lemonade | ethan

thirty seven

"devon, wasn't your mom winter formal queen her senior year?" maya asks, an eyebrow raised.

it's january first today. last night was new year's eve. last night i kissed ethan. ugh, i still get crazy just thinking about it.

we officially start our road trip back home tomorrow morning. with no plans and no motivation, we all chill on the terrace as a fireplace surrounds us.

i nod, adjusting the blanket wrapped around me. "yep. i'm pretty sure she expects me to win too." i reply, an unexplainable face of discomfort on my face. i didn't like the idea of reliving my moms life but with every opportunity passing, my mom jumps at the moment to make sure it's just that.

sonny shrugs. "you have my vote."

winter formal was super popular in our town, aside from prom. we had no other dances, no spring formal, no homecoming, and no sadie hawkins, none of it. i just assumed it was because we couldn't afford it, though i know that wasn't true.

"i heard she didn't even know your dad that well until he won winter formal king." melanie added, resting her head on nick's shoulder. "and now they're together."

my lip tugs up in a slight smile. "yeah, they didn't. they were just chem partners before that." mel gives me a look, indicating that ethan and i were chem partners.

"since we're on the topic of winter formal, who're you guys planning on taking?" maya asks, excited for everyone's answers.

raymond sets his drink down on the circle table beside him. "i'm gonna ask this south side chick i've had my eye on for awhile."

i gasp, jumping in my seat. "is it–"

"hey!" raymond looks at me sternly. "don't go telling everyone now." at parties, i'm usually stuck with a drunk raymond and occasionally, he does not shut up about this girl.

i chuckle, shaking my head. "why..." i drag out. "i think it's super cute that you have a crush on her."

"oh, now you have to spill." nick says, unaware of raymond's crush. i guess nick doesn't really have the time outside of school to hang with the boys enough to know raymond's crush. he's always with melanie, taking care of her as she goes through this journey of pregnancy.

ray motions his lips being zipped shut before he locks it and throws the imaginary key behind his shoulder. "fine, then. i'll find out anyway." nick grunts.

"anyway, whoever it is, you better not make some cheesy poster telling her to go to the dance with you." nick adds. "those are just another level of absolute cringe."

"i know right, i don't know what it is." i replied, cringing at the thought of those proposals.

maya shrugged. "i think they're pretty cute, not gonna lie." she adds. "the posters really show someone put the effort into asking."

melanie chuckled. "well, maya. it's because you enjoy the attention."

"yeah, and it's not like i wouldn't appreciate the effort. i just want something subtle, you know? a big proposal is way out of my comfort zone." i added.

"but they're soooo cute." maya argued, pouting.

i laughed. "and sooo extra. a simple rose and a 'will you be my date to the dance?' will sell it for me." i shrugged.

"that's the difference between you and i, girl. you really enjoy the little things, and i can very well live without them." she laughs. "anyway. how about you, nick. oh wait–" she interrupts herself, remembering melanie and nick were an item.