Diary of a Killer

6.

Prom Night—Two Years Ago— 913 days remaining

"Larry? Oh, thank God I caught you! I'm going to be coming home a little late from this interview, okay?"

"Oh, sure mom. Is everything alright?"

"Decent. The traffic over here is pretty rough. I heard there was an accident on the freeway. Nothing too serious, just a truck driver falling asleep at the wheel. Nobody got hurt, thank god. Anyways, I left you kiddos some dinner in the fridge. Just heat it up in the oven if it's too cold. Oh, and your corsage is on the second self next to the leftover potato salad. Please don't mix them up, make sure you check the container before you leave the apartment. Ashley's hair curler is in the bottom drawer in the bathroom sink, oh and remind Sal to take his meds please-"

Larry sighed. As much as he loved listening to his mother talk, he actually had something very important to do that night. "Mom, relax. We'll be fine. I promise. You just focus on getting a safe way home, okay?"

On the other end of the phone, Lisa Johnson laughed. "Okay, okay. I suppose you are all adults now." She sounded sad, but only for a split second. "Well, have Ashley take lots of pictures, okay? I want to see everything! And the limo should be there by 8:15 exactly, so make sure you're all out the door by-"

"Mooom, you're doing it againnn," Larry sang the words, watching the clock over in the kitchen chime 7pm.

"Sorry. Force of habit. Have fun! I love you," she made kissing sounds over the phone, and Larry rolled his eyes. "Love you too, mom. Bye."

He hung up the phone in time to see Ashley burst out of the bathroom, curling iron in hand, brandishing it like a weapon. She had a proud look on her face, and she turned towards Larry. "Was that Lisa?" She gave a fake pouting face. "I wanted to say hi."

Ashley was dressed in a long black one-strap gown that had purple rising from the bottom like fire, with a small slit, revealing just enough of her leg and black heels. "Simple, but elegant," she had called it. She had black bracelets on her left arm that jingled whenever she moved, a black necklace with a shining purple stone hanging from the chain, and black eyeliner with purple smokey eye shadow. Her hair was slung over her shoulder in a side braid.

Larry, on the other hand, was sticking with a basic suit and tie, something nobody ever thought they would see on him. At least, not until he was dead and being buried. That's what Sal had said, as he walked out behind Ashley. None of them could see his facial expression under the mask, but Larry could tell he was shocked. "Dude, I never though I would see you wearing a suit unless you were being buried."

Larry smirked. "I don't know, I think this is one good exception. Besides, I look smoking." He winked, and Ashley groaned.

"You are so full of yourself. Mr. Gray, will you please come this way. I have to finish your hair before Travis gets here." She pointed the hot iron towards Larry's bedroom door. Sal, standing right behind Ashley, shrieked, ducking to avoid being burned.

"Ash, watch it! That thing is still on!"

"Oops. Sorry," she said, going back into the bathroom to unplug the iron. Larry trudged over to his room, passing Sal. He remembered to smile last second before going into his room and closing the door. He slumped up against the door, sighing, and put his head in his hands. Travis was coming over. Travis. He remembered all the other times Travis had set foot in his apartment, and almost physically recoiled at the thoughts. They were poison now, as far as he was concerned. But he had to remember to put on a brave face, for Sal. After all, what kind of friend would he be if he ruined the best night of their lives by keeping old grudges.