Lost in the Middle

The Finishing Touch

A few hours later it was time for the teenagers to get ready for the prom, Nikki had forced Jack to get changed in the bathroom as she didn't want him peaking at the lingerie set she had picked up with her friends a couple of weeks ago.
Nikki had changed into her dress and smiles at herself in the mirror noticing how amazing she looks and that she would get the same reaction for Jack. Nikki quickly touches up her makeup and then puts her mother's silver bracelet on, the thin silver bracelet of her mothers was the only item she had managed to keep and hide from her father.

That bracelet meant so much to her mother and as a child, Nikki would sit and admire the bracelet, she couldn't quite remember the origin of how her mother Carol came to get it but she knew it had something to do with it being her Great-Grandmothers, a true family heirloom.
It was hers now and Victor couldn't take it from her, she wanted to keep it for herself and pass it on to her future children. Nikki sits looking at the bracelet on her wrist for a while longer noticing the scars underneath fading away, Jack had truly saved her life with his quick thinking.

She is pulled from her flooding memories by Jack calling her name from inside the hotel bathroom, "Nikki... Can I come out yet?"
Nikki stands up and brushes her dress out, "Oh... erm... yeah sure," She smiles.

Hearing the bathroom door unlock she walks to where he can see her, the door opens and Jack stands looking at his girlfriend in shock. "Oh... my... god," He breathes.
Nikki looks at him nervously watching him drink in her features, Nikki looks him up and down eventually and smiles at how amazing he looks and that he can scrub up really well. "Jack... you look amazing," She smiles.

"But not as amazing as you... look at you," He smiles his heart racing, he had not noticed until now how small her waist actually is. "You look... gorgeous," He gushes walking to her and running his hands down her sides.

"It's not too much?" Nikki blushes.
"Not at all... wait there is something missing..." He replies.

Nikki raises an eyebrow at her lover she had no idea what was missing, her hair and nails were done, her dress was on and so was her lingerie. Jack kisses her forehead and then steps past her heading towards his small suitcase.

Lifting the case up he places it on the bed and unzips it, Nikki steps over to the bed and watches Jack. "Ah-ha!" He says pulling out a flat box.

"What is it?" Nikki quizzes curiously.
"This is for you..." Jack smiles opening the box to reveal a silver necklace with one diamond centered in the middle. Jack looks at her and turns her around carefully taking the necklace he places it around her neck and smiles cheerfully.

Fixing the clasp Nikki carefully touches the necklace around her neck and grins cheerfully. "This is perfect Jack, thank you" She smiles.

She looks up at Jack and kisses him, Jack smiles into the kiss pulling her close once again. "Where did you get the money for this Jack? it must of cost a fortune," Nikki quizzes pulling away from him once again.

"It's my Grandma's... not as if I can wear it but she wanted me to have it."
Nikki gasps and looks up at him, "I can't accept this Jack."

"Of course you can, I love you and I want you to have it..." Jack responds holding her waist lightly. Nikki looks up at him smiling happily and pulls him into another hug.

Jack smiles and kisses her one last time before deciding it would be best to head downstairs just in time for the prom to start. As they leave the lift Jack notices his Dad stood in the foyer, Conor looks over to see his son and his girlfriend walking towards him, "Da what are you doing here?" Jack asks.

"I wanted to see you pair, take a photo of you both considering you're not coming home tonight too," Conor responds with a cheerful smile.
Conor smiles at the pair as they stand together Jack places his arms around Nikki's waist ready for the photo, Conor pulls out his camera and takes a photo of the pair together. "Son you scrub up well, that haircut makes you look like a man and less of a clown... Nicola, you look gorgeous, nice to see my Mother's necklace coming to good use," Conor smiles and Nikki lightly touches the diamond necklace.

Conor takes a few more photos of them before telling the teenagers he is going to get them developed straight away for them. Jack and Nikki then enter the event hall together to see it done up as nicely as it can be done for a community school prom, the room was decorated in balloons and streamers which were the school colours.
As they enter everyone has to have their photo professionally taken which was part of the price for the entry fee originally. Once having their professional photo taken together Jack and Nikki go and sit down at the tables set out around the room, waiting for the venue to fill up and the night to continue.