There it is! That is the perfect dress and I will blow every other girl there out of the water. Finally all eyes will be on me. Four years in this miserable place and not one date she thought. There she was standing alone in the middle of her favorite local vintage store starring at what looked like the most beautiful prom dress anyone would ever wear. She quickly grabbed it off the rack and rushed over to an open dressing room. She quickly disrobed and slipped the beautiful dress over her thin frame. As she starred at herself in the mirror for the first time in Haley James life she left beautiful and sexy. She didn't feel like a tutor or a nerd she felt like a beautiful girl that everyone would be jealous of.

Yes she was thin and always had been but she was just that way naturally, her curves where rounded and she was seemingly the perfect weight for her frame. She had naturally blond hair but had died it on a constant basis various dark colors as long as she could remember and right now it was a nice soft shade of light brown. She had deep brown eyes and a beautifully clear complexion. All this may have seems like the perfect ingredients for popularity but there were things Haley never really bothered with like styling her hair, wearing makeup, and she took little consideration into her daily wardrobe. Haley was the type of girl who would wear whatever her mom bought her or sometimes made her. All her friends where boys and the closest female friend she had was her best friend, Lucas' mother.

Haley continued to stare at herself in the mirror in amazement she continued to run her small hands over the silky white fabric. The dress was white with black shoulder straps and a band of black lace that was positioned just under her bra line. The dress was short but not too short, the bottom landed just below her knees. This was by far the most beautiful and girly thing she had ever put on in her life. She could already see the cheerleaders dressed in short dresses with their boobs sticking out. She rolled her eyes at the ridiculous image of these girls in her head. As much as it scared her to step out of her comfort zone like this she knew it was now or never.

Haley pulled the dress off slowly and put her jeans, screen tee, and jean jacket back on and exited the dressing room. She walked over to the register and stood there for a while until Flow, the most absentminded vintage store owner ever created, finally pulled her head out of whatever article she was reading to check Haley out. Haley knew everyone who worked there she was a regular costumer this was the only place Haley ever shopped.

"Earth to Flow"

"Oh geez I'm sorry Haley find something good today? New vintage band tee? I know we got a few in the other day."

"Nope not today Flow. Today was all about the prom dress."

"Ok well let's see what you picked out girl. It's been years since my senior prom let me live vicariously through you my dear."

Haley pulled the dress up and draped it over the counter.

"My God Haley that dress is beautiful I didn't even realize we had it and excuse my look of shock but I never pictured you wearing something like this."

Haley pulled the dress back off the counter and released a breath of frustration. Did anyone think she was beautiful, guess not.

"Yeah I know it's not really me but it's kind of the point right? I mean prom is a week before graduation so it's kind of my last chance to leave an unforgettable impression on my classmates."

"Well I think it's a great idea let them all know what they could have had if they were smart enough. So how many of the Tree Hill High studs have asked you to the dance?"

"That would have to be somewhere between none and zero."

"Are you kidding me? These young boys are so stupid. What about all your friends couldn't you go with one of them?"

"Well let's see Jimmy, Mouth, Junk, Fergie, Lucas and Skills refuse to go because they think if they go it is some type of surrender to the conformist drones. So they are all going out of town that weekend because Skills' father is taking them to a Charlotte Bobcats game. It's the first time they have ever gotten a chance to go to an NBA game. So they are really excited."

"Basketball over their senior prom?" Flow paused for a moment with a disgusted look on her face.

"I know but the truth is not one of those boys could get a date so they are all making up excuses. Can you do me a huge favor if you see any of them could you not tell them about the dress?"

"Why?"

"Well they don't know I'm going to prom and I would like to keep it that way."

"Haley why wouldn't you tell them they are your best friends?"

"Look I have always done what was expected of me, I studied hard, I got the valedictorian title, I tutored, I kept the same job for four years at the café, I did all the right clubs and volunteer work. I always made it home by curfew and I got accepted to Stanford. I've never drank, done drugs, or involved myself in any sort of risky behavior."

"Yes we all know you're a good girl Haley but you always do what others expect from you what about what you expect from yourself?"

Haley dropped her head and looked down at the floor. Had she really missed out on living her life for herself and lived it for the people around her? There were so many things Haley wanted to do. She wanted to be someone people were envious of. She wanted to show people she could sing, play guitar and piano beautifully. She wanted everyone to know that being a musician was her true passion. She wanted to fall in love and do something spontaneous for once. She wanted to shock people. She wanted to amaze people and change everything they had ever thought about her but Haley knew the truth was most people never thought about her. She was invisible.

Haley and her group of friends had always been the losers, the nerds, the outsiders. They were either picked on or ignored all together. She rationalized part of it was their own fault for spending all their time at the river court, Karen's Café, Keith's Body Shop or the old movie theatre downtown. None of these places where real hot spots for the Tree Hill High Schools elite crowd. While the majority of their school piled into the gym every Friday night to watch the famous Tree Hill Ravens basketball team win championship after championship, her crowd hung around the park. Haley had spent many a Friday night watching Lucas, Fergie, Skills, and Junk play basketball while she sat on the benches and listened to Mouth and Jimmy pretend they were famous sports announcers. Haley never complained, she never asked them to attended one of the dances in lew of playing mini golf on the roof of the café or going to some house party instead of watching old movies at Luke's. She liked her life and she loved her friends but sometimes she hated how much of an outsider she was.

"Look Flow, I understand where your coming from but you just have to understand that for once in my life I just want to be a looked at a woman and not a loser, nerd."

"Haley I doubt anyone looks at you as a loser or a nerd."

"Your right no one looks at me at all. I really don't want to go off to college without ever having really lived my life, you know. I just don't want the guys to know because I don't think they will understand."

"Haley, as we all know none of those boys are studs so I'm sure they feel the same way you do but then again they're boys so they will probably never tell you but they wish for all the same things you. Ok girlie."

"Alright I know we all aren't exactly experienced but I need to do this for myself. I feel like if they found out what I'm planning on then they would just try and convince me to back out and the truth is I would cave after a while just so I wouldn't have to listen to it anymore."

"Hey they might surprise you and end up offering to go with you." She slyly cocked her eyebrow.

"Ha!" Haley laughed shortly.

"Ok even if there was some shift in the time space continuum and they wanted to go to this prom I wouldn't want them to. I know that if we all showed up together I was just blend into the background and end up spending the whole night sitting in the corner. This way I can make a grand entrance, mingle, and maybe even get asked to dance by a cute guy."

"You know you're probably right but I still think you should tell Luke. Out of all of those crazy boys I think he would understand."

"I know he would understand but I just really need to do this for myself." Haley said defiantly.

"Alright, alright." Flow had finished ringing up the dress and handed Haley the dress in a brown paper bag.

Haley gave her a small goodbye wave and exited the store. Haley quickly made her way to Karen's Café. She entered in the back door and caught Karen coming out of the stock room.

"Hey Karen, is Luke around?"

"Nope."

"Good I need to talk to you and I kinda don't want him to hear this."

"Haley you tell him everything what's going on?"

"Well you have known me since I was what seven years old and you know I have never made a hasty, rash decision in my life."

"Ok Haley get on with it."

"It just I've always been invisible and I just really want a chance to stand out and try something new."

"Is this about a boy?"

"Well I guess you could say that. You know I never had a guy so much as kiss me and I really don't want to go off college without having to really experience life. You know I want romance or even a summer fling. Just something because it seems like all the guys I like never notice me."

"Oh Haley if this is about Lucas I can say something to him. You know that boy is so oblivious and sometimes he can't see what is right in front of him. I always knew there was something more than just friendship between you two."

"Oh my god. No way! That is just gross Karen come on." Cringing with a look of pure discuss on her face. Haley could never think of Lucas in that way it would definitely be incest. He was like a brother to her.

"Aww Haley you know I always wanted you two to end up together. I still maintain you crazy kids will get married some day. Just think about it, Haley James Scott. It has a nice ring to it."

"Oh wow no way that just sounds God awful." Haley laughed inwardly to herself. She could never imagine herself marrying Lucas and Haley James Scott just sounded weird.

"Alright so you if you don't have a crush on my son then what is going on."

"Well I've figured out a way to change my love life. I want to go to prom and I don't want the boys to know anything about this. You know how they feel about it."

"Ok but what do you think this will change?"

"I feel like if I go to this dance by myself and really put myself out there then maybe just maybe my classmates will remember me as someone cool and fun and not the boring bookworm. I also got the most amazing dress I really would love to turn heads for once."

"Good for you Haley. What do you need from me?"

"Well I was hoping you could do my hair and makeup."

"I would be glad to. Why don't you meet me here two hours before the dance, I'll treat you to dinner then we can go over to my house and I'll help you get ready."

"Thanks so much you're a life saver."

"Don't mention it. I always wanted a daughter to dress up and I've always considered you my adopted daughter anyway. This will be fun. I can drive you to the dance if you want."

"Well is there any chance you and Keith could drop me off but leave my parents car in the lot just in case I want to bail."

"Sure thing Haley, you know I believe this conversation has made you late for your shift you better get to work I heard your boss is a real hard ass."

"Hahaha, very funny Karen."

"No I'm serious I may even have to dock your pay for this." Karen said with a smile.

Haley worked the rest of the day until closing. The café had been pretty busy which helped Haley keep her mind off the dance. For the next week leading up to the day of prom Haley's nerves were on edge, she had a tendency to talk to blurt things out when he got nervous so she kept her guard up all week around the guys. She didn't want to say the wrong thing and let her secret slip out. So when the boys left for their trip Friday morning Haley could finally breathe easy. She got up late Saturday morning in preparation for the long night ahead of her and packed her dress, a matching black purse and a beautiful pair of black heels into her bag and threw it next to her bed. As she walked into her kitchen she noticed a note attached to the refrigerator. It read:

Dear Haley-bob,

You slept in for the first time in your life and we didn't want to disturb you. Your sister Quinn called and said her and David need some help with the new house and asked us to come out there for the weekend. We will be back Monday morning, have fun and don't smoke too much crack.

Love your amazing Mom and Dad.

To Haley this wasn't much of a surprise her parents had left her alone to go visit her siblings all the time. Usually she would be mad that they had abandoned her once again but this time she was glad they would be gone. This way they wouldn't find out about her plans for tonight. After grabbing a quick breakfast Haley drove off in her parent's old mini-van to a hair dresser about an hour outside of Tree Hill. She wanted to make sure she wouldn't run into anyone from school. She nervously parked the van and made her way into the salon. After two of the longest hours of her life Haley emerged. She had been so nervous about this but she knew it was the right decision. She drove back to her house and relaxed all afternoon until it was time to head over to the café.

Karen was just starting to shut things down when Haley walked in the door of the café with her head down. Karen had a hand full of dishes and nearly shattered them when she saw Haley.

"Oh my god, Haley James, your hair!"

"You hate it don't you. Oh I knew this was a bad idea."

"No Haley it looks beautiful. I can't remember the last time your hair was blond. It is such a beautiful color. What do you call that?"

"Dirty blond." Haley laughed.

"Well I'm glad you didn't go crazy and try to bleach it. That color works so well on you. It looks almost exactly like your hair did when you were a little girl."

"Thanks Karen I took a picture in and asked them to try their best to get it back to my natural hair color."

"Well they did an amazing job but if u went to a hair dresser why didn't you have them do you hair?"

"Well I thought it would be more fun if you did it. Plus I figured you would do it for free and I would have to pay them."

"True."

Karen closed up the restaurant and the two women ate dinner and talked excitedly about everything from Haley's dress to what type of hair style she wanted to what time she wanted to make her grand entrance. Then they made their way to Karen's house. Karen had set up the kitchen will all her beauty arsenal ready for whatever Haley needed. Haley put her bag in Lucas' room and hung her dress from his closet door. Then she went into the kitchen and sat down in the car Karen had placed in the center of the room for Haley.

"Alright girly what do you want me to do with this beautiful hair of yours?"

"I was thinking you could do some big soft curls and pin one of the sides back."

"Alright sounds easy enough. So what do you want to do about your makeup?"

"I was thinking really understated some pink blush and maybe some sort of flesh colored lip gloss."

"Alright here we go."

Karen worked tirelessly for a good hour. When she finally finished she walked in front of Haley and took a moment to admire her fine work. Karen took a deep breath she had one an amazing job. Haley looked breathtakingly beautiful but Karen knew Haley always had been. She finally handed Haley a mirror.

Haley starred into the mirror with the most confused feeling she had ever had. The reflection starring back at her was almost unrecognizable. She looked beautiful and this shocked Haley. She was so happy she began to tear up but Karen quickly handed her a tissue.

"Aww Haley don't cry, you will ruin your beautiful makeup."

"Thank you so much Karen."

"Ok enough it's time for you to get ready girly or you will be late for your grand entrance."

Haley climbed slowly off her chair and headed into Lucas' bedroom. She quietly closed the door behind her and began to get ready. She stepped into her dress instead of pulling it over her head so as to not mess up her hair. Then she strapped on her heals, grabbed her bag and went back into the kitchen.

Karen had been picking up the kitchen but stopped for a moment to look at Haley.

"So what do you think?"

"Good but you're missing something?"

Haley walked back a few paces and took a look at herself in the bathroom mirror.

"What it is?" Haley expression was panicked.

"I think I might have just the thing." Karen walked down the hall and into her bedroom. Haley stood in the doorway and watched Karen rummage through her jewelry box. Finally Karen found what she was looking for and walked back into the hall and handed Haley a pair of simple but beautiful diamond earrings. Haley looked down at them.

"Oh Karen these are beautiful. Are you sure they look real?"

"Well they are and normally I don't wear them for fear of losing them cause those things where damn expensive. I only wear them on special occasions but I think this counts."

"Are you sure about this Karen?"

"Yes, know go put them on."

Haley went into the bathroom and put the earrings in and took a moment to look at herself in the mirror. Then she heard the door bell ring.

"Haley its Keith, get your butt out here it's time to go."

Haley took one last look at herself in the mirror and took a deep breath. This would be the beginning for everything she had ever wished for. This is going to be either the greatest night of her life or the worst.