First thought when I wake up is about Maisey. My heart twinges a little. Reaching into the drawer of my bedside table, I grab her letter. Sean’s, which was on top of it, falls to the floor. I reread them both. I don’t cry this time. For me or either of them. I have some ideas. Sure they probably won’t have me coming out on top, but it’s Prom night. There’s only a week left of school. Not much left to lose. And face it, Jane was right, I’m alone.
Around five, I head over to Kallie’s so we can do our hair and makeup together.
Kallie groans. “Are you sure you don’t want to come to dinner with me and Todd? I don’t think I can sit through a whole meal with him, alone.”
I laugh. “You made that bed, you’re gonna lie in it. By yourself. But make sure you order the most expensive meal.”
“Of course. I’ll probably order two. But what if we pick you up on the way to the dance? That way you can arrive with us?”
“Kal, really, I’m fine. I’m gonna go home, eat pizza with my mom, and go to the dance around eight. I’ll see you there.”
Kallie’s mom and dad take a few pictures of us. Me smiling, still in jeans with my hair up and makeup done, and Kallie is even more stunning in her dress than she was yesterday.
“I can’t believe it’s finally here. The night we’ve been waiting forever for. Sucks that these guys had to mess everything up, right?” Kallie shakes her head.
“When it comes down to it, I’m not sure if it was the guys that messed everything up. I think we kind of led ourselves here, to this point.”
“You might be onto something, Dr. Hughes, but no way am I admitting to it. Hells no. I’m blaming Todd all night long.” She checks her phone for the time. “Speaking of snakes, he should be here any minute.”
“That’s my cue to leave. Tell your parents I’m taking a walk to the point before I head home.” I hug her and head down the trail that Sean and I walked, holding hands, only weeks ago.
At the bottom of the hill, I sit facing the water, raking my hands across the sand. I watch the water moving beneath the setting sun and wonder if Sean is reading my letter. The letter I left at his door after standing there motionless for at least five minutes this afternoon.
When I finally forced my finger to push his doorbell, I slipped the letter in the door, and jumped back into my car. A little more cowardly than I’d planned but at least I’d gone through with it.
Hey Sean Mills
I miss you.
If you can spare it,
please save the last dance for me.
Love,
Bree Hughes
****
I drive to the school around 8:45, taking my time. I feel good. My mom hugged me before I left, and I’m pretty sure her eyes were proud this time instead of pitying. My Aunt Jen, pair of emergency silver heels in tow, told me I’ve never looked more beautiful. I check my sun visor mirror and believe her. Grinning, I pump Maroon 5’s latest song the whole way to the dance, feeling like a rock star.
Pulling into the school parking lot, there are a few scattered cars and limos pulling up to the door. Apparently I’m not the only one fashionably late. Stepping out of my car, I reach into the backseat for the clutch purse Mom gave me. As I reach for it, something shines from the floor. My silver shoes. The ones I thought Jane stole. Oops.
I slam my door and head toward the main doors.
“Bree!”
Sitting on the hood of his dad’s fancy red BMW convertible is Chip. He’s smoking a cigarette and sharing a beer with my drop-dead pretty neighbor Langley Stone. Langley was last year’s Prom Queen and is this year’s head waitress at Crystal Wood Cabins, the restaurant slash souvenir shop known for their sexy-tacky bar-maid slash lumberjack uniforms.
“Hey Bree,” Chip nods.
Instead of fighting heart palpitations and fear, this time I look him straight in the eye. “Hi Chip.”
“Nice speech at the pep rally. You got my vote.”
“Thanks,” I say, fighting an impulse to roll my eyes. “Hey Langley. What’re you up to?”
“Just hangin’ with Chip. Guess I’m his date. Plus I gotta crown the new Queen, passing on my torch, ya know. Good luck.” She smiles, flicking ash onto the gravel.
Making my way through the back parking lot, I tiptoe to keep my heels from sinking into the gravel. Once I hit pavement, I click short strides to the stairway leading to the double doors. I take one at a time instead of my usual two. I push a stray curl from my face and slide my hands over my dress, smoothing the silver shimmers hugging my body.
An army of sophomore girls and Judy, the school secretary, guard the door. All in red and black.
“Just one?” asks a sophomore girl looking over my shoulder.
“Absolutely one,” I say. I tell her my name.
“I know who you are,” she smiles. “Here you go.” She hands me a slip of paper and says the ballot box is near the gymnasium doors. I scrunch the paper into my grandma’s beaded clutch bag, unsure of whether I’ll vote or not. The thump of bass leads me to the gym while the lyrics command me to “get on the floor.”