Querencia

Chapter Eighteen

Moments of pure contentment in life are hard to come by. We rarely ever are content with everything that's going on. Yet in this moment, lying on my trusty porch swing, I felt entirely at peace.

The past week has been amazing. Not full of excitement, totally memorable events amazing. A calm normal happy amazing. School was mostly over, no drama had surfaced, and Ariella was sweet as ever.

We had a smooth transition back into our relationship, though she kept insisting on a big romantic gesture. I found her excitement endearing and I'm secretly looking forward to what she has planned.

"Earth back to Leah!" Sarah yells over our music.

I shake my head and smile "She's back, what are we doing again?"

She laughs "It's time for your everything shower, I'll set up our makeup and hair stuff on your table while you're in there."

"You didn't use up all my shampoo right?" I tease as I walk into my bathroom, dodging the towel she tosses at me.

It's the evening of prom and Sarah is over getting ready at my house. As the music from her speaker flows into the room and I make myself clean, smooth, and moisturized I can't help the smile that's painted on my face.

"Finally!" Sarah dramatically exclaims as I come out.

I tighten my robe "So dramatic, like you didn't take an hour yourself."

"Touche." She laughs.

I sit in front of my makeshift vanity that is comprised of an old antique table and mirror mounted on the wall. Sarah comes up behind me with my blow dryer and brush. I start to heat up my straightener and put some products into my hair.

Sarah shimmys and dances to the music as she drys and partially straightens my hair. I laugh as I then go in after her with my straightener then put in a curler.

Once all my curlers are in place we switch places and I start to braid her hair into a halo.

We then sit side by side to do our makeup methodically and carefully. A year ago I would've never enjoyed this tedious of a process, especially when it was towards treating myself. Now? I find a sort of comfort in the fact I can enjoy dolling myself up with nice products for a nice of fun. From the look on Sarahs' face I suspect I'm not the only one thinking that.

"I'm so proud of you." she comments.

"Dude, don't get sentimental I just finished my eyeliner." I chuckle.

"I'm being serious you ass." She laughs and nudges my shoulder. "You've come a long way from wanting to be invisible to proudly looking like a badass."

I just smile at her in response.

I hear a knock before my mom comes in. "Well don't you girls look lovely. You'll have your dates droolin on the dancefloor." she compliments.

"Thanks Mrs.P." Sarah replys.

"Hey mom why haven't I ever seen your prom pictures?" I ask.

She shrugs "'Cause I didn't go."

"What?!" Sarah exclaims.

My Mom laughs "My friends and I went on a weekend trip to the beach instead. Didn't see the point in gettin all fancy-like when we were the cast-outs so we had our own party. Now-" She goes over and reaches for our dresses "Y'all better get dressed before your late to your own prom."

. . .

When we arrive at the venue we take a minute to just admire it. Our theme is Nature so our venue was next to a lake. There was a gazebo with twinkling lights and bushels of flowers where people were taking photos. The sun is setting shining down and complimenting the colors in my dress.

The dark red-orange glow of the sun matches the top part of my dress that then bleeds into an elegant white. The tulle making it seem like a waterfall of color. There is golden delicate lace my mom stitched to the end of my bell sleeves, along the cinched waist, and along the bottom in a way that made it look like it was apart of the water fall of color.

We turn at the sound of a low whistle.

Jackson is walking towards us, wearing a silk button up that matched the blue of Sarah's dress.

"Well hello ladies you clean up nicely." He comments, wraping his arm around Sarah.

"Not half bad yourself." I reply.

"Shall we." He dramatically sweeps is arm in the direction of the entrance.

"We shall." Sarah answers in a posh accent.

Walking in, the lights shower a soft almost dark glow around the ball room. Food lines the furthest wall and people are chatting at tables or dancing in the center of the room.

All around I spot familiar faces all dressed to the nines with makeup, jewlery, and hairspray. The same faces that had stared and gawked as I held a girls hand where in there own world having the time of their lives.

As easy as it is to fall into the self doubt and insecurity that comes with feeling like the world is judging you, moments like this make it easier to let it fall away. Realizing just how small of a part of their lifes you really are makes being just myself as simple as breathing. Knowing I'll never be more than 'that girl from highschool' in their eyes makes any action I take forgettable.

With this revelation lifting a weight I've carried for my whole life off my shoulders, I boldly grab my friends hands and drag them to the dance floor. As we sway and swing around the floor, I throw my head back and laugh. I can't explain why I did, but I let out the most genuine tear inducing laugh I've ever had. My friends being who they are laughed with me. For once, my brain wasn't focused on a million things, but rather on this one moment.

And damn did it feel good.