Broken

| 15 | Red Dress

Tonight is the dance. Lindsey said she would pick me up at 7, and right now it's 6:30, and I'm struggling to get ready. What do you wear to a formal? Do I even have a dress to wear?

Wait. I do.

I rush to my closet and pull out the red dress I got when I was with Tyler that day. I stare at it for a moment getting waves of flashbacks that send me back in time. I wish I could speak to him like I used to do. With his arm slung around my shoulder and his eyes glued on me. I took that attention for granted because I never thought I'd lose it, but here I am looking at a dress to create some old feelings again.

I take a quick glance in the mirror before I put it on. I can do this. I can do this tonight. I can be strong for once in my life.

~*~

I'm ready and it's finally 7. I pulled my hair to a side, loose, braid and I even put on some makeup. Only mascara and some lipgloss. Not a lot, just what I have.

I'm wearing red heals to go with the dress, and I'm really hoping that I don't bust my ass in these tonight. Knowing me, I probably will.

I make my way down the stairs when I get the text from Lindsey, saying that she's here waiting for me in the driveway with the rest of us.

I step out of the house and close the door behind me.
Parker and Aaron are in the back seat and now they're howling and whistling like a pack of wild dogs when I start walking towards the car. I feel my face turning red, but I ignore it as I get into the passenger seat.

"Grace, you're my best friend, but damn you look good." says Parker and we all laugh as Lindsey starts
moving the car.

We arrive at the school and we all slowly walk up to the big doubled doors of the gymnasium. The music is radiating out of the school, and I feel nervous as hell right now. So many reasons that I can't even name anymore.

We step inside, and for a moment I just stop and stare. The committee really did amazing with the decorations. There's flowers everywhere and there's beautiful hanging lights from the ceiling. It's all so mesmerizing. Everything is tinted a light purple glow. It's beautiful.

I follow my group as we take a seat at a table near the right of the gymnasium. The dance floor takes up most of the space here.

"I'm gonna get us all some drinks." says Parker, and Aaron gets up to go with him. That just leaves us girls. I feel my stomach twist in knots because I know what's coming next.

"So, Grace, have you seen Tyler yet?" asks Haley and her and Lindsey give each other a weird grin.

"Guys, don't start this. He's with someone else tonight." I say as I fold my hands in my lap. Hearing his name out loud is like being punched right in the face. I just want to let him go, but that's a lot harder than I thought it would be.

"Actually he's coming alone tonight." says Lindsey as her and Haley eye me carefully.

"No, he's coming with Emma."

"No, she asked him to go with her, but he said no."

"Why would he do that?"

The both of them give each other a look and I feel out of place watching them exchange knowing glances when I don't have a clue.