Ocean Blue & You

dreams come true

PART 2 ~ LOVE

It was the last day of school. Everyone was buzzing with the excitement of leaving school for the holidays, but there was also the added excitement from all the sixth formers about Prom. It was tonight. I couldn't believe it. I really couldn't. Tonight was the night we were going to Prom. I had dreamed about it ever since I was a little kid, and the thought that it was happening tonight almost felt surreal.

The July heat was shining down over the courtyard during fifth period, where Anna, Faith and I were chilling in the shade of the beech tree. I was sipping some iced lemonade I'd brought from home, and Anna was moving a little fan around her face as we chatted excitedly about tonight.

"So, we're coming round to your house tonight Posy?" Faith repeated again to make sure, "because you came round to mine last time."

"Yeah," I said, "I'm so excited!"

"Excited is an understatement!" Anna said, her long hair blowing all over her face from the fan.

"So, tell us what happened again when Jack asked you to Prom?" Faith giggled excitedly.

"I've already told you!" I sighed, but I retold the story again of how amazing it felt when Jack had finally asked me, and our hug.

"That's the closest I've ever been to him," I muttered dreamily.

"Oh my God, you too are so cute!" Faith said once I'd finished the story, "I ship you guys! How about... Josy!"

"Oh shut up," I said, nudging her elbow, but I couldn't help suppressing a grin.

"What about that thing you're doing with Emma tomorrow night?" mentioned Anna. At this I groaned and rolled my eyes. I had totally forgotten about it.

"I completely forgot! It's so weird though, isn't it? Don't you think it's a little strange Emma's inviting me round to her house with her friends after she got mad at me at the party and has been jealous ever since?"

"Yeah, something fishy is definitely going on there," Faith agreed.

"I still can't believe you said yes after how rude she was to you!" Anna burst out after a short pause. I still hadn't told them about Emma's bribe, and intended to keep it that way. I still wasn't entirely sure why Emma had been so dead set on me coming to her house, but I guess I'd have to find out sooner or later.

*

That evening Anna and Faith came over to mine to get ready. We were all so full of excitement we could barely contain it. In fact, Anna had even jumped up in the air and squealed at the doorstep before I let her in.

As I began to change into my dress after I showered, I suddenly felt a huge wave of nerves. It was my first proper thing with Jack as not just a friend, but something more. I wondered if the tension might be awkward between us, or if we'd just get along fine like we always did. The fact that we were now going as a couple, and the hug we had had days before, was sure to bring some tension. I just hope it wasn't so much that I wouldn't be able to enjoy myself with him, constantly worrying if I had food stuck in my teeth or if I had a pimple on my chin. I still hadn't told Mum about Jack yet. I wasn't sure if I should now, considering what Emma told me about his parents and mine, so I would just have to keep it to myself and pretend I was going in a three as friends with Faith and Anna.

Once my hair had dried fully, I brushed it out and braided it with two plaits coming from the front of my head and going down to the back of my hair, and then braided them into one at the end. Once I was happy with my hair I started doing my makeup, fiddling and struggling to find my concealer amongst the masses of wash bags, hair brushes and lipsticks Faith and Anna had brought that were in the sink. Faith came in several times to check and recheck her makeup, but after about an hour and a half, we were ready. Mum was standing by the stairs when we came down at around seven, beaming at us and telling us all how beautiful we looked. She then took several photos (more like a thousand) before finally letting us go, my mouth aching a little from smiling for so long. We stepped out into the warm, midsummer evening, got into Faith's car, and then drove to the Prom. I was going to meet Jack outside the gates, and Faith and Anna were going to meet up with their dates too. Excitement ran through me, all over my body, creating a tingling sensation under my skin that was very similar to how I felt before Emma's party. But now, there was also a built in expectation. All of my dreams, most of my expectations, needed to come true tonight, otherwise it would be a fail. It had to be the perfect night.