Page 22 of Perfect Tragedy
Laughing we link arms and walk out the door and into the living room. Jack is already there sporting his tux and I admit he looks very handsome. His date is a nice girl, a cheerleader named Amelia, and they’ve been on a few dates. They’re double dating with Blake and Hailey, of course.
One night they were making plans and Vanessa and I walked into the kitchen to grab a snack. Jack said something about getting a limo and Vanessa squealed and told them all the reasons why they should definitely do that. Jack insisted we go with them. I declined not wanting to be in the same group as Blake and Hailey - I didn’t really need a front and center seat next to them. Vanessa’s excitement at rolling up in a limo made me keep my feelings to myself. Knowing how I was feeling regarding going with a guy, Vanessa, being the most excellent friend that she is, turned down every guy that asked her as well and said we would be each other’s date this year. Given the sacrifice she made for me, the least I could do is be uncomfortable during a ride to school since she’s excited.
Mom was already snapping all kinds of pictures of Jack and he was striking a different pose for each one. She had no idea he was doing it in a mocking way, she was simply delighted. Dad however was standing behind mom with a small smile on his face and his arms crossed watching Jack’s antics.
My dad hears us enter and turns, “Wow, you girls look beautiful,” he smiles broadly.
Mom turns to us and to my horror she gets all glassy-eyed. “Oh girls, look at you. You look so wonderful, beautiful. Time for pictures!” She sniffles and I look at Vanessa with wide eyes.
Turning I see Jack staring at us too, the look on his face almost comical. You’d think he’s never seen me before, his eyebrows inch up his face in surprise and he looks from me and Vanessa and back again. He whistles low. “Wow. You clean up nice, sis.”
“Shut up,” I reply, but smile.
We pose for photos and laugh when we take one striking a traditional prom pose with Vanessa standing behind me with her arms wrapped around me. Giggling, we have fun with it and then when Amelia arrives we move out of the way so mom can get some pictures of the two of them.
“Let’s go out on the porch,” mom suggests. “The sun is just starting to go down and it will be beautiful lighting for a group photo.”
“Cool, Blake should be here any minute too,” Jack responds before offering his arm to Amelia with a flourish. She giggles and they head outside.
With shakes of our heads we head to the door too and I begin to feel nervous about seeing Blake and Hailey together. “Oh, I forgot my clutch, I’ll be right there, go ahead,” I tell Vanessa and go back into my room to grab my gold bag. I check it once more to make sure everything’s inside and then take one more look at myself. My trembling hands smooth my dress down and I take a deep breath before I push my shoulders back and go to meet everyone outside.
When I reach the front door, I see Blake through the security screen and stop. The screen is dark and I can see out but he can’t see inside. I’m grateful because it allows me a moment to collect myself after getting a glimpse of him.
I spent a stupid amount of time imagining what Blake would look like in a tux. I didn’t come close. My imagination didn’t do him justice. At all.
He’s standing with his hands in his pockets, his hair slicked back off his face but stubborn waves still tumble over his forehead. If I close my eyes I can imagine how he smells - like spice and summer. He reminds me of days spent outside in the grass with the sun shining on my face and happiness in my heart. He speaks with my dad and I’m only able to capture his profile. Given my thoughts and feelings from this viewpoint, I quickly wonder what I’ll feel when facing him straight-on. I’m not sure I’ll survive it.
A car pulls up and I watch as Hailey arrives. She, of course, looks great. Her dress is short. A black number that dips dangerously in the front and I’m thinking she shouldn’t bend over. Or maybe move much - at all. Blake takes her hand and begins walking up to our porch.
Taking a deep breath, I open the front door and step out looking first at Vanessa before my eyes automatically turn to, and connect with, Blake’s. The moment they do, it feels like time stands still.
He stops walking suddenly and his lips part in surprise. His gaze sweeps over me in a way that makes a flush run over my skin in a wave starting with the tips of my toes and moving to the top of my head. When his eyes meet mine again, all the air leaves my lungs because I could swear the look on his face, in his eyes, could only be described asneed.
My chest begins rising and falling sharply, air feeling impossible to obtain. I was right; getting a complete look of how Blake looks tonight is simply show-stopping. He looks magnificent. From the cut of his tux, the sharp envy invoking cheekbones, his dark hair and bright green-eyes, everything else disappears and all I see is him.
As if in a trance, he starts moving toward me again and I seem to come back to myself as Vanessa moves up beside me.
“You okay?” She whispers to me and I manage a nod.
Hailey’s gaze narrows as she looks from Blake to me and back again.
“Let’s get a photo of the whole group together before you leave,” my mom says.
As if her speaking breaks a spell, Blake breaks his stare and helps Hailey manage the steps of the porch in her heels. Moving to where my mom indicates, my stomach dips when Blake comes and stands next to me. My breath catches when his arm brushes my own before he wraps his arm around my waist. I tell myself it isn’t a big deal since his other is wrapped around Hailey. It’s just for the photo, but my skin underneath his touch feels like it’s on fire.
In-between photos he bends down and whispers in my ear, “Wow, Si. You look so beautiful.”
My eyes immediately snap to his and the fire I see staring back at me almost makes my heart stop. Somehow I manage to reply, “Thanks. You look pretty good yourself.”
“Thank you everyone for being so great with the photos - can I trouble you for one more? I need one with Jack, Blake and Sienna, of course.”
Jack positions me in the middle with him and Blake on either side of me. Before she snaps the photo, Jack says, “Yeah, we lookgood,” making me look up at Blake and laugh while he looks down at me and shakes his head with a grin.
During the photo the limo pulls up and Vanessa claps her hands with excitement.
“Let’s go!” Jack calls and moves to Amelia helping her down the stairs. “See ya, mom and dad. Don’t wait up!”
They laugh at Jack and my dad pulls me to the side, “Have fun, tonight. Be careful,” he tells me. I know he’s still concerned after everything that happened with Todd. I give him a kiss on the cheek, “Don’t worry about me.”
