The Axis My World Turns On

Stay

*One year later*

Laura paced back and forth between the TV and her father sipping coffee in his recliner staring calmly at the front door. In any other situation, if this was anybody else, he would be staring death daggers with a super soaker full of bear spray. Extra strength. But, not tonight- even if he had one set aside for precaution.

"What if she doesn't show? This is not her thing at all. We saw what happened last year! No way she'll go through with it!" She fiddled with an open string on the corsage she bought for tonight.

"Um...are we remembering the same night?" Her father frowned, confused, over his coffee mug.

"Oh, you mean my Junior prom night that I was looking forward to? The one where I got all gussied up for my knight in shining armor only to find I wasn't the dame worth saving. Talk about Princess Fiona. I didn't even get a Shrek. Instead I was embarrassed in front of the entire school and spent my prom night in my room staring at a ceiling of fake stars where I wallowed in sadness." Laura's face went bright red at the lack of oxygen.

Sherman blinked rapidly, cartoonishly rapid. "Yeah, that night."

She huffed, trying to stabilize her nerve before they caused her death. "Yeah, that night. A night that has the possibility of repetition."

"Do you really think she'll let that happen again?"

"Who's going to stop it?"

Three rapid knocks at the door and Laura's attention was off the memory of her terrible Junio prom like it had been tossed with a gust of wind.

"Who do you think that is?" She approached the door with caution.

"Shrek." Her father shrugged.

"Do-do you really think so?"

"You'll know if you open the damn door." A humored voice came from the opposite side of the threshold. Blushing, Laura let the door come ajar to reveal a smirking brunette with a rose in hand. "Was that so hard, cutie?"

............

Why was it so hard to dance? She bought the ticket, the dress, the shoes. Why was it so hard to dance? This was her Senior prom. This night would never come again. Yet, she was sitting against a wall staring at everyone else having a good time. A wallflower.

"How long are you going to replay that inner monologue? I can hear the thoughts bouncing around in there." Carmilla spoke up beside her, a bang nearly covering one of her eyes. It was beautiful in the blue light.

"Until it gets me off this wall." Laura sighed.

Carmilla huffed, shifting her bodyweight. When she asked Laura to prom, she never thought she'd be the one aching to get off the wall and join their colleagues. "You're not the only one who put a lot of effort into tonight. I did my hair- with effort this time! I bought a new dress. I rented a limo. The rose. And I think we should get out there after so much effort. It was tiring!"

"Putting effort into your hair takes a lot out of a girl." Laura giggled, handing the box to Carmilla. "Here. I probably should've done this back at my house."

Carmilla took the black rose corsage and put it on her wrist. It went well with the black and purple dress she'd decided to go with. It was a beautiful corsage, but the look on her best friend's face wasn't; and, she was sure she knew why. "You're afraid last year will repeat itself. Why?"

The hesitation made her sure Laura wouldn't answer her. Until she did. "Because what if it does? What if you get so bored you leave me on this wall to go dance with...Elsie Fisher or somebody? I wouldn't blame you. She's a blonde, too."