always loved you

chapter eleven

k i e r a n

This was it...the one night I have been dreading. Prom night. The wasted kids and broken hearts on the dance floor are just what I need. I feel like I am the only person in the entire school dreading going. Sure, I had a date and Marcus was coming along...but I couldn't shake the emptiness inside my gut.

Her being here with Marcus is wrong. Loving her is even more wrong.

Maybe it's because I'm going with Priscilla, or I have other important things to do with my time...but here I am, waiting for Marcus to arrive at the Italian place she picked out.

There's a part of me that doesn't want to see them. I don't want to live through the reality of those two walking in together, laughing, carrying on, pretending to be just content with themselves when really, I knew the truth. The truth being that they aren't that happy with each other and Tailor's only doing this to spite me, and Marcus is using her.

I check my phone hoping I'd see a missed call or something from Marcus, and I am slowly getting tired of watching Priscilla twirl her hair and chew her gum loudly. A couple of groups from our school have come in and out throughout the hour. The restaurant is dimly lit, filled with the chatter of excited teenagers and the clinking of cutlery against plates. The air smells of garlic bread and marinara sauce, and somewhere in the background, I can hear a soft piano melody playing, adding a romantic ambiance that feels more like a cruel joke to me.

Priscilla's lavender dress, although beautiful, feels out of place next to the black suit my brother insisted I wear. She's been chatting non-stop about her plans for the summer, but I can barely focus on her words. Her voice becomes a monotonous hum, blending with the noise around us. I keep glancing at the entrance, the knot in my stomach tightening with every passing minute.

I am about to just get up and leave the room... until I see her walk in. There is no way in hell I am leaving now. It's crazy how, after all my bullshit, I get to be standing here, living the daydream I have pictured in my head for months.

Tailor walks in the room looking like a real, true princess. Her dress is rose gold, spaghetti strapped, with a slit down her right leg. As she is walking, you could almost see her matching-colored heels with a band covered in sparkle wrapped around her ankle. Her hair is straightened, and from afar it looked lighter than usual, almost a honey shade. I remember her saying that she always wanted to change her hair to a lighter shade, but her mother hated the idea.

She carries herself with a grace that makes it impossible to look away. Her dress shimmers under the soft lighting, casting a delicate glow around her. Her makeup is flawless, accentuating her high cheekbones and making her eyes look even larger and more expressive. As she walks in, a soft breeze from the open door catches the scent of her perfume – something floral and sweet – and it reaches me, making my heart pound in my chest.

Marcus follows closely behind her, looking as polished and handsome as ever in his navy suit. His eyes are bright, his smile wide, but there's a tightness around his mouth that I recognize all too well. He's putting on a show. For everyone. For me. For her. For himself. He places his hand on the small of her back, guiding her towards their table, and I can't help but notice the way Tailor stiffens at his touch, if only for a second.

I force myself to breathe, to keep my composure. Amelia's chatter fades into the background as my focus zeroes in on them. I feel a pang of jealousy, a wave of frustration, and an overwhelming urge to do something – anything – to change this narrative. But all I can do is watch as they take their seats, pretending to be just another happy couple on prom night.

For a moment, our eyes meet across the room. Tailor's gaze is steady, searching, and for a split second, I see something in her eyes that mirrors the turmoil in my own heart. But then, she looks away, turning her attention to Marcus, and the connection is lost. I am left with the bitter taste of reality, knowing that tonight, no matter what happens, nothing will ever be the same again.