Why am I me?

Chapter 2

'Roller-coaster'

By the time prom had rolled around I had completelyforgotten the whole changing room silver dress experience, in fact ifsomeone were to wear the dress around me I would merely admire howthey look in it with no other emotion lingering as an after thought. 

I wore my burgundy suit and black dickie-bow and pocketsquare confidently as my Mother and sister threw model directions atme. I happily complied, probably looking a tad bit too eager for theattention and cameras.

I knew I looked good, I felt good. Almost six foot tall,broad-ish shoulders, a jawline that could kill. I wasn't handsome butI certainly wasn't ugly. 

Most days I would react bashfully to any compliment orbrush it off, on the rare occasion that I got one that is. I nevercomplimented myself, I was more for the self-deprecation. 

But right now, I had put in the effort and felt goodabout how I looked.

I didn't mind the fact I wasn't attending a pre-prom, Iwasn't invited to one and I sure as Hell was not going to host one. 

The rain was coming down hard as my Father stoppedoutside the building. A group of girls huddled under cover waitingfor more friends to arrive.

I ran to the doors and had my name ticked off the listbefore heading up the stairs. 

Not many people had arrived yet, one boy sitting alonein the corner and a small group of girls by the toilets.

The photographer was already set up so I invited thelonely guy to take some shots with me. He was the nicest kid in ouryear, letting him sit alone wasn't an option. 

We talked for a while before the commotion fromdownstairs caught my attention, everyone had arrived at thesimultaneously. 

Though I may not talk or very much like my peers I didget along with most of them, I wasn't one to bitch so I was easy totalk to but I didn't gossip, party or understand the current lingo ofmy generation so it was hard to keep me as more than just afriendly-faced peer.

Nonetheless I stood midway up the stairs and watchedeveryone slowly move up the line to have their name checked and headup the stairs. 

I felt a rush of energy as I remembered the effort I hadput into my look and how much everyone else obviously had too thisevening. So, before the stairs became too overcrowded I stood andcomplimented the girls and guys alike as they passed me.

As more and more people filled the steps I retreated tothe open area at the top of the stairs. Everyone was already partingoff to their friendship groups spread across the room. 

I smiled at people walking towards me and continued tocompliment each 'friend'. 

With every smile I shot and every compliment that leftmy lips I could feel my chest tighten and smile become more forced.

People weren't walking towards me but passed me. Peopleignored me or just threw a half-arsed smile in my direction.

I felt lame.

A try hard.

Eventually a small group of people I had become friendlywith over the last year approached me and I felt my smile become morenatural once again.

I didn't need anyone else in the room, just these fourpeople in front of me.

They were the most ignored people in the year. 

Mollie, loud, opinionated, short tempered, pansexual andno verbal filter in sight.

Tom, rude, dramatic and couldn't be more gay if he worea rainbow dress and rein-acted Momma Mia as a one woman show.