Always, Yours

6 - Prom Night & Regrets

warnings: mild descriptions of smut, plenty of stupid clueless idiot angst, drinking

***

Tom laughed heartily at the one picture from prom that you decided to save, cheering him up slightly after the slightly heartbreaking memories from over a decade of being friends.

Your group of friends was all standing together in a huddled group, arms slung lazily over shoulders and looking at the camera.

That is, everyone but you and Tom. Tom was making bunny ears behind you and you were caught up in his laughter, staring at his eyes that never failed to bring light to your own.

He was staring at your earrings, ones he bought you ages ago and was surprised you were wearing them for such a big occasion. They were blue, a similar color to your prom dress and his favorite color. He saved up two month's worth of allowances to buy them for you, dragging his mum along in tow.

To this day, Tom regretted asking Katie to prom instead of you. It was stupid of him to do so. Harrison wanted to ask you, practically begging Tom for weeks to give him an opening. What Tom couldn't say, didn't have the courage or simply didn't have the chance to, was that he wanted to ask you. Reluctantly, he told Harrison to ask you, still afraid of how you'd react to his reveal. And then he came up with the idea of going as a group of friends, as if that would fix the damage done by not asking you in the first place.

He remembered the day very vividly, it almost tore the two of you apart. But, like always, you found it in yourself to forgive him the next day, and he, you.

***

17 Years Old

"Smile for the camera!" Nikki shouted right as Tom distracted you, making bunny ears behind your head and causing you to turn your head, lips tugged up into a smile at him.

"Mum! Enough pictures! We'll be late if you keep us here much longer!" Tom complained, dropping his hand and sending pleading looks toward his mom.

All of the parents of your little group were all gathered round with their cameras and camera phones, trying to get the best pictures of all of their kids, now grown up.

You were slightly discontent with the circumstances. The entire year was leading up to prom and graduation. The entire year you wondered if Tom would ask you to prom, if he would dance the night away with you and it would end magically, like in the movies.

But then Harrison asked you, eager blue eyes and a shy smile, red flushed cheeks. You really couldn't say no to the boy, who so clearly wanted to go with you. Besides, you couldn't sit around waiting for Tom if he was never going to ask you.

So here you were, piling into a limo, sitting next to Harrison on one of the long leather seats while Tom sat with his date, Katie.

It's not that you hated Katie, but she was one of the more popular girls in your year, someone who you never quite got along with. So you were understandably shocked when you found out through Keaton that Tom had asked her to prom and didn't even have the guts to tell you.

So here you were, sitting next to Harrison, opposite of Tom and Katie while Keaton and Jackie sit on the seat next to you.

"Parents are gone, now... who wants some of my dad's very good whiskey?" Harrison asked, wiggling his eyebrows as he pulled a flask from his suit jacket pocket.

"I uh, I guess," You shrugged, not meeting Tom's eyes when you saw his initial concern.

"Cheers," Harrison laughed before unscrewing the cap and handing it to you.