Justin

Justin

I was still having a hard time reconciling this exquisite creature next to me with the Jhondie I knew. I knew she was the same, but it was different. It was like we didn't have the past together that we did, and there wasn't that "just friends" restraint. Maybe I was just getting into the pretend boyfriend role, but tonight felt like it was going to be special. Damn, she was beautiful. Had she always looked like that? Was I blind?

We didn't talk much on the way to the restaurant. We kept sneaking glances at each other, and grinning when we got caught. We were getting a little silly, but it was fun. I couldn't remember the last time I went all out to make a night absolutely perfect for a girl. I thought it might have been when I was still trying to get Denise to sleep with me, but I wasn't sure.

Still, I was going to be the perfect date that night. I even got out of the car and opened the door for her, and helped her out of the car. There were a couple of other people there that were dressed for Prom, and one girl in particular stared at Jhondie with bug-eyed shock.

"That's Michelle," Jhondie said softly. "One of Haille's friends." I grinned.

"Sweetheart," I said loud enough for Michelle to hear, "I think they already went in." Jhondie grinned wickedly. I was in the game. I made sure I opened the door for her, and gave her adoring looks while Michelle was watching.

Cheryl and Tyler were waiting for us there. Jhondie had told me some stuff about them, and I knew Tyler was the kid that got hurt when Jhondie and I first met. He was tall and thin, and had a couple of small scars on his face. Jhondie said that he had cleaned up his act a great deal, and he seemed to genuinely care about Cheryl. It was nice to have another graduate there. He understood the whole, "I did the high school thing already" concept that I had. The girls were thrilled, and we were both there for them.

Dinner was rather pleasant. I was hoping that it was foreshadowing the whole night. Cheryl made a big announcement that when she went to NYU in the fall; Tyler really was going to go to New York with her. The economy was a little better back east; he was sure he could get a job while she was in school. He hadn't been planning on going with her three months ago, but things had changed. I guess being beat almost to death can make you re-evaluate your relationships. He seemed to have a better grasp on what was important. Good for him.

The restaurant wasn't far from the hotel where Prom was being held. We were near the beach, and I asked Jhondie if she wanted to go for or a walk on the sand before going to the dance. The sun had set, but the sky was still the blue-purple of twilight. I wasn't sure why, but it would nice to have some time alone with her before I had to share her with the rest of the world.

She looked at me regretfully. "I'd get windblown," she said with a sigh. Her eyes met mine. "But I'd love to later." I suddenly felt as nervous as a kid on his first date. Things were changing. I didn't want to say it, but they were. Where it was going, I didn't know, but it was going there definitely.

Jhondie

Justin was acting so perfect. I knew it was just an act, but it was like he wanted me to have the perfect night. I felt a little like Cinderella. We'd seen Michelle at the restaurant, and I saw her make on her cell phone. The rumor mill was going to be in full force by the time we got to the hotel. I was a little scared to go to Prom, and Justin could tell. He asked me if I wanted to take a walk on the beach with him. I wanted to, but I would get all windblown and sand covered. Truthfully, it wasn't avoiding the Prom that I wanted to do with a walk. It would be nice to just be with him. I said I'd love to go later, and his eyes lit up like I'd given him a million dollars or something.

Justin could tell I was nervous to go into the hotel. "You've faced down worse enemies," he teased gently.

"I feel like I'm back doing live munitions drills," I replied. It's that deep-down, pit of the stomach dread that I was feeling. He got out of the car, and opened my door, holding out his hand. I let him help me out, and we stood there for a moment, our hands intertwined.

"We can leave right now," he said softly. "You've been seen by the enemy. You can say that I whisked you off to some romantic little hotel suite somewhere." I suddenly wished he were whisking me away. He wasn't letting go of my hand. There was that intensity again that had been there more and more lately. I stepped towards him, telling myself it was so he could close the car door, but now we were just inches apart. It was going to happen, and I knew I was going to let it. My heart was pounding, and I wasn't sure if I wanted him to kiss me, but there was no force on earth that was going to stop it.

"JHONDIE!" a girl squealed. I'd forgotten the force of screechy-girl power. We stepped back from each other, the moment broken.

"Hi Lisa!" I said brightly. She was a friend. Not close, but we would sit together in class and lunch and stuff. She'd suggested my hairstyle for Prom. Her eyes swept Justin, and I felt a tingle of jealousy. She better not even think about…what the hell was the matter with me?

"Justin, this is a friend of mine, Lisa and her boyfriend Eric," I introduced. "Lisa, this is my," time to go for broke, "boyfriend Justin."

Justin smiled. "Nice to meet you both," he said.

"Well, don't just stand there!" Lisa chirped. She couldn't wait to see Haille crushed. She didn't know the truth, but she didn't like Haille's little clique either. "Let's go!" She grabbed Eric's hand and started dragging him off.

Justin's arm encircled my waist. "Ready?" he asked. I nodded. I was ready as I'd ever be.