TANGLED PLANS

32

We get to prom half an hour later, and as soon as we get out of the car, Justin grabs for my hand. I give it to him as the both of us walk into the venue where the dance is being held. Once I walk in, I realize that this place is a full ballroom. My eyes capture the huge room with decorations all over.

The room is decorated with our theme, Starry Night. The room is dim, with only a blue hue all around the room. There were disco lights on the dance floor, but all the other places were dim. Justin tugs me toward the tables filled with teenagers who don't want to dance yet.

I'm looking all over the room when I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn around to find Brayden's girlfriend, Vanessa, smiling at me with her mouth widening. She was wearing a deep green dress, and with her hair color, it was perfect. The dress was tight all around and flowed down at the bottom. I'm pretty sure it was called a mermaid dress, and it fit her like a glove.

I could see Brayden behind her, who could barely keep his eyes off her. I wondered if that was what it was like to love someone. Brayden had seen Vanessa for a long time, and yet tonight he was looking at her as if she were new to him. I wondered if love was being thrilled by the sight of your person, even if you saw them a minute ago.

"Hello, you look gorgeous!" Vanessa shouts at me as she looks down at me.

I smile at the compliment and then say, "You look so gorgeous as well." She smiles at my compliment and then starts to compliment me on my makeup, and the excitement of someone looking at my appearance made me overwhelmed. In a good way. I've never been complimented like this. I tried to keep up with her, but it was hard.

"Alright," Vanessa says with a huge grin, and then reaches for my brother's hand behind her. "This one wants to steal me away, so I'll see you later."

"Definitely," I say to her with a short smile, and she shares a last look of amazement with me before walking away. I watch my brother slip a hand across her waist as they both walk toward the other side of the room.

I turn around to Justin, who had been on his phone, and feel awkward. What am I supposed to do now? Sit here in a dress that doesn't feel comfortable while being sat? in.I guess I could sing along to the lyrics of the songs being played in my head. I shake my head though and reach my hand for his own.

He holds it absentmindedly, his eyes still glued to the phone. I clear my throat and say, "So, um, do you want to see what they have for food?" I really just wanted an excuse to look around at the place. I could appreciate a well-decorated place. This ballroom was definitely worth looking around for.

Justin clicks his phone off and looks up at me. I have to repeat the sentence in order for him to understand, but then he stands up. The both of us head over to the area close to the dance floor, where there are a lot of tables lined up with food. My eyes skip over all the actual food items and toward the desserts.

I suddenly craved sugar right now, so I grabbed a plate and moved over to the dessert section. I grabbed two cookies and a cupcake and then turned over to Justin, who had been getting food. Once he is done, the both of us start to head back to our table.

"I think this was our table," I say to him as I set my plate down on the table, and his plate drops down next to mine. My eyes flitted up to his face, only to be met with the back of his head. He is walking to the back of the room, where there are a lot of other guys talking amongst themselves. My mind registers the guys as some of the guys on my brother's football team.

They seem to be all talking with Justin as if he fits in with them. Then my mind also registered that Justin had shared with me that he would be joining the team next year. Brayden must have introduced him to the rest of his team. Feeling awkward standing alone by myself, I move toward my seat and take a seat.