The Seven Stages of Happily Ever After

Three

"One more picture!" Mom squeals, taking another picture of me in my dress. It's hard to believe it's already the end of April and I'm attending my last prom. Mom snaps her picture, before blotting her tears as someone knocks on the door. I hurry to answer it, while Mom looks over her pictures. I smile when I open the door to my boyfriend.

"You look amazing." Wren tells me, grinning as he looks me over. He's dressed in a black tux, and red bow tie which ties excellently with my red dress.

"You don't look so bad yourself." I reply, kissing his cheek. Mom hurries in, camera at the ready as she smiles her brilliant smile.

"Honey, he's here!" She calls to Dad, as she places a hand over her heart.

"You two look so nice! Here let's get a picture." She motions for us to get together and we oblige, grinning for her.

"Wren," Dad nods toward him, as Wren smiles, extending his hand. Dad shakes it firmly, before crossing his arms and looking over my boyfriend. Everyone else in the county loves Wren Davis, but my Dad. He doesn't care that Wren's a football star; something about him doesn't set right, though I've never understood it. Mom snaps a few more pictures, but the limo pulling up rescues us from smiling.

"Bye," I say, kissing Dad's cheek and hugging Mom before following Wren out the door. He helps me into the limo, where everyone's waiting. I sit beside of him, meeting Izzy's eyes as she beams; she and Ryle got back together after he begged her to take him back two months ago. They're going strong now, but I have threatened to castrate him two times already, so it's in his best interest to behave. I look over all of my friends as they chat excitedly, wondering how many of them I'll talk to in a year. I shove the thought aside, squeezing Wren's hand; I'd prefer to think of us as eighteen forever, and that's what I'll do tonight.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't proud of how the gym turned out. The prom theme this year was starry night, so we decorated it with fake trees adorned with fairy lights, set against a black canvas over-head. It turned out better than we'd hoped, and I make sure to find some fellow committee members to talk it over.

"C'mon, let's dance." Izzy grabs my arm as I'm downing some water, and I laugh, following her. "It feels like the end." She tells me, as we dance to some pop song everyone loves. I shake my head, grabbing her hands.

"don't think about it." I smile, despite the ache in my chest at the thought of high school ending. "Let's just enjoy tonight."

She nods in agreement, swaying to the music with me. It's not that I'm not excited to graduate, but I'm going to miss seeing these people every day. I'll miss my clubs, the prom and yearbook committee, even some of my teachers. I can't believe it's almost over.

"Emma," Someone calls and I turn, finding Anna, the prom King and Queen vote counter trudging through the crowd to reach me. "Where's Wren? We're about to announce." She informs me; I frown, I hadn't seen him in a while, and I hadn't even noticed.

"I'll find him." I assure her. She nods, sighing in relief before walking away. Everyone knows Wren's going to win prom king, even Wren, so him not being in here right before is ridiculous. "I'll be back." I tell Izzy, who waves me off as she dances. I slide through the crowd, which is easy with my height, I get lost in the sea of people. Still, I release an annoyed huff as I finally break through the door and enter a hallway. I flush when I see I've interrupted a couple making out, until I realize it's not a couple- it's half a couple and a backstabbing friend.

"Wren," I call out; my voice sounding different, hallow. He turns instantly at the sound of my voice, panic flashing across his face as he takes a step toward me. I look over his shoulder, finding Madison whose eyes are filled with tears.

"Emma, it was my fault, he-"

"Don't," I whisper, holding up my hand as I blink away my tears. Wren looks devastated which is annoying because he's the one breaking my heart. "How could you?" I ask, because I can't help myself. He starts to move toward me, but I back away, not wanting him anywhere near me. I can't think straight, and I know if I look into his eyes, or if he touches me I'll do something I regret: like forget this ever happened. The door flies open, revealing a flustered Izzy.

"What are you doing?" She asks Wren, shaking her head. "They're about to announce-" Her sentence dies on her lips as she looks me over; then her eyes flash in anger as she wraps an arm around me. "What the hell, Wren?" She shouts angrily, as Kyle joins us in the hallway.

"And your prom king is- Wren Davis!" Anna announces excitedly: no one moves.

"Go on." I say, my voice quiet but not as watery; this is his world. Being the prom king, dating the head cheerleader, leaving hearts broken in his wake- it's just too bad it's my heart that's broken, and even worse it took me so long to uncover this revelation. I don't fit into his world.

"Emma, please-" He starts but Kyle shoves him away, a hard glare on his face.

"You've done enough, man." Kyle states, before turning to me and Izzy.

"C'mon, Emma." He places a gentle hand on my shoulder, leading Izzy and I out the back way. "We'll get you home, Em." He assures me quietly, his voice gentle and understanding.

I nod; and even though my heart is broken, I chalk a few points up for Kyle Brooks.