Aunt Gabby actually calls in a temp worker to cover the shop so she can spend all day helping me get ready. I get a deep conditioning treatment on my hair, a full manicure, then a pedicure. I’m talking the real deal, too, not a half-assed home version. In the end, my hair is silky, and I’ve got blue sparkle on fingers and toes. I borrow a pair of silver heels from my aunt because it would be wasteful to buy shoes that I’ll never wear after this night.
Then it’s time to slip into my dress and let my aunt do my hair and makeup. I could probably manage, but this seems to make her happy, and I want to be pretty for Shane. She does my hair up in an elegant twist, but leaves a few strands to curl around my face. Then she makes me up kind of old-school, heavy lips and eyes, and it so totally goes with my dress. I love the way I look. I never thought I’d say that. When I pull the white satin gloves on, I feel like a million bucks.
“Wow,” my aunt breathes. “You’re so beautiful.”
Heat washes my cheeks. “Thanks.”
She goes to get the camera. I don’t even mind. Soon thereafter, there’s a knock at the door, and I find Shane, Lila, and Ryan outside. She looks so incredible. Most girls couldn’t pull off a red dress with red hair, but she’s like a living flame, and the jet jewelry, which seemed a little dated in the shop, looks perfect on her. Ryan hasn’t managed to tame his hair, no surprise there, and he’s actually wearing a red plaid bow tie and cummerbund. At least he matches Lila’s dress. Kind of. Actually, I think they look cute together. And Shane … wow. He went with classic black, so I swear we look like an old Hollywood couple. I can imagine us dancing in a musical or something. He’s just staring at me, mouth half open, until Ryan nudges him.
“Say something, bro.”
“You look spectacular.”
Naturally, we can’t get out of there until my aunt takes a hundred pictures. Then she gives us her blessing to head out. Prom doesn’t start for a couple of hours, so I’m curious where we’re going. Outside, the pimped-out golf cart waits. I have to be the only girl who’s delighted to ride this way to prom. And I am, because it means they get me, even the crazy parts.
And they love me anyway.
As it turns out, we’re having dinner at the Coffee Shop. But it’s not the usual place. The owners, being geniuses, have brought in bistro tables, and then they sold a limited number of dinner tickets. I didn’t know about this enterprise, but Shane did, because he had come in to ask about reclaiming his spot in the showcase. He bought tickets while he was in there, and so we’re sitting at tables laid with white linen, candles burning.
It’s surprisingly romantic, the way they’ve decorated the place, and the low lighting helps. There’s a sign posted on the door that reads, CLOSED FOR PRIVATE EVENT. Shane and I choose the veggie option while Ryan and Lila are eating chicken. I’m nervous about dropping something on my dress. I don’t say much over dinner, listening to my friends talk.
I never would’ve dreamed I could be so lucky.
We finish dinner and get back in the golf cart. Even though it’s early May, it’s a little chilly in the open vehicle, so Shane wraps his arm around my shoulder. I settle close to him. Some classes rent a hall or go to a country club, but our school has limited options and a smaller budget. The prom committee decided to have finger foods at the prom and decorate the gym. It’s fine with me. Most people will have eaten before they arrive anyway.