Amanda
The waiters brought out my favorite, Tostadas. As I was eating, I kept looking around for Jonathan. I wasn't sure if he was here or not, but of course I couldn't know because every guy is wearing a mask. The only people I could tell were Dylan and Cole because while every guy decided to look the same, these two stood out from the crowd. I wasn't gonna give up though. I was gonna find Jonathan and dance with him by the end of the night. That's when I noticed something different, Daniel wasn't here. Even with a mask I could be able to tell he was there, but he wasn't. I leaned over to Mom who was sitting on my left.
"Where's Daniel?" I asked, not like I really cared.
"Oh honey I'm sorry, but he's sick. He really wanted to be here, but he did get you a present. It's on the very top of the pile," she explained, pointing to the table at the far side of the room where all my presents were.
At the very top was a very small box covered in silver wrapping paper and tied with royal blue ribbon. I didn't even care if Jonathan got me a present or not, if he's here that's the greatest present of all. I nodded to Mom and went back to eating.
"Alright everyone," Dad called out after the waiters cleared our food away, "we will now have our transformation ceremony."
Three waiters came out. Two were carrying a throne while the other was carrying what looked like a shoebox. The two waiters put the throne in the middle of the dance floor so that it was facing everyone in the room while the other waiter set the box beside it. Dad offered me his hand and I took it. Once we made it to the dance floor, he set me down on it.
"Now," he said, "we will exchange Amanda's flats with these high heels, signaling her a woman."
He gestured to the box as everyone clapped. I looked around desperate to find at least something that will make me think of Jonathan, but nope. I lifted my dress up a little to reaveal my flats. With shaky hands, Dad opened the boxed and took out light pink high heels. The room was so silent you could hear a pin drop. There were photographers here to take pictures of everything, because in about a week or two I was gonna send everyone a book of it. I shifted a little in my seat as he took my flats off and slipped my feet into the heels.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Dad said, his voice cracking a little, "your quinceanera queen, Amanda Ramirez."
Everyone cheered as Dad help me out of the throne. I smiled and waved at everyone before giving my dad a big hug.
"Now it is time for the father-daughter dance," he announced before the DJ played one of my favorite songs as a little girl, Butterfly Kisses. I haven't heard the song in forever and I'm surprised Dad remembered. The waiters took the throne and shoebox away before I placed one of my hands on Dad's shoulder and the other one in his hand. We danced.
"You know I'm really proud of you sweetheart," he began. "You've grown so much." Tears welled in my eyes. "I can't believe you're 15."
I laughed. "You can't believe it?" I asked. "I can't. I've been waiting for this moment, this night my entire life and now that it's here.....it doesn't feel real."
He nodded in agreement as he twirled me. I saw Mom crying her eyes out. Isabella was sitting in my seat comforting her and handing her tissue after tissue. I couldn't help but giggle.
"Dad you want me to be happy right?" I questioned, getting serious.
He frowned. "Of course I do. What would make you ask that?"
I looked down, trying to find a right way to word what I was gonna say.
"What if I told you, I wasn't in love with Daniel?"
I cringed waiting for him to lecture me on how good Daniel was and how I'll grow to love him, but the words never came. I looked up and he was smiling, something I did not expect to see.
"If you don't love him, then you don't love him. I'm not gonna force you into dating someone you don't have feelings for. I'm not that kind of parent."
"Really?"
He nodded before spinning me again.
"Is there someone else you have your eye on?" he asked making me blush.
"Well...yeah. It's this guy named Jonathan. I've had a crush on him for, like, ever, but he avoids me. He's really shy and that's what I love about him," I explained.
"Is he here tonight?"
I shrugged. "I'm not sure. He did say that he couldn't make any promises on if he was coming or not."
Dad turned his head away from me and looked at something, but I'm not sure what he was looking at. "I have a feeling he's here," he said, looking back at me with a smile.
I tilted my head to the side in confusion and before I could ask what he meant the song ended and everyone clapped.
"You may now dance," my father said before returning to the main table.
Everyone surrounded me. The girls were telling me how amazing I looked and the guys were trying to get me to dance with them, mostly Dylan and Cole.
About an hour later, it was time for me to open my presents. I sat in my seat at the main table and a waiter passed present after present to me. I recieved things like necklaces, cute shirts, shoes, and bracelets. Daniel got me a charm bracelet and when I looked at Dad he smiled and leaned over to me.
"I think you should give him this when you guys break up."
I nodded. Dad told Mom the situation after the father-daughter dance and she was okay with it as well. She actually found it the "cutest thing ever." I gave my presents to the waiters so they can put them away while I told Dad to keep the charm bracelet in his pocket.
"Now it's time for cake!" Dad shouted.
The cake had an edible picture of me in white jeans, a bright orange see through button down with a white tank top underneath, and matching orange Chuck Taylor's. As the cake was being given out I spotted a guy walking out of the room. I frowned.
"Hey Dad," I said, getting his attention, "I'm gonna go get some fresh air. Be back in a little bit."
He nodded. "Make sure your back in about 10 minutes, you still have to slow dance with one of the guys."
I nodded before getting out of my seat jogging across the dance floor which was not easy considering I was wearing heels. I walked out of the room and tried to look for the boy. As I was looking around I spotted a window and I saw him. He was outside sitting on the edge of the water fountain. I walked outside and shivered. It was awfully cold for July. The clicking of my heels on the concrete made his head snap up. I smiled.
"May I sit down?" I asked, pointing to the spot next to him.
He shrugged. "Don't get your dress wet," he teased making me giggle.
I sat next to him and took in his appearance. There were about a hundred boys in that room that had blond hair, but there was something about this boy's blond hair that made me think of Jonathan.
"Aren't you having fun?" I questioned.
He nodded. "Yeah, yeah I'm having fun. But I just needed some fresh air you know?"
I nodded. "And congratulations on the whole 'becoming a woman thing.'"
I smiled. "Thanks." I looked up at the night sky that was just filled with stars and sighed. "The stars are really beautiful," I stated.
"Not as beautiful as you," he replied.
When I looked at him he blushed and looked down at the ground. I tucked a piece of hair behind my ear.
"Thank you."
There was silence after that as he avoided looking at me. His shyness made me think of Jonathan as well. I got up and dusted my dress off before turning around to face him.
"You know I'm slow dancing with someone in a couple of minutes," I stated, "and I was wondering if you would like to be that someone."
He finally looked at me. "Really?" he asked in disbelief and I nodded in response, holdng out my hand for him to take.
Even though Jonathan couldn't be here tonight, there was something about this boy that made me think of him a lot. After staring at my hand for a few moments, he finally took it and stood up. I had to crane my neck all the way up to be able to see his face. I stared at his eyes, they were so pretty. They were a bluish-gray color that seemed to fit him so well.
"Your Highness," he said, holding out his arm making me giggle.
I wrapped my hand around his big bicep and together we walked back to the party.
Once we made it the music was there waiting for us. We went onto the dance floor and Marry Your Daughter played. From over the boy's shoulder I saw Dylan and Cole staring at him and talking. I ignored those two and looked over at Isabella. She was bouncing her eyebrows up and down and mouthed, "Who is that?" I shruuged and mouth back, "But he's cute." I turned back to the boy and we started dancing.
"This is a really serious song don't you think?" he asked laughing a little.
"Yeah, but you have to remember that I am a woman," I pointed out and he nodded in agreement.
"That you are," he agreed.
"So," I began, "tell me about yourself."
He shrugged. "There's really nothing to tell besides the fact that I go to your school."
I gave him the really look and he chuckled.
"Can you at least tell me your name?" I asked and he shook his head. "Why not?" I whined.
"I just can't okay?"
I pouted. "Fine."
He took my hand that was intertwined with his on his other shoulder while he put his other hand on my waist and pulled me closer. He kissed my forehead. His lips were warm and rough just like Jonathan's cheek. All too soon the song ended.
"Thank you for the dance," he said, bowing. "It was a honor."
He took my hand and kissed it making me blush. "The pleasure was all mine," I replied.
A loud gong rung throughout the room and the boy looked up at the clock.
"Shoot," he mumbled. "I have to go."
He was about to dash off, but I grabbed his arm.
"Please stay," I begged.
He stared at me for a moment, before grabbing the back of my neck and kissing me. I was shocked for the briefest of a moment before kissing back, holding him to me with all my might. But he pulled away too quick and dashed out of the room.
"Wait," I whispered.
Something fell out of his pocket and I went to pick it up. It was my invitation. The envelope was wrinkled but the card inside was perfectly fine. I hugged the invitation to my chest.
