Page 23 of Perfect Tragedy
Vanessa is already at the limo door and she giddily looks back at me over her shoulder as the limo driver holds the door open for her and helps her inside. She’s embarrassingly excited about a stupid limo ride and I can’t help but giggle a little.
“Let me help you,” Blake captures my attention with his words and I turn to see him holding his hand out for me waiting to be my anchor as I move down the stairs. I place my hand in his and he grips mine tightly as I make my way down.
“Thank you,” I murmur and it’s then I realize that he helped me before Hailey and I hear her clear her throat in what sounds like annoyance.
Getting into the limo, I can’t help but grin at Vanessa who’s bouncing up and down in her seat with excitement. Blake slides in and sits next to me and suddenly my senses are overwhelmed with the unique scent that’s him and my stomach dips and my mouth waters. He smells amazing. I look at Vanessa and give her a wide-eyed look which I hope signals my desire for help, but she just grins at me and wags her eyebrows.
We make light conversation all the way to the hotel where our event is being hosted. More than once I catch Blake staring at my leg that’s completely on display due to the slit in my dress and my crossed legs. My entire body is aware of every single move he makes the whole ride and it’s a relief when we finally reach our destination.
Vanessa and I link arms again with a smile before we head into the hotel and make our way to the ballroom. At the entryway, I stop and we both take it all in. When I had heard the theme was going to be Starry Night I rolled my eyes at the stupid prom cliché, but wow, I was wrong to make fun. They went all out. There are twinkling lights everywhere, wrapped around columns, draped with tulle from place to place. Somehow they even managed to make a starry sky above our heads. But the real show-stopper is the huge crescent moon hanging from the ceiling. It’s amazing.
We don’t get long to gawk before our friends surround us and everyone ooh’s and aah’s at each other’s looks. We give abundant compliments and graciously accept our own. Suddenly a good song starts playing and we all giggle and immediately proceed to the dance floor once we set our bags at a table claiming it. The dance floor is already full and people having fun, laughing, and dancing together while they sing the words to the song. I let the music wash over me and take me away. There’s something about the atmosphere, my best friend laughing beside me and a great song that makes a wide smile spread across my face and I lose myself in the moment.
I’ve been here all of fifteen minutes or so and I’m already so glad I came. I would not have wanted to miss this. Vanessa and I grin again when another song plays, then another. It isn’t long before we’re gasping for breath.
“Drinks?” Vanessa asks and I nod.
We make a beeline for the refreshment table. Filling our glasses we take them to our table and sit down to cool off and enjoy our drinks.
“Look at Amber’s dress, I love it,” I tell Vanessa. Our friend looks like a mermaid in the sparkly blue dress that hugs her figure before flaring out at the bottom. “She’s one of the only people I know that can pull off that look.”
“For sure,” Vanessa agrees.
“Oh my god. Did you see Rosalyn?” I ask about one of Hailey’s best friends. My nose wrinkles as I take in her appearance again.
“Can you say ho?” Vanessa asks with a disgusted look. “Could it be any shorter?”
“How are her boobs staying in that thing? It’s cut so low.”
“They’ve got to be all taped to hell,” Vanessa adds.
"How did she even get in the door?” I marvel.
“Probably because pervy Pearson was at the door,” Vanessa states, referencing the teacher everyone is convinced spends more time leering at the girls at school than he does teaching them.
We’re in the middle of a lively debate about who will be named Junior Prom Queen and King when we’re interrupted.
“Sienna?”
Looking up my gaze connects with West. He’s a senior and incredibly good looking. He plays for our school’s hockey team and I don’t know if he’s ever spoken to me a day in my life.
“Yes?”
He smiles and I’m instantly transfixed by his cute boyish charm. His smile is almost shy. “I was wondering if you want to dance? With me?”
“Me?” I ask in confusion. “What about your date?” I ask knowing he’s got to be here with someone. I don’t think he’s dating anyone that I know of, but still last thing I need is to piss someone off.
“Cece and I came as friends. She’s dancing with Ryan right now,” he points over his shoulder.
I look at Vanessa and she smiles and nods. “Okay,” I agree and West holds his hand out to me. I put my hand in his and he pulls me onto the dance floor. He wraps his hands around my waist and I place mine at his shoulders. We begin to move to the song. Nerves make my stomach turn.
“You look very pretty tonight,” he compliments.
“Thanks, you too,” then I flush, “I mean, you look nice too.”
“Thanks,” he grins. “You know, I caught some of your volleyball games this year.”
“You did?” But of course I already knew that. All the girls were aflutter when he attended. I was too involved in winning to give a crap.
