Because of Ari Chapter 5
by JamieLynn Black
AN: Sorry it took so long to update the last two chapters. Lame excuse: graduation.
Buuuut here's the next chapter. It's time for Prom!
Before I knew it, Prom had come. I was going with Joe, and Fang was going with Becky Iverson (who is red-haired!!! Is anyone considering murdering Fang?!?). I had brought the Pink Fluffy Nightmare back to where it came from (without Angel or Nudge knowing) but somehow, it ended back in my closet. I almost brought it back again, but gave up the fight. But that doesn't mean that I'm happy about it. =(
"Max, you're doing it all wrong! It goes like this. Perfect!" Nudge exclaimed, fixing some kind of black makeup thingy.
"Nudge, you, of all people, should know I do not wear stuff I consider un-frugal. Un-frugal meaning - " I started, but was interrupted.
"Eyeshadow, blush, lipstick, mascara, powder..." Nudge rambled.
"Dresses, skirts, bikinis, anything pink, anything purple, anything cute, anything girlie..." Gazzie picked it up now. Great.
"Necklaces, bracelets, anklets, rings, earrings, headbands..." Angel, my Angel, my baby, even started turning against me.
"Anything not Max," Fang finished, with a slight smile in his eyes. For him, that was like going, "Na-na-na-boo-boo," you know, if we were like five.
I looked at them all with an slightly empty expression. "Guys, I can't be that bad!" I stated emphatically.
They all looked at me. "Yes, you are," they all said in unison.
"Fine! Okay! I'll admit it! Sooo...I can't go to Prom because it's "not Max" enough," I hoped that would work, though inside, I knew it wasn't even a close fight.
"Max, if you don't go, I swear you will regret it the rest of your life! And not because you will have inward remorse over not going, but because me, Angel, Gazzy, Iggy, and Fang will rail on you day and night, night and day, over this decision until you go insanely crazily mad and - " Nudge started one of her famous ramblings.
"I know, I know! And then I regret my decision to not suffer a fast death at Prom as opposed to one - one - a- whatever you just said," I finished. Jeez. Somebody knew a way to make me feel incompetent.
"No, no, no, no no! Then you'll beg for forgiveness for us in hopes that we'll stop bugging you! And we'll feel sooo sorry for you that we will! Then we'll leave you, and you'll be in solitude. And that'll be okay, but then you'll go crazy again. But by the time you actually want us all back, we'll be in the hands of evil White Coats and you'll have to save us! And by doing that, you'll have to pick to either save us, or the world. And, of course, you'll pick us, cuz you love us and all. And you'll save us! And we'll be happy together once again! But then, you know, we'll have to fly to the moon - which is made out of Cheez-Its - and procreate to save the human race since we're the only people that are left. That's how you'll regret it," Nudge said, satisfied. Me? I'm mystified.
"So by me not going to some stupid dance, I cause the end of the world to occur?" I asked Nudge, completely taken aback.
"Exactly. Glad you see my point."
Gazzy piped in, "Nudge, no one understands your point."
"Nudge, you are some kind of crazy," I said.
Joe came to pick me up fifteen minutes before Prom (Because in Alaska, everything is spread out and takes long to get to). Of course, it wasn't anything grand like a limo, because no sane limo company is going to set up camp in Nowhere, Alaska. Nope, instead, we drove to Prom in real style: an old beatup red truck. At first, it doesn't seem like a nice way to appear in the (supposedly) date of your dreams. But when you think about it, there's nothing fancy, which kinda shows he isn't expecting anything, but he's prepared if something comes along. And, you know, trucks are just awesome. Even if they are the age of your mother's mother.
He rang the doorbell.
"Nudge, Angel, he's here!" I hissed standing in front of the door. Maybe I will like this anyways.
"Max, why on earth are you bringing that ugly bag to PROM?!" Nudge asked, more than slightly annoyed. I looked at the bag, and didn't answer.
I waited a minute, breathed deep, and prayed for guidance.
I opened the door slowly, and my breath caught. Joe was already abnormally gorgeous. But now, in a tuxedo, he was move star material. His pale blue eyes sparkled, his mouth lopsidedly grinned, his blond hair had just enough gel to where it wasn't overdone. In short, he was a dream.
"Hi, F-J -udge," I muttered, ruining a perfect moment, "Fjudge, make sure you feed the dog tonight!" I hoped no one else found out what slip of the tounge I made. He was perfect. He just wasn't Fang. Dang Fang (haha, I was a poet and didn't even know it) for not asking me to Prom! Even if I didn't like Prom, I would like it with Fang. I would LOVE it with Fang. I liked it now, with Joe, and I didn't want to ruin it anymore than I was about to. I would have this happy memory.
"Max, you look beautiful," Joe said.
I smiled broadly, "Thank you, kind gentleman," Joe laughed, took my arm, and led me to his truck. KIND GENTLEMAN?!?!?! What was I thinking?!?!
"My pleasure, m'lady," he replied, bowing grandly before me. I couldn't help but smile, and blushed slightly.
Joe opened the rusty door for me, and I tried unsuccessfully to hop in gracefully.
I remembered something as I looked at my bag. "Can we stop somewhere for a minute?" I asked Joe.
"Sure, no problem. Where did you want to stop?" he asked, displaying his million dollar smile. I didn't love-love him, but I could easily get to actually be friends with him.
I thought more of the friends thing, and started to feel nervous for what I was about to do.
"Uh, anywhere will do, I think. How about the gas station?" I asked nervously.
"Sounds like a plan," he said.
He let me out, I ran into the store, and hurried into the bathroom.
When I came out, I was wearing a long black strapless dress decked in small crystals in a line-ish design. It was basically my dream dress (if a dress can be called dreamy).
Joe was staring openly at me as I came closer. I was afraid I did something wrong. My brows knitted in anxiety.
"Max - you look - look - breathtaking," Joe stuttered. Stuttering looked awesome on him. I grinned myself. Suddenly, all anxiety was gone.
"Thank you," I said quietly and smiled broadly.
"Let's do this thing!" Joe said, and revved up the engine.