Tonight was the night for Ariella Boston's mother. Patricia Boston; stage mother, pageant mom and slave driver. Ariella often referred to her as 'Mommy Dearest' as her life was a parallel to the movie. Ariella's childhood was spent driving from city to city, driving from pageant to pageant. She was a beauty queen, radiant blue eyes, beautiful golden locks that curled naturally at the ends and dimples that anyone would melt at the sight of. Patricia was the lead 'mom' in the pageant section and always strived for perfection in her life, meaning Ariella was only a mistake when she wasn't on stage.
Tonight, was the Senior Prom and in the running for court were the most popular girls in school and naturally the most popular guys. In the lead running for both Queen and King were Ariella and her boyfriend Donovan Lewis. Donovan had been with Ariella for 5 years and they were very close, yet not in the way you'd think. Donovan's mother was also one of the pageant directors with Patricia and they introduced the kids at a tender age of 4 and they had grown up together. They found peace with each other, they could be who they really were and became the best of friends.
However when they hit High School the mothers threatened that if they did not 'go steady' with each other and save them the drama of meeting kids they did not like, they would force them into senior pageants through their High School years. So Donovan and Ariella have been pretending ever since, they'd never kissed, only to do so much as holding hands in public. They hated pretending to be in love, they hated not being able to date anyone and they despised lying to their friends and family. But in order to have a semi-normal High School life, they had to.
"You need to slow down." Ariella fidgeted in the seat next to him, glancing at the speedometer that was edging towards 85.
"Ari, calm down we're fine." He said calmly, glancing down to see how fast he was going.
"The road is wet, and the speed limit is 50 and you are doing 80. Sorry but that is not 'fine'." She said, glancing ahead of the window.
"You know I love you Ari, but you can be a bit of a downer. Here, I'll go 60 will that make you happy?" He eased off the accelerator and smiled at her.
"It'll help, thank you." She said, breathing a sigh of relief and glanced out the window. She had never imagined her life to end up this way. She hated pretending to be someone she wasn't, there were guys she found attractive in school that never even spoke to her. She'd been 'taken' her entire high school career and it was natural now for the both of them. Playful banter, a squeeze here, a poke there. They'd smile, hold hands and everyone would fall in love with them. How she wished graduation would come sooner, then they'd be going separate ways and could experience life.
As the BMW neared the valet outside the country club Ari sighed and put on her 'I'm in love with this man' face and turned to Donovan who had already done the same.
"This is over at 10, right?" She smoothed out her dress and fixed her curls that framed her face.
"You bet." He jumped out to open her door, and she sighed. They would only be there long enough to get the crowning ceremony over then leave. Most people would assume they left to 'do it' and they would be free to go home and she could catch her TV shows and catch up on her biology that lay abandoned on her desk.
"Ari!" Ariella smiled at her bouncing friend Michelle, who even though was Ari's best friend still had no idea Ari was faking it with Donovan.
"Hi Shelly! Oh my land I love your dress! It's so big and sophisticated. How on earth did you get in Michaels car?"
"It was ridiculous, he had to shove it in and slam the door as I held it. I have a hoop skirt on so I looked seriously funny. Mom said it would look lovely under these lights and I think she was right. Thank you, your dress is lovely too! And Hi Donovan, you clean up nicely." She joked.
"Yes, I do clean up rather nicely don't I?" He laughed, linking his fingers through Ariellas. "Lucky woman, isn't she?"
The three shared a smile and headed out to the dance floor where they managed to mingle with everyone in attendance for the next 2 hours. Everyone loved Ariella and Donovan they were easily the most popular couple in the school.
"Van?" Ariella cooed, grabbing his waist.
"Yes?" He cooed back, putting his arm around her.
"I have to excuse myself to the ladies room for a moment; shall I meet you back at our table?"
"Yes, they are about to do the ceremony so you know what that means!" He winked at her, and they both smiled knowing everyone around them thought something different.
"Oh, of course I do. I can't imagine anything more perfect, be right back!"
As Donovan sat down to wait for Ariella he glanced up to see a group of football buddies coming towards his table. He made a mental note that this was almost over, and smiled up at them; "Hey guys! You guys look ridiculous in suits, it really does nothing for you I'm afraid." He laughed, smoothing out his pale purple tie.
"Har-Har" Trevor laughed, "Hey man you and your woman HAVE to come to this party tonight man! It's right after crowning so of course you can have your moment but it will be the party of the century!"
Donovan inwardly groaned, "Ahh sounds tight guys, but I've got other plans for Ari. If you know what I mean?" He smirked, but hated the way he made Ari sound like nothing but a piece of ass.
"Dude, we know! But look, you come to the party have a few drinks, loosen up and take her upstairs to the suite. You guys can go at it all night!" Trevor coaxed.
"Listen, let me talk to her first. Don't want to make any plans without her consent you know?"
The guys laughed, "Yeah right, you are so whipped!"
"You know it. Oh here she is, I'll come let you know afterward." Donovan smiled and let Ariella sit down first and the guys scattered.
"You'll let them know what?" She asked, scooting her chair in.
"Listen, they are having a massive party."
Ariella shifted towards him, "We had a deal." She murmured.
"I know but he said we could have the suite upstairs. All we have to do is party for an hour or two and we can be upstairs watching our shows, or your homework or whatever it is you want to do. Like it or not we are still popular and have to make appearances." He said, tossing his crumpled napkin onto his plate.
After a few moments of contemplating Ariella sighed gently, "You're right, I'll go. But can we stop at home first? I'd like to get a change of clothes otherwise I'll be walking around in my underwear."
Donovan laughed; "You know, I may be just a friend but that mental image is very tempting. We could not go home and you'd have to walk around in your underwear. I'm not against that at all." He laughed as she swatted his leg.
"Hello Class of 2010! And you under-classman of course!" The crowd hollered as they crowded around the stage for the ceremony. "I'd like to ask all nominees please take your places on the stage as we'd like to get the crowning underway."
They took their places and anxiously waited as the dance committee made speech after speech about each nominee. After 10 minutes they finally got out the winner card and announced the winners.
"Our 2010 Prom King is…..Donovan Lewis!" One down, one to go. They placed the crown on his head as he jumped forward smacking his crotch in a manner that she knew what he was insinuating for the crowd.
"And finally our 2010 Prom Queen is…." Ariellas heart raced as she knew all the girls up there were pretty and popular. She didn't care if she won, she just knew if she didn't her mother would practically disown her and tell her she wasn't pretty enough.
"Marigold Smith!"
The brunette next to her started to cry as they placed the tiara on her head of curls, and she mouthed 'I can't believe this!' to Ari as she stepped forward to join a stunned Donovan on the dance-floor.
Friends rushed Ari to console her as her fake-boyfriend danced with another girl, which she obviously couldn't care less about. She actually envied him because he was able to dance with someone else at his Senior Prom.
Sometimes she would day-dream about her life being different, a childhood she liked to remember and a family that loved her for who she was and not on how she looked. She longed to meet a guy that loved her for her charming sense of humor, or her personality and wit. She was book smart but not a nerd, she loved to read and loved to sing. She wanted to take up singing lessons but her mother told her she couldn't sing. It was a hobby she wished she could do more of, but in reality here she was stuck in a world of make believe.