Trust Issues

Chapter 35: Closing a Chapter

June 29th.

Today is Catherine's Prom, then her graduation is tomorrow. It has been just under a month that she got the courage to go back. It has also just been under a month since Jasmine's dad was diagnosed with lung cancer. To say things have been stressful and hard is an understatement. Jasmine has been working extra shifts like crazy. Everyone at work pitched in to help her out and we managed to raise a good $2000, of course that is only a fraction of the hospital expenses as well as other bills. Jasmine has also not stopped her little side business, but that also does not earn her much. She is very obviously burnt out so all Cat and I could do is take care of David.

Despite the tough situations, Cat is prepping for her fancy night out, Jasmine and David are here with us as I curl her hair and she does her own makeup. Jasmine attempted to paint Catherine's toe nails since she'll be wearing open toed shoes.

"Shit," Jasmine muttered under her breath.

Cat and I laughed at her struggle.

"What, you've never painted nails before?" Cat joked.

Jasmine sat up holding her hands out for her to see.

"Cat I'm gay, so I don't really have a lot of nail to work with. So no, I don't particularly enjoy painting them often." Jas said before plopping down like a frustrated child.

"I mean CJ is gay and has painted nails, so I don't assume." Cat defended herself.

"Your sister is a special case." Jas muttered under her breath again.

I reached over and kicked her slightly at her remark, to which she responded with a smirk.

When Cat was all prepped, I helped her get into her dress. Cat is very crafty so she went thrifting and found an early 2000s sort of style dress. It was cherry red with thin straps, a straight neck line, tight fitted until about the hips, floor length, and an intricately detailed beaded bodice. Since Cat has short hair, I curled it in really tight curls so she could mess around with it and it lay beautifully no matter how she flipped it. Her makeup was natural and her nails eventually done being painted, she looked like a princess. She put on her simple black strappy sandal heels, and borrowed my satin black clutch that I took to my prom.

We heard a knock on the door. We weren't expecting anyone, I have no clue who it could be.

I look through the peep hole and see Casey, she was all dressed up too.

"Casey? What the hell are you doing here!" I asked excitedly bringing her into a hug.

I turn to look at Cat who is at a loss for words, no one saw this coming. She eventually came back to reality and ran into Casey's arms.

"Case, what are you doing here?" Catherine questioned.

"You said you didn't have a date, and we can't have that." Casey replied pulling back and holding Cat's excited face.

"Wait, isn't your prom tonight too?" Cat wondered.

"Yeah, but you're more important to me than anyone else. Also I'm hoping to join the party at your grad tomorrow?" Casey asked looking past Cat towards me.

"Of course, you have to be there." I responded happily.

I played the mom role and took way too many pictures of the girls at home and outside in the park nearby. Casey went as far as to schedule an Uber black for them to arrive at the prom, and as soon as we finished with pictures, they were off.

Jasmine and I took this opportunity to go see Jonathan with David. We got into the car and drove to the hospital. Jonathan moved into the palliative care unit now, so we walked through the halls until we arrived. He looked pale, thin and weak, yet he still gives that big goofy smile every time he sees us.