co-written by RatedrKjErIcHo.
"C'mon, get your butt outta bed. We're going shopping." John said to Charlie as she lay there three days later.
"Shopping for what?" she said as she pulled the covers up over her.
"A prom dress."
"Are you on crack or something? I am not going to the prom."
"You worked your ass off, took all those AP classes, summer classes, college classes and got to where you could graduate early and you're not going to celebrate the work you put into it?" he said shaking his head. "That's insane." She didn't say anything. "You know Phil called again. He sounded pretty sad this time. Maybe you should talk to him."
"You want me to talk to him? You hate him."
"I don't hate him…..as much anymore."
"And why is that?" Charlie asked.
"Because you love him. Now, get your butt outta bed and get in the shower. Natalie and Mike will be here soon."
She groaned and got up and headed to the bathroom. She wasn't really into prom anymore. But she figured she would humor her brother.
Jaycee sat in the kitchen having breakfast with Lexie when Phil and Randy walked in. "Are you ladies going prom dress shopping?"
"I'm going to help Lexie pick hers out." Jaycee replied.
"You're going to prom aren't you?" Phil asked.
"No, I just don't feel like going."
"Come on Jaycee. You're graduating a year early. Don't you want to celebrate that?"
"Phil, why do you want me to go?"
"Because as sad as it is, I was hoping you would be my date." He said as Randy laughed a little bit. Phil cut his eyes at him and Randy stopped laughing. "Charlie won't return my calls and the other alternative is crazy ass AJ."
"Does she even go to our school anymore?"
"I don't even think she's on the same planet we are. She's nuts." Randy laughed again. "C'mon Jaycee...please? I never ask you for anything."
"I remember something about Chemistry homework..." Jaycee said. Phil rolled his eyes.
"Please just do this for me...please?"
"Oh alright, if it will get you to stop begging, I'll go. But you're buying the dress and whatever the hell else I want."
"Deal."
Charlie stood in the living room a few minutes later, her hair pulled into a loose ponytail. She was wearing jeans and one of the band t shirts and sandals. "Okay, I'm ready."
"Let's head to the mall then." John said as they walked to the door and then out to the car.
Phil, Randy, Lexie and Jaycee arrived at the mall and headed to True Romance Formal Shop. It was one of the best dress shops in the city.
"So, Jaycee, what color were you thinking about?" Lexie asked as they began looking at dresses.
"I was thinking pink." Jaycee said as she picked up a dress.
"Pink is perfect and so you." Lexie smiled. "Oh what about this?" She picked up a pale pink a line dress with a square neckline and spaghetti straps decorated with jewels.
"It's perfect." Jaycee smiled. "What color were you thinking about?"
"Blue." Lexie replied.
"How about this?" Jaycee held up a short blue satin strapless dress decorated with sequins.
"I love it. Let's go try them on." She smiled and looked at Randy and Phil. "Well you guys sit outside the dressing room so we can show you how we look." Both nodded and followed them over.
Charlie, John, Natalie and Mike walked into the mall and toward the same store. "And why am I doing this again?" Charlie asked.
"Because you're the best sister in the whole world and I love you."
"Whatever." She said as they walked into the store.
"What color did you want to look at?"
"I don't know. Red maybe?"
"Isn't that Phil's favorite color?"
"I'm not basing my decision on Phil."
"Speaking of Phil." Mike said. "Isn't that him by the dressing rooms?" Mike pointed to them.
"That's him and Randy." Charlie replied. "Why would he be here unless he asked someone else to the prom?"
"I don't think that's it." John replied as Lexie and Jaycee walked out of the dressing room.
Charlie turned and saw them. She had to smile when she saw her friends looking pretty in their dresses.
"You really should talk to him." John said as Phil looked over at them.
"I can't." She said as she walked toward a rack of dresses in the back of the store. John sighed and looked at Natalie and Mike.
"I'll go talk to her." Mike said. He walked off to find her and Natalie grabbed a purple dress off the rack and walked toward the dressing room. Phil stood there looking at Charlie as she walked toward the back of the store and sighed to himself.
"Go talk to her." Jaycee said.
"I don't think it would do any good." He said.
"Oh my God! You're scared to talk to her. You've never been scared of a damn thing. Go talk to her." Jaycee said as she gave him a shove.
He sighed as he walked to where Charlie was. He hoped she would talk to him.
Jaycee smiled at the sight. She sighed and headed back to the dressing room to change. She got dressed and picked up the dress.
"That dress is perfect for you." She heard from behind her. She turned to see John standing there. "I mean it. That dress was made for you."
"Thanks." She smiled and headed toward the shoes. She smiled again once she was out of sight. She didn't know why she cared that he thought it was perfect but hearing him say it made her happy.
"Char...You alright?" Charlie nodded.
"Fine." She said as Phil walked up to her. She looked at the rack of dresses. Mike walked away.
"Hey" Phil said. Charlie looked up at him.
"Hey."
"So, found any good dresses?"
"None I like so far." She said.
"Can we go to the food court and talk? Please?" He asked.
"What good would it do Phil? You'll just end up taking shots at John again. And whatever else he is, he's my brother."
"I'm sorry about the other day Charlie. For what it's worth." She nodded. He picked up a dress off the rack. "You'd look great in this one." He said as he handed it to her. It was red with a black trim corset top and a full skirt that almost reached the floor.
"Maybe I'll try it." She said. He nodded and smiled sadly. He held his arms out to her and she leaned in hugging him. He took the necklace out of his pocket and slid it into her purse. "I'll see you around Phil." She said
He watched as she headed to the dressing room. He followed to the other one where Lexie and Jaycee were. He looked and saw John nearby. He hoped he kept up his end of the deal. Phil had a plan and it would unfold at prom.
Jaycee came out of the dressing room dressed in the pink dress and some heels. "This is the one. What do you think?" She asked her brother.
"I like it. You look perfect but I am not wearing a pink tie."
"You can wear whatever you want. You're the one who invited me to be your date. And my goodness that sounds so weird to say."
"It's not that bad." Phil laughed. "It will be a great prom."
"Hope so."
He looked back at Charlie as she came out of the dressing room.
"She looks beautiful in that dress." Jaycee said. "Maybe you should wear a black tie. So you could match her." He looked at her.
"Maybe. She's still worried about John and I taking shots at each other."
"Can't say that I blame her. You guys hate each other and she feels stuck in the middle. She loves you both." Phil nodded. "Give her a little time."
"I'm willing to wait." He said and Jaycee smiled.
"C'mon. Let's go pick out your suit."
Natalie smiled at Charlie as she came out of the dressing room.
"You look gorgeous." Charlie smiled sadly. "What did he say to you?"
"He told me he was sorry and asked if we could talk. I told him I didn't think it would do any good."
"Is there no way for you guys to work this out?"
"I don't see how. He and John hate each other and I'm in the middle. Despite what John has done and said, he is my brother. I love him. But I love Phil too. I just wished they could get along."
"Maybe they will eventually."
"I doubt it." Charlie sighed. "I think I am going to get this dress." She laughed a little and then sobbed. "He was right. It's beautiful." She said as she wiped her eyes. Natalie hugged her as Mike and John walked up.
"Charlie? What's wrong?" John asked as she pulled away from Natalie and went back into the dressing room. John looked at Natalie.
"She's upset about Phil." John sighed. All of this was his fault. And he hoped and prayed his plan for prom fixed everything for everyone.
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