Tatum Fitzgerald's life took an unexpected turn when her father ascended to the presidency, thrusting her into the national spotlight. Amidst the chaos of senior year and the relentless media scrutiny, she struggles to maintain her sense of normalcy...
I'd been going to winter formals since eighth grade, and it was bittersweet knowing this would be my last one without my mom here. I was grateful for my sister's support in making the night as special as possible.
"Your makeup looks gorgeous," Natalia said as she lined my lips. "And your hair? Simply stunning."
I glanced at my reflection. My hair was silk-pressed—a rare treat for me. I used to hate my curls, but somewhere along the way, especially after meeting BK, I learned to love them.
Tonight, I was wearing a magenta strapless tulle dress with a sheer corset bodice and ruffle embellishments. Natalia was letting me borrow her gold Saint Laurent heels, which perfectly completed the look.
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"Are you staying at BK's for the after-party?" Natalia asked. "You know, I used to go to after-parties back in high school. I don't want you drinking and driving. Well, I don't want you drinking at all, but I guess I'll pick my battles."
I finished off my lips with my favorite Fenty gloss. "Yes, I'm staying over. I'll be back by the afternoon to help with Sunday dinner."
"Perfect. Let's get you to Sydney's for pictures," she said, grabbing her purse.
Before heading to Sydney's, I took photos with my sister, her husband, my niece, and all of us together. I had to admit, my sister was doing an amazing job balancing the roles of a mom to a toddler and a teenager. It was a whirlwind transition.
Sydney surprised me with the most beautiful corsage. Since I wasn't going with some grimy boy, it felt extra special. We took pictures with friends at one of our favorite spots, and I realized how much I'd miss these moments when college started.
"You did an amazing job with the decorations," I complimented Sydney as we walked into the dance.
She smiled, taking in the scene. "Thanks! I might go to school for interior design. I love doing this and event planning."
With connections like ours, that dream wasn't too far-fetched. Sydney could easily end up with an HBO show about interior decorating.
As I admired the setup, I spotted Miles in a suit, chatting with friends by the photo booth. He wore his suit without a tie, his shirt slightly undone. There was something charismatic about him that caught my attention.
Miles looked really good.
"Oh my gosh, Tatum," Sydney said, snapping me out of my daze. "Who are you staring at?"
I quickly recovered. "Nothing."
She glanced over and grinned. "Miles Bailey? Do you like him?"
I scoffed, trying to play it cool. "What? Miles Bailey? No way. He's a total jerk and BK's brother."
But then I remembered twirling my hair at the coffee shop and laughing at his dumb jokes. I was trying to convince Sydney as much as myself.
