UPTOWN GIRL, alex p. keaton

xvii. shot of love

⇰ 𝕤𝕠𝕟𝕘 𝕤𝕖𝕝𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟: 𝕚𝕥 𝕒𝕚𝕟'𝕥 𝕞𝕖 𝕓𝕒𝕓𝕖 𝕓𝕪 𝕓𝕠𝕓 𝕕𝕪𝕝𝕒𝕟

STANDING ON the opposite side of the table in the middle of the candlelit dinner Leo had set up for the two of them, Arabella gleamed over to the man opposite of her. She'd surprised herself for staying with him for this long, expecting to have either imploded the relationship herself or have him do it for her. Still Arabella enjoyed him around to go to music festivals, exhibitions— it was nice to have a partner to share those things with. Things she'd previously enjoyed on her own, not really having someone as her equal do the same.

Well, besides her sisters of course.

"God how did I get so lucky," He mustered out to have her giggle in embarrassment from the small compliment.

She shook her head to raise the small wine glass in his direction. "You say that every time we're together."

Leo shook his head persistently to reach out to hold her hand across the table. "It's only the truth. You're smart, beautiful, cheeky, beautiful— did I mention stunning on the eyes," He joked to have her roll her eyes over the comments he made. Brushing his suit nervously as he continued to speak, Leo smiled over to her innocently. "Easy to have yourself fall in love with a girl like you. It's almost too simple."

There wasn't a proper response that was able to come to her easily as he said this to have Arabella look onto him stunned from the phrase. She'd never expected herself to fall into this sort of affair again, but she was in it now and— it terrified her. Then again, she had the tendency to keep an arm's length over men that did this. She had a history of it to be more specific.

»»————-　♔　————-««

May, 1986

Senior prom was meant to be the highlight of Arabella's already seemingly perfect high school career. Diana had the same experience as her being crowned Prom Queen and Arabella, secretly, wanted the same for herself. Sure she thought the idea was seemingly objectifying their youth in such a way as to pit women against each other— but the part of her that also wanted the same simple things seemed to beat her level-headed side out this time.

In the midst of heading to the bathroom to fix up her make-up, she stumbled upon her date, James Quinn, who she'd been going steady with for a few months and was now currently circled around a group of boys. "Y'know the rumors that have gone around with Arabella Rowe right?"

She stopped in her tracks upon hearing her name. Sure Arabella was one to keep around some boys here and there, cycling them through like an out of season dress attire but she was also in high school? What was the point in dating seriously if she barely wanted to spend more than two hours around any of them anyways. Considering the boys certainly did the same, Arabella thought she was entitled to the same sort of standards.

"Could get yourself quite an ending for tonight if you're lucky."

James laughed as she watched him cluctch onto his suit for additive effect of his confidence being boosted by his friends objectifying her. "Well, I could only hope. You don't seriously doubt I'd do everything to win that princess over without knowing that it was gonna be worth it in the end."

The words were met with an erupting approval of laughter as the boys clasped his shoulders in pride. Arabella couldn't believe the obvious double-standard by this. She could go around on as many dates as she liked but to be labeled in such a way? Had any of them done the same things, they'd never receive the same treatment.