Reasons To Live✔

24

longer chapter make up for last one x

"I collected your prom dress," my mum shouts from down the stairs. I shout back an "okay" before sliding my headphones back on.

I stare out the window and to that same waving tree, the sun is high in the sky and shines a light onto my face. The cloudy glide across the sky, my head rested in my plam as "CHICKEN TENDIES," by Clinton Kane blasts in my ears. Unable to concentrate on anything I try to do, I lift my phone and open Instagram. I click through the stories, mostly of people getting ready for the prom in a few hours or getting drunk beforehand.

I sigh, heavily, as I put my phone back down.

How did Josh manage to convince me to go to Prom? Is he still going with Sophie? Surely not.

Almost simultaneously as I'm lost deep in thought about Josh my phone buzzes on the desk.

Josh
3:05PM
Yo, you free?

Elyse
3:07PM
Yeah, what's up?

The buzzing suddenly increases, I stare down at our faces on the screen before answering. I smile against the phone and hear Josh laughing on the other side.

"Hi," he finally says, a smile instantly on my face.

"What's up?" I ask, he laughs.

"Prom, I got my suit and if I say so myself I look very gorgeous, El," he laughs.

"I'm sure you do, I got my dress but haven't started on makeup and hair," I respond, exhaling.

"You look great without makeup, you also look great with makeup so don't worry about that," he mumbles back.

"Thankyou," I respond.

"Can I come over an hour before we have to leave for prom? I wanna see my girl."

I blush. Thankgod he can't see me.

"Of course, Josh, you're always welcome. I'll see you in an hour then?" I ask, desperate to change the subject away from him acting like this.

"Yeah, of course!" Then the line goes silent.

I slide my phone down back onto the cracked wooden desk. His girl?

An hour before I see Josh. I smile and spin out of my chair and walk downstairs to my parents, they're sat on the sofa, my dad flicking through last weeks newspaper and my mum flicking through the TV channels.

"Hey," I chirp as I jump from the third step to the bottom.

"Someone's excited for prom," my mum laughs and turns the TV off, turning her body to me. Simultaneously my dad slides the newspaper on the coffee table.

"I guess so," I smile and walk over to door my dress hangs off. For a second, I gaze upon the sea of blue flowers and various blue shades. I carefully place the dress in my arms and walk back up the stairs.

Once upstairs I lay the dress down and it covers my bed. After, I walk over to my desk again, exhaling as I sit down in front of the tiny mirror with my makeup messily on the old wood in front of me. I spend half an hour trying to perfect my makeup, ultimately giving up and just hoping for the best with my minimalistic look and semi-neat hair. I need to remeber, I look good for myself. No one else. With my hair combed and wavy down my back, better than it's  ever been done. I smile at my reflection in the mirror, twirling slightly. The mirror reflects in the sunlight, golden hour, giving me one feeling only: clarity.

Soon enough I'm wearing the blue dress, stood in front of the familiar mirror. The sun setting outside my small window emits a low light into my room, I stare myself up and down, the sea of blue filling the room and the low light highlighting the rare gems littered on my dress.