The night was wet, the sky was grey and the wind was rustling the trees furiously. Not an ideal night to hold a homecoming, but the state of the night was not going to ruin my good time and spirit. I had just begun getting ready for my date, putting on my makeup, fussing around with my hair and putting on my new, low cut dress. All of this, it felt...weird and little inappropriate for me but I just wanted one night, one night where I could feel like I wasn’t a freak, like I was a princess in a fairy-tale. I was awaiting my “prince charming”, Damon West, a high school football player. He was to take me to the dance; the night was going to magical. It is a pity not all fairy tales end the way we hope…
A thrift shop owner sleept soundly on his counter, awaiting a customer. I know how he feelt; it had been weeks since anyone has visited that shop. The last person who came in only wanted directions; it has been a slow year financially. I myself begin to doze off and snore, but you would never hear me or know I am there. Before my eyes show me darkness the bell on the door rang, a customer? The owner of the store, Alex, woke up with a struggle.
A young teen, no more than 17 enters the shop. “Excuse me sir,” he asked, “Do you sell any dresses?”
Alex looked at the teen with an expression of confusion,“ah yeah, I think there are a few over in that box, the battered one”. The boy opens the box, rummaged through and grabed a beautiful, white dress, with a bow, my white dress. The boy walked up to the counter and handed it to Alex, with the expression of confusion still plastered on his face he asks the customer for $10. He handed him the money and heads for the door.
“Eh boy, are you sure you wanna be buying that dress?” Alex called out.
“Oh no sir, it isn’t like that. I lost a bet to my friends, the penalty is wearing a dress to homecoming this year for the entire night” he explained nerviously. I was torn between feelings, I was glad my dress is being worn again but as a loss of a bet, that saddens me a little, makes my heart almost rip in two. As the boy steped one foot out the door Alex spoke again “They say a picture speaks a thousand words but a dress… that tells a story.” The boy entered the shop once again, that time in interest.
“Have you heard about the story of Mallory Claremont?” He laughed slightly, “Of course you haven’t, this is a bit before your time my boy.” Alex continued, “Many years ago at Lakewood high, a young freshman just started her school year and already didn’t fit in with the rest of the crowd. She was a little different from the rest of the school, dressing differently than the cheerleaders, she was quiet and she was not afraid of not fitting in, but she was lonely. Her first few days were a living hell, constantly being called a ‘freak’, a ‘loser’, an ‘emo’ by the other, more 'popular' students and their mindless followers. Spending her days alone in the bathroom she would cry. Another young freshman befriended her and she was no longer alone. They were still bullied but they were bullied together. At the end of her junior year a senior asked her to homcomming, but she never made it”
I sighed to myself, the memories flowed back into my mind. I took a glimpse at Alex, a tear streamed down his face. “Sir, what does that story have to do with this dress?” the teen confused asked.
“The girl was wearing that dress the night”. He said while visibally holding back his tears.
“Oh” the teen sighed slightly . “No matter though, I only need this dress for one night and I will never wear it again. I have to get ready, goodbye sir”. Alex slumped back in his chair, and he loses himself in thought. I on the other hand decideed to follow that boy, I wanted to see my dress worn one last time and I wanted to finally make it to homecoming, even after all of these years.
I followed the teen; I followed him almost all over the city, I felt like a stalker in a way. It was all so strange to me, I had never been outside the shop in many years and what I remember has changed. We approached a very familiar neighbourhood. Past memories striked me like lightening and flowed back into my mind. I remember walking up and down the street to get to and come home from school everyday; I remember sharing my first kiss under these trees…..I remember my life being bearable but then it was taken away from me.
We were driving down the road fast, rain pouring hard on the windscreen, making it hard to see. I looked over at Damon. “Can we please slow down?” I asked in fear. A smirked creeped onto his face and he looked at me. “Why would I do that? This is fun babe” he said as we continued to speed down the road. My heart was pounding out of my chest, “No, please? Slow down, I am scared” I pleaded. My breathing increased rapidly and was heavy. As a single tear streamed down my face I pleaded once more “please? I’m scared.” With my eyes filled with tears and my body quivering I whispered “please?”
I should have listened to Alex, we planned to go to this dance together earlier, unless someone else asked us, I was selfish, and he has no one else, how could I?. The thought sickens me but he was also right, he tried to convince me Damon would be bad news but my love-struck mind couldn’t handle that thought. I felt a thud and I had gone right through the windscreen. I was bleeding rapidly and I could feel the stinging tingle of my bright blood escaping my body. All of my life flashed before my eyes, I realised something as I was watching my memories, Alex. I remembered the time he gave me a Valentines day gift to cheer me up, the those times he would stare at me with a dazed look on his face and the time we almost kissed when we were trapped in a closet, the time I regected him. He seemed to have dropped so many hints and I had never taken notice until now. He is so kind and I took him for granted. The last thing I felt was the feeling of slipping away, away into the darkness. As I slipped away I whispered, “Alex I am so sorry, please forgive me.”
The boy entered the bathrooms and changed into my dress; it angered me that he was using it as laugh for his friends as the result of a lost bet. As he exited the bathroom a roar of laughter emerged, I didn’t blame them for laughing actually. He looked ridiculous standing there and it looked like a bit of a tight squeeze. Despite my anger even I couldn’t hold in a giggle. His face turnsed beetroot red with embarrassment but he still continued with the joke. My giggling finally stoped and I fill up with jealousy and slefishness, I should've be wearing that dress, it was mine. I felt like child thinking that, a child who refuses to share their belongings.
The teen walked up to a girl who is sitting at a table all alone and offered her his hand. “Care to dance?” She smirked and placeed her hand in his; “Of course”. He lead her to the floor and they begun to dance, they looked so happy, strange looking and awkward as well, but happy. I envyed them both a bit, they got their homecoming dance. A spiteful idea crossed my mind, what if I was to sabotage their moment or “steal” it? I could snatch the body of one of them and take control, only for a few minutes though, just until I get the dance that was stolen from me those years ago. What was the matter with me? I shouldn’t have been thinking like that, it wasn't their fault, it was mine. If I wasn't so gulible, so lovestuck, so trapped in my own little world, he wouldn't have that dress and I wouldn't have been in this state, physical or mental. I saw them kiss on the dance floor, they looked so sweet. I bowed my head in shame and disappointment.
I found my way back to the thrift shop and I see Alex. He was staring at a picture of us from several years ago, when we were young. A single tear streamed down his face, “Why did this have to happen to you my dear? I…I tried to warn you but…..” He didn’t finish that sentence. He got up off of his chair and turned on the radio, it was a song people would dance a waltz to. Alone he tried to dance, pretending there was a figure there. I entwined my fingers with his and placed my other hand on his waist and we began dance until the song ended, it is a pity he didn’t know I was there. “Thank you Alex, you gave me my homecoming dance,” I say. I kissed his cheek and he put his hand in the spot where I kissed and he smiles softly. I had fulfilled my dream so I may go, I will be waiting for you on the other side Alex.
It is true, not all fairy tales end the way we hope. But my story was not your typical fairy tale. It took me a while to realise but I had my “prince charming” with me all along, and in his eyes I am a princess.
