Anonymous

B e t t e r

I waited until Sunday. I wanted to make sure I did everything right. I called Jennifer and asked her to meet me by the ice cream shop. I sat there in the same seat I occupied, during our first date. I searched for her out the window. After a few minutes, I saw her. Her usually brown hair holding hues of red because of the sun setting. She changed however, her walk was that of the first time I met her. She was looking down, her hands fidgeting in front of her. Over the past few months she had grown more confident. She rarely looked down.

Jennifer entered the Ice Cream shop, and spotted me. She gave me an uneasy lift of the lip, before taking the seat in front of me. "Thanks for meeting me," I started. The tension felt so thick, I felt as though I was suffocating under it. "I missed you. I know it's only been a few days, but it seemed like longer." Her eyes meet been and I finally saw that spark I thought had faded. "I can't say I understand, but I want to know everything. I want to understand all of you. In these last few months I have fallen for you, who you are. Your kind spirit, your easy giggles, your never ending support for your friends, you wicked humor, your nervous finger twitch. I love you, Jennifer James Shore, and I think you are beautiful."

She blushed, but appeared sad. "I'm not like other girls," she scuffed.

"No, your better. You don't know this Jennifer, but when you stumbled through the halls like a lost puppy your first day of junior year, I knew there was something special about you," I said. 

"Did you just say you love me?" She asked suddenly, comprehending all of my words. I nod firmly. There is no going back. I thought about a day not knowing Jennifer, and it was strange. I couldn't really remember a time when I didn't know her. Granted we've only known each for a seemingly short amount of time. I suppose it's similar to my Dad. He passed almost six years ago and although he wasn't in every memory of my childhood I can picture him there. The expressions on his face, the loud laugh emanating from his wide grin. The words he'd say. He wasn't always there, but he was. I feel as though the same has happened with Jennifer and Hunter and Fran and Jackie and Lance and even Susan. We weren't together all four years of High School. In fact I didn't even know them until three months ago, but I can't imagine my life without them.

Then, as if right on cue the first poster appeared by the large window next to us. It's a giant P covered with sparkles, being held by a ecstatic Lance. Next, Fran jumps up with her sign, the letter R decorated with buttons. Followed by Hunter, who is trying his hardest not to smile, but is failing miserably. He is holding an O colored in with neatly drawn baseballs. We wait a few seconds, and Jackie still has not bounced up to join them. I see Hunter mouth out Jackie's name, and finally she appears, appearing apologetic holding a sign with a M nicely sculpted with with burlap. The window space is almost complete taken up by the signs and the faces of our friends when Susan steps in holding a stripped question mark.

"Jennifer will you go to prom with me?" I ask, but she had already figured out where this was going and was nodding about as hard as she was smiling. It was the cutest thing I think I'd ever seen. I started laughing.

"Really!"

"Yep!" She laughed, and the store clapped, having seen the display first hand. I jumped up and pulled her into a hug. She had tears in her eyes as she clung to my shirt. The rest of the gang joined us and we were pulled into a one of the infamous group hugs, I've really grown to like.

Three weeks later Hunter and Jackie, Fran and Lance, Susan and Kenny (a family friend of hers), and Jennifer and I are standing in my backyard posing for thousands pictures being taken by my mom because she believes it is her parental duty to take photos until your smile breaks. "Awe, you all look so beautiful," she gushes, snapping one more out sheer joy. A few giggles spread among us.

"Thanks, Mama G," Hunter remarks blushing at being called beautiful.

"I always thought this suit made my butt look fat," I added, checking out my ass.

Jennifer giggled at my comment, "You look good with a little junk in your trunk," she added with a wink.

"Don't objectify me, woman." I state with mock anger, and the whole group joins in on the moment, laughing. I smile at Jennifer and she smiles back. 

"Guys the limo's here!" Lance calls, looking over the fence.

We all immediately head outside to greet the limo. Never actually been in one before, so it's pretty much like eight teenagers let loose in a candy shop. Oohs and awes and asking if I can sit under the sunroof. "You kids be safe and have fun. Bye!"

"Bye mom."

"Bye mama G."

"Bye Mrs. Thomas." 

We danced like it was no ones business. All of us together. It didn't matter that Fran was a thespian, Jackie was on student council, Lance was in the band, Hunter was the school jock and I was the class clown that night it was as though we were in room 253. We were ourselves and we had the best time! The limo took us back home, where we watched Die Hard and Zootopia until one by one we passed out in the living room surrounded in blankets.

583 Words To Go