Ethan

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SUBJECT: PROM. GET Jealous.

Dear Ethan,

I want you to know that I’m really happy that our principal decided that you can’t run for Prom King. (You winning Mr. Popular three times in a row should be more than enough for your big-ass ego. Not that I would’ve voted for you, anyway)

I also want you to know that whatever you have planned for your night (with Shelby Hannah #ugh) will pale in comparison to my night. Since my date is Clive Harrison, a perfect gentleman and last year’s football MVP, he will be picking me up for pictures at six o’clock, taking me to a five-star dinner downtown, and treating me to the best dance of my life at the prom.

I’ve also decided that if all goes well, I’ll go back with him to his downtown hotel room afterward. (He got us a room at the Marriott!) I’m sure you and Shelby will just fuck in the front seat of your car...

Hope you’re jealous.

Forget You,

Rachel

PS—Do you think my dress looks okay? Like, do you think Clive will like it?

PSS—Am I too excited about this?

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SUBJECT: RE: PROM. Get Jealous.

Dear Rachel,

Thank you for reminding me why you’ll always be my number one hater. (For the umpteenth time, I’ve won Mr. Popular FOUR times in a row—all without your pointless, wasteful vote.)

No wonder Clive has been quiet about who he’s taking to prom this weekend. Somehow telling everyone he’s taking the most unknown person in our class isn’t a great conversation starter. My night probably will pale in comparison to yours, but only because I think the prom is more than enough for someone I don’t even like that much...

I refuse to believe that you’ll ever have sex, so I’m not even going to say anything about him getting you a room at the Marriott. (Except that his older cousin is the general manager there, so I highly doubt it took him much effort to do that...) Me and Shelby will be fucking in the back seat of my car. ☺

I’m far from jealous.

Forget You,

Ethan

PS—If you’re talking about the red dress you’ve been waltzing around your room every day for the past two weeks...Yes, he’ll like it. (Everyone will)

PSS—If you were anyone else, yes. Since this is your first time actually going out, no...

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ON THE NIGHT OF PROM, I double checked to make sure I picked up the right violet corsage for my date and made sure there wasn’t a dirt spot anywhere on my blue convertible.

As I was putting on my tuxedo jacket, I looked outside my window and noticed that Rachel wasn’t waltzing around her room in her prom dress like usual. She didn’t even look like she was halfway ready.

Instead, she was sitting at her desk, crying.

Confused, I pushed up my window and tossed a pen at her window.

She looked up and wiped her eyes before pushing it open. “Yeah?”

“Does your perfect dress not fit anymore or something? Why the hell are you crying?”

“I’m not going to prom anymore.”

“What?”

She sniffled and held up her cell phone.

“I can’t see the screen from over here, Rachel.”

“He invited me out as a joke. He said he thought I knew that he wasn’t being serious, and that no offense, but if he was going to have a date he would never pick me. He’s going with Theresa Kline—Homecoming Queen. Why did I think that he would pick me over her anyway when they were still dating? How could I be so blind and dumb?”

I knew I was supposed to say something thoughtful or meaningful right now, that I should probably say something like, “You should go anyway. Show him what he’s missing,” but I was running late so I could only shrug.

“Well, that’s highly unfortunate,” I said. “I guess I’ll tell you all about the prom when I get back.”

Her jaw dropped and her face reddened as I shut my window, and I waved at her before leaving the room.