Page 94 of The Prom Queen Project
He arched an eyebrow. “Should I be scared?”
“Maybe.”
I grinned mischievously, crossing my arms as I playfully bumped my hip against his.
A low groan escaped his lips, but I just laughed, tugging him down the hall, paying no mind to the dozens of eyes following us.
Our pace quickened as I shoved open the front door of the school, the wind smacking us in the face. We jumped onto his motorcycle, which, surprisingly, wasn’t half as terrifying as ithad been the first time, and sped down the road. The sun poured down on us. It was unexpected, but for the first time in a while, I actually looked up. Instead of fixating on the pavement, I let my gaze drift to the endless blue sky above.
Clouds stretched across it, some big and fluffy, others wispy and delicate. At one point, I could’ve sworn I saw a smiley face. Sunlight soaked into my skin, filling me with energy, like a solar panel recharging after a day in the shade. Everything felt...peaceful. It was definitely a hell of a lot better than looking down at my damn shoes. I rested my head against the back of Elliot’s shoulder as he weaved through traffic, the world blurring past us until we finally reached the Summerville Mall. He yanked off his helmet and turned to me just as I pried mine off, my hair tumbling out in a wild mess.
“So, why are we here?”
“Shopping.”
“Well, no shit.”
“Promshopping.”
“Prom is a month and a half away.”
“We aren’t gonnawearthese to Prom,” I said, wiggling my eyebrows. “We’re using them tocampaignfor Prom.”
“Huh?”
Without another word, I pulled Elliot’s arm again, leading him toward the mall entrance. Its chipping paint and faded bricks offered a lackluster welcome, but my face still wore a smile as we walked inside.
With only one floor and a total of twelve stores, the Summerville Mall wasn’t exactly impressive, but it was better than nothing. Light streamed through the skylights, illuminating the blossoming plants and whimsical paintings that decorated the space. A newly installed fountain sat at the center, adding a little more personality as I watched several kids throw handfuls of coins into the water, landing with athunk.
As Elliot and I wandered from store to store, a small boutique caught my eye. The mannequins, frozen in exaggerated poses, wore stunning ball gowns that drew me in, pulling me toward the store like a magnet. Without hesitation, I grabbed a basket and filled it with a crapload of dresses before slipping into one of the available fitting rooms. One by one, I tried them on—each outfit more disappointing than the last.New flash: Just because something looked good on a mannequin doesn’t mean it would look good on an actual person.If you know, you know. Some dresses were too revealing, others too casual, and one made me look like I was ready for a corporate interview. Then, finally, on my seventh dress, I gazed at my reflection, a smile spreading across my face.This was the one. Stepping out of the fitting room, I turned to Elliot. He glanced up from his phone, did a double-take, and his jaw practically hit the floor.
“Wow,” he whispered. “You look…wow.”
“Thanks,” I blushed, prying my eyes away from his as I looked down at my figure. Pulling my lip between my teeth, I asked, “So, I should get it, then?”
“In every color,” he murmured, wrapping his arm around my waist and pressing a soft kiss on my forehead.
“So, it was a good idea to come here?”
“Best. Plan. Ever.”
“Eh. I think our fake dating plan was pretty solid until everyone found out.”
“Jesus.” He sighed, his eyes sparkling as they connected with mine. “How the hell did we think we could fake a relationship and not fall for each other?”
I shrugged. “We thought we hated each other.”
“Yeah, well, love and hate are closely related.”
Love.
There it was again—that word. He hadn’t said it outright, but it was clear what he meant. It was too soon. He wasn’t ready.Neither was I. But Ididlove him. And when the time was right, I’d have to find the courage to tell him.
“Now, we just have to get you a suit.” I smirked, pulling away from him as I headed back into the dressing room.
A Princess.
That’s exactly how I felt as Elliot and I stepped into school on Monday.
