewel tones, and I had to admit, they looked really pretty in their dresses.
“Yeah, I am. Though dancing that much really works up my appetite,” I joked, laughing as I filled a small plate with the snacks laid out for the event. “How about you guys?”
“Definitely a nice break from the homework and stress of finals,” Right Twin explained.
One of these days, I will make sure to commit their names to memory, but today is not that day.
“Ugh and waiting to find out if you get accepted into college,” Left Twin tacked on, taking a bite of her cookie.
“But at least ACTs and that crap is done,” I offered, knowing exactly how they felt.
“Facts,” they said together.
“So yes, to answer your question, we are. Though we should probably get back to our dates,” Ashley murmured. “Kind of left them a bit ago to come stuff our faces.”
“Oh, who’re your dates?” I asked, genuinely enjoying our conversation and the ease at which we were chatting.
“They go to Millmer East and Millmer North, and we’ve known them since we were kids—oh, there they are! We’ll see you later, Emma. Have fun!” Ashley called out, starting toward three guys who just appeared at the edge of the room. Waving, I finished my drink and brownie.
