Here's chapter 4! I'm starting classes again tomorrow so I might not be able to update as often as I'd like, but I will try the best I can!
I peered at the reflection in the mirror, not entirely convinced it was my own. The figure in front of me looked so much different, so much older than the plain-faced, simple dressing tomboy which had become my primary identity. Instead, my face was almost oversaturated in makeup, and my dark brown hair fell down just below my shoulders in large ringlets. My usual jeans and t-shirt were obviously not appropriate for this occasion.
At the moment I was wrapped in a bath towel, awaiting my mother's final preparations on the dress.
It was my crazy mother who had planned out everything; the hair, the makeup, the dress, the jewelry. She even thought out Joe's attire with careful precision. She was so thrilled at my willingness to attend an actual dance—with a boy, no less—that she had literally gone all out to help me prepare for the occasion. Despite my numerous reminders that it was only a semi-formal affair, she simply ignored me and carried on with her plans.
I finally heard a light tapping on my bathroom door, along with my mother's animated voice.
"It's ready, dear!" she sang excitedly.
I opened the door and she strode in, revealing the highly anticipated dress that had taken her three weeks to sew. I scanned the dress from top to bottom, admiring the careful stitching and beautiful details in the emerald green fabric. I had to admit, it really looked incredible.
"Wow, mom. It looks amazing!"
She helped me quickly slip into the dress, and, after adding a thin silver necklace, spun me around to examine the final product.
"Oh, my. Katy, you look absolutely marvelous! Joe will love you in this!" she breathed, grasping her chest with both hands.
I knew her heart must have been exploding with joy. Her only daughter, who insisted on wearing t-shirts and playing sweaty sports, finally looked like a beautiful young lady.
Though I wasn't very comfortable in all the makeup and the slim-fitting dress, I knew my mother had worked very hard to make me happy.
"Thanks, mom" I said, hugging her tightly. "Everything looks amazing. I bet no one else's mom sewed their own dress for them!"
Suddenly, we heard the doorbell ring. My mother squealed in excitement and I followed her down the stairs and over to the front door.
My mother threw open the door to reveal a very spiffy-looking Joe, grinning widely and holding a large bouquet of bright flowers in each hand. His longish hair was parted and slicked neatly to the side, complementing his gray slacks, white long-sleeved dress shirt, and emerald green tie. The look suited him nicely, easily disguising his slightly scrawny figure but bringing out his ever beautiful blue eyes.
"For each of you lovely ladies" Joe said coolly, holding out a bouquet for each of us. "Mrs. West, looking beautiful as always" he winked, causing her to blush lightly.
I rolled my eyes at her. She was such a sucker for Joe's sweet talk; it was no wonder she always tried to convince me to go out with him. Talk about weird.
As my mother hurried to the kitchen to find vases for the flowers, Joe turned to me and held out his left arm.
"Are you ready, my darling Kit-Kat?"
I linked my arm with his and smiled. "Of course."
After taking pictures until our faces were numb, Joe and I climbed into his beat-up, red pickup truck and were off to the dance.
We arrived at the dance around 7:45, a little after it had officially begun. Who would want to be the first couple at a dance, anyway? The decorations were almost nonexistent and people were yet to step out onto the dance floor, but I was surprisingly excited nonetheless.
Almost as soon as Joe and I stepped inside, we were both mauled by our friends Mariah and Allison, who were jabbering excitedly about how amazing our outfits looked together, how awesome the dance was going to be, and who knows what.
We eventually made our way into the enormous room and ended up walking around and visiting with friends for most of the evening. But Joe eventually convinced me to join him on the dance floor, and we slow-danced for a few songs and attempted a fast one. I was more than aware of my less-than-perfect moves, but it made me feel better knowing that Joe wasn't exactly… well, good either.
Despite our lack of skills, we still found ourselves having a good time. As the night went on, I realized more and more how happy I was to have asked Joe to be my date. He was so much fun to be around, and he knew exactly what to do to keep me laughing and enjoying myself.
Soon, when it was nearing the end of the dance, Joe and I gave up and went to get refreshments at a table the rest of our friends were socializing around. When one of Joe's theater buddies was cracking everyone up with one of his crazy stories about how he convinced his brother to jump off of their two story house and onto their trampoline, suddenly a very beautiful, popular blonde girl named Melissa approached Joe shyly. She smiled at him sweetly and he returned the gesture with his usual courtesy.
"Would you like to dance, Joe?" she asked, a hopeful expression adorning her pretty features.
Joe glanced over to me with slightly raised eyebrows, but I was quick to give him permission. "Of course, go ahead. I'm tired anyway." I wasn't really, but I knew how awkward it would have been if I had said no.
He took Melissa's hand, and after one more glance back at me, walked her onto to the dance floor. They seemed a little awkward at first, but soon, they were smiling and laughing like old friends as they became wrapped up in some sort of conversation.
Aww, they actually kind of look good together, I thought nonchalantly.
But then, the moment that very thought popped into my head, something buried deep, deep down inside me, in some tiny little crevice in my chest, seemed to give way.
I frowned. What was that? Heartburn? I brought my hand up to my chest. Nope, not heartburn.
It was definitely something strange, very foreign. Like an itch or something? No, not an itch. More like a pang. Very small and almost unnoticeable, but absolutely, undeniably there.
I was still watching Joe and Melissa swaying casually on the dance floor when Mariah walked up to me.
"So, what do you think about that?" she asked me, motioning to the two of them. "She totally just stole your date! I mean, she's nice and all, but it's obvious you and Joe came here together."
"No, it's fine" I said absentmindedly, trying to ignore yet another small pang in my chest.
"So, you're not even a little bit jealous?" Mariah questioned, clearly mind blown.
"Of course not" I brushed off again. "I mean, it's just Joe. And it's just one stupid dance, anyway." I pushed Mariah's shoulder lightly. "But why am I not surprised you're asking me this? Typical Mariah, always overthinking things."
"Mhmm. Yeah, whatever…" she said doubtfully, but finally gave up with a shrug and walked away.
I was relieved when Mariah finally left me alone.
The miniscule pang in my chest, however, still remained.
Hmm what's going on with Katy? I hope you enjoyed it and please review :)