A/N: Thank you everyone for your patience while I've been writing this chapter. I'm doing three shows at the moment, hence the long waits between updates. As always, let me know what you think, criticism only feeds my desire to improve.
Six years later
Katie stood in her room, her dress lying across her bed. She was expected downstairs in half an hour, but still couldn't get dressed. She had never been able to see herself wearing a skirt, let alone a floor-length prom dress. Eyeing the material warily, she stepped out of her ripped jeans and Snoopy t-shirt, leaving them strewn across the floor. Sighing, she unzipped the dress and pulled it on ungracefully, not appreciating the way the soft satin flowed over her skin.
Standing in front of her mirror, she looked herself over. The deep emerald green of the dress highlighted her eyes and fair skin. Rolling her eyes at her reflection, she took her brush from her chest of drawers, and ran it through her chestnut hair. Rummaging through a box on her shelf, she picked out a small silver clip set with green jewels, and used it to fasten her hair into a half-pony tail, leaving the rest of her curls tumbling over her shoulders. Realising that she should probably use some make-up, she found a rarely used bottle of mascara, which she hastily flicked on, and a tube of unopened lip-gloss; a present from her Secret Santa the year before.
Grabbing the matching green purse that her mother had insisted on purchasing, she winced as she eased her feet into a pair of emerald heeled slippers that she could only describe as instruments of torture. Casting a backward glance over her shoulder at her reflection, she let out a frustrated sigh, closing her door behind her.
Nearly tripping on the stairs, she concentrated on not stepping on the train of her dress, as she heard the doorbell ring. She hastily slid back the chain, and opened the door to find Tommy, her date, standing in front of her.
'Don't say anything,' she warned, embarrassed at her appearance. It wasn't often anyone saw her dressed up, and she didn't even want to hear Tommy's opinion. He'd probably tease her as he had for months about what she was going to wear. He hadn't even had to ask her to Prom; it was already a foregone conclusion that he would take her.
For the first time in his life, Tommy was speechless. Katie's appearance stunned him, and for the first time he realised how much she'd grown up over the last couple of years. She was no longer the freckle-faced tomboy who could out-run him and beat him at climbing trees. Gone were the days of mud-fights and ridiculous dares. The freckles were still there, but they only served to emphasise her eyes, her delicate features, her soft, dark hair.
He smiled as she practically growled at him, 'I'm sorry, I must have the wrong house. Have you seen Katie Austen anywhere?'
'Haha, very funny,' she play-punched his shoulder, rolling her eyes at him.
She, too, noticed a change in his appearance. She couldn't recall ever seeing him in a suit, and she realised how well it suited him, his once gangly figure filling out the jacket. He was taller, too, she thought; she now had to look up to see into his eyes.
'Well, don't you two look amazing?'
They turned together to see Katie's mom standing in the doorway, tears evident in her eyes.
'My baby girl's all grown up,' she smiled, 'You take care of her, Tommy.'
'I will, Mrs Austen, don't you worry,' he reassured, a hand on Katie's shoulder.
She nodded, wiping her eyes, before producing a camera, 'Now, how about some pictures, before you leave?'
'Aw, mom, do we have to?' Katie whined. She hated having her picture taken, especially when she looked like this, and her mother would probably insist on framing it or putting it in the family album.
'C'mon, Katie. I want a picture with my best friend. Like old times,' Tommy wheedled, knowing that he could always persuade her.
Katie sighed, throwing her hands up in defeat. As her mother gathered the two teens together, she smiled at Tommy shyly. He gave her an appreciative smirk back, and she stuck her tongue out at him.
'Now, now, you two, behave,' her mother warned, as she raised the camera.
'Ready? Smile!'
As the camera flashed, Katie felt a genuine smile creep onto her face, and she relaxed into Tommy's arm that was slung around her shoulder.
After another few pictures, some just Katie, some just Tommy, and a couple of Katie and her mother, Tommy suggested that they leave.
'M'lady, your carriage awaits,' he held out his arm to Katie, and she accepted, taking care to hold up the skirt of her gown as he escorted her to his car.
Kate laughed at Tommy's good-natured banter as they drove home. She felt slightly light-headed, and knew that they'd both had a couple of glasses of punch too many, but she trusted Tommy to drive; he knew his limits.
As he took a left turn, she raised an eyebrow at him.
'This isn't the way home, Tommy.'
He glanced over and smiled gently, 'I wanted to show you something. I hope you don't mind?'
Kate shook her head and relaxed back into the seat, enjoying the feeling of being the only ones in the world.
Tommy slowed the car as they reached a small clearing on the side of the road.
'Katie, I've been waiting for this all my life. To see the tomboy in you emerge as a beauty. You never let me get close before, never treated me as anything more than a friend, but please don't run away when I do this…'
He leaned towards her, pressed his lips to hers, gently at first, but quickly growing more demanding. As he reached down to unfasten his seatbelt, he moved across, pushing the seat down, until he was nearly on top of her. As her rational thought kicked in, Katie began to struggle, trying to push him off, but he was stronger, and the alcohol only clouded his thoughts.
'Tommy, please, get off, I don't want…'
'Of course you do, Katie, this is what's supposed to happen. You know you want this.' He continued to kiss her neck, moving down her body, but her fear and hurt that he would do this gave her strength.
'Tommy, get off me,' she shoved him away, tears glistening on her cheeks. 'I don't want this Tommy, not like this.'
Stepping out of the car, she slammed the door.
'I'm sorry, Katie, don't go, I- '
'You can apologise when you're sober,' she called as she walked away. Her house was only a couple of blocks away; she'd be alright on her own. She should have known better than to trust Tommy. He was just another teenage boy. Why should he be any different from the others?
Sighing, she concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other. There was nothing left for her here. Not now that Tommy had betrayed her foolish, child-like trust. She was on her own. And inside, she knew that it would always be that way.
