Chapter 36, here we go...
IRONING OUT THE EDGES
"I dunno what it is about Brie," Montel smiled as he adjusted his tie so it was perfectly knotted. "It's not just that she's sexy, but she's sweet and she actually listens. Most chicks I date spend the whole time talking about themselves or they just blank out when the conversation isn't about them. But Brie cares. And not just that, but she wants to know, y'know?"
"Yeah," Kofi replied. He could hear Montel, but everything he said was a little too familiar.
It's not just that Kelly's sexy, but she's sweet and she actually listens. Most chicks I date spend the whole time talking about themselves or they just blank out when the conversation isn't about them. But Kelly cares. And not just that, but Kelly wants to know, y'know?
"Yeah, I know what you mean."
"And you're not just saying this because you want to bone her?" Now that wasn't Kofi talking, but Dolph Ziggler.
The guys – Kofi, Montel, Zack, Dolph and Jack - were getting ready for homecoming at Jack's house. Studs in suits were everywhere, ready to pick up their ladies in half an hour. Jack's bedroom was getting crowded, so Montel and Kofi, the two calmer members of the team, made their way to the bathroom.
"No, Dolph," Montel called back. "Just because you and Nikki have been at it since before you even made it official."
"Have you and Brie made it official?" Kofi asked.
"I wanted to do it tonight," He dug into his suit jacket pocket and pulled out a rose corsage. "Nikki told me Brie was wearing a red dress and I thought, well, she'll like this, won't she?"
"Definitely," Kofi agreed. He secretly wondered why he hadn't invited Kelly to prom. He was almost certain she didn't have a date and he'd have had a much better time with her than this chick Jack was setting him up with.
"So what're the bets that Kelly Carlyle throws herself at Kofi tonight?" Jack's grinning was inevitable, as Kofi listened to him and Dolph talking in the bedroom. The captain of the basketball team made kissy noises, "'Oh Kofi, I love you, why won't you love me back?'"
"Don't listen to them," Montel rolled his eyes, slapping cologne onto his neck. More than the other guys, Montel was accepting of Kofi's relationship with Kelly. He didn't know the truth about Kelly, but he didn't judge Kofi. "They're just messing around."
"Beverly Hills has yet to have a prom night mommy," Dolph added. "Maybe she'll be the first!"
Gritting his teeth, Kofi put on his waistcoat, using it as a weak attempt at a distraction. "Where's Miz?" He asked Montel, covering up the mock-sex noises Dolph was making in the bedroom.
"His mom's making him go for pre-prom drinks with his step-dad." Montel explained. "He ain't happy but at least he's human like the rest of us." He paused, putting down the bottle of cologne. "Y'know, I'm surprised you're actually here considering all that stuff with Jack and Eve and Miz."
Kofi looked over at Montel, "Why?" Obviously Jack and Eve had broken up but Kofi was doing his best to stay out of it.
"Dude, you don't know?" He looked reluctant to say. "I shouldn't be the one to tell you-"
"Did Eve cheat on Jack with Miz?"
He laughed, "No way, nothing like that. Eve wasn't at fault at all." Pulling the door shut, Montel sighed before lowering his voice. "Jack and Miz had a bet to see who could...'deflower' Eve first. Maryse knew about it too. Obviously Eve wasn't happy with any of them; that's why she left the cheerleading squad and broke up with Jack."
Ever since their parents got married, Kofi had been overprotective of Eve. She'd become his sister and he didn't like people messing her around. Especially if it was his own friends doing the messing.
That was why in that moment, Kofi burst out of the bathroom and swung his right fist wildly until it hit Jack square in the face, sending the blonde flying back onto the bed. Same family, two attacks; God definitely wasn't on Jack's side in recent weeks.
"You scumbag!" Kofi spat as Dolph and Zack both lunged forward to pull Kofi off their friend. "You screwed over my sister!"
"I'm gonna have a black eye!" Jack announced, rubbing his sore face. "You son of a-"
"A black eye is the least of your worries," Kofi muttered, grabbing his jacket. "I'm out of here."
He made his way down the long staircase with Montel hot on his heels. "Kofi! Where're you going?"
"There's something I've gotta do."
"Come here rude boy, boy can you get it up?" Tiffany sings under her breath to the radio, as she shimmied around Eve's room, getting ready for homecoming with her friend.
"You do know what that song is about, don't you?" Eve joked, sitting at her dressing table as she fixed her hair, pinning back sections and letting her new extensions tumble down her back. "Dirty, dirty girl, Miss Terrell."
"Well, it's not like I'm singing it to anyone." Tiffany paused to wink, "Accept you, of course."
"Honoured." The brunette smiled, watching as Tiffany slipped into a long red fishtail dress with a silver brooch in the centre of her cleavage. "Tiff, you look absolutely stunning."
"Speaking of stunning, why are you not wearing your dress yet?" Tiffany pointed at the gown that hung on the back of her door. "Your hair and make-up's done; time for the final touch."
"I'm not sure about it," Eve admitted quietly, tentatively looking at the dress. It was a slim-fitting, long yellow silk gown she'd bought on a shopping trip with Maryse and Rosa a couple of weeks ago and it reminded her of what used to be when she was happier. She remembered stepping out of the dressing room and feeling like a Grecian goddess and afterwards, when she slipped back into her cotton summer dress, she felt inadequate.
A couple of weeks had passed since the whole Jack-Maryse-Miz debacle and Eve had been keeping a low profile. Thank God for Tiffany and Kelly, otherwise she'd have gone completely off the edge. Even Ted had given up on talking to her; other than in classes, she hadn't seen him since she'd ran into the bathroom to hide from him. At least she was acing all her classes; there was an upside to everything. Now, it was time for prom and time for Eve to face the music.
"That's...That's not even a dress. That sheet of material is a piece of art." Tiffany sat down on the edge of Eve's bed, stiffly, due to her tight dress. "If you don't wear it, I will."
"I just-"
"Put on the dress, Eve."
When they first became friends, Eve didn't realise that Tiffany was a tough cookie that wouldn't take no for an answer. So not wanting to piss off the blonde, Eve slipped into the yellow dress, allowing Tiffany to zip her up, and slid her feet into a pair of cream heels.
"There." Tiffany stepped back so Eve could look at herself in the mirror. "Now tell me you don't feel like a princess."
Goddess seemed like a more appropriate compliment, she smiled to herself. Running her hands down the smooth fabric of the dress, Eve had to admit, she looked beautiful. But it was just that; she looked it. She still felt awful. How was it possible that after all this time, she still felt incomplete?
"Gorgeous," Smiling, Tiffany got to her knees – with great difficulty – and tugged out the hem of the dress so it was crease-free. "Definitely homecoming-queen material."
"Don't say that, my money's on Maryse picking it up. Again."
"I dunno, stranger things have happened."
"Like Kelly winning in freshman year?" Eve had to smile, however it soon turned sad at the mention of their absent friend's name. They tried to act happy whilst getting ready but it was hard. Why had Kelly agreed to work at the restaurant for the night? It was homecoming and Eve wanted to spend the evening with Tiffany and Kelly; it wouldn't be the same without her there.
"Girls!" The sound of Carol Torres' voice flooded into their bedroom. "Your dates are here!"
"Dates?" The two girls said in unison, raising eyebrows at each other. Their dates were each other.
As fast as they could in their heels, they hobbled down the stairs, only to find Ted and Cody, suited up at the bottom of the stairs with cheesy smiles on their faces.
"What're you doing here?" Eve asked, slowly walking towards Ted, as if she might scare him away if she moved too fast.
"I've always been there for you when you needed me," He smiled, taking hold of one of her hands. "I figured you might need me one more time."
"But I-"
"Let's talk about this later," He told her, holding out an arm so she could loop hers around it. "Your mom wants to take some pictures." Digging into the pocket of his trousers, he pulled out a box containing a cream coloured corsage. "Does it match?"
"Perfectly," Eve smiled, looping her arm through his and walking outside to where her mom was waiting, camera in hand, along with Cody and Tiffany.
Looking over at Cody, Tiffany rolled her eyes, "Okay, I get why Ted is here, but what're you doing?"
"That's no way to talk to your prom date!"
"Date!"
"Smile!" Both Cody and Tiffany grinned into Carol Torres, before she began snapping away at Ted and Eve.
"Yes, date." Cody continued. "You don't have a date, I don't have a date, you're hot and I'm super hot-"
"Aren't you supposed to be dating Michelle?" She cut in, hands on hips.
"For God's sake, Tiffany, you're not easy to please, are you? No, I'm not dating Michelle anymore." In Ted fashion, he pulled out a box containing a white rose corsage. "I didn't know what colour to get because I didn't know what colour your dress was. White goes with everything so I assumed it would be alright."
With a smile, she held out her wrist, waiting for him to put it on her, which he did.
"Tiffany Terrell," He grinned, holding her hand. "Now will you go to prom with me?"
"You know what, Cody Rhodes?" She kissed him on the cheek. "You've got yourself a date."
Where's Kofi going?
How will Ted and Eve's talk go?
Plus, you all want more Cody, so you get some classic Cody :)
Expect more drama as Brand New Day goes to homecoming in the next chapter!
Also, there's now two chapters left to go.
Please review :)