Road trip

6- I love it

Once we had finally met up again after his practice, which he was thirty minutes late out of, we went to the coffee shop and he looked over the hotels and rentals I had picked.

"I love them A, let's send the list to our parents so they can get it all booked and then all we need to do is enjoy the rest of the year." He grinned handing me the papers back.

"Okay, I'll upload them after you drop me off and make sure our parents get it. Oh, by the way, I wanted to talk to you about what Jessica said."

"A, it's not a big deal. Jessica likes to get under peoples skin, she always has. I don't care what stories she makes up in her head, you're my best friend either way."

I rolled my eyes, because of course, he was a guy and they didn't get their feelings hurt over bitchy girls. I did though. I don't know if it hurt more that she was mean to Austin about molly, or because I did care about Austin a lot and I didn't want Molly to think I was trying to take her place.

Girl problems.

"Oh, uhm ... okay." I sighed.

"So what is this new idea you had for prom. You've been talking about it non stop and since we only have a month left before summer and school is practically done you might as well explain it now." He said with a cocky grin.

"So I had a plan, but I don't know if you had plans for a date." I began.

"I might." He chimes in.

"Well, if not, maybe we could go as friends or something. I mean I'm not exactly trying to do the whole prom night, find my true love fantasy. I just want to get it done with.". I wasn't lying either. Prom wouldn't be the same without Molly, I had skipped the last three but since this was senior year, my parents had insisted I go.

"I'll think about it." He seemed in deep concentration. "I gotta figure out if the girl im asking turns me down first."

"Austin, no one would ever turn you down." I interjected.

"Maybe, but she's different. She doesn't stand for the usual cheesy bullshit that works on most people."

I kind of felt bad for him. I mean he didn't talk to me about girls and it may be because I am one, or because he's uncomfortable bringing someone around his dead ex's best friend who is now his best friend.

"Just ask from the heart. Girls love to know what you feel, why you want them to be there." I smiled before tipping up the last of my drink. "On a side note, if she says yes, you'll have to tell me who she is!" I shrugged.

"You'll be the first to know." He smiled.

We settled into an easy conversation after that. Well until it was time to go home. Tomorrow my mom was dragging me to her own version of hell, aka dress shopping.

Seriously I never understood why someone would be so excited about a dress for a dance. It's not like it's a wedding. It's all a big popularity contest.

Austin kissed the side of my head as he dropped me off, the same way he always did, and I disappeared into my room. I was going to need a lot of rest if I was going to survive a day with her in dress shops.

...

"Mom it's been four hours! Can we eat and then I'll find something?" I whined as she grew frustrated. We had been at this dress shopping stuff most of the day and I was starving.

"The sooner you pick one, the sooner we can go eat." She countered and I knew she was serious.

I grunted and made my way to the back of the store. I didn't even want to go to prom, let alone let my parents spend too much money on a dress that I would never wear again. It was almost tempting to just pick something hideous so I wouldn't have to go.

Mom came up behind me and handed me a deep purple dress. It was plain and only had one shoulder strap, but it wasn't super heavy. I tried it on and surprisingly it didn't look terrible.

"Do you like it?" She asked as I turned to face myself in the mirror.

I had two choices. I could tell her it was okay and risk doing this for a few more hours, or I could play it up.

"I love it mom, I just wish it had something sparkly on it." I smiled noticing how the dress actually fit very well. It matched the blondes and reds of my hair which was nice and didn't wash me out.

Mom got up and grabbed an associate who immediately ran off behind a counter and returned with a crystal shimmering belt that fit just under the bust line.

"Perfect." I smiled.

Maybe prom wouldn't be so terrible, heck even if it was, at least I can change and we can eat now.

I changed back into my clothes and against my mothers protests I stopped us at a hotdog cart and loaded two hotdogs with ketchup mustard and all the fixings I could find. It was delicious and something that reminded me that despite my families recent upcoming into wealth, sometimes the simple things were better.

She took me home after that and as I hung up the dress and stacked the shoes in my closet my phone chimed.

"Meet me at the baseball field tomorrow at lunch, it's a surprise ."

I smiled to myself as I remembered that Austin was dumb if he thought I wasn't going to ask him about it on the way to school. But I guess that's the fun in surprises, and he fact they don't tell you even when you beg.