"W-will you go to prom with me?" I mutter hopefully, staring at my smudged, red Converse shoes because I don't have the guts to look at his face. I'm thankful every student has already left campus.
A quick second passes but it feels like forever. I glance shyly at him.
Matt is looking at me in the eyes. He's hesitating to say something. My palms sweat.
He shoves his hands in his jean pockets. I could already tell where this was going, but why were my hopes still up? He had rejected two girls already, so what made me think that I would have a slight chance? Seriously, Kaela?
Well, I guess, what's done is done, there's nothing I can do about it anymore. I can't take back what I've said.
I clench my fists when I hear him start to say something.
"... No, thanks," he says.
My heart plummets to my feet, shattering into millions of pieces, leaving a hollow feeling in my chest. I feel like my lungs are being crushed, all of the air escaping out of my body. I slowly look up at him through a layer of thick tears, and although no words were said, Matt could tell what I was thinking. Why?
He gives me one last glance before he walks away, hands still shoved in his pockets as if he didn't give a care for anything.
I'm such an idiot. All along, I knew he would reject me. But still, why did I even try? Why am I crying when I knew this would happen? Maybe it's because tomorrow is prom night and I still don't have a date. Maybe it's because I believe I'm not good enough.
Then, I break down completely, my heart beating fast and my breaths growing rapid. I cover my face in my hands and cry. I lean against the wall; my whole world is falling apart.
My mind keeps replaying the rejection. No, thanks. No, thanks. No, thanks. The lump in my throat suddenly grows larger.
I hate him. No. I only think I hate him. Only because he rejected me.
I crushed on him for years. I still crush on him now, actually. But this is the last year I'm ever going to see him. After all, this is senior year, and everybody that I know of are going to different colleges. That thought sounds good to me, not seeing his stupid face again. But I also don't want to leave high school knowing that I was date-less at prom.
I'm a train wreck right now.
It seems like eternity until I suck it up and start walking back home. As soon as I crossed the road, tears start forming again. I wipe them away furiously. I'm so mad at him. I'm mad at myself for being such a fool. For getting my hopes up.
Soon, I arrive at my house and enter from the backyard. I slam the door and rush up to my room, stomping every step of the way. I lock myself up not wanting to see the rest of the world ever again. Jerking my backpack onto the ground, I dive into my bed, cringing from today's embarrassment. I bury my head in my pillow.
I have no one to take with me to prom. How humiliating. I'm going to be staying at home by myself, watching Netflix, but no chilling. Not that I'd want to Netflix and chill anyway. Sure, I could go with friends, but seeing Matt at the prom with someone else would be too much for me. Who knows, I might just pour punch all over his head. Even though that sounds tempting, I don't want any more embarrassment.
I was so involved in cringing I didn't realize that my mom was calling me down.
"Kaela! What is taking you so long? Somebody is here to see you."
"Coming," I grumbled, wiping any leftover tears with the back of my hand furiously.
Who the heck would want to see me, especially after today's turn-down with Matthew? I look in the mirror to make sure my eyes weren't still red from crying. They were. Screw it, I'll just say it's because of allergies. I don't bother to fix my messy hair.
