Of course, seven different cameras have been going off the entire time, the flashes bouncing off the walls reminding me of heat lightning during a summer thunderstorm. Jayson’s dad hands him a small box. He opens it and takes out a delicate red wrist corsage made of red and black satin ribbon and red flowers. Holding my hand, he slides it on, then raises my hand and kisses it. “I love you, baby.”
I lift the corsage to sniff it. “I love you too.”
Ryder’s mom hands me three matchingboutonnieres. I approach Julien first to pin hisboutonniereon. I lean in close so that no one can hear me when I tell him, “I’m so sorry that Elijah isn’t the one doing this for you. But he did give me these to give to you. Put them on after we get into the limo.” I pull back and place the silver cufflinks into Julien’s hands. Elijah had them specially made with Julien’s initials inlayed in black onyx on each cufflink. He curves his fingers around them and places a chaste kiss directly on my mouth.
Next, I step up to Jayson with hisboutonniere. I look into his mesmerizing metallic eyes and say, “You aren’t just a star to me, you are my whole damn sky.” He inhales sharply at the words before taking my lips in a deep, soul-shattering kiss, not caring one bit that we have an audience. I send up a silent thank you to whoever invented smudge-proof lipstick. After pinning his flower with shaky hands, because holy hell, he just blew my mind with that kiss, I hand him a paper origami star like the ones he gave to me. Inside I have written him a love poem. Hailey helped me with it.
Lastly, I come to Ryder. “Hey you.”
“You look beautiful, Elizabeth.” My cheeks flush as I pin his flower to his jacket and smooth the lapels down. He gives me a hug and when we pull apart, I hand him a roll of paper tied with ribbon.
“This is for you. It’s not much. You may want to wait to open it tomorrow.” I wrote him a song. I’ve been working on it and perfecting it for a month. Even Dad hasn’t heard it because I wanted the song to be Ryder’s and no one else’s.
Jayson reaches for me and places my arm in his. Mom, Freda, and Faith are all crying. Freda sniffles an “Oh, my boys are all grown up” which makes both Julien and Jayson groan, “Mom, cut it out” at the same time. The dads laugh, except mine. He’s got unshed tears in his eyes looking at me.
“Come here, puddin’.” He takes me in his arms, and I am engulfed with his scent. My dad smells like clean linen and mint. “I love you, sweetheart. Have fun tonight.”
I nod. “I will.”
“You boys take care of my little girl.”
“We will, sir.”
The families walk us out to the awaiting party bus they rented for us. We have to stay for more hugs and pictures until finally we’re able to leave. Our driver, Peter I soon learn is his name, waits patiently at the bus door and helps us step inside.
“Fuck yeah!” Jayson whoops when he climbs in.
Of course there’s a stripper pole inside the party bus. “Not in this lifetime and most certainly not in this dress,” I tell him.
“I bet I can persuade you.” Jayson grabs my hips and pulls me down into his lap. The bus is equipped with long curved leather bench seats that stretch from the front to the back on one side. The other side has a minibar and controls for the overhead video screen and stereo. Bright colorful neon lights glow throughout. As a whole, it’s tacky as hell, but so much fun.
“Let’s get this party started,” Jayson exclaims. Julien turns on the stereo and cranks up the music. Prom, here we come.
Ryder
I think my heart stops when I see Elizabeth standing on the staircase, looking absolutely stunning in her red dress, her long slender legs openly showcased in those fuck-me high heels. The tiny red flowers in her hair make her look like a forest fairy, and the deep red color of her dress contrasts with her green eyes creating an unusual effect as if she had actual glittering emeralds twinkling like stars in her eyes. My gaze moves to her mouth painted a scarlet red.Holy hell.
I have to hand it to Jayson. He really stepped up for Elizabeth this time. When he first came to me about all of us taking her to prom, I didn’t know what to say. Julien and I planned to go anyway because we knew he would be taking Elizabeth, of course, and we wanted to be there for her. Jay said all he wanted was for her to be happy and he knew that Jules and I being a part of her prom experience would do that. The thought of getting to hold her close tonight, take her in my arms even if it’s just for one dance, makes all the years of waiting worth it. For one part of one night, I can pretend that she’s mine. Hold her like she’s mine.
The bus pulls up to the hotel where our school prom is being held. Hotel bellmen greet each arriving vehicle to help the passengers out. Being that it’s prom, there are a lot of limos and luxury sedans pulled up under the overhang that leads to the hotel lobby. As soon as we step off the bus, we hear Elizabeth’s name being shouted. Two girls I recognize from school rush over and hug Elizabeth.
“You look so fab!” one tells her, I think her name is Beth.
Keith and Davis, two of our school’s offensive linemen who I know, walk over to stand with the girls. I learn the other girl’s name is Celeste. We walk inside the hotel and check in with the school parent volunteer at a table in the front lobby. After marking off each of our names from a list, our hands are stamped with a dye that will shine under a black light.
“What the fuck is he doing here?” Jayson growls next to me.
I look in the direction he’s glaring and automatically shift my body in front of Elizabeth’s, my fists clenching preparing to fight.
Julien comes to my side. “Chill, man. Not tonight. Tonight’s about Liz.”
Luckily, Elizabeth is still talking with Beth and Celeste and is oblivious to the two people looming our way, cocky smirks plastered on their faces.
“Isn’t this sweet? Elizabeth finally got her wish for a threesome.” Elizabeth stops talking mid-sentence when she hears Maria’s voice, and I feel her tense up behind me. Her eyes go wide with surprise when she turns around and sees that Maria is plastered against Marshall.
“We aren’t doing this tonight,” I tell Maria.
Marshall is smart enough to realize this time he is way outnumbered and keeps his mouth closed. It’s not only me, Jayson, and Julien, but also Keith and Davis standing with us creating an impenetrable wall of “don’t fuck with us” attitude. Marshall mumbles something to Maria and jerks her away but her eyes remain locked on Elizabeth.
