Jenny

I felt like I was finally over the whole ordeal with Draven. The talk at school had died down, and I survived. I won’t lie, it was brutal for a few days, but people finally let up. Mom was right. She told me it wouldn’t last. She said once people found someone else to talk about; they’d stop talking about me. I swear that woman was the smartest person I’d ever known. 

The night I went dress shopping with Lo, my Mom texted me to tell me that Dad was taking Draven shopping for a tuxedo. It was weird. Thinking of him in a tuxedo, going to prom, it kind of shocked me. He didn’t seem like the prom kind of guy.

Lo and I spent over three hours searching for the right dresses. She settled on a rose gold colored corset style dress. It was strapless, and had these tiny little rhinestones and beads lining the top of the bust. She looked beautiful in it. But then again, she could’ve worn a brown paper bag, and she would still stop traffic. 

My budget was a little tighter than hers, but I managed to find the perfect dress. It took me hours to dig through all the clearance racks. Once I saw it, I knew it had to be mine before I’d even tried it on. It was a two-piece, but it barely showed any of my stomach. The top piece was a silver halter-top that was covered in shiny, glittery beading. While the bottom piece was a full, floor-length black skirt. It was the shiny satin material with a one-inch waistband. It was the perfect A-line dress, and it was on sale for only one hundred and thirty-nine dollars. Seriously, it was perfect. 

The two of us had everything we needed. With a two hundred dollar budget, I was able to get shoes, and earrings too. Total score for me, and my Dad would love that I didn’t spend too much. 

That night when I got home, Draven came into my room. I had my guard up. I wasn’t really in the mood for a fight. To be honest, just thinking about fighting with him exhausted me.  

“Hey,” he said, stalking over to my bedside. I slid my headphones off, resting them on the bed. 

“Hey.”

“I just wanted to tell you thank you.” 

That wasn’t what I was expecting. “For what?” I stuttered.

“Thanks to your help, I’m graduating with the class.” 

I was so happy for him that I jumped right into his arms before I even realized what I was doing. Talk about an uncomfortable moment. He hugged me back, but I pulled away. I had to tell myself that I was still freaking mad at him. His good looks weren’t going to get him off the hook that easy. 

 “Uh. That’s. Great. Congratulations.” I sounded like one of those dolls that you pull the string on. Every word came out in one tone, and with a short pause. 

“Yeah,” he smiled big. “I just wanted to say thanks.”

“You’re welcome,” I replied, before climbing back onto my bed. I didn’t trust myself being so close to him. I was weak.

“And,” he bit down hard on his bottom lip. “I also want to say I’m sorry for everything that happened at school.”

I didn’t want to relive that moment. I reached for my headphones, and just before sliding them on my head I told him it was okay. I didn’t give him any kind of chance to explain it, just accepted his apology. If we were going to be living in the same house, then I had to figure out a way to put my feelings aside and get past it. 

Since that moment, I’d been slowly inching my way back into a comfortable zone with him. I let him apologize, and it seemed sincere. I was still a little bitter, but I’d soon get over it. I couldn’t stay mad at him forever, even with the way he acted. My heart wouldn’t let me. 

After three days of him sulking around, being extra polite, I caved. My brother Trevor even told me to forgive him. Everyone in the house seemed to be team Draven, yet I was the one who was hurt. 

Not him.

Me.

I was having such a hard time getting over it, but I was trying. 

I was really trying.

“Let’s watch a movie tonight? Something funny.” I said over the dinner table. I was talking to everybody, although, I mostly meant it for Draven. 

“I’ve got to work tomorrow,” Mom answered.

“You know I’d be snoring before they finished those opening commercial things,” Dad snorted. 

“I’ll watch a movie.”

I glanced up to meet Draven’s eyes. They were a little darker than usual as he waited for me to reply. We weren’t quite back to the T.V. jam sessions as of late, but I was willing to give it a go, so long as we only watched a movie. 

My feelings were still there. They still had the backseat of my heart. However, I wouldn’t dare tell him that. After the way he handled our delicate situation before, I couldn’t risk telling him how I truly felt. Besides, he’d never feel the same way for me.

“Okay.” I agreed. “I’m picking the movie.”

“You have to,” he smirked. “You know I don’t know what’s funny and what isn’t.”

Gah. There was that loveable guy that stole my heart. He made my heart skip a beat. 

After we finished our dinner, I cleaned the kitchen. I put Lo on speakerphone and called her while I cleaned. Of course, all she wanted to talk about was prom. She actually had a date, which was a complete last minute decision. When she found out Draven was going to be at prom she insisted on having a date, even after I told her a billion times that I was going alone.

“Do you know how you’re wearing your hair?” She asked me, and I caught sight of Draven rolling his eyes. He made me laugh.

“I’m planning on washing it.”

“This is serious Jen. Prom is a big deal. I don’t want to look like an idiot and have everyone talking about me all night. I need to blend in.”

I knew exactly what she meant. “I’ll probably wear it up with curls,” I relented, but when I saw Draven shake his head, I said, “Or maybe I’ll wear it braided down the side of my neck.” He gave me a little wink, and somehow managed to move from the backseat of my heart, right into the driver’s seat.

“That would be pretty. Has Hottie Mc. Dimple Face seen your dress?” Her voice was clear and everything in the kitchen stopped moving. My face brightened ten shades of red, and I wanted to sink to the floor. 

“You’re on speakerphone Lola.” I used her full name. I wanted her to understand that she was the world’s worst when it came to timing.

“Oh,” she paused. “Hey, Draven.”

“What’s up Lola?” He used her full name too.

“Are both of you guys going to senior night at the lake?” She was talking to the two of us now, like it was just the normal thing to do.

“Yeah,” we replied in unison.

She giggled. “Good. I’m going shopping for the air mattresses tomorrow.”

“Fine,” I replied, my tone clipped. I was finished with the conversation. 

“How about I call you later?”

“Good idea,” I answered. “Later, bitch,” I joked, quickly hanging up the phone. “Don’t say a word.” 

Draven held up his hands and flashed that dimply smile. He was a force to be reckoned with. 

“Let’s go watch a movie. We have school tomorrow.”

He sat on one end of the couch, while I was on the other. We shared the couch quilt and settled in to watch The Hangover. No complications, or fighting words, just him and me like old times. 

I didn’t remember seeing the ending, because my eyelids grew heavy. I only remember hearing Draven tell me goodnight. 

***

With finals coming up, and school coming to an end, I was busier than ever. We had graduation prep, prom, and senior night all in a matter of days. 

I hadn’t talked about prom anymore with Draven. He asked if he could ride with us, and I agreed when Mom gave me the evil eye. Secretly, I really wanted him to go with us, I just didn’t tell anyone else that. I made it seem like it was an inconvenience just so that he’d feel bad. 

When the night of prom came around, I was so excited. I didn’t find out until I’d had my shower and was halfway through fixing my hair, that Draven found another ride. He told my Mom that he didn’t want to inconvenience me, so he left. He went to Jett’s house to get ready. My plan totally backfired in my face. 

Go figure.

I was going to get to show up at prom with Lo and her date. 

Just great.

It took both of us about an hour and a half to get ready. Despite the change of events, I still felt like Cinderella. My dress fit me perfectly, my shoes didn’t hurt my feet, and my hair did everything I wanted it too. I remembered that look on Draven’s face when I’d said something about wearing my hair in a loose braid over my shoulder, so I stuck with that plan. I wanted him to think that I was the most beautiful girl at the prom tonight, but I’d be lucky if he even showed up. And I really wanted to see him in his tux. 

Lo and I made our way down the stairs to meet her date and to let Mom snap a thousand pictures of us. I skipped out on prom the year before, but I didn’t want to miss it this time. It was my last year there, and prom was something you were supposed to remember for a lifetime.

I kissed my parents goodbye, and told them I wouldn’t be home too late, and then the three of us headed out.

At first glance, the gym looked like a winter wonderland. There were icicle lights hanging from the rafters, and round tables covered with shiny white tablecloths. I’d never seen that tiny gym look so pretty. The light overhead was dimmed so the icicle lights twinkled over the dance floor. It was even better than what I had pictured in my mind. A few people gave me sideways glances, and some of them even mumbled under their breath when I walked in. I wasn’t going to let them get to me though. It just sucked being there alone. I mean, I had Lo, but since she had a date, I might as well have been there by myself. 

We found a table in the very back of the room. Of course it was my favorite place. No one would stare at me back there. Lo gave me the pity look when her date asked her to dance, but I waved it off. I pretended it was no big deal. 

We hadn’t been there thirty minutes and I was already by myself. Scanning the room, I knew exactly who I was looking for. 

But…

He was nowhere to be found.