Prom?

Prom? [8]

“Alright, you may leave now. Stay out of trouble and have a good weekend,” the teacher called as the group of students began packing up their belongings. Holy shit, it’s time.

“You ok?” I turned to find Simon at my desk.

“Why do you ask?

“You look like you’re about to faint.”

“I’m nervous,” I admitted, “What if I don’t like him back? Then he went to all this trouble for nothing, and he will be hurt, and I hate hurting people and I just-”

“Les, calm down,” Simon said, pulling me into a comforting hug, “It’ll be ok. I promise.”

“If this turns out bad, I’m coming after you,” I mumbled into his shoulder. He chuckled as he released me from the hug. My heart was no longer trying to pound it’s way out of my chest.

“Whatever you say. It won’t turn out bad though. Now go, don’t want to keep the mystery man waiting,” he said with a wink before walking out the door. Here we go. I took a deep breath and stepped outside into the blinding sunlight.

“Finally, I’ve been waiting for you forever.” A chill went up my spine. I knew that voice. The glare of the sun coming through the window faded, leaving the last person I expected to see standing in the hallway in front of me.

“What are you talking about, Robert?”

“I’m what the clues have been leading you to.” My heart stopped.

“You’re lying,” I whispered in disbelief.

“Nope, I’m here to ask you to prom.”

“You’re the one behind all of this?”

“Sort of.”

“What do you mean ‘sort of’?”

“Les, would you just come with me? It’ll all make sense in a minute,” he asked, reaching for my hand. I jerked my hand out of his reach, but didn’t turn to leave. Conner let Robert ask me to prom? How could he? He knows how much I dislike Robert. He is not a nice guy. I thought Conner would’ve asked me himself though... In that moment I realized how much I had wished the mystery guy was my best friend.

“I’ll come with you, but don’t touch me,” I warned. After all he went through, I could atleast hear Robert out.

“Fine, let’s go this way,” he motioned down the hallway. I fell in step with him, the sound of our footfalls echoing in the empty hallway. After a moment, I heard him sigh. “Lesly, do you hate me?”

“Why?”

“Because I need to know.”

“Well, I wouldn’t say hate, but I’m not too happy to be near you,” I replied honestly.

“Oh,” he said, falling silent again. We had reached the door at the end of the hallway. He held the door open for me. I smiled my thanks and stepped outside. The murmur of a crowd buzzed in my ears as I followed Robert around the gym toward the football field. There’s not a game today, is there? Robert led me to the bleachers, which was packed with people. I caught sight of Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Hemingway sitting together, laughing. In fact, almost all of my friends were in the crowd. I don’t see Conner or Stacie anywhere. Oh wait, Stacie got a job. So where is my best friend then? When we reached the top, Robert had me sit down in one of the only two free seats. Robert sat on one side of me while Simon nudged me with his shoulder from the other side.

“Alright Les, it’s almost time,” Robert told me, leaning close so he could be heard over the din of the gathered people.

“Robert, why do you care if I hate you or not?”

“You want the truth?”

“Yeah.”

“Fine,” he paused and looked into my eyes thoughtfully, “you know the old saying that if a boy picks on you, he must like you?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Well that’s a load of crap,” he said smirking.

“So wait, you don’t like me then?” I asked, utterly confused.

“Not like that. I just wanted to be your friend. You’re kind of intimidating, so I thought the only way you’d want to be my friend would be if I was even more intimidating than you. I admire you for how you don’t take anyone’s shit. I’m sorry if I took it too far, but I thought that was the only way you’d respect me,” he answered, a hint of regret and embarrassment coloring his voice.

“Oh Robert, you’re ridiculous. Do you know that?” I asked with a small smile.

“How so?”

“I would’ve been your friend if I knew that’s what you wanted.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Can we be friends now?”

“That depends.”

“On?”

“Promise to stop being a jerk to me?”

“I don’t know, it is pretty fun pissing you off...”

“Robert!”

“Fine, I’ll stop,” he agreed with a smirk.

“Thank you. So wait, you don’t like me?”

“No. Sorry Les, but you’re not my type.”

“Then why are you asking me to prom?”

“I’m not.”

“What do you mean you’re not? You told me when I got out of detention that you were what the clues were leading to.”

“I am,” he laughed at the confusion clear on my face.

“Robert, would you please explain-” I was cut off by the collective cheers coming from the crowd.

“I’m not asking you to prom. He is,” Robert said, motioning to the field. Oh my god.