Happier

Chapter 29

Finals week had gone by faster than they expected, and soon enough, it was one day before graduation day. PROM NIGHT. Lacey got out of bed that morning, more chipper than ever. She felt better than ever, even though Prom night means one of the last nights in High School. She's going to miss it, miss everyone. Everything, except for all the stress, tests and assignments. 

She's super excited for prom though, even though it means the school year is nearly over. She's nominated for Prom Queen again, Cole is the best date she could ask for, and she has got the most beautiful prom dress of all prom dresses. Her father even called their hairdresser and a makeup artist to come and do both Stacey's and Lacey's hair and makeup for the prom.
"Are you ready for today, sis?" Stacey asks when they sit at the breakfast isle, having breakfast.
"So ready!" Lacey exclaims with a smile and she takes a bite from her toast, "I can't believe it's already prom night. This year has gone by so fast, like, I'm graduating tomorrow. Can you believe it?" her sister chuckles at her excitement.
"I honestly can't, Lace. So much has happened this past year, it's mental," says Stacey. "I mean, just look at you. You lost your mom, met an amazing guy and you cut away all of your toxic relationships. You survived a school shooting, which wasn't even really a school shooting, Then you cheated on your boyfriend with your ex-boyfriend, then that one boyfriend got hit by a car. Not to forget, you quit cheerleading and turned on your best friends, outing them for the whole school. You've been through so much, and still here you are. Happier than ever before. Stronger, more confident. It's like you haven't even been broken so many times this past year. It's crazy," Stacey rambles on, not even stopping to take a breath. Lacey listens to her, realizing that she's right. There have been some good and some bad decisions in the past year, some of them broke her. And yet, there she is. Alive and much happier. "I just love that it all kind of changed you for the better instead of the other way around." The words coming out of Stacey's mouth sound kind of harsh, but it's the truth. Lacey has changed for the better. Ever since she met Cole, her grades are better, she quit cheerleading and cut Violet and Melanie out most of the time. She has changed so much the past year. It's weird to un-think everything. She has no idea what her life was like pre-Cole, and pre-mom's-death.
"Morning, Goldbergs," a voice behind them makes Lacey jump. She turns around and finds her boyfriend and Sam. Both of them have goofy grins on their faces, but only Sam brought his costume as Cole would be renting Lacey's father's from his National Championship of show choir. Cole goes up to his girlfriend to kiss her whilst Sam kisses his own girlfriend.
"You guys drove here together?" Lacey asks, looking straight into Cole's warm blue eyes.
"Yeah, I asked Sam to give me a ride. He passes my house on the way here anyway," Lacey gets a smile on her face. Because of their relationship and the relationship between Stacey and Sam, Cole has a new friend too. Sam is one of those boys a boy like Cole would never befriend. He's a football player, Cole used to be the school's joke. Now, he's still an outsider, just a little less. He's an outsider with Lacey, which is kind of the best thing.

The two couples spend the day together, watching movies and singing showtunes together.
"What if you two sang at the prom? How cool would that be?" Stacey blurts out after Cole and Lacey's duet of Lucky. The eldest sister gives the youngest a glare. Oh, if looks could kill.
"You totally should," Sam adds, "You two sound great together!" Cole and Lacey now look at each other, an amused grin on their faces.
"Yeah, like two cats getting castrated," Lacey chuckles as she sits down next to her sister.
"Eh, correction. One cat getting castrated, the other sounds like a nightingale," Cole corrects his girlfriend and leans in for a quick peck on the lips. The back door opens and shuts again, chatter filling up the room. The four teenagers on the sofa turn their heads and see daddy Goldberg in the kitchen with a woman and a man by his side. Both of them have a tiny suitcase with them.
"Girls, you ready for your makeover?" their dad asks, a grin upon his face. The girls smile at each other before getting up and walking towards the professionals.
While the girls get their makeovers upstairs, the men of the house start preparing the pre-prom dinner. The Goldberg family would have a nice dinner first before the kids go to their prom.
"You know, my prom night was the best night of my high school career. No joke," William starts talking, "I danced with Dianna, had some punch, and as the show choir, we performed some songs. It was truly magical," he explains dreamily. Thinking about Dianna makes him smile, a lot. He misses her. It's weird not having her around anymore. Hell does he know how to handle two teenage daughters? Dianna would've known.
"What was the theme at your senior prom, mister Goldberg?" Sam questions politely.
"Please, son, call me Will," he freezes for a second, "Have I seriously become that man?" he shakes his head with a chuckle, "Anyway, our theme was Dinosaurs if I'm correct," he tells the boys. They look at him, smiles on their faces and disbelieve in their eyes. "I'm not kidding. We had giant dinosaur statues in papier maché, a Flinstones background,... It was epic," He emphasizes the 'epic', showing off some jazz hands.
"That's way cooler than ours," Sam mumbles sadly.
"Yeah, we got Vintage," Cole explains with the same gut as Sam.
"Oh, come on, guys! That's so cool! And you and Lacey will fit right in with our show choir outfits from way back then." Just when the words leave William's mouth, someone clears their throat behind them. The boys look up and are greeted by the beauty that is Stacey and Lacey. The eldest is wearing her mom's red vintage dress, her hair curled up and her bangs pinned back. While the youngest wears a gorgeous white, lace two piece. Her hair is up into a tight pony which is braided into a thick plaid.
"Wow," the three men in front of them bring out, not being able to say anything else.
"Guys, go change!" Lacey commands, mid-blush. The two boys disappear upstairs whilst the girls help their dad with setting the table. Tonight is going to be great, Lacey is sure of it. Everything just seems so perfect.