MASH

Chapter 25: As If It Couldn't Get Any Confusing

  Clarice~

             “It’s…wow.” I stated my eyes still blazing with admiration. It was just as beautiful as it was when I first saw it as a small five year old girl. The creamy white dress was slashed down one side with a glossy black ribbon tied securely around the waist. I admired the smooth ruffles of the dress, laced with the lovely texture of silk material. Except something was different. “Hey when did this come?” I asked as I eyed the beautiful white carnation, gently running the tips of my fingers on its dusty petals. My mother smiled dreamily at the old dusty prom dress, she clasped her hands together dramatically before continuing, “It was the very first flower I received from your dad on my senior prom night.” I couldn’t help but grin at my mother, “so how did you preserve it until now?” My mother stopped smiling and winked at me, “Let’s just say that the REAL flower is hidden somewhere in the store room.” I rolled my eyes still smiling silly at the dress. “Well go try it on, I kept it especially for you.” I felt a twinge guilt overwhelm me, the dress was beautiful and I had dreamed of trying it since I was a little girl but now all I could feel was a horrid repulsion of reluctance. I took the dress from my exhilarated mother, her hands were cold and trembling excited for me to try on the dress. I dragged my feet into my room and slammed the door shut.

                With one quick movement I felt the soft silk material of the dress slide over my skin. As I turned around to adjust the dress the smooth silk swished around me. I sighed deeply not even taking a glance at the mirror and went into the bathroom and snatched the first hair-tie my hand touched and quickly pulled the top surface of my hair into a messy bun leaving a few strands hanging down freely. I stared at my mother’s huge make-up bag sitting at the edge of my basin. I frowned in disgusting and left the bathroom and flung face-flat on my bed not bothering about whether the dress was a mess. “I am so screwed.” I could not be bothered any further with the prom, it was obviously Tiffany’s fault. I should have just said no I’m not going I seethed in my head resisting the urge to scream out loud and scare the living daylights out of my family members. “Honey I don’t mean to rush you but are you done?” I lifted my head and quickly scrambled out of bed and left the room. “Oh hey-““Honey! You look gorgeous!” My mother said suddenly her eyes widening in amazement. “huh?” I said dumbly it was then when I turned to look at the mirror beside me I had realized why. As much as I hated to say it, I did look pretty good even without trying. I sighed inwardly and just smiled at my mother. “Well well look at my little sis all grown up into a lady.” Andre’s familiar voice boomed across the hallway. I glared at him threateningly and lifted a fist at him. “Shut up Andre.” He ruffled is hair and yawned, “I take everything I said, all grown up into a monster.” “Hey!” I shouted angrily at him as he snickered loudly before pulling me into his grasp and ruffling my hair messily. I pushed him away a smile plastered on my face. I smoothed my hair down just as my dad came upstairs a proud look plastered on his face he just stared at me his eyes beaming with pride. He wasn’t a man that praised a lot but by just looking into his eyes I could see a tear slowly forming at the corners of his eyes. I ran over to my father and he welcomed me into a warm embrace. ‘I’m so proud of you.” I repeated those words in my head as I felt another arm hug me followed by another broad and stronger arm soon I found myself enveloped by my whole family. “Okay, I’m going to be late if I don’t leave.” With much reluctance my family let go and bid me farewell at the door, Andre opening the door for me. “Monsters first!” I punched him in the shoulder as I left the door and went into the car. As Andre turned on the car engine I saw my parents leaning into each other, both of them beaming at me.

             “Hey Andre can I ask you a favour?” I questioned as he came to a stop in front of the familiar Hill Ridge High School. “Shoot away.” “I need you to accompany me to the prom.” Suddenly there was a dead silence followed by Andre sudden frantic objections, “ That’s incense! I can’t go!” I pouted my lips and put on the best puppy face as I could as I clasped my hands together. “Please! I said I was bringing a date but I didn’t have one!” Andre cocked an eye brow before answering, “I’m sorry but that’s when Ye Kai and ‘that bloody boy’ come in my baby sis.” Before I could object I found myself being shoved out off the car and into the cold night. “Hope you have a great prom though! I be back by around 11!” and with that he sped off. I gritted my teeth angrily cursing silently at the blue Honda Jazz as it sped down the road.