fter that horrid day when Joe arrived home, he didn’t see Chloe a great deal, because he and his brothers still had shows to perform at and a new tour to rehearse for. Still, he was around her enough to learn that her school was soon holding a homecoming dance. He also learned of how Chloe had planned on not going, since all her friends had paired off and there wasn’t anyone she wanted to go with anyways, besides Joe. She put on a good face about it, but Joe noticed the longing in her eyes when she talked of it, and he resolved to find a way to take her to the dance.
It took some persuasion, and one hot argument, but Joe was able to get the permission from his parents, and various other people whom he shouldn’t have to get permission from for anything, to cancel all his plans for the night and take Chloe to her dance. He was nearly beside himself with anticipation, and he knew that Chloe was pretty excited as well. He knew it would be a special night for Chloe, since she had never had a date take her to a dance before, and hopefully it would prove to be an experience that could secure their relationship.
The dance was on a Saturday night. As Joe donned his tux, he thought, with amusement, how most boys at this dance would have rented tuxes, borrowed their father’s, or would only be wearing a suit, yet he already had his own. He couldn’t help but feel a bit smug, and even a little suave at that. When he was all ready, taking one last look in the mirror, he thought that he looked rather good; in fact, he hoped to be the heartthrob of the dance. It would prove to be interesting, at the least. His mother seemed also to think that he looked rather nice, and she insisted on taking a few pictures before he left. She could see the excitement in his eyes and was happy that he was able to have this night off.
Joe drove his own car to pick up Chloe, nothing special. As he pulled into her driveway, he realized that he felt nervous, not unlike a different time he had arrived at Chloe's house. He paused to think back to that day when he followed Chloe home from Target. This time, though, it was sort of different. Last time he had been nervous that Chloe’s feelings had changed for him, that she didn’t like him anymore. This time, he was scared that her feelings hadn’t changed at all since last time, and that she still didn’t want him anymore. It was déjà vu with a twist. He didn’t like it.
He got out of his car, walked up the driveway and rang the doorbell, willing his nervousness to go away. Chloe’s mom answered the door, pleasant as ever. Joe could hear Chloe’s dad in the next room over, watching sports on the television. Mrs. Welch invited him in and the two of them made small talk for about three seconds before Chloe appeared at the top of the stairs, apparently ready and rearing to go. Joe smiled at the thought of her just waiting around for him to get there, so unlike the scenario usually expected when a girl is getting ready for a dance and her date arrives at the door.
Olivia looked absolutely gorgeous. She was wearing a red dress, a dress tighter than most clothes Joe was used to seeing on her. It went over one shoulder, was cut off just above the knee, and was gathered on the side and fastened with a sparkly object Joe couldn’t quite get a handle on. Her wavy brown hair had been put up, leaving her shoulders bare. Her make-up looked the same as ever, besides around the eyes. Her brown eyes were made-up so that the dark brown irises contrasted magnificently against the red of her dress. Joe couldn’t stop drinking in the sight of her; the pretty face, flawless skin, and lovely being that Chloe Welch was. For a moment, Joe completely forgot about Chloe’s mother and her father in the other room; the only thing that existed was this beautiful creature in front of him and his own simple self.
Chloe started walking down the stairs – going quite carefully seeing as she was in high heels - and smiled that small smile of hers at Joe’s reaction. Her feelings of resentment and anger towards Joe had seemingly to disappear. Joe knew that, whether she admitted it or not, Chloe was excited for this night, possibly even more than he was. All of the dances she had attended prior to this had been mediocre, or so she said. The fact that Joe was leaving again the next day was lost in the anticipation of the night ahead.
