𝐈𝐓 𝐆𝐄𝐓𝐒 𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐄𝐑 ; daniel seavey

F I F T E E N

"I can't believe you convinced me to go to this stupid thing."

Ashley snickered to herself, keeping the phone at a distance so that Aspen wouldn't hear. "It'll be fun."

"Honestly, if I wasn't so happy over winning that bet, I might just punch you in the throat."

She pressed the speaker button so that she could put on her make-up for the night while attempting to persuade Aspen not to back out. "Come on, Aspen. You can't miss your prom. Besides, you already bought a dress that took us weeks to find."

"I still have the receipt," Aspen countered. "I can always return it."

"Well, it's your call," Ashley relented. "But I know someone will be utterly disappointed you didn't show."

There was a long pause. "What the hell are you talking about?" Aspen asked, eerily calm.

"Well, a little birdie told me that there might be a certain someone waiting to talk to you at the dance."

"And I assume this 'little birdie' is Christina?"

"Yup."

"Are you insinuating what I think your insinuating?"

"Possibly."

"And you're positive he'll be there?"

"One hundred percent."

There was another pause of silence, and then, "BITCH WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME THIS BEFORE?!"

Ashley laughed loudly, enjoying the sounds of Aspen stringing together a series of curse words that would make a sailor blush. She could hear the girl shuffling around the room, no doubt just starting to get ready when she should have been dressed over an hour ago.

"It's official. I'm going to murder you," Aspen said, her voice taking on a deadly tone. "You don't keep vital pieces of information like that away from me, Ashley. I'm pretty sure you just broke the best friend code of conduct."

"I didn't know Jack was going until today!" Ashley exclaimed defensively.

"You're such a liar. I can hear you laughing from here. You better watch your back, Ash. Daniel might find out some very embarrassing things about you tonight."

"You've got nothing on me, Aspen and you know it."

"I can easily improvise."

"And I can easily pour punch over your head. It's your choice."

"... Fine. But only for tonight. Your lifetime of embarrassment starts tomorrow."

"Dully noted." Ashley finished applying her lipstick and took a good look at herself in the mirror. For having done the make-up herself, she thought she did a pretty good job. She hoped it would last through the night.

She hung up the phone not long after that since Aspen had to style her hair. She was all dressed and ready to go so she decided to wait on the bench by her bay window. It was just a few minutes before she noticed Daniel pulling up in Logan's Mercedes.

She dashed down the stairs-as quickly as she could with heels on-and opened the door before he even had a chance to knock.

He startled, nearly dropping the corsage as it fumbled in his fingers. They were both silent. Taking each other in.

He stared at her as if in awe. His eyes soft and warm as they traveled the length of her until they fixed on her face. The longer he gazed at her, the harder it became to take a breath.

He swallowed audibly. "Ashley..." His voice shook. "I-I don't think there are words to describe how incredibly stunning you are." His hands trembled as he reached for hers, placing the corsage over her wrist. "You look beautiful," he whispered.

I love you.

She should say it. She knows he feels for her like she does for him. She can see it plain as day in his eyes and in the way he says her name. But the thought of putting herself out there-giving him her entire self-made the words catch in her throat.

"Thank you," she whispered back, her voice hoarse. "You look especially handsome."

And he did. Daniel in a suit should be considered the eighth wonder of the world. His shoulders looked broader, his arms appeared fit, and there was just this godly air about him that made her knees buckle.

"Thanks," he said sheepishly. He then took out a small camera from his jacket pocket. "Are your parents going to take pictures of us? I brought my camera since Logan couldn't be here."

Her mouth tightened in a thin line at the mention of her so called parents. "No. They're not here. They went out to dinner with the boys."

Daniel's eyebrows scrunched together in the way that she adored. "I see... Wait one second." He sprinted to the passenger side of the car and shuffled through the glove box before jogging back to her. He held out the item he searched for triumphantly. "Now we can take our own pictures."

It was a selfie stick.

A laugh escaped her lips. "Why would you carry a selfie stick in your car?"

"It's not mine!" he exclaimed defensively. "It's Logan's! He uses it when we go to Ohio, I swear!"

"You're such a dork." She leaned up and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Let's take some pictures."

They were definitely the best prom pictures in history.