Love to Hate You • E.D.

twenty

"I got it!" I hear my dad yell from down the hall.

I hear the door open and my dad loudly greeting Ethan. I feel the burn of vomit in the back of my throat as mom leaves to greet him as well. I take one last look at myself in the mirror, trying to steady my breathing. I give myself a stern look and with that I exit the bathroom.

I slowly make my way down the hall, careful to not step on the front of my dress in my sparkly, three inch heels. It's actually easier than I thought. As the end of the hall becomes closer and closer I find it harder and harder to breathe. When I finally reveal myself all eyes shoot in my direction.

Ethan is standing there, hair slicked back, in a sharp black suit with a black bowtie, a bouquet of red roses in his hand. When he sees me it's as if I can see the air leave his body. His eyes go wide, and his mouth opens ever so slightly. He grips the bottom of his suit jacket in his hand, swallowing hard. His eyes are traveling every inch of me, yet his chest hasn't moved an inch.

"Hi." I breathe out, I'm smiling so hard it makes my face hurt.

His eyes shoot up to me, wide with amazement. He gives a grin as I widen my eyes back, waiting for an answer.

"Hi..." And he finally breathes.

"Hey." I answer with a giggle.

I walk closer towards him, his eyes trying to take it all in. He reaches his opposite hand out slowly, and I can see he's shaking. I narrow my eyes in question and amazement while he slides his hand over my side so softly as if he's afraid he might break me.

"You are so, beautiful..." He whispers, barely able to form the words as he places his forehead on mine. It's as if my parents aren't even here and it's only the two of us. The feeling that I have right now...I've never had it before, and I think I like it.

I place my finger under his chin, lifting his face so I can meet his eyes. I can feel that he has shaven. I smile at him, and he immediately smiles back, letting out a breathy chuckle.

"You look really handsome E. Like really handsome." I trail my fingers down the side of his face.

"God I'm nothing compared to you." he can barely meet my gaze.

"Babe don't say that." I chase his gaze, desperate for his eyes to meet mine.

Wait, did I just call him babe?

"Babe?" he asks, looking curiously at me. I smile confidently.

"Yeah. Babe." It feels funny coming from me, but it also feels so right.

"I'm going to have a full photo album oh I just can't wait!" My mom exclaimed excitedly, pressing away at her phone.

"We need to get some outside! Come on now, follow me!" She waves her hands and rushes out the door.

We both watch her and then face each other once more.

"Sorry about her." I giggle. Ethan smiles back.

"I'm down if you are." He takes my hand gently in his, still a bit shaky, and kisses my knuckles.

"Sure." I breathe, and he leads me out the door.

Mom has taken us to almost every inch of the yard, and struck us in almost every prom pose imaginable. She even takes candids between shots. I don't even know how she has any battery life or storage left on her phone.

"Oh! I almost forgot something." Ethan gives my waist a reassuring grip before jogging over to his red jeep. Seconds later he returns with a plastic container in his hands.

"Can't have my baby going to prom without a corsage."

Now my mouth drops when I see a white rose corsage with black see-through ribbon that's dotted with faux jewels and accented with green leaves.

"Ethan it's beautiful you shouldn't-"

"Like I said, I can't have my baby going to prom without a corsage." He smiles and I hold out my wrist as he slides it on.