When I awoke the next morning, I smelled something cooking downstairs. I am sure that my father felt terrible about letting Greyson into our house after what had happened. I picked out a t-shirt and a pair of jeans and flats to wear today, since it was finally starting to warm up around here.
I brushed my hair and styled it, as well as doing my makeup. I dressed and finished getting ready and walked downstairs. I turned the corner to see my father cooking.
"Cooking again?" I asked.
"Well, trying," he said.
I saw the toast, and this time it still had a brownish color to it, and the bacon still looked like bacon.
"Getting better!" I said taking a piece of both and taking the orange juice out of the refrigerator and pouring both of us a Solo cup full.
I sat down at the dining room and ate the breakfast. It wasn't too bad.
"Dad, I am really impressed," I said.
"Thanks, you might make a cook out of me after all!" he said. I laughed knowing that will never happen, and he laughed too.
"We had better get going, you don't want to be late, and I hope you don't end up in the principal's office anymore," he said.
"Agreed," I said back. I grabbed my backpack and headed out the door.
We climbed into the car and drove off to the school.
"Have a good day," he said, "Keep away from Greyson."
"I will try on both," I said and slammed the door.
I watched him drive away. I took a deep breath and walked toward the school. I reached the doors and opened them. It strangely felt like the first day I was here. I kept walking and went to my locker. I opened it and got my books that I needed and put away the ones I didn't need.
"Hey," Adam said behind me.
"Hey," I said, "Sorry about my dad. He didn't know what was going on. I caved and told him last night. I think he actually may like you now."
I smiled and he scoffed.
"Ready for calc?" he asked.
"As ready as I will ever be!" I answered and we walked to the class room together.
Now we were staying in Mr. Henry's room during our study period, and Mr. Henry was allowing us to read books from his personal collection, needless to say that we didn't get much studying done during study period. We made it to lunch, and I built up the courage to ask Adam why he came to my house last night.
"Adam?" I asked sheepishly.
"Yeah? What's up?" he asked apprehensively.
"Why did you come back to my house last night?"
He didn't answer at first. I saw him thinking about how he wanted to answer the question.
"I don't know," he said honestly.
"How do you not know?" I asked.
"I just felt like I should," he said, "I felt like I needed to see you again."
I held my breath as he talked.
"I didn't like the way I left earlier. I really can't explain it," he said, looking down at his turkey sandwich. He pushed his tray away from him.
I opened my mouth to tell him how I felt, but then I saw Greyson saunter into the cafeteria. I immediately looked down. I didn't want to face him. Not right now. Not ever, really. Adam looked over his shoulder to see what were Greyson was.
"Thea," he cooed, "Don't worry, he wouldn't dare come over here now."
"I know, but still…" I said.
I felt bad that our relationship had started on something so pure, our love of reading, the feeling of being outcasts and now… well it wasn't the same.
We made it through the next two and a half weeks without incident. I was glad to not be sitting in the principal's office every couple days. I checked in with Sharon every few days in the morning when I got to school. I let her know what was going on, and for the most part, things were great. I grew more confident with Adam around, and we slowly started to get back to where we were before. My dad and I talked more, and things were looking up.
We finally made it, it was prom day. We only had about two weeks after prom, but this felt like the last day of school. The school planned a half day, and Monday was Memorial Day, so we had a nice long weekend to enjoy prom.
The prom was held at the only banquet hall in town. It was actually quite a beautiful place. It looked like a castle from the outside, and the inside matched the medieval feel. Exposed wood, archways, suits of armor, the works. The perfect place for the prom.
"So, prom starts at seven, so I will be at your house around six?" Adam asked me as we were leaving for the day.
"That sounds good," I said.
"I figured we could get a few pictures, and arrive there a little early," Adam suggested.
"That is a good idea!" I said.
"I will see you tonight at six," he said.
"Six!" I exclaimed.
I rushed back to the car with my dad.
"Are you ready for tonight?" he asked.
"Well sort of! Adam will be at the house around six so we can take some pictures and get to the venue early, the doors open at six-thirty. I only have a few hours to get ready!" I exclaimed.
We rushed home, and I plugged in the curling iron. It used to be my mothers, and it was one of the only things that she left behind. I started to set out my makeup when my father came home with the pizza. I ate quickly and went back into my bathroom to get ready. I did a little extra makeup for tonight. I started with my foundation and added some bronzer on my cheeks. I put on a light shade of gold eyeshadow and drew on my winged eyeliner. I flicked on the mascara. I decided to wait to put on the lipstick until I had my dress on, I didn't want to get any on there.
The curling iron finally got hot enough to use. I curled my hair, which took a little longer than I expected. By the time I was done, my long hair fell in waves. I pulled a little less than half of it back into a bun on the crown of my head. I stuck some gold bobby pins in the bun to tie the look together. I looked in the mirror. I looked so different. So, grown up, so, elegant. I hurried into my bedroom. I took off my t-shirt and jeans and slipped into my dress. I put on the gold necklace and strapped in my shoes. I walked back into the bathroom and put a coat of bright red lipstick. I blotted off the excess with a tissue. I looked at myself in the mirror. I couldn't believe that this was me. I admired myself a little bit longer, then walked back into my room to check the time. It was a few minutes to six.
I walked down the hallway and picked up the front of my dress with my left hand and used my right hand to steady myself on the stairs. I saw my father sitting on the sofa in the living room reading a book. He stopped and looked up when he heard me coming down the stairs. I made it to the third to the bottom stair, and it let out a loud squeak when I stepped on it, which made me chuckle, but I made it to the bottom without falling.
I walked over to my father, "What do you think?" I asked picking up the edge of the skirt of my dress and doing a little twirl.
"You look beautiful, sweetie," he said, kissing me on the top of my head, "Let me grab the camera!" he dashed off upstairs into his room. I could hear him fumbling around, "Found it!" he yelled from upstairs, and I laughed as he came bounding down the stairs.
"Alright, now stand over there" he said directing me to the blank wall in the living room, "Ok, perfect. One, two, three, smile!" he took a few pictures of me posing in my dress. I was laughing at my father pretending to be a professional photographer.
It was a little after six when the doorbell finally rang. I feel like my dad had already taken about fifty pictures.
"I'll get it!" he said. I knew my father wanted to give Adam a talking to before we left.
"Hello, sir," I heard Adam's voice. I felt my heart beating faster as my dad talked quietly to him for about a minute. I looked down and smoothed out my dress and pulled some hair in front of my body. What should I do with my hands? I thought to myself. I really wished that I had pockets right about now.
"Alright, will do sir," I heard Adam say.
"Come on in!" my father said.
I finally saw Adam step around the door. He had on a white dress shirt with a black bow tie. His suit was navy blue and he wore black dress shoes. He adjusted the cuffs of his jacket and his dress shirt as he walked in. He finally looked up. I felt my heart flutter. The blue in his suit accentuated his blue eyes. I had to remind myself to breathe.
"You look beautiful," he said walking toward me. Apparently, I had also forgotten how to walk, I just stood there as he walked toward me.
"Thank you," I said looking down at my dress, but really hiding the fact that I was blushing.
"I, um… got this for you," he pulled out a corsage, that was a single red rose, "May I?" he asked, pulling it out of the box.
"Yeah," I said, giving him my hand. He slid the corsage over my hand and around my wrist. His skin brushed mine as it went on.
"There," he said, dropping his hands.
"Do you have one for me to put on?" I asked.
"Here," he said. I fixed the boutonniere on his lapel.
"There," I said when I finished. I could hear my dad snapping photos the entire time.
"Do you two want to go outside to get some pictures? It is a beautiful evening!" my dad said leading the two of us outside. Adam offered me his elbow. I wrapped my hand around it and looked up at him, he smiled down at me and led me outside.
"Alright now, let's do one with you on the steps to the house," my father said frantically.
We stood there on the steps with my arm around his, and I smiled at the camera.
"Thea, no you need to do the typical prom pose!" my dad said.
I looked at him like he had suddenly grown three heads.
"Here," Adam said, dropping my hand from his arm. He put his hands on my hips and twisted me a little sideways. He grabbed my hand and put it on his.
"This is what he means," he whispered.
"Oh, ok," I said.
We moved around the yard taking pictures. I was impressed by how well Adam was putting up with my father.
"Dad, I think that is enough pictures, we have to get going," I said, I was ready to leave.
"Thank you, sir, I will take good care of your daughter tonight," Adam said extending his hand to my father. My father shook his hand, "I know you will. Alright, you two, have fun! I will see you both later!"
"Ready to go?" Adam asked extending his elbow to me again.
"Yes," I said taking it gratefully.
He walked be to the end of the driveway where a black little car was sitting. It looked like a small Chevy or Ford.
"Is this your car?" I asked.
"For tonight, yes," he said, smiling down at me.
I smiled, as he opened the passenger's side door for me. I turned around and called over to my dad, "I love you!"
He waved and said, "I love you, too!"
I ducked into the small car. I pulled my entire skirt into the car and Adam shut the door. I couldn't believe it was really prom night! He opened the door to the driver's side and climbed in. He put the keys in the ignition and started the car. I turned and waved to my father as we drove away.
"You ready?" he asked.
"Definitely," I said.
I watched him smile. I felt my stomach flip. He drove and we talked as we listened to the only radio station that came through clearly in town. We made it to the banquet hall at about six forty-five. Adam parked the car and shut off the ignition. We both unbuckled our seat belts, and I reached for the door, but Adam said, "Wait, allow me."
He got out of the car and walked around the car to open the door for me. He extended his hand to me and helped me out of the car. I wrapped my arm around his arm again and he slammed the car door. I heard the car click as he pushed a button on his keys.
"I never planned on going to prom," I said to him.
"Me either," he replied.
"I am glad I decided to come," I said looking up at him.
He stopped walking and looked down at me, "I am glad that I decided to come, too."
