"Please . . . don't cry. You had to have known I'd do this at some point."
***
Parker Sims is the class clown but that doesn't mean he's easy to fool. And that's just what Nola B. is good at - fooling people. She's got the whole school believing th...
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***
Chapter Seventy-Six:
Once the blindfold was off, Nola struggled for a moment to get adjusted to the light around her. Yet, before she could comprehend what was set up for her, a loud chorus of people saying, "surprise!" filled her ears.
Hannah ran over to Nola's side and slugged an arm around her shoulders, which caused Nola to wince at the sudden contact. However she quickly composed herself and acted like Hannah's actions did nothing to her.
"Welcome, Nola to Prom 2.0, minus the school's involvement," Hannah handed Nola a cup brimming with an unidentifiable liquid. "Meaning, welcome to prom with alcohol," Hannah chuckled at Nola's stunned face.
"How?" Nola looked over at Parker who was smiling from ear to ear.
"This is my mother's elaborate way of saying she's sorry," Parker clarified as he stepped closer to Nola's other side. "She and Hannah have been planning this for the better half two days."
Nola opened her mouth but no words came out. She couldn't comprehend what was happening.
"Planning for almost two days straight, might I add. We have not had a break. I mean, I planned the first prom with months of help. When Mrs. Sims said she wanted to do it in a matter of days, I thought she was crazy. However, I did not truly know crazy until I saw her attempt to pull this all off."
It suddenly clicked with Nola why Mrs. Sims had looked so disheveled when she came to the apartment earlier that day. With a sigh, Nola did not know how to express how grateful she was.
"Nola!" Claudine said as she raced over to the woman of the night. "How are you?!" Claudine went and gave Nola a hug.
Nola held in a flinch and returned Claudine's hug. "I'm shocked," Nola explained when Claudine let go of her. "This is all," Nola glanced around at the decorations that turned the room into a Winter Wonderland, "So much."
Claudine smiled widely, happy to see that Nola was liking the surprise. "Well, drink up it won't feel that way for long. Bartender's orders."
"Bartender?"
Claudine nodded, "that's my job for the night. Making sure everyone drinks responsibly. Mrs. Sims was against the liquor but she hesitantly agreed when I offered to manage the bar."
Nola raised an eyebrow, "What a great job you're doing now," Nola quipped.
"Ha-ha," Claudine said, "Caesar is manning the bar so I could come over and say hello. Speaking of which, I should go back. Knowing him, his only goal would be to get everyone wasted." Claudine said her goodbyes and ran back over to the bar.
Nola took in everyone that crowded the room. Most of the people she recognized from school and her classes. Taking a sip of her drink, Nola focused over on Hannah. "I appreciate you doing this."
