Memphis Wills wants out of Whitehaven, the tiny village she's lived in her whole life. So aged sixteen she leaves for college in the city and never looks back.
Until five years later when she finally wises up and leaves her dirt bag boyfriend. Fee...
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Mr Murphy's Porsche gleams in the light of the evening sun. I'd watched him cleaning it this afternoon from the kitchen window while Mum had insisted on curling my hair into some fancy updo. I'd convinced her to let me do my own make-up and I'd sensed the disappointment when I'd retuned downstairs having only applied one coat of mascara and a rose blush. I'd worn the nude-pink lipstick to appease her.
Jack's already waiting beside the various coloured flowerpots that adorn the path to Periwinkle cottage. He looks smart in a black suit, his sandy hair brushed back from his face. Mrs Rivers hovers next to him, picking invisible dust from his jacket sleeve and straightening his blue tie.
We both smile as our eyes meet and something strange bubbles in my chest.
"Time for some pictures," Mum announces, and Mrs Rivers comes to her side.
I'm ushered next to Jack where we both smile until our cheeks ache as they snap picture after picture. Mum's struggling to work out how to zoom out when Dad arrives home, beaming with pride at the sight of Jack and I looking so grown up – his words.
Dad saves the day, taking photos that I know won't be blurry or badly framed.
Mr Murphy comes to join the photoshoot in the garden as Eli arrives, followed closely by his parents and little sister. Mrs French inspects Eli's suit with close scrutiny before she lets him join us on the grass. He takes my other side and then we go through the whole process of taking pictures again.
"They do know this is only our prom, right?" Eli says once the cameras are finally away and we're climbing into Mr Murphy's car.
I take the seat behind Jack. "It's embarrassing," I admit. "But look how happy they all look."
The three of us look back to where our parents are watching us, huge smiles on their faces. Mum looks like she wants to cry.
"Ready to blow this popsicle stand?"
"Just drive, Grandad," Jack says. "Before they make us smile some more."
Mr Murphy grins as he turns the key in the ignition. "Right you are chaps."
Prom is exactly what we expect it to be. The assembly hall of Rockport Comprehensive is filled with balloons and banners and there's a disco set up on the stage. The three of us hang out by the buffet table and watch as people dance. Jack and Eli ogle Candice Bowers as she passes, her boobs practically spilling out of her baby pink gown. I look down to my own chest which is flat in comparison.
"You'll be a woman one day, M."
I swat at Eli, mock frowning when Jack joins in with the sniggering.
"You look nice, though," Jack whispers as Eli grabs for more cocktail sausages and I smile at him appreciatively.
Mum had picked out my dress; a long satin gown I'd had to try on as soon she'd spotted it. I'd not been sure about the emerald green colour but once on I'd actually felt sort of pretty.
