Chapter 7—Preparations for Prom

April 29th, 2000

Bella's POV

We girls went to get our nails and hair done this afternoon. After lunch with my mom. She says it was something she did with grandma when it was her junior and senior prom. She wanted to make sure I experienced this once. I had told Charlie the color of my dress so he could get me a corsage. The guys were picking us up for prom at 6:00. The dinner was at 7:00 with the dance starting at 9 and going until 12 and then the party after was to go until 4 am. Fulton and Dean said that they were going to drop Tammy and Natalie off at their homes, in the wee hours of the morning. I think they were planning on getting breakfast from somewhere, Fulton asked to borrow my car to take Tammy home, since Tammy's grandma was having such a cow about her going to prom. Tammy and I went down to his room after we took the dresses to my house, on Friday afternoon. I picked her up about three blocks from her house and then we saw Fulton. Needless to say, to go home on Friday night, we had to take Julie's car because it was big enough for all of us.

The rest of the Ducks date's Jesse's girl Melinda. Amanda Chambers who said yes to Goldberg, which surprised me considering how pretty and popular she is. Kelly Peterson was going with Dwayne; she was the one to ask him to homecoming last year, they were going steady as of January. Georgia Janzen said yes to Russ. The rest of the Duck's dates met Julie, Connie, Tammy, Avery, Natalie, my mother, and I at the nail salon. The one duck that didn't have a date was Luis. I nearly fell over when he said he wasn't taking a date to the Prom.

"Ok Bella, let's get your makeup on," Connie said.

"What about you shouldn't you be getting ready to go yourself," I said.

"Don't worry about me, I am next," Connie said.

"Connie if you don't mind I would like to do my daughters makeup," Mom said. As she was zipping Tammy up in her dress.

"Oh, that would be so cute," Birdie said as she was zipping Julie into her dress. Avery and Natalie did each other. I could tell that they have been friends for a long time and when Tammy moved back she just fitted right in.

"Ok, Mrs. Banks," Connie said.

Various girls did each other's dressed and then the doorbell rang.

"Should I go and get the door Mrs. Banks?" Birdie asked.

"No, Phillip is on Doorbell duty," Mom said.

"It's just Coach and Mrs. Bombay, whoa they look great," Julie said as she was looking out of my bedroom window.

"Yeah she got roped into chaperoning and guess who she roped? At least that is what Adam told me," I said.

"I hope that Coach and your dad will behave themselves," Connie said.

"I am not sure about Coach, but I told Daddy to behave," I said.

"As did I," Mom said.

"Oh, here comes another parent, I am not sure who it is," Julie said.

"Let me see," Natalie said as she made her way to the window.

"Here," Julie said.

"Oh, it's Tammy's dad," Natalie said.

"Daddys here?" Tammy said.

"Yep," Natalie said.

"I am going to go and say hi to him," Tammy said.

"Just don't get lost. I don't know what I will tell Fulton," Avery said laughing.

Avery got turned around downstairs last night going to the bathroom.

"Don't worry about it, I have been here a few times when we were littler," Tammy said.

Tammy's POV

I walked down the steps to the foyer where the parents were gathering waiting for the guys to come. The foyer was nearly full. Fulton's Mom, Guy's mom, Charlie's parents where there, along with some other parents I didn't know.

"Oh, Tammy you look so beautiful," Daddy said as he saw me descend the last few steps.

"Thanks Daddy," I said.

"I think I might cry, you are so grown up," Daddy said.

"Don't because if you do, I will start and that will ruin my makeup," I said.

"I can't believe it Tammy. When did you get so beautiful," Coach said.

"Thanks Coach Bombay," I said as I smiled.

"Michele I would like you to meet Tammy Duncan, the best figure skater that was on the Ducks during pee-wee's," Coach said.

"It's a pleasure, I am his wife," Mrs. Bombay said.

"Yeah, I got that," I said.

"How did you meet?" Daddy asked.

"At the Junior Goodwill games, I was the Ducks tutor. Now, I teach History at Eden Hall," Mrs. Bombay said.

"Well, I suppose I better go back upstairs,' I said as I looked at the clock. It was now 5:45. 'The boys are going to be here, soon."

Charlie's POV

Us guys had gotten together at Averman's house, and we were on the way to get the girls. Since the limos had an 8-person capacity we decided as a group of guys to have two of the limos come to get us guys at Averman's and the last limo was going to meet us at Bella's. In the limo with me was Guy, Averman, Goldberg, Fulton, Portman, Adam, and Gunnar. Jesse, Dwayne, Ken, Russ, and Luis were in the other limo.

"Oh my God, I am so nervous, I could throw up," Averman said.

"Please don't," Guy and I said.

"Dude you are going to be fine," Goldberg said.

"I have never done this before, I mean where do I put my hands on her," Averman said.

"Wherever you want dude," Portman said.

"Don't listen to him. Take some deep breaths, you are going to be fine," Adam said.

"Look alive Gentleman we are turning onto Bella's street," Gunnar said.

Adam glared at Gunnar; it used to be his street too.

"I can't do this, I can't breathe," Averman said as he was undoing his tie.

"You are hyperventilating, you are fine," Adam said.

"You need to relax and be yourself," Fulton said.

"I have never done this before," Averman said.

"Take some more deep breaths, in through the nose and out through the mouth," Adam said.

Averman just nodded as kept taking breaths.

"Here we go," Guy said as we turned into Bella's driveway. There were cars parked on the street all over. So, I knew the parents were all here. There was even a professional photographer there. Once the limos were parked up near the front door all of us guys got out of the limo's and made our way to the door. I rang the doorbell.

Bella's POV

The doorbell rang for the 14th time.

"Girls, 3 limos just pulled up," Amanda Chamber's said from the window. She was pretty a little on the short side, but very pretty and popular. She played softball in the fall, track in the spring and was in the band.

"Really how does Jesse look?" Melinda asked, she was at least five feet ten inches tall and on the volleyball team at Southwest.

"Absolutely fine," Julie said.

"All right ladies, you are going to come down one at a time and meet your dates. Birdie do you have…" Mom started.

"The Guys boutonniere's right here," Birdie said.

Birdie had marked out which boutonniere was which and had them placed in the little mini fridge that was in my room. I knew it was the mini fridge from dad's office. Mom had one of the maintenance workers bring the fridge up to my room.

"Okay I will go ahead and see you ladies downstairs," mom said.

Adams POV

My birth mother came down the steps first and said, "the ladies are ready."

A Black girl had come down the steps first wearing a pink prom dress. Jesse's eyes had brightened when he saw her.

"Melinda you look amazing," Jesse said.

"Thank you, Jesse, you look great," Melinda said. The photographer took pictures of the exchange of flowers and then Jesse and Melinda lined up on the steps together.

Once the photos were done the next girl came down the steps, it was Dwayne's date, Kelly Peterson in a green dress. Dwanye started to get red at the tips of his ears.

"If I may say Kelly you look mighty fine in that dress," Dwayne said.

"Thank you Dwayne, you look hot," Kelly said.

The flowers were exchanged, and the photographer took his photos, then the next girl came down the steps. Amanda Chambers looked great in a blue dress; Goldberg smiled as he saw his date. Once she got to the bottom of the steps, he said, "Gee Amanda you look amazing."

"Thank you Greg. You look great," Amanda said.

"Here Averman, let's fix that tie," I said while the flowers were being exchanged and the photos were being taken.

Next was Georgia Janzen in her gold dress. Russ made a joke and Georgia laughed while they were exchanging their flowers and getting their picture taken.

Next down the steps was Avery in her red dress, Averman gulped upon seeing her and then met her at the bottom of the steps.

"My lady in red," Averman said, and they exchanged flowers.

Avery laughed before she said, "Thank you Les, it's so pretty," admiring her corsage.

"Let's go sir, there are more photos to take," The photographer said.

"Right," Les said as he got on the second step behind Avery and smiled his cheesy smile.

Next down the steps was Natalie in her powder blue dress. Portman was thrown for a loop. When he finally found his tongue he said, "Wow Natalie, I'm amazed."

"Thanks Dean," Natalie said.

Once the photos were taken Tammy came down the steps. She smiled slightly and shyly. In her light green dress.

"Tammy I am glad you came out with me tonight," Fulton said.

"I know, thank you Fulton," Tammy said.

"Yeah," Fulton said as he slipped the corsage on. Tammy did the same with his boutonniere pinning it on him.

Julie came down next in her purple dress. "Wow, Julie you look amazing," Ken said.

"Thank you Ken," Julie said as Ken slipped the corsage on.

Connie came down next in her deep red dress, "Cons, Amazing as always," Guy said.

"Thank you Guy," Connie said.

"When did my daughter get so grown up?" Tom Moreau said.

"About the same time that my son did," Jewel Germaine said.

"Mom," Guy said. While Connie countered with "Dad."

"Is this almost over?" Gunnar whispered to me.

"Yes, Bella is the only one left," I said as I saw her at the top of the stairs.

"Ah hem," Bella said.

Charlie's mouth dropped open when he saw her, coming down the steps in her yellow dress. I swear she looked like Belle from Beauty and the Beast.

"Amazing Bella, I can't believe that is you," Charlie said.

"Thank you Charlie, you look great too," Bella said as she held her hand out for Charlie to put on the Corsage. Then she put the Boutonniere on Charlie's coat.

They then got their picture taken.

"All right let's line up for a group shot," The photographer said

Charlie and Bella started to walk up the steps, with Connie and Guy, Ken and Julie, Fulton and Tammy, Portman, and Natalie, Averman and Avery, Russ and Georgia, Goldberg and Amanda, Dwayne and Kelly, Jesse and Melinda following behind them. Gunnar pulled on my hand and we got in between Charlie, Bella, Guy, and Connie.

"Uh would the two of you come down," The photographer said.

"Which two?" Charlie asked.

"The gentleman that is next to you and Ms. Banks," The photographer said.

"Why?" Gunnar said.

"Because it is the gentleman and their dates," The photographer said.

"But we are seeing each other. I am his date," I said.

"Adam Jonathan Banks, down here this instant," Phillip yelled at me.

"Make me Phillip," I said.

"Boy don't make me take you outside and whip you," Phillip yelled.

"Adam you and Gunnar need to come down here," Mom said.

I rolled my eyes before I said, "Yes mother."

"Good at least he won't be a distraction to the people who view this picture at the club. Let's put them on the floor next to the one that is going stag," Seraphina said chuckling.

"Un fucking believable," I said. I knew they were embarrassed, apparently it's hard for them to have a gay son. Like I could help being who I am.

"Adam watch yourself, you are skating on thin ice," Dad said.

Once the photos were taken, Seraphina said; "Oh I want pictures of the parents with their individual children and dates."

"Not a good idea Seraphina, not all of the parents are here," Dad said.

Guy looked at his watch before he said, "Besides we have to get going anyway, Prom dinner starts at 7 and it's already 6:15."

"Alright, let's make like ducks and fly," Charlie said.

Charlie, Bella, Guy, Connie, Jesse, Melinda, Gunnar, and I would ride in the first limo. Fulton, Tammy, Portman, Natalie, Averman, Avery, Goldberg and Amanda would ride in the second limo. Ken, Julie, Russ, Georgia, Dwayne, Kelly, and Luis would ride in the final limo. We decided this a few days ago. Once the girls were all in, the guys would get in themselves.

A/N: Please leave a review, let me know what you think.