Secrets of Fayhill High

(22) Prom

As I stood in the front of that mirror, I almost didn't recognize myself. My hair was perfectly curled, my makeup immaculate. Mrs. Beckett was the one who helped me get ready, since Mama was in California again- she went back after the holidays. Avery and Clover had also been incredibly helpful working alongside Mrs. Beckett.

Mrs. Beckett insisted on paying for my dress so, of course, money was no object. It was a beautiful baby blue silk gown that hugged my curves perfectly. It was off the shoulder which was so cute to me. My makeup was much more bold than I would usually wear, but I still thought it looked lovely.

(The lip color is more of a nude color in my imagination lmao)

Downstairs, I could hear Dad and Lucas joking around, as always. I sighed and smiled softly as I took one last look at myself in the mirror.

Walking down the stairs proved to more of an ordeal than I had expected. My heels were silver and four inches, but it was killing me. Undoubtedly, I would be removing them promptly after arriving at the school.

The second I saw him, I forgot about all the pain though. He looked so happy. He came to the bottom of the steps to meet me, holding out his hand for me to grab. When I did, he brought it to his lips and gently kissed it. I smiled at him as he beamed down at me.

"Alright, break it up." Dad croaked from the corner of the room, a sleeping Harper settled comfortably on his lap. Avery and Clover laughed from behind me as I heard Mrs. Beckett attempt to hold back a giggle.

Within the hour, we were gathered in a room full of our classmates, everyone having the time of their lives. Max and Kendall smiled as they slow danced together. Ben and his date were grinding quite disgustingly, as were Rose and Carter (who were shockingly still together and happy). Charlie was off flirting with some artsy girl she had met in a photography class. Lucas and I were making up our dances as we went along. He would twirl me randomly, but mostly we were just dancing near one another.

After about two hours of dancing, Lucas grabbed my hand and began to lead me over to the main doors of the gym. We were met with the football field, the bright stadium lights burning my eyes. It was dark, making the atmosphere a sort of peaceful as crickets chirped somewhere far away. Lucas led me to the middle of the field and turned me so that we were standing face to face.

"The first time I saw you was right here. You were wrestling Rose for something and I was checking you out." He chuckled. "Then I said something about your ass and your face went beet red. That was when I knew... I'd have to embarrass you again." He laughed much more whole-heartedly now, earning a laugh from me as well.

"She wrote your name next to mine for the homecoming dance routine since she was mad at me, but I thought you were a complete douche so I was trying to get the paper out of her hands." I smiled.

"If you had, we might not be standing here now." He frowned.

"I don't know... you have your charms." I chuckled.

"Do I?" He smiled wickedly as he pulled me forward. He drew me into a kiss that was slow and sweet and the perfect way to end prom night.

"Isn't it weird all the things that could have been different if we had never met?" The question was more to myself: would I have made it without him?

"I think I still might've had a crush on you." He laughed.

"Doubt it." 

"You are the most beautiful human being I've ever met- how could I not have liked you?" He smiled as he wrapped his arms around me.

"I love you, Lucas Beckett."

"I love you too, Hazel Griffin."

I had no way of knowing what would be in store for me, or Lucas, or us as a couple, but in that moment, none of it mattered. All I knew was that I really, truly loved Lucas, and I hoped I would always remember a love like that. Always.