Chapter 35
If life was to be a garden, it would be a garden full of roses. Why? Because it is a prick...
"I still can't believe we're going to Lockwood together," Jules said applying lipgloss over her pink lipsticked lips.
"Me neither," I answered returning my attention to the checkers game I was playing versus the computer.
"It's like a dream, right?" She asked hopping onto the bed hard enough to make my phone drop from my hands.
"Yeah."
"Let's go take our photos now," the sassy thing said getting to her feet before she straightened out invisible creases on her dress.
It was prom night and prom photos were some sort of ritual -maybe it was because most parents knew that their perfect little daughters and sons were probably going to get deflowered by night end.
"Harper isn't even here yet," I said finally getting off the bed.
It might've been prom, but nothing in my dressing suggested that I was going to the biggest party of my high school life. Jules on the other hand, well, she looked like she was heading to a red carpet event in her knee-length magenta teacup dress, and silver sparkling peeptoe maryjanes.
"I thought he could keep time; it's like almost half past seven right now," she said placing her hands on her waist.
"I'm sure it's Harry's fault considering he always feels a need to use make-up whenever photos come up," I said remembering his David Beckham wannabe photo session for his driving license. "I got you something."
"Ooh!" She said excitedly like a kid on Christmas morning.
Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out the cute bracelet that I had bought for her. I know that it wasn't exactly Tiffany's standards, but it looked nice and the lady at the store assured me that it wouldn't react with skin if it came into contact with water or sweat.
"Do you like it?" I asked clasping it on her wrist.
"It's beautiful," she said touching the tiny joined hearts that made the bracelet, before the thumb and index finger of her free hand settled on the 'C' connected by a thin chain to the adjustment side of the clasp.
"I know that it isn't much-"
"I don't care if you got it for free at the circus; all I care is that I am the only one you would give it to. I don't care about money because I don't have any that wasn't given to me," she said taking hold of my hand. "It's only what you feel for me that matters; nothing else. I love you Charlie, and no one, not my parents or Harper is ever going to come between us. We'll get over everything that comes our way and remain together," she said catching me completely off guard.
"I love you too," I said holding her with a fierce need to never let her go.
I don't know why, but I feared what would happen if I ever lost her. I think I would die.
Unfortunately, that was the exact moment the doorbell chose to ring signaling the arrival of our late guests.
"I don't want to let you go," I said resting my forehead against hers.
"Me too," she said softly brushing her lips over mine.
"Girls?" My Mom called out rapping on the door before she pushed it open. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything important, am I?" She asked looking at Jules who was delicately wiping away tears from her eyes.
"No, we were done," I said taking hold of Jules' hand as she smiled weakly at my Mom to assure her that everything was fine.
"Well, Harper and his date are here," she said with a warm smile.
"I guess that we have to take those photos now then," Julie said taking my Mom's hand as they literally skipped from my room.
Downstairs, Harper (in a tux) and his mysterious Claire were patiently waiting (she was a model and already in her first year at uni).
She was a pretty girl with cascades of honey-brown thick hair flowing onto slim shoulders exposed by her dark green body tube dress.
"This is Claire," Harp said introducing the girl to both Julie and I, before he asked about the limousine parked outside. Yes, it was going to be a fabulous evening getting chauffered in a stretch limo courtesy of Mrs. Hart.
"Where's Harry?" I asked Harper as my Mom put in a new memory stick into her camera.
"His date didn't want to ride with a 'crowd'," he said unconsciously looking over to where Claire was adding a pin into Jules' hair.
"What a meanie!"
"He likes her, and so he's obliged to indulge her," he said moving aside as the others joined us.
"Who's going first?" My Mom asked holding up the camera.
"Me!" Jules squealed moving over to where my Mom had created a small 'studio' near the kitchen.
We all took individual photos before we took them as couples, most of us, and then together with my Mom.
"Have fun guys," my Mom said as she walked us to the limo.
"Bye Mom," I said giving her a peck on the cheek. "Thanks."
"For what?" She asked slightly taken aback.
"Everything," I said jogging to the others.
I was glad that she loved me and had accepted me as I was although it wasn't exactly a cup of tea for her. She still took care of me after everything that had happened with Frank, and I felt like I was her number one.
"Let's go!" I said hopping in as the chauffer shut the door.
Tonight I was going to attend my first ever dance at Easton, and I intended to have loads of fun.
