Lost in Hollywood

All This Brightness

The venue where the prom was held, was simply gorgeous.

Sky let out an audible gasp when she saw the place from the car windows - the large, white building adorned by Greek-style columns, plantings, and palm trees. Dad had ordered them a limousin, which had at the time felt a bit exaggerated, but now it felt only fitting. The car alone had made her feel like a movie star, but that feeling was multiplied by thousands as she stepped out of the vehicle in front of the breathtaking venue.

A lot of kids were already there, meeting their friends at the front doors, pouring in through the grandiose doors. Above the entrance decorative lights and a huge welcome-sign, added to the festive atmosphere. Girls were laughing and squealing in their colorful, glimmering gowns and gorgeous hairdos, boys were so handsome in their tuxes and suits.

In front of that sight, Sky felt a sparkle of excitement in her belly, something she hadn't felt in a long, long time. All the dresses, the jewelry, the diamonds and the tiaras, the high heels, the long lashes— It was all just so— beautiful. She felt beautiful too, and it sure had been ages since she'd felt like that.

"Look at my baby girl, all grown up," Dad had said when he had seen her walking down the stairs in her gown, and from the tremble in his voice, Sky had been able to tell he was fighting hard to hold back the tears. "You are beautiful, Sky. I hope you know that. And I hope you have a wonderful, wonderful night. You truly deserve it."

Of course, Sky knew all dads probably told their daughters they were beautiful at prom night, but still— it just felt nice. It felt nice to have her hair done, to have a professional do her makeup and her nails, to wear the dress she had bought that day with Yasmine at the luxury dress boutique. If felt nice to feel pretty, to drive here in a limousine, to go out with her friends, to be excited about something. Everything about this night felt so fucking nice, except—

Except for the fact that Cody was dead and it was her fault.

That thought hit Sky like a wrecking ball as she was ascending the stairs leading up to the front doors, and it almost made her knees give in. Had Tom not been so fast to offer her an arm to lean on, she would have fallen to the marble stairs face-first.

"Your leg?" Tom asked worriedly as Sky grabbed his arm.

"No, I just—" Sky pressed a hand over her chest to soothe the sudden, piercing pain, but it did little good. "It's just that— Cody should be here."

A short silence followed her words. Sky felt Tom's arm go stiff, his shoulders rising with a strained inhale. A group of their peers passed them on the stairs, a cloud of colorful gowns, laughter, and sweet, flowery perfume, but Sky couldn't take another step. Her excitement was gone, her sorrow greater than ever.

"He should," said Tom silently. "But he isn't. And— us skipping this party won't bring him back either. Wasn't it you who said that he would want us to go, and to have fun?"

"Yeah," Sky grimaced. "But I'm known for stupid decisions."

"Well I'm not going back home. I look too awesome in this tux to be anywhere but here. Besides, you promised me a dance, Sky." said Caleb, who was standing on Sky's other side. He had pushed his hands into the pockets of his pants and looked down at Sky from his surreal heights. The boy was at least 6'5 and as Sky was wearing a pair of ballerinas instead of heels (she would have given anything to wear a pair of her super high pumps, but facts were facts), his lean, lanky body towered over her.

Sky glanced at Caleb forcing a smile on her lips, no matter how fake. That dance had felt like a great idea when he had asked that last week when she had still been pissed at Eli. She was pretty sure Caleb hadn't meant anything romantic by asking her, that they were still just friends, but— a small part of her had wanted to give Eli something real to be jealous about since he had chosen to be stupidly jealous over nothing.