TW: Emotional Abuse/Manipulation
A linger of alcohol mixed with cheap cologne and teenage-hormones filled the humming air. Even from outside the gymnasium walls, the buzz of overplayed music carried through the bones of those who had yet to enter the most important night of their high school career - senior prom.
"We're here," a calm voice broke a girl out of her anxious thoughts. Her name was Lily Scott. Tonight was really the only big social event she had been to in the last four years, and was hoping it would also be her last. She was depicted as rather reserved by most, but was quite open with a select number of people- still she was able to maintain a few secrets.
Accompanying her tonight was her close friend Gavin, who was tall, of a rather slender build with a boyish face. The two shared most of their classes together and bonded over their love of science and their dislike of the majority of the student body that they would without a doubt encounter tonight. If it hadn't been for Gavin asking her to join him, Lily would rather be anywhere but here. However, if she was being completely honest Gavin truly was the best friend she had in high school, and she couldn't bring herself to say no to him, even if it meant enduring a few hours of hell.
"Actually we've been here for a few minutes, but you haven't said anything or moved," the boy continued.
"Sorry," Lily muttered, shooting him a apologetic smile, that he knew was insincere.
A low, sympathetic sigh came from Gavin, as he rested his hand on top of Lily's delicate and shaking one. "You could have told me no when I asked you."
"I know."
"I'll tell you what," Gavin says, readjusting himself in the driver's seat to better face Lily. "The moment you want to leave, we'll leave. In fact we don't need to go inside if you don't want to. We can find something else to do instead. Eat ice cream, go see a movie, whatever you want. We could even go back to my house and watch all seven Star Wars movies, if you'd like," he suggests with a teasing smile.
"You know I don't like Star Wars," Lily remarks with a shy grin, knowing that her friend only suggested that to mess with her.
"Yeah, but I had to get you to say something," he replies with a tender squeeze of her hand. "They say prom is supposed to be the best night of a teenager's life. I want to help make this the best night you've ever had."
Gavin watched as Lily's eyes wandered in the same specific pattern he had come to recognize over the years. With her brows furrowed and lip bit, he knew she was articulating the perfect question.
"Why?" Is what she finally asked. "Why did you want us to come here? I mean no one would have noticed if we never showed up."
Without needing a second to think, Gavin already knew his response. "Because I think you deserve to be noticed. I know you hate attention and crowds and-"
"I have social anxiety," Lily bluntly chimed in, completely disregarding his obvious compliment.
"Right. What I'm trying to say is that maybe we'll walk through those door and you'll hate every minute that we're inside. But maybe, just maybe, something will happen tonight that changes the rest of your life."
"Like that would happen," Lily laughed.
Unaware to Lily, her laugh that normally made Gavin's heart skip a beat just broke a piece of it. Ever since he had moved to Casterwoods three years ago, Gavin found himself to be rather found of Lily. She was the only girl he's meet who's beauty matched her intellect. Although his love for her grew, it was always left unrequited.
