My Flower

Chapter 42 - The Homecoming Dance Part 1

~ ~ ~ 1999

   The air crackled with a nervous energy that only a high school homecoming dance could conjure. For Blossom, a teenager navigating the choppy waters of late adolescence in the 90's, this particular Saturday evening held a significance that went beyond the usual mix of glitter and awkward slow dances. She and her best friend, Hunter, were officially an item, a status cemented by the surprising turn of events following his rather unorthodox 14-day bet. They were dating, in the eyes of their peers and the wider world, but Hunter, a man with old-fashioned ideals, still held a traditional piece of the puzzle close to his chest. He intended to officially ask Blossom to be his girlfriend after the homecoming dance.

   At his own home, just a few miles away, Hunter was a picture of focused calm amidst the flurry of pre-dance preparations. He expertly knotted his tie, the fabric a light shade of blue that complemented his eyes and Blossom's dress, and carefully clipped his boutonnière onto his lapel. He caught his reflection in the mirror, a flicker of self-satisfaction passing over his face. He looked good, he had to admit, even if he did try his hardest not to let it go to his head. His mother entered and her eyes filled with tears, a testament to the emotional rollercoaster of motherhood and the bittersweet milestone of seeing her son all grown up. Hunter, ever the gentleman, kissed her on the cheek, his voice thick with affection as he said, "I love you, Mom." He then descended the stairs, a living portrait of anticipation, to display his chosen attire to the rest of the family. Compliments flowed freely from his parents and brothers, but one of his brothers, specifically his eight-year-old brother, Alex, wore a face of pure, unadulterated jealousy. It was meant for him to take Blossom to the dance, or so he had assumed. Hunter scooped his baby sister into his arms, his laughter mingling with the sound of her giggles as he peppered her face with kisses.

   "I gotta get going," Hunter said, trying not to look at the clock. "Don't want to be late."

   Just as he was about to head out, his father called out to him. "You really planning on picking up Blossom in your mother's magenta Sudan?"

   Hunter shrugged. "It's all I got, Dad. Unless you want me to walk."

   His father grinned, then tossed him a set of keys that Hunter had never seen before. "Check the driveway, son."

   Hunter stepped outside, his eyes widening at the sight before him. A sleek, black car, straight out of a Hollywood dream, gleamed under the fading evening light. His father explained that he had rented it from a friend in exchange for cleaning the car, a favor that seemed to be paying off tenfold. With a grin that stretched from ear to ear, Hunter thanked his father and settled behind the wheel of his borrowed chariot, his mind humming with excitement.

   Meanwhile, at the Ahlgrim household, a familiar pre-dance ritual was unfolding. Blossom sat patiently before the vanity, her mother, Natalie, carefully curling her long, blonde hair and putting it up in a sophisticated twist. Her younger sister, Elena, was meticulously applying her own makeup at the vanity beside her, a symphony of brushes and palettes surrounding her like a constellation.

   Trent, their father, yelled from downstairs. "Nick's here for Elena!"

   Elena shrieked, clutching her face, "DO NOT LET HIM UP HERE! I am not done!"

   Blossom chuckled, "If it didn't take you half an hour to choose a dang eyeshadow color you'd be done by now," she said jokingly. Elena, never one to be outdone, stuck her tongue out in response.

   Their younger brother, Ethan, came into the room looking almost as uncomfortable as he felt. He was wearing a brand new tuxedo that was obviously not his favorite item of clothing, but it was important. He asked his mom how he was supposed to pin "the flower thing" onto himself. Natalie sighed, luckily for Ethan she had just finished Blossom's hair and happy to not have to come back to it.

   Blossom stood and admired herself in the mirror, a sense of surreal wonder washing over her. Elena stepped up to her side, leaning her cheek onto her shoulder, giving her hand a squeeze. "You look amazing sis," Elena murmured, her eyes reflecting her sister's image. "Hunter is gonna love it."

   "Do you think so?" Blossom asked, the butterflies in her stomach fluttering with newfound intensity. This was, in her eyes, their first formal, proper date. The 14-day bet had been a chaotic, heartwarming whirlwind, but this was different, this was real. She pushed a stray curl behind her ear, a nervous habit "I haven't had a boyfriend in what feels like forever. I don't want to mess anything up."

   Elena chuckled, squeezing her hand one last time, "You aren't gonna mess anything up. Just be yourself, that's what Hunter likes." Elena then turned and headed downstairs to finally meet her own date, and not a moment too soon, she was sure of it.

   Natalie turned her attention to Ethan, who was now sporting a successfully pinned boutonnière. "So, Ethan, you taking someone to the dance tonight like your sisters?" she asked, a teasing glint in her eyes.

   Ethan gave a dismissive, yet sad sounding, "No mom." He gave her a small kiss on the cheek as he thanked her for helping him with his flower, then headed downstairs for a drink, leaving his mother to wonder what the deal was with her son.

   A moment later, Trent's voice boomed from downstairs. "Hunter's here, Blossom!"

   Blossom took a couple of deep breaths, trying to quell the wave of nervous anticipation that was washing over her. As she left her room and began the slow, graceful descent down the curved staircase, she couldn't help the small smile that was forming on her face. Hunter, standing at the bottom, his gaze fixed on her, looked as though he had been struck by a rogue bolt of lightning. Ethan, standing beside him, smirked knowingly and pushed Hunter's jaw shut with a laugh.

   She reached the bottom step, then did a little twirl, her dress swirling around her. "So?" she said, her cheeks tinted pink. "What do you think?"

   Hunter's voice was thick with emotion. "You look beautiful, Blossom," he said, his eyes filled with an emotion she couldn't quite place. He took her hand and pulled her gently into an embrace, his lips finding hers in a tender kiss.

   Ethan made a dramatic gagging sound, while Natalie 'awed' from behind and pulled out her camera. "Now let's get some pictures so you can all be on your way!" she exclaimed, enthusiastically.

   They posed for a few shots, the couples looking as radiant as teenagers could, while Ethan, the awkward third wheel, did his best not to look like he was being forced into the situation. Finally, they were given the all-clear and said their goodbyes. Ethan hitched a ride with Nick and Elena, and now it was just Blossom and Hunter, standing alone on the outside deck. Blossom was both surprised and pleased to see his new ride, but then her eyes widened in concern. "Did you buy that?" she asked.

   Hunter chuckled and opened the passenger side door for her. "No, no, my father surprised me with it," he said, helping her in. "He rented it for tonight."

   Blossom breathed a sigh of relief and settled into the plush seat. Tonight, in her eyes, couldn't possibly get better than it already was. She fastened her seatbelt and looked at Hunter with eyes full of anticipation. He smiled fondly back at her, then with a final check he started the car and they were on their way into the night.