What a relief. I couldn't hold back my smile as I crossed over Page's backyard to mine and headed into the house. So, we were going to go to college together, too. Oddly, four years ago, had you asked me if this would happen, I would have laughed at you and called you insane. But here I was, freshly eighteen years old, preparing for my prom and thinking about how I was going to college in California, with my best friend. It was unheard of for neighbors to both get acceptance letters to Stanford. Not even in those teen movies where everything goes right and Romeo marries Juliet. But Page and I? We were the exception to that rule. I got into my closet and pulled out the tux that Page and I had both agreed on. All black, including the shirt underneath…and, according to her, it 'contrasted perfectly with her white dress.' But I couldn't care less about that.

All I cared was that we were going to prom together. Forget all the awkward years I spent trying to change myself to impress her and her friends. Forget all the nights I spent alone, when my dad and Dean were out God knows where and I was twelve and thirteen, with nowhere to go. Forget all the nights I spent alone even when they were there. God, I had someone to turn to now. Page and I were going to school together. Going to the prom together. Had you asked me if this would have ever happened, yes, I would have laughed right in your face. I rushed to the bathroom and started getting ready to shower, hanging my tuxedo on the empty towel rack on the door.

When I thought about it, I owed her family a lot. Without them, I'd have been alone, all the time. Without Page's mom, I wouldn't have my driver's license now, but she taught me how to drive and sat with me during my test. Without Page's brother Dylan, I wouldn't have a car to drive. But Page paid her brother to fix up one of the junkers at the garage he worked at. Without Page's father, a lot of the time, I wouldn't eat. But he bought me food at times when dad forgot to leave me money, and they invited me over for supper at times, too. But Page; God, without her, not only would I not have a job, or a friend, or Christ…a social life to speak of. No, without Page, I wouldn't even have a strand of sanity to cling to, or the wherewithal to just get through an average day.

I took a deep breath and jumped into the shower, running my hands through my hair as the water pelted onto me. This was…amazing. This was what it was like to have people around who were there for you unconditionally. This was what it was like to feel loved. I chuckled lightly and finished the general shower things, then got out, wrapping a towel around my waist. T-minus one and one half hours. I dried off and walked over to the door, grabbing my tux. I tried to imagine in my head what Page and I would look like together. Her hair in one of those up do's girls always wore to the prom, in that dress that we chose (or she chose…I just gave approval). I couldn't help but grin. I was going to be at my senior prom with the most beautiful girl in school. What in the hell had happened?

I chuckled and took care of all the sanitary things one needed to do before a major event, then got dressed, and ran a comb through my hair. I opened the bathroom cabinet and looked through my dad's and Dean's colognes to find the right one. When I found one that smelled the least offensive, I sprayed a bit on, glanced in the mirror and deemed myself presentable, then headed toward my room to get the wrist corsage I bought for Page. A bundle of white gardenia blossoms, since she'd mentioned them being her favorite flowers. Rushing out the front door, I walked across my front lawn and onto Page's, then walked up to the door, ringing the doorbell.

Page's father, Danny, answered the door, and smiled at me. "Come on in, Sammy. Page is upstairs with Judie. They're still doing all that girly stuff. You know, getting ready…" he pointed me to the living room, where Dylan sat, giving me this grin. Like…he knew that something was going to happen that night.

I took a seat on the couch, and nervously fiddled with the case that the corsage was in. I looked from Danny to Dylan, who both smiled at me. I flashed a nervous smile in return, then looked at the TV. I heard Danny holler to Page, and my heart flipped around a bit. But when Danny took a seat beside me and smiled, I felt a little better. "So, you and Page are both going to Stanford, huh?" he asked with a smirk. "You know we thank you for turning her life around, right?"

I looked at him, a little surprised. "Um, I don't know what you mean…" I shrugged a little. I'd always felt a bit guilty, because Page seemed really happy in her group of friends, before they ditched her. "But thanks, all the same…"

Danny shook his head and clapped me on the shoulder. "Let's face it, Sammy. The group she was in before was changing her. Turning her into someone who cared more about what boys thought she was cute than her science midterm. You brought the real Page back. We owe you for that one…" he told me, and I was about to reply when I heard high heels clicking down the stairs, and I turned my head to peer around the corner.

Page…looked stunning. The dress was beautiful…the way it barely showed the tips of her toes in those strappy sandals she was wearing, and the lack of straps showed off the slight tan she'd gotten from our weekend at the lake the weekend prior. Her hair…was not in an up do. It fell down behind her in loose curls, and when she turned to look from her father to me, some of it fell over her left shoulder. I stood up and walked toward her. "Wow…you…you look…"

She smiled and reached up to touch my arm. "You too, Sam. Really…"

I lifted the corsage and held it out to her. "I, um…bought this for you…" I spoke in barely above a whisper. But God, she looked amazing. She looked like…something from TV, I swear. But she was real, and she was there.

She looked at the corsage and smiled. "Gardenias--Sam, thank you…" she bit her lower lip and held her hand out so I could put it on her. I did, and no sooner had my hand retracted, than I saw a flash from a camera. Page looked up and blushed. "Jeez, mom!" she scoffed and looked at her mother. "Can't you give us a second to get ready? Please?"

I chuckled and looked toward the door. "We should probably go, anyway. I mean, we have a little while, but we probably want to be there before everyone else gets there, right?" I asked, not wanting to mention to Page's parents that we might be the butt of a lot of practical jokes tonight. None of the kids in our school were smart enough to try anything Carrie style on us, but that didn't mean we wouldn't be teased. I saw Page's mom raise the camera again, and I put my arm around her, prompting her to look up. We both smiled and her mom snapped a picture.

And with that, Page quickly kissed both of her parents on the cheek and nodded toward the door. "Ready, Sam?"

I nodded, and we headed toward the door, getting the 'be careful' and 'don't stay out too late' schpiel, though they knew that we planned on hanging out at my place and watching movies that night anyway, after the dance was over. On our way out the door, Page grabbed her overnight bag and slung it over her shoulder. We rushed across the yard and got into my car, and I turned to look at her. "You really look beautiful, Page. I mean, I knew you were going to look good, but I didn't expect…this."

She laughed lightly and ran a hand through her hair, then tossed her bag into the backseat. "Thanks. Mom is a whiz with a makeup kit and a curling iron…I lucked out there, I think…" she half-smiled and watched as I started the car.

However, that was the last fun we had that night. After we went inside and had our picture taken together by a professional, our classmates arrived and saw fit to hurl whatever was being sold at the bake sale at us, while we danced together. Page's dress was ruined, her hair was a mess, her makeup was running, and when we tried to rush away, one of the heels on her sandals broke. My tux wasn't as wrecked, since it was black and not white, but still, when I'd tried to holler for them to stop, Todd decided to take it upon himself to shut me up with a fist to the face. We got up and rushed out of the school, back to my car, and didn't stop until we were on one of the back roads that led to our places. Page said not to go all the way home until the dance let out, because her mom would suspect, but as soon as I put it in park, she rolled the windows up, despite it being an unseasonably hot night, and started sobbing. "Sam, why do they do this to us?" she cried out. I went to answer her, but I think she just needed to talk, because she started shouting again. "Fuck, we're fucking awesome people. They just…they're too fucking absorbed in their shallow fucking sheep-like lives to care about anyone else. I don't fucking get it. I just wish…"

I bit my lip and finished her sentence for her. "You hadn't stuck up for me that day?" I asked. She gave me an indignant look, but I shook my head. "Let's face it, Page, that was how it started. It started freshman year when you told them to back off me. Do you wish you could go back?" I asked her, though I was afraid to know the answer. Looking over at her, even in her ruined makeup, hair and dress, she still looked beautiful. "Answer me honestly, too. If you could go back, would you still--"

"Of fucking course I would, Sam. Fuck, they're assholes…" she vigorously brushed an empty hand their way, and then looked back at me. "I would never change the fact that I stuck with you, Sam. Ever! Hell, you made me into the person I thought I'd be when I was little…nicer and…I'd like to think I'm smarter now, too. If I had stayed with them, would I be going to Stanford?"

I shook my head and shrugged. "But you also wouldn't be sitting in my car, covered in chocolate and in tears, when you're supposed to be having fun at the prom…" I looked out the window. Sure, her dad told me that I had brought Page back, and so had she, but I couldn't defeat the feeling that I'd hurt her by 'helping' her. I didn't call myself a prize friend, and I would never blame Page if she thought so, too.

She shook her head and reached across the center console and touched her hand to my face. "Sam, don't ever think that I regret a thing, okay? Even now, I still realize that you're a better friend than any of them could be. Listen, Sam. Let's just sit here for a little while, and then…go to your place, get cleaned up and watch some movies, okay?" she wiped her eyes, and I saw, out of the corner of my eye that the gardenia corsage that I'd bought her was untouched by the onslaught of chocolate and other baked goods that ruined her dress.

And that, even after all that happened? Made me smile, if only for a minute.