Joyce looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her blue dress looked amazing with her dark brown hair cascading around her shoulders. She wore little kitten heels and was ready to go. She sat quietly waiting for Lonnie to arrive.
Two hours a later, Lonnie finally arrived. He beeped the car horn and shouted "Joy Joy, come on". Joyce sighed, this is not how she had envisaged her Prom.
When she got in the car Lonnie stank of whiskey, he was angry and took it out on Joyce.
They arrived at school and the music could be heard all around. Joyce took a deep breath and looked the hall. Before she knew what was going on, Lonnie had dragged her the length of the hall, sat her at a table and left to be with a group of his loser friends.
Time past and Joyce was still alone. She decided to go and talk to Lonnie, she moved through the dancers and reached Lonnie's group.
"Lonnie? Its prom...are we going to dance?".
Lonnie laughed "go away Joyce, the men are talking business".
"But...its prom" Joyce protested.
Lonnie spun around and faced her "I said go away". Joyce was close to tears "oh, Joy Joy's going to cry" he and his friends laughed.
"I hate you Lonnie Byers, you're a pig!". Before she realised what she had said Lonnie's large hand came towards her at speed and she found herself on the floor with a split lip. Joyce picked herself up and walked out of the hall. Once outside, she went through her bag for her cigarettes and lighter. Still shaking, she dropped her bag.
"Damn it" she said and sat on a bench and cried. Suddenly there was a voice behind her "want a smoke?". It was Jim. She took the cigarette without looking at him and thanked him. Jim sat next to her on the bench and pulled her face towards him. It was then that he saw her face.
"Joyce? Did he do this to you?" Joyce was silent. "Jesus" he said. He took a drag on the cigarette and handed it back to Joyce. He gave her his car keys, told her to wait in the car and then disappeared into the hall.
Jim walked up to Lonnie and tapped him on the shoulder. As Lonnie turned around Jim landed a punch square on his nose. Blood spurted from his face as he led on his back. "Punching women? You're a fucking loser Byers". Then he turned and walked out. Joyce was waiting, he got in the car. "Let's get you home" he said. Joyce didn't want to go home, her father thought Lonnie was great. This was a conversation she wouldn't win. "Can we just hang out , or go back to yours?". Jim knew she didn't want to go back home so he took her back to his house. They picked up food on the way.
The house was empty, except for the dog. Joyce sat down and petted Buddy "hey Buddy". Buddy jumped on her lap. "Dogs always know" he said. Joyce looked at him confused "when you're hurting" Jim continued "dogs always know."
They sat and ate burgers and fries and watched TV with Buddy. Jim put his arm around her and she let her head rest on him. When the dog jumped off to go sit in his bed, Jim saw his chance. He turned her face towards him and kissed her softly. Joyce responded. Their kisses became more heated and Jim pushed his hand along her thigh. Joyce stopped him "your parents?" She said "they may come home soon, let's go upstairs".
In Jim's bedroom they kissed. Gently he moved her towards the bed. She had missed him, so much, more than she had realised. They stayed together all night.
The following morning, Joyce woke and noticed an army uniform hanging on the cupboard door. She sat up and stared at it.
"When do you go?" she asked.
"Tomorrow morning" he replied.
Joyce dropped back onto the bed and looked up at the ceiling. "I still can't believe you're going, I'm going to miss you so much".
Jim pulled her close and whispered "its just a year Joyce, one year and I'll be home, I promise".
They spent the day together and in the evening Joyce helped him pack the last of his things. Before she left to go home he held her tight "I love you Joyce".
She couldn't sleep that night, knowing that by the time she woke up he'd be gone.
