Soulmates •Josh Kiszka•

Archie and Betty.

"I just can't believe the loveliness of loving you"

-

As the weeks to prom drew closer, I couldn't get Emily to stop taking me to different shops to find the 'perfect dress'.

"Emily- it's not even-" I began and she turned around from the rack and shook her head, "ah ah ah, this is your senior prom Lex, you've got to let this be something that you and Josh look back on and remember how magical it was!" she stated, turning back to look at the dresses.

I shook my head and laughed while grazing slowly over the dress with my fingers. I had always wanted to go to one of these things but last year I held my pride up that I would never go to one of these things, especially when my sister was always prom queen.

"I don't know Em, this dress is definitely more you.." I giggled looking down at one of the dresses Emily had convinced me to try on.

"I-" she giggled, "fine, you pick one and see what you think" she sighed throwing up her hands. I bit my lip turning to face the rack. I cautiously grazed over the dresses with my hand until I ran across a beautiful thin strap ivory dress with blue and black lace detailing and slowly took it from the rack.

"That-" Emily began until I turned around and eyed her, "that one is beautiful" she looked down wide eyed as I walked into the dressing room.

As soon as the fabric laid over my skin, I felt like I was meant to be in it. As if I needed to be running through a garden while my lover chased after me. I smiled in thought as I walked out to Emily and turned to face the mirrors, everything I had felt from just putting the dress on came into reality once I physically saw myself in it.

"That looks incredible on you" Emily smiled big from behind me, "does it?" I smiled, and ran my hands over my stomach as I turned to the side.

"It looks beautiful mama," I heard a familiar voice from the corner of the room chuckle and I turn to see Josh smiling while rubbing his lip.

"Josh, you're supposed to be at rehearsal" I giggled, walking towards him.

"I know, but thinking of your beautiful self in a dress distracted me so I had to come see you," he said, wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me in. I couldn't hide my apparent blush and placed my hands on his chest, "You would have seen me in it eventually."

"I'll give you two lovebirds a moment," Emily giggled and walked out into the hall. I giggled while watching her walk out and then returned my look back to Josh who hadn't looked away from me. It had been 4 months since Josh and I first said 'I love you' and we hadn't stopped since, it's almost as if it made us tremendously closer. I put my forehead to his as we both slowly closed our eyes and stood there in silence, in that moment all I could think of was him and how much he meant to me. He had helped me in many different places over the last couple months, including my parent's divorce, and my father moving to California. He helped me realize that I indeed need to put myself first because if not then how could I genuinely ever be happy and accept what my father did, not that I ever will, but just to get on with life and not ponder it forever.

"Lex," he spoke up softly, bringing his hand to my cheek. I placed my hand onto his and bit my lip, pulling away and looking him in the eyes, waiting for him to continue.

"After graduation, the boys and I are going on tour. I want you to come with us, I don't want to ever be anywhere that you aren't" he smiled softly, looking at me intently. My heart fluttered, thinking about spending every waking moment with him and I couldn't think of a better way to spend my time, I hadn't told him that I applied to a couple different performing art schools, but I hadn't heard anything back anyways, so I figured it didn't matter now.

"I would love to" I smiled and softly pecked him on the lips.

Once I got home to show my mom and sister my dress, I heard them fighting in the kitchen. I walked quietly to listen a little more,

"I told you I didn't want you to see that boy!" my mom shouted.

"Mom! Just because Jake and I didn't work out-" my sister began.

"This isn't about the Kiszka's, Ashleigh!" my mother sighed, throwing her hands onto her hips.

"Yes it is, you think just because Lex is making things work with Josh, you think I should be with Jake!" my sister exclaimed.

"That is not true! I am not okay with you sneaking out with that boy! Your father would say the same thing," my mother folded her arms together, trying to look stern even though that was usually my father's job, but since he had been gone it was hard for my mom to take on that role.

"Yeah, well dad isn't here and you'll never be him! So get over it!" my sister shouted, storming out of the back door and slamming it making my mother jump. I frowned and walked around the corner, "Mom?" I said setting my dress over the chair at the table.

"Yes sweetie?" she stressfully smiled while pouring a glass of wine.

"What was that about?" I asked, sitting at the counter in front of her.

"Oh, just your sister being her usual stubborn self," she replied, taking a sip.

I looked down at my hands and then back up, deciding to change the subject to try and diffuse the situation. "I got my prom dress today" I smiled softly.

"You did? Oh that's great, go try it on!" she smiled while setting down her glass. I nodded and went into the bathroom to change, I was definitely always mom's favorite, she had more patience for me, to where dad had more patience for Ashleigh, it wasn't exactly right but that's just how things worked for us. I walked out of the bathroom, pulling my hair off to the side and looking down as I walked and back up once I got back into the kitchen.

"Lex, you look beautiful!" my mother smiled and walked around the corner towards me.

"Thanks, mom" I smiled, while biting my lip and looking down trying to hold back the urge to ask, "Do you think dad would think so?" I felt a bit immature for even caring, but I guess it was just my younger self yearning for his opinion.

"He would," my mother smiled sympathetically, placing her hands on my shoulders. I let out a sigh and thought about telling my mom what Josh and I had discussed earlier, but I figured it was still too soon to know anything was definite, so I blew it off.

"Let's go to dinner, yeah?" my mom said and motioned for me to go change. I nodded and walked towards the bathroom.