Always & Forever (A 'The Last Of Us' Fanfic)

Chapter 36

Prom night was here and Joel remembered that he and Beth had agreed to go together. Long before they broke up, they had said that prom was a must. Senior prom was a big deal and they didn't want either of them to miss it. As he thought about this, he started to wonder whether Beth was going to go or not. There was no way of him knowing since they hadn't talked to each other in so long. Prom was staring in about three hours. There was no way he'd be able to go. He was staying in to watch Sarah since Roxanne had said she had been invited by Shawn and Joel needed her out of the apartment. He never thought that she could be even more annoying than she already was. He needed a break from her. She'd been out with her aunt all day getting everything in order for tonight. He was looking forward to a night without her and just with his little girl. His 'baby girl' as he had gotten into the habit of calling her. But he wasn't sure if Beth was going. If she wasn't going because of him, he'd feel extremely guilty. It was time for him to man up and talk to her. He placed Sarah in her crib and went to grab the phone. He just hoped she wouldn't hang up on him.

Beth sat in her living room watching a movie while eating popcorn. She had thought about going to prom with some of her friends but she soon realized that she didn't want to go to prom without Joel. They had said they would go together and going without him just wouldn't feel right. She had told her dad that she would stay home. Don wasn't okay with that and had gone out to buy her a dress. Beth chastised him for spending money on something that she wouldn't wear.

"Put it on so that I can get a picture of you in it at least," he said.

"Dad, no. Come on. You're the only one that knows how much this costs and I feel guilty," she said.

"Oh, hush. Maybe when you put it on, you'll want to go. Prom only happens once, sweetheart. It's your senior year. You should be enjoying it," he said.

"Maybe I don't want to go, dad," she retorted.

"Because of Joel?" he asked.

She looked over at him then looked away.

"We had promised we'd go together...it wouldn't feel right going without him," she said softly.

"But you do want to go. Honey, you should go. I know you're still hurting from the break up but you'll be leaving for New York soon. I'd hate the idea of you missing out on this," he said.

"Dad...the dress is beautiful...but I don't think I could go," she said.

"Okay, honey. But will you at least put it on so that I can take a picture. At least it could look like you did go," he said.

She sighed.

"Fine. But only cause it's you," she said.

"Thank you," he said.

She went up and kissed his cheek, taking the dress up to her room.

Once she had it on, she looked at herself in the mirror and twirled around. She couldn't help but smile at the way the midnight blue looked against her skin tone. Blue was one of her favorite colors and she was thankful that her dad decided to get her a dress in this color. But she wouldn't be on Joel's arm and that smile quickly faded.

"Just a picture," she whispered to herself.

She wiped her face and cleared her throat.

"Oh, sweetheart...you look absolutely stunning. Stand here by the fireplace," he said.

"Dad," she said sounding very embarrassed.

"Get on over there," he said.

She rolled her eyes but obliged anyway. She stood up straight for him and the camera flashes began.