How Could This Be Real?

124. Prom: Part 1

My junior year was coming to a close faster than I ever could've imagined. I swear it was just yesterday that I was on my way back home from my summer in England when in reality it was nine whole months ago.

Not much of importance had happened throughout the year if I'm perfectly honest. I'd earned another half-million subscribers on YouTube and was able to keep my grades up despite David being a total distraction.

We tried to talk every day after school and on the days we didn't get the chance (and even on the days we did), there wasn't a moment that went by where I didn't think of him. I was much better at hiding it now, though. I'd been right at the end of the summer; the memories were finally enough to tie me over... or at least for a while. We did still visit each other, though. Probably more than we should've... but oh well.

Before I knew it, May was upon us, which meant it was prom season.

Everyone was super excited and I even got a few invites from guys who didn't know I was in a relationship. I felt bad whenever I had to turn them down, but I wasn't planning on attending anyway. If David couldn't be there with me, I didn't want anything to do with it.

However, when I told Mindy, (she was visiting home on her spring break from beauty school (yes, I know, Mindy the beautician, what a shocker)), that I wasn't going to prom, she didn't take it very well...

"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!"

I shrunk my head down like a turtle trying to hide in its shell and mumbled, "I said I'm not going..."

Mindy bolted off of her bed and grabbed my shoulders, shaking me. "But it's prom, Angel! You have to go!"

I pushed her off of me, turning away stubbornly. "I don't feel like it."

"B-but...! But it's the... the best night of your life!"

I smiled sadly and murmured, "I already had that..."

She rolled her eyes, "Yes, losing your virginity is a pretty special moment, but PROM! All the pretty dresses! And the music! And the dancing with that special som-!" She stopped and glanced at me, stuck in a stupid dancing pose and quickly corrected herself. "Dancing with your friends!" She took my hands, "Come on, Angel! This is the night every girl dreams of! You can't just skip it!"

"Yeah, 'cause every girl dreams of going and getting swept off their feet by some guy who's just planning to slip something in her drink and take them home later. Sounds like a blast and all, but I don't need that." I stood up and walked to the window, smiling to myself sadly as I thought of my boyfriend across the ocean.

I had kind of hinted that if he had the time I would've loved for him to come, but he'd reluctantly told me that he had to go to an important conference with his managers and such. I totally understood, but I was a little disappointed that I wouldn't get to experience the magical night I'd envisioned for years.

"I already have everything I could want," I said after a few moments. "I don't need to go to some stupid dance."

She sighed, "I know you miss him... but that's even more reason to go! To get your mind off of it for a little while!"

I shook my head, "If I went, he's all I'd be able to think about."

"I'm sorry he can't come, but you have to go! Please?" she pleaded, clasping her hands together. "For me?"