Fragile Heart

34

MAYAS POV
It was the day of prom. My stomach wasn't crawling with jitters and my chest wasn't pounding with anticipation. I didn't want to go, but I needed to. I had to keep my promise to Logan, I couldn't let Josh's words put a lock on my night, I had already let him do that too much. I wasn't his, and I needed to start understanding that.

My phone vibrated and I was left with thousands of messages from Riley, I guess she had happy thumbs. All of the texts included the words prom and dress.

I didn't even consider the dress portion of the night, I wasn't much of a gown kind of girl. I would rather slip on some converse and a skirt with my leather jacket, stringing it all together. However, I couldn't do that, not tonight. I needed to look like all of those Macy's commercials with the girls with the long dresses, the expectation to look like a princess was unattainable. I would be lucky to look like an average girl, let alone a mystical icon of beauty. Where's my fairy god mother? I could really use some bippidy boppidy boo, I thought as I tugged at my dead hair. I had more bags under my eyes than a grocery store.

I finally decided I would text Riley back, I needed her advice. She was more of the prom type than I was.

To Riley: Hey, would you go dress shopping with me? I don't have one and prom is tonight. Don't scream, I know it's super last minute but I have no motivation to go!!

From Riley; WHAT?! NO DRESS... MAYA IT IS TODAY!! be over in 5!!

To Riley; see you then! I know, I know.. Not the prom type of girl. I would rather stay in and sleep tonight...

In less than five minutes, Riley flew through my window with a surplus of excitement.

"We're getting you a dress today...... FOR PROM!" She sang and leaped off of the ground and onto my bed. Her smile was like a blinding light, it hurt to look at for more than a second.

"Bleh" I mumbled.

I contemplated all of the ideas I could use to get myself out of this predicament, but all of my material was invented by Logan. He is the master of excuses, his attendance states he has missed fifty days this year but he was able to worm his way through getting all of the absences diminished from his file.

"Let's go!" Riley hopped off the bed with my arm in her hand. She dragged me, while skipping all of the way towards the thrift shop. I couldn't afford an expensive dress and I didn't need one, I didn't need a dress period but I needed to make the best of tonight for Logan.

I zipped my hands through the assortment of prom dresses lined up in the back, all of them were too girly, too puffy, with too many sparkles. My eyes lit up and heart bounced out of my chest when I spotted the perfect dress, it was a Tiffany blue colored two piece with a polka dotted skirt and a white pearly top. It was a dress with character, a dress with a lot of class. I read the label and it was my size, the dress and I were meant to be.
I placed the dress on the table and I immediately got goosebumps, when I looked at it,I saw Josh. I saw him complimenting me and asking me to dance, I saw us happily stepping on each other's toes and laughing at each others silly moves. I saw myself, laughing so hard that I had to muffle my voice  into Josh's chest, but we regained ourself and swayed in sync. We were a perfect mess.
Stop it, Maya. I pushed aside those devilish thoughts and proceeded to purchase the uniquely styled dress. (picture above😊)

"Are you sure you don't want to do anymore looking?" Riley furrowed her brows.

"Nope, this is the one" I smiled.

We walked side by side in step like an army or an assembly of a marching band.

"Are you excited?" She squealed.

"Honestly, no" I mumbled.

Riley forced me back to her apartment, so that she could help me get ready. We walked through the door, and there he was. My heart leaped and I hid my body behind Riley's instinctively. I didn't want to see him.

"Maya.." Josh spoke softly and reached for my arm but I wiggled out of his grip.

"Josh, just give it up" Riley gave him a weak smile and stern eyes.

She was my body guard, nothing was going to get me with her around.

"Alright, work your magic fairy godmother girl" I joked.

Riley played with my hair, looked in the mirror, and smiled devilishly. My stomach felt uneasy, I felt like everything inside of me was swirling.

"Nothing too dramatic Riley. Just put my hair up!" I demanded.

She sighed and dashed to gather all of her materials, she was working like a crazy artist with a deadline.

"perfect" she whispered, after two hours of poking me with bobby pins and blinding my eyes with hair spray.

I nervously crept out of the chair and scrunched my eyes closed as I reached a mirror.

"Look!" Riley sang as her body collapsed on my shoulders.

I opened my eyes, expecting to be disappointed. Expecting to see the messy girl, that I always saw. However, this girl wasn't her. This girl was different.
I slipped on my two piece dress, applied s more make up than usual, and placed on some heels.

My jaw dropped and my baby blue eyes lit up, I was at a loss for words.

"You are beautiful, Maya" Riley's deer-like eyes grew larger and glossier. 

"Thanks" I held both her hands and swung my nerves away.

The tapping on Riley's door startled me.

Josh barged in, my cheeks flushed, and I diverted my feet towards the window sill.

"Maya, can we talk?"

"Josh, go" Riley said with empathy.

"Riley" Josh gazed into Riley's eyes with fear, his voice was on edge. She could sense his desperation, I could see her giving in.

"Alright" she mumbled and left me with him.

I felt so timid, suddenly he was a boy I didn't know. Goosebumps rose to the surface of my arms, I bit my lip, and clicked my heels together.

"Wow...You look amazing. Wow" Josh's eyes were bigger than ever, I could see drool beginning to form in the corner of his mouth.

My cheeks lit up like a Christmas tree, a familiar ruby red color when he looked at me.

"Josh, just go" I snapped back into reality. I couldn't deal with his mind games today. I wanted to go to prom and get home.

Logan's fists made music on the door. I glided pass Josh to get to the door but Josh slid towards it faster. He turned the knob and I could already feel the twisting of my heart.

"Hello Josh" Logan raised his eyebrows and smirked.
Logan grimaced at Josh with evil eyes and white, clenched knuckles.

"And Maya? I'm here to take her to prom" Logan sang, rubbing it in Josh's face.

NEXT CHAPTER IS PROm:) and then an epilogue and then the book is over. Love u all💗💗 next chapter might be disappointing for some of you :)) it'll be long with LOTS OF drama and tears!! Xx