In the Band

A Pregnant Prom

Nick was helping Allison out of the passenger side of her Ford, which he drove, considering her delicate state.

The school’s prom budget was all blown on taking the football team on a victory circuit through Pennsylvania, not a customary practice for high school football team (or its devoted cheerleaders), but Our Lady of Blessed Heart bread a whole new brand of asshole and once thought about, it did not surprise Allison too much that God had created another thing that she had to miss out on.

The budget did not cut out prom altogether however, it was thrown at a small hotel right off of Interstate 79, the classiest of highways.

Her dress was less than she imagined. It did not include the slim fit that she usually sported, not that her belly had swelled all too much from her three-month pregnancy, but vanity did play a big role in her life and the comments made from her classmates were what she wanted so much to be subdued. Allison had almost given up on sexy, it was not a look entirely appropriate for a mother anyway.

“Why do I want to go to this again?”

“Because high school is almost over and you want to create good memories to carry on for the rest of your life,” Nick answered her. He understood that her moods were not entirely her fault. It never made sense to her why he was so nice.

“I can’t even get drunk like all the other dances.”

Nick laughed even though Allison was not entirely joking.

They entered the dining hall of the hotel and were greeted by several dirty looks, something that Allison pretended not to notice, but found hard to get used to. She briefly searched the room with her eyes to look for a certain ex-best friend she still was not talking to. Her mood brightened when she confirmed that Carson had not shown up.

The first move Allison made was hitting the buffet. She wasted no time acting shy about the food she ate. The cheerleader inside of her was now accompanied by a baby and she tended to ignore the former when in the act of stuffing her face.

Nick didn’t eat much, she still made him nervous honestly. The fact that they were spending so much time together helped subdue his anxiety a bit, but his heart still raced when he caught the smell of her hair or looked her in the eye. He had noticed her stomach was growing larger, but he thought she looked better than ever. Despite her regular bad mood, the pregnancy sent a glow about her. She seemed healthier and shinier. And he was too much of a gentleman (or maybe a pussy) to ever point it out, but he couldn’t help but notice her chest did get slightly larger.

Seeing as the dance floor was gaining a sizable crowd, Allison dragged Nick up to join in the festivities. It started with a song everyone knew, one of those stupid 80’s ones they always play at dances. Easily covered by cheesy disco moves and synchronized pointing. Then, Nick’s worst nightmare. The beat slowed and went deep, a goddamn club song came on and the dance floor became a sea of teenagers grinding on each other like there was no tomorrow.

Allison, detecting Nick’s nervousness, took her new, sick humor a step further by getting very close to him. He audibly gulped and Allison moved his hands that had been stiffly pinned to his sides and put them around her waist. She then proceeded to grind violently on him, enjoying his uncomfortable demeanor and trying to hold back laughter at his mortified expression. She let some laughter get through while shaking her head when he let go of her waist and left hastily to go to the “bathroom.”

When Allison was standing by herself, looking after Nick rigidly walking away, arms strategically covering his crotch, she overheard a conversation next to her.

“Thank god that’s over,” “So gross,” “Why is she even here?”

Constant gossiping should be something she ignored. It didn’t help anyone for her to get caught up in it. No matter how much she told herself this, it hurt. Especially since it felt like everyone was just shoving her mistakes in her face and ultimately, she agreed with them.