The limo pulled up in front of Buck Daniels' house, or at least what used to be a limo. Erika and her friends were now sitting in a cramped sedan. As the sedan came to a complete stop, the car seemed to begin to disappear, as if some sort of magic was coming undone. Luckily, everyone managed to pile out of the car before the seats vanished. "I warned you," Jackie said, "that the whole shebang only lasted 'til midnight."
"I know," Erika apologized, "I know. I just got caught up in the moment."
"It was so cute!" Kat beamed. "She was dancing with Kelly, and they almost kissed!"
Jackie smiled at this news. "I would've been less angry with you if you'd told me that on the way back."
"To be fair," Mary explained, "she did cut herself on some glass. We were more concerned about the blood." She glanced at Erika's ankle, with now had a band-aid on it. "Thank goodness it was just a small cut."
The group of ladies (and one man) entered the house to find Cheryl waiting with bated breath at the door. "So? How was it? I want details- spare me no details!"
"Honey," Jackie said. "She just got back, cut her some slack."
"No way." Cheryl took her daughter's hand and dragged her to the kitchen, forcing her to sit at the table. "I haven't had the chance to pester her about a date- ever. So, how was she? Was she happy to see you? Did you kiss?"
"Um... uh... I enjoyed myself?" Erika chuckled, but Cheryl kept staring at her. "Oh, you- you're serious."
Cheryl continued to look at her daughter as Jackie handed her a cup of applesauce. "So, you got there..."
"Okay. I got there, and I almost couldn't get in. Didn't have a ticket, and Dad forgot to create one."
"Jackie..." Cheryl stared at her husband, who had been trying to sneak out of the room.
"In my defense," Jackie said as he smiled meekly, "I completely forgot."
Erika continued her story. "Luckily, Kelly came out of nowhere and convinced the teacher to let me in."
Cheryl squealed something fierce as a brilliant smile spread across her face. "She came for you! Definitely a good sign!"
"Well, she didn't know it was me. Everyone was wearing masks." Cheryl looked a bit confused. "Yeah. It was weird. But we got a table together, and we got to talking..." Cheryl appeared to hang on Erika's every word as the young woman described her time with Kelly. She laughed, gasped, and became a bit peeved when Erika finished the story. "Why didn't you kiss her?!"
Erika looked at her mother in shock. "You're asking me why I DIDN'T kiss a girl?!" In her mind, she thought, 'The world must be ending.'
"Absolutely. The sooner you two kiss, the sooner you gals can get hitched, have two point five kids, and live happily ever after! ...Well, maybe not the kids part, but you never know," Cheryl admitted.
"...You've got this perfect little life for us planned out in your head, and I haven't even, you know," Erika stammered, "told her."
Cheryl laughed a little bit. "Well," she said as she calmed down, "I've had eighteen years to imagine you having your fairy tale ending. Nothing's gonna stop you now."
"Not if my stepsisters have anything to say about it," Erika sighed.
"Erika," Cheryl reasoned, "what's the worst that could happen?" Her face froze as she realized what she'd just said. "Oh, boy. I just jinxed it, didn't I."
"I think so," Erika said. "I think so." She looked at the kitchen clock before exclaiming, "Oh no! I've gotta get home!" Erika looked at her mother, whose smile wavered a little bit. "I'm gonna miss you. You and Dad."
