Page 67 of Once Bitten

Chapter Twenty Five

Fifteen Year Ago

“I told you, she’s not going with anyone. She’s not going at all.” Heather barely looked up from her book to tell me.

“Oh, why not? I thought all girls dreamed about their prom.”

Heather shrugged, “I dunno, she just didn’t sound interested.”

“Think she’ll go with me?”

“You? Why you?”

“Why not? I’m not going with anyone.” Because I only want to go with one person, I thought to myself, but Heather didn’t need to know.

“I dunno, you’re YOU. She’s too good for you. But whatever, it wouldn’t hurt to ask, I guess,” Heather shrugged, then brightened, “I’d love for her to be there, and Mom and Dad should be okay with giving you a night off your grounding if it’s Kara. They love her.”

“Yeah, ok, whatever, maybe.” Could this really be my chance? Before high school is over and she leaves and never looks back?

“If you do, be nice, Finn. Don’t be all…you know. You.” She looked at me pointedly.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I knew what she meant.

“You know, just don’t be a jerk. It’s Prom. Whatever happens tonight, she’s going to remember it forever.”

***

“You are a fucking bastard. You ruined EVERYTHING! I NEVER want to see you again!” she screamed at me through the open car door. More angry than I’d ever seen her in all the time I’d known her.

“That’s NOT going to be a problem!” I forced myself to pretend to snicker, I had to get out of there as soon as possible.

She slammed the car door shut and I stepped on the brake skidding off out of the parking lots.

I took a peek in the review mirror, Kara was standing there, watching the me drive off, her shoes dangling in her hand, looking beautiful in her blue dress.

“Fuck, Finn, what are you going?” I banged the steering wheel as I drove around the bend, Kara’s reflection gone from the mirror. I couldn’t believe how bad it had all gotten. The road ahead looked a little blurry and I wiped my hand over my face. How much had I had to drink?

Go back and get her, you fucking idiot, or I guarantee that’s the last you’re ever going to see of Kara Sinclair, the nagging voice inside my head warned.

God dammit.

I swerved to the side of road and parked. Taking a deep breath, I counted to ten, trying to calm myself. How had it gotten so screwed up?

I should’ve told her, I should’ve told Eric and Heather to piss off when they interrupted us, and I should’ve told her right there and then, that I loved her, that I’ve loved her forever, that I couldn’t live without her, that the thought of her leaving next year scared the fuck out of me, and that wherever she was going, I was going to go with her.

HOW had it become me almost forcing myself on her, and then telling her that she wasn’t what I wanted?!

Idiot!

I banged my head against the steering wheel this time.

I had to fix it, I had to explain to her that I was just a fuck up and she had to forgive me.

I pressed on the accelerator, the car burst into life and I waited for the road to clear before I turned back to the look out.

“I’m sorry, Kara, please just give me two minutes to explain,” I practiced the words, trying to sound as sorry as I felt.

The road opened to the lookout and I parked and jumped out of the car.

“Kara!” I yelled, scanning the empty parking lot.

She was gone.