It's A Black Line Not A Slack Line

CHAPTER #20

[Jesse's POV]

My girlfriend's mom opened the door and smiled, which she doesn't do quite often when I'm around. "Wow, Jesse, you look so ... mature." She said and felt the fabric of my suit on my shoulder. 

It was dark blue and matte, underneath a white shirt and a patterned tie which matches with the color of Alexis' dress. My tattoos poked out where the sleeves ended and I had unusually much gel in my hair, but I felt pretty slick. I acknowledged her compliment and asked where my date was. Truth to be told, we had been fighting yesterday evening over how to spend this night and it didn't really got any better when she saw Claire Rogerson sitting on my thigh today in school. It wasn't even sexual or anything, but she had to make a big deal out of that. 

"She's still getting ready. ALEX?" The woman screamed up the stairs and got an "ON MY WAY!" back, before escorting me to the living room. 

I greeted Madison and Levi quickly. The plan was taking pictures here, then driving to my house and taking pictures there, going to the actual prom and then- fuck I don't know. She wants to go to a party with her brother and stop at Zach's later. Yeah, and I'll be lonely and spend my senior prom sitting on some sofa, drinking beer and watching cat videos or what? 

"Ah, look who has finally arrived!" Madison chirped and we all turned our heads towards the hall, where my girl was walking toward us. The fabric of her dress was simple, leaving room for the real highlights of it which were definitely the chest and the back, both nicely accentuated by a thrifty use of material. She had curled her hair and braided a bit. 

"Oh, stressful day" She smiled unsurely at all of us and stopped next to me. 

It has been the first words partly directed at me since yesterday, if you don't count the very heartwarming "You're acting like a five year old AGAIN" text I got from her yesterday. 

"Hi." I breathed out and put my hand around her back. She looked so amazing, ugh; it was hard to stay mad. 

"Okay, okay, get together now!" Mrs. Marker exclaimed and we did. 

After pictures in all kinds of variations, we were finally done with this part. She and Levi checked again when and where they'd meet and her mom kissed her cheek, before we walked out to my car. I could tell she was still really pissed and I was too, so it became one of the many silent car rides we have had. I thought about that Alex probably felt so much pressure to pretend to be happy around everyone and I was about to tell her everything would be okay, but she'll leave me later anyways.

[Alexis' POV]

I would love to have some self control and keep a straight face, or in this situation, a straight look because I couldn't stop glancing at Jesse. Never would I have thought that this suit made him even more attractive but there he was, clicking his jaw. Oh right, he was pissed at me. I was pissed at him too. How can he just play with my feelings like he did yesterday? I knew Claire is a friend of his, but if I'd have sat on another dude's lap, he would have killed the guy. 

Jesse's mom was just as happy as mine was and had already planned where and how to take the pictures. Her enthusiastic voice came from behind the camera "Okay, now let's do one with your hand around Alex- Yes, perfect!" 

His fingers were spread across my exposed back which gave me chills. "Another one!" 

It kept getting harder and harder to keep my fake smile up and while the shutter clicked and clicked it gave me time to think about tonight. The boy was so mad that I wanted to spend some time with my brother, he even had the nerve to tell me I'd take the specialness of his night away. Was it just me or did the sound of the camera became more unbearable with every second?