Ivy had the idea that Garroth's promposal was nothing but a pity ask. If it was a pity ask, he would be taking her to the prom instead of me. She tried to spread her rumor, but it was quickly shut down. Garroth was infuriated, and Laurance was ready to string her from a flagpole. Sometimes it helps being close to people who somehow manage to have influence over parts of the student body.
Laurance did end up finding a new date. We never spoke about Dante's backstabbing after that day. It took days until Laurance was willing to talk to Dante again. The topic was hushed between Garroth and I. Garroth knew too. Laurance told him.
The sound of Zianna's camera clicking away lights up my ears. She's taken it upon herself to be the photographer of the evening. "It's not every day a mother can take fairy tale pictures of her daughter," he happily chirps. "Or send her daughter off to her very first prom."
I nudge Kandi with my elbow, watching Zianna have a field day taking photos of our small little group. She glares at me before rolling her eyes and crossing her arms over her chest. "Don't say a single word."
"Awe, but Kandi, we can both be princesses!"
I debate running or hiding. Both make me look like a coward, but I would be an alive coward. This doesn't last very long before Kandi is whisked away by Dante. Even I want to scowl at him being around.
Laurance places his hand on my shoulder, a red tie adorning his suit. I lean up to fix it, but he holds his hand out to stop me and does it himself. He really won't let me help him in moments like this? We don't have a mother for her to do it for him.
"Zianna showed me some of your pictures. They're pretty."
I smile softly and prevent myself from leaning against him. It'd ruin my curls, and that's an entire can of hairspray wasted. "Really? Yours look like a fuck boy," I snicker before taking it back. "I'm joking. Very charming. . . Are you really okay with this?"
He looks down at me. It takes a moment for him to think about what I mean before he follows my eyes over to Zianna and Garroth. I could've reached up and slipped my finger under his suspender like he does to our bra straps and let it snap against him. I don't. I decided to behave myself.
"I don't see why not. You're just friends. Garroth respects me enough not to go behind my back."
My stomach drops. There's a pained expression on my face before looking up at him with a curt nod. He asks what's wrong, and I lie and say I can already feel my heels' straps digging into my feet. He doesn't question any further.
°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°
I didn't know what I expected prom to be like. I always expected it to be such a big deal from all the stories I've read or the shows I've watched. They'd exaggerate about all eyes on the main character when she would walk in, gasps erupting.
It felt normal. Eyes would go to the entrance when someone new entered, but it wasn't like how I grew up reading. There weren't any gasps or eye stopping dresses. It felt like every other dance I have gone to. Something I would make a mental note to tell Vylad about.
"Are you sneaking off into an after party tonight?" Katelyn whispers into my ear, winking a bit afterwards. I stare at her in shock. Those were never something I was into. They also weren't something that Laurance and Cadenza wanted me to go to.
"I didn't know there were any. I usually don't go to parties like that. Besides, who wants an underclassman crashing?"
"I wouldn't call it crashing if you were a plus one."
I shrug my shoulders. I don't see the need to have to go to a party later. I didn't bring an extra set of clothes. I'd hate for my dress to be ruined after how long it took Cadenza to make.
Our conversation doesn't last much longer before Katelyn has lost interest and is walking off towards the snack table. I take a moment to take in what's all around me before trying to prevent myself from being a wallflower and instead be like gum to the bottom of someone's shoe.
Our little circle reconvenes together, enjoying ourselves. Even though there's tension between Laurance and Dante, it doesn't appear that way. Within this small second, there's no petty drama. Everyone is getting along.
There's a voice over the speakers, and the music begins to slow down. I look over to Kandi to see that Dante is dragging her away from us. Small little clusters form and break away.
A hand places itself on my shoulder. I look beside me to see Garroth standing proudly beside me. I can't help but smile back. "Is this your way of asking me to dance?"
"Yeah, it is. Will you?"
"I don't see why not."
