Perfect Places

A Million Years

   "That dress is so you!" Jessica smiled as I looked at myself in the mirror.

I played with my hair and felt the soft fabric of the gown. It was made of black cloth and it had black lace detailing on the top of it. It also has sleeves that were made from black lace.

The dress sure was beautiful, but I wasn't sure if the price was as well.

"How much for this one?" I asked the employee.

"That one is 425.00 dollars." She informed us.

Jessica immediately spoke up, "Thats it?"

I chuckled, knowing she had no idea what was wrong with what she just said.

   "Well then we'll take it!" She exclaimed.

Jess grabbed her purse and walked up to the register.

"Oh, Jessica, you don't have to-" I started to tell her.

"Nonsense! I'm paying." She started pulling cash out of her fancy Gucci wallet.

I wanted to say no, but I knew nothing was going to stop Jessica from spending her money on me. Even though I didn't deserve it, even though I didn't want it, she would still come through. It didn't make sense, but at the same time it did. I knew that if I was put in the same position, I would do the exact same thing for her.

   That's what friendship was, right?
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   As we pulled into Zane's driveway, I saw Josh and Zane sitting on the front steps.

   "Oh gosh, how are we gonna hide the dresses?" Jessica asked, sounding worried.

   "Oh uh- I don't know!" I looked back at the dresses that were laying in the backseat. Then, I gazed back at the drinks we had gotten Zane and Josh. I had gotten Zane a Coke, and Jess had gotten Josh a Root Beer.

  "Maybe they just won't see them." She hopped.

   Jessica picked up the Root Beer, and I picked up Zane's Coke. We both hopped out of the car, and ran to the boys.

   "Zane!" I exclaimed, walking towards him.

   "Hey!" He smiled at me.

   I handed him his drink, and and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. Jessica ran up to Josh and gave him his Root Beer.

   "Wow, thank you." Josh teased her.

  Josh was always flirting with Jessica in the most innocent way. I thought it was adorable, but Jessica apparently "hated" it.

   "Oh stop." Jess rolled her eyes.

   "What?" Josh played with a piece of her hair, "Am I bothering you?"

   "Josh!" She whined.

   He laughed, and she blushed. I wouldn't be surprised if they ended up dating.

We all ended up going inside, and Zane's dad greeted us at the door.

"Hey guys," He waved.

"Hello!" Jessica grinned.

   We all headed to the living room where we all sat down on the two couches. Jess sat down on the couch closest to the windows, and I snuggled up against Zane on the other one. Josh squeezed next to Jessica with a sly smile.

Jess avoided all eye contact with Josh and looked out the large windows. She was doing that on purpose, even I could tell.

"So," Zane looked over at me, "Do you want to ... go to the dance with me?"

I grinned at him and blushed, "Yes. Of course I do."

"Awe, isn't that just adorable." Josh teased, giving a toothy smile to Jessica.

She looked over at him.

There was an odd silence before she rolled her eyes and sighed, "Good lord, just ask me already."

   In the back of my mind, I knew darn well that Josh was going to make this moment way more extravagant than it actually needed to be. All I knew for sure was that this was going to be good.

   Josh stood up, then got down on one knee. My eyes widened in excitement.

   "Jessica Davis," He started, being very over-the-top, "Will you give me the pleasure of accompanying me to the amazing upcoming back to school dance?"

   She just stared at him and didn't answer.

   "Please?" He squeaked.

   She sighed again, slightly tilting her head, "Fine."
__________________________
   As Zane slowly pulled his car back into the driveway of my house, his grip on my hand loosened. The sky had grown dark by 7:00, and the stars were already shining down onto the ground.

   It was currently past most children's bedtimes, and I was ready to turn it in for the day. I had spent the entire day with Zane, and I planned on doing that for the rest of the summer.

   I planned on doing that for the last couple of weeks I had with him.

   "I loved spending all day with you, Rae." He told me, putting the car in park.

   "Same here, Zane." I replied truthfully.

   We both exchanged smiles and got out of the vehicle. He took my hand again and walked me up to the front door.

   As we walked up to the door, I prayed that no one saw us together. Or at least noticed us. If even one of the many children in that house saw us walking together, we would immediately be interrupted.

   Possibly even stopped. And that was exactly what I didn't need at the moment.

   Once we reached the front door, we stopped.

   "Thank you for everything." I looked up at him.

   "Of course babe," He answered, "I can't wait to do this again."

"Me too." I said.

"I'll call you later, okay?" He touched my cheek.

"I'll be waiting." I grinned.

He leaned down a kissed me.

"I love you, Zane." I told him.

"I love you more, Rae."

After he said that, I stood in my tiptoes and kissed him again. His arms wrapped around my waist and that was when I knew I wasn't going to leave this man.

Not now, not in the future ... not ever. I wanted him to be in my life for as long as it lasted, even if it was just for a couple more days.

I hoped he felt the same. I knew he felt the same. He had to feel the same. If he didn't, he wouldn't have been there with me.

He wouldn't have been standing there with me outside of the front door. He wouldn't be there for me when I needed to call him or vent to him.

I knew he loved me. And I knew I loved him.

That was never going to change. I wasn't going to let it change.

Not in a million years.

   The only thing that I still needed to do was tell him that.