Chapter 55
Prom
The spring term started in January and it was back to the grindstone for me. My classes obviously became harder as this was the end of my first year, but I was keeping up with what was expected of me.
My relationship with Ashley grew, but never did I cross a line that her parents would disapprove of. At times I wanted to …. wanted to feel more, explore more... but I'd pull myself back from that emotion. It wasn't right. Not yet. Not.... yet. It drove me nuts at times, but I had vowed to her father and to myself that I wouldn't do anything that I couldn't undo later. I think she understood. Her eyes would linger and her hands would wrap themselves around mine but that was as far as I would let things go. She never questioned me with either her eyes or with words why we didn't go farther, and for that I was glad. She just understood somehow and accepted it.
The spring came and Soda's tree started putting out shoots of new growth, green starting to peak out from beneath the dull brown wood of the branches. Natures first green. Gold.
One weekend in early April, she and I were walking around Pembroke just hanging out together when she suddenly turned to me and said she wanted to ask me a question.
"What? Ask away." I said.
"Will you go to senior prom with me?"
I looked at her, totally unprepared for that. I had already dismissed the ideas of having any type of "senior high activities" to look back on, and yet here she was offering it to me, not knowing how much it meant to me.
She quickly looked down, "Or if you have other plans...I understand. A college guy probably doesn't have much need for some silly high school prom anyway."
"I'd love to go." I said. She looked at me, sort of shocked.
"Really?"
"Yes, really. When is is?"
"Next week. Friday. My dress is green. You sure you don't mind?"
I pulled her close and kissed her forehead. I'm honored. I said smiling. I hadn't even thought of my own prom that I'd miss, so busy with everything else. But going with her seemed so right. "What time shall I pick you up?"
"Seven." Her eyes just sparkled.
"I'll be there." And that was that, I was going to the prom after all.
XX
I felt all goofy in the get-up I was wearing. A tux that I'd rented with a matching cummerbund to Ashley's dress. I had a vague memory of Darry in a similar get up from years ago, on his way to prom. I was, what? 12 years old? Hell, too much time had gone by since then.
I took two bouquets of flowers with me and as the door opened, Dr. Benning allowed me in.
"Evening, sir." I said. I don't know why I was nervous. I'd eaten dinner in this house a few times now, sat in his classroom for five months straight and had picked up and dropped his daughter off hundreds of times since we'd first met, but I felt like I was going to pass out from nerves anyway.
"Evening Michael. You look very handsome, son."
"Thank you, sir." I said turning slightly red.
"Oh, Michael, don't you look nice!" Mrs. Benning came in.
"Thank you, ma'am. These are for you." I handed her a bouquet of Calla Lilly's. They were my mothers favorite, so I knew lady's liked them. She seemed surprised.
"Oh, Michael, they're lovely. Thank you!"
She disappeared into the kitchen where I heard water running. A moment later she returned with the flowers in a vase, sitting them down on the table below the hanging portrait I had made for them. A presence at the stairs got our attention. Ashley paused a moment then came down, and my heart literally pounded in my chest. She was...well...beautiful.
Her hair was swept up into cascading curls that softly fell at the back of her neck, her dress had spaghetti straps that held up a floor length emerald green ball gown made of lace and satin. Around her neck hung a ruby and pearl necklace. I wondered if her parents even knew I was the one that gave it to her.
"You look magnificent." I said as she made her way to my side. I slipped the second small arrangement of roses around her wrist.
"You shiny up like a new penny too." She said, smiling back.
Her parents took some pictures and I led her to my car.
"Be back by eleven tonight, Ashley." Her father said.
"I'll have her home safe by then, sir." I promised him.
"I know you will, Michael." He nodded.
CCC
Prom was both a new experience and a step back for me. Balloons floated and ribbons streamed from one end of the gym to the other. We had the "official pictures" made and sampled the punch. It had an odd quality to it, and a vague sense of familiarity hit me. Suddenly I remembered where I had tasted this stuff before and I grabbed Ashley's cup mid sip from her. It was just like the punch Two-Bit had me try when I turned 15. I remembered him giggling like he was trying to hide something, and Steve was watching me with an amused look on his face too, which should have tipped me off. Things got bright and loud, and my head started to hurt. Darry saw what they were doing to me before I got too messed up, and hauled them both into the back room for a little chat, but I didn't feel very well for the rest of the day. I don't know if Soda had been in on it, he never said one way or another. But when Ashley looked at me after I took her cup from her, and said simply "It's been spiked," she started giggling. I hope she didn't get drunk fast, because there was no way I could explain this to her parents. After a while, her giggles stopped. When her eyes looked like they normally do, we went to the dance floor.
Now, I've never been dancing dancing, but I have been to many dances. Usually I pretend I'm part of the paint and hang by the wall, but this was a chance to hold her closes and I wasn't passing that up. I had two left feet but it went well with her own. Finally we were content to just hold each other and sway to the music. I looked in her eyes and just smiled.
"What are you thinking, Mike?" She asked.
I blushed. "I shouldn't really say, Ash."
"Tell me anyway."
"I'm thinking how lucky I am to have found someone as good as you." I paused a moment. "God, Ashley, you're beautiful." A moment of silence seperated my thoughts. "I've fallen for you. But I don't know how to keep you. I'm so afraid I'll lose you, too."
"You won't lose me, Mike. I'm here and I'll always be here for as long as you want me."
Another silence enveloped us as I held her, thinking of all the people who have said that to me – that they would be here and then they weren't. Before I could think more, my ears picked up on her voice, ever so quiet, like she wasn't sure she wanted me to hear her.
"I love you, Mike." Her eyes glanced up into mine, as if wondering if I had heard.
"I love you too, Ashley." I whispered just as quietly back to her, almost afraid of the words, the emotion behind them. I fingered the necklace as it lay against her skin, my fingers brushing down the soft cheeks of her face, trailing down her neck and caressing her bare shoulders. I felt her shudder at my touch while looking at her. Her skin so creamy and flawless. I closed my eyes as a longing enveloped me, a desiring that ached in my soul. I wouldn't give into it. I closed my eyes tight, fighting it back, then suddenly Ashley pressed her hands into my back, getting me to open my eyes.
"I understand, Mike, I do." She whispered to me, obviously knowing what had caused me pause. I hoped she did know, and knew also how mightily I constantly fought that urge, so she wouldn't lose her honor or destroy the trust her parents have in us.
"Lets see if they've fixed the punch now." I said a moment later, when I was finally able to move again.
I had her home by eleven as promised. On my way back to my place, I had my copy of our prom picture. I had bought two of them, one for each of us. I propped it up next to my parents pictures.
"One day, mom and dad, one day....." I said aloud. But even in private, I couldn't finish those thoughts. I couldn't stand losing someone else.
XXX
I realize picture processing probably wasn't that fast in the 60's, but ehhh, go with it. Thanks for your reviews!
Calla Lilly Rose
