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They left the school together, walking back toward their houses. "Um … how do you want to do this, tonight? We could—we could just meet at school, if you want to."
"What?" Nick had been distracted and quiet for the last part of the prom preparation, but now he shook off whatever he'd been thinking about. "No! I want to go together, like a proper couple."
Charlie smiled, relieved. He had, too, but he hadn't wanted to pressure Nick. "But—I don't want the whole you coming to the door and my parents taking pictures kind of thing."
"Then we don't have to do it that way." Nick reached for his hand. "How about this—how about I get my stuff and bring it over, and we get ready for prom together, and then we leave from your house?"
"Yeah. Only—will your mum mind?"
"She'll be okay. And we'll send her a selfie."
"Okay. If you're sure."
Nick nodded. "I'm sure. So, no parent pictures, just you and me. How does that sound?"
"Perfect."
"Good. Let me go home and get my stuff, and I'll be there soon. Okay?"
"Okay."
"Charlie." Nick caught him by the hand and kissed him. "I can't wait."
"Neither can I." Charlie walked the rest of the way home on air. This was going to be perfect.
Suitbag slung over his shoulder, Nick showed up just after Charlie had finished drying his hair. "You ready for this?"
Charlie nodded. He was suddenly so nervous he didn't think he could speak.
"So … I'll change in the bathroom?"
"No, I will," Charlie said hastily. His suit was already hanging in there, the steam making sure it didn't wrinkle.
"All right, then." They parted at the door of Charlie's room. "See you soon."
It was ridiculous to be this nervous, Charlie told himself as he changed. No matter how much glitter they had stapled to the walls, it was still just the Truham-Higgs gym.
But it was prom, and that meant something. It meant—years of watching movies with Tao and knowing he would never have the chance to be taken to prom and now suddenly having it. With Nick, who was pretty much the boyfriend of his dreams.
At last, he thought he was okay with how his hair was, and the positioning of his tie. Nervously he knocked on the door. He opened it just a crack. "Can you close your eyes?"
"Why?"
"Because I'm nervous you'll think I look weird."
"Okay. I'm not looking. But, for the record, I think you always look cute."
Charlie stepped into the room, taking in the sight of Nick standing there, hand over his eyes. The suit he was wearing fit him beautifully. He was so tall and his shoulders were so broad and he was just … eveyrthing Charlie had ever dreamed of. "Nick," he breathed. "I can't believe you're my boyfriend."
"Can I please open my eyes now?"
Looking down at himself—so skinny and weird-looking compared to Nick's beauty—Charlie nodded. "Okay."
Nick took his hand down and stood there staring at Charlie.
When he didn't say anything, Charlie immediately decided he didn't like it. "D-does it look bad?"
But Nick shook his head. "No. You look … so good. You look so good!" And then Charlie was in his arms, being lifted off the ground.
"Shut up!"
They held each other close. "How about we don't go to prom?" Nick murmured in his ear. "We just stay here instead."
Charlie pulled back, laughing. "No, we have to go. Everyone's expecting us to go together now."
"Ah. Yeah." Nick looked seriously down into his face. "And … a big public appearance as a couple, that's … that's definitely what we want?"
He could picture it, the two of them walking in through the streamers hand in hand while people cheered for them, taking ridiculously cheesy prom pictures in each other's arms, dancing in the middle of the crowd, with Nick dipping him in the dorkiest, most romantic possible way. Charlie nodded eagerly. "Yeah."
"Okay. Then that's what we'll do. You ready?"
"Yeah. I really am."
Hand-in-hand, they left Charlie's room, escaping while his parents were distracted without any weird photos, although Tori threatened to go get them. She was, somewhat surprisingly, planning to go to prom, but alone, and in her normal clothes.
When they arrived at prom, they immediately saw Tara, looking absolutely beautiful in a flowered dress. "Hey," Charlie said as they approached her.
She looked up from her phone, and her face lit with a smile. "Oh, my God!"
"You look insane," Nick told her.
Tao and Elle came up just then, Elle and Tara exchanging hugs. Tao had outdone them both. He really had such a unique style. No plain suits for him. Charlie couldn't get over what a good couple his friends made.
Then Isaac and Sahar made their appearance. Isaac looked … well, pretty much like Isaac, but with a bow tie, to Charlie's relief. He'd been afraid he'd be the only one wearing something so old-fashioned. Sahar had a guitar on her back—apparently she was part of the band playing the prom.
Elle asked about Darcy, and Tara said she was running late and suggested they all go inside.
"Are you sure? We can wait for her," Nick offered.
"No! She'll show up in a bit."
Charlie knew Darcy could be a bit flakey, but to be late for prom, knowing what it meant to Tara? That didn't feel right. From the glances the others exchanged, they all felt it, too, but no one wanted to say anything when Tara was determined to put a brave face on whatever was happening.
"To the prom!" Tao said, and Elle took Tara's hand as the three of them led the way.