Looking After You

(29) Ages: 20 & 17

Ages: 20 & 17

It was seven o'clock by the time Keira and Jenny finished shopping for the 'perfect' prom dress. They met up at James' apartment earlier that day and spent four hours dress hunting and two hours chatting over lunch. While Keira insisted that at least ten guys had checked out Jenny throughout the day, she continually brushed off her proposals. She was determined to find Jenny a date while the only thing Jenny was determined to do was find a way out of going to prom. Until Keira made a not-so-graceful entrance into her life, Jenny had intended to skip prom. There were only two guys she had any interest in going with; one was across the world and the other was across town with absolutely no interest in her or a high school dance. Although she hated it at the moment, she knew Keira's pushy attitude was just what she needed. Keira was the big sister she always wanted, forcing her to think of herself and insisting she be selfish for once.

"You are going to have the best night, Jen, I promise." Keira gushed once more for the hell of it as they made their way up the stairs to James' apartment. "Don't even worry about finding a date because your hoe has it covered," Keira smirked with her thumb pointed back at herself. Jenny cracked a smile despite herself and shook her head. As much as she dreaded the whole prom experience, she had a great day shopping for supplies with Keira. "You just worry about yourself and your gorgeous dress and at six o'clock there will be a tall, dark, handsome guy at your door." She shot a wink at Jenny as they stepped up to apartment 23C and Jenny cocked her eyebrow in disbelief.

"And how do you plan on accomplishing that?"

"I have my ways." Keira implied mysteriously while wiggling her eyebrows. Shaking her head, Jenny pushed open James' door and stepped through to find him seated on the couch with a bag of cheese puffs under his left arm and the remote in his right hand.

"You two do realize this isn't your apartment, right?" James questioned with a mouthful of Cheetos, spitting a few unattractively out onto the couch.

Pointing a finger at him, Keira responded with a playful glare. "You're getting crumbs on my couch." Both girls set their bags on his kitchen table and Keira walked back into the adjacent living room, plopping down on the couch beside him. Jenny turned back to find them sitting together. Her chest constricted at the sight. Logically, she knew it was pointless to feel jealous. Keira already made it perfectly clear she wouldn't do anything after she found out Jenny's feelings, but it wasn't Keira's loyalty she was worried about. James didn't feel the same about Jenny so what right did she have to tell him who he could or couldn't date? Just in the past couple of weeks Jenny had learned how easy it was to love Keira. She was fun and kind and honest to a fault and perfect for James. How was it possible for him not to like her? If she put her feelings aside, she could see how they would be good together. He deserved to be happy and he deserved to be in love. Maybe being in love wasn't good enough for her anymore. Maybe she was ready for someone to love her back.

"I think I'm going to head home." Jenny faked a yawn, covering her mouth with her hand and giving a pathetic stretch. "It's getting late."

James and Keira turned back to face her. "It's seven o'clock, Grandma." James pointed out with a smirk, causing her to smile back just because she found it impossible not to.

"You can't leave! You have to try on the dress before you are permitted to leave." Crossing her arms, Keira plastered a resolute scowl across her face and Jenny knew there was no arguing.

"I tried it on at the mall," she argued in vain.

"Not with the shoes and jewelry and strapless bra! Now, get into the bathroom and strip!" She ordered comically, pointing towards the short hallway.

Jenny grabbed her bags resentfully before walking towards the bathroom. "You scare me sometimes, you know that?"

"I can't make an informed decision until I see every piece working together like a well-oiled machine."