The sun was barely up when I slipped out of Cayden's house, ready to tackle the day's biggest mission: shopping for a prom dress. With the clock ticking and just eight hours until the dance, Amelia and I needed to act fast.
"I told you it would've been smarter to shop yesterday," Amelia complained as we entered the bustling mall, the sounds of chattering voices and the clatter of shopping bags filling the air.
"I was busy yesterday," I replied, shrugging off her criticism.
"Busy sleeping, you mean," she shot back, her eyes rolling playfully. I couldn't help but chuckle at my own lack of urgency.
We made our way to a store dedicated to prom dresses, a rainbow of colors and styles stretching out before us. I scanned the racks, still unsure of what I wanted. "Honestly, I don't even know why I'm going to prom. It's just a night of dancing, right?"
Amelia picked up a beige lace dress and held it out. "This would look amazing on you," she insisted. I turned to look at it, then at her.
"You really think so?" I asked, a hint of hope in my voice. She nodded vigorously.
"Definitely. Now go try it on!"
With her encouragement, I grabbed the dress and headed to the fitting room. Inside, I quickly changed into it, glancing in the mirror. The dress hugged my body just right, with a daring cut that revealed my left legâa little sexy, and definitely eye-catching.
I opened the door and called for Amelia. "What do you think?"
"I think you should get that!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling as they roamed over me. "Cayden will be head over heels if he sees you in that."
Her words made me blush a bit. "Okay, let's find you a dress now." I closed the door to change back into my clothes and set off to find something for her. I scanned the racks, skipping over the neon colors until something pastel caught my eye. It was a stunning pink dress adorned with delicate diamonds at the top and a flowy skirt that twirled beautifully.
"How about this one?" I held it up to Amelia, who lit up with excitement.
"Yes! That's perfect!" she said, snatching it from my hands. "Thanks!"
She dashed into the fitting room, and I waited, fidgeting with anticipation. A few minutes later, the door swung open, and I gasped.
"I'm buying this!" she declared, her face radiant with joy.
We quickly made our way to the cashier, bags in hand, relieved that we had successfully completed our shopping with only five hours to spare before the big event.
Amelia had a plan. "Let's get ready at my place. I could use your help with my makeup, and I'm sure you need a hand too."
"Good idea," I agreed, grateful for her confidence in my makeup skills, even if I wasn't entirely sure I could deliver.
Once we arrived at her house, we rushed inside, adrenaline fueling our preparations. "You wear the dress first while I fix my makeup," Amelia instructed as she rummaged through her products. I nodded and headed for her bathroom, grabbing the dress and shoes I'd brought along.
After a quick change, I admired myself in the mirror. The dress fit like a dream, making me feel beautiful and confident. I stepped out to find Amelia applying eyeshadow, her focus intense.
"I'll do my hair. Got a curling iron?" I asked, eager to get started.
"Sure!" She jumped up, retrieving her curling iron and handing it to me. "Just remember to turn it off when you're done."
I plugged it in and waited for it to heat up, glancing over at her as she meticulously applied red lipstick. "So, is Cayden taking you to the dance?" she asked, a curious look on her face.
"Uh, I don't think he has plans to go," I replied, suddenly feeling shy.
"Oh, come on! I can ditch Noah, and we can just have fun on the dance floor together," she suggested.
"No, really, I'm good," I insisted, feeling a mix of disappointment and uncertainty.
"Okay, but guess what? I booked us a limousine! It's going to be so fancy!" she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "And there are snacks!"
"That actually sounds fun," I admitted, my mood lifting a little.
"Now, come on! It's your turn for makeup!"
I decided to let Amelia finish my makeup first. I sat in her chair as she started applying foundation, blending it expertly across my face. After that, she moved to concealer, lightening up my dark circles.
"Wow, you're really good at this," I complimented, surprised by how skilled she was.
"Thanks! I'm just trying to help you look your best for prom," she said with a smile.
As she worked, my mind drifted back to my mom's words about prom. She always said it was one of the best experiences of her youth, a memory she cherished. Maybe she was right. High school was ending soon, and I hadn't truly appreciated it all. I might have struggled, but I wanted to make this night one to remember.
"Have you thought about which university you want to attend?" Amelia asked as she brushed eyeshadow onto my lids.
"Yeah, I'm considering Columbia or Stony Brook," I said, my heart racing at the thought of moving to New York.
"Wow, ambitious! I'm proud of you," she said as she finished my eyes and picked out a lipstick to complete my look.
Once she was done, I stood up and gazed at my reflection. "Wow, Amelia! Thank you so much!" I hugged her, feeling a wave of gratitude.
"Okay, your turn to get ready!" she said, rushing into the bathroom to change.
While she was busy, I grabbed my phone from Amelia's bedside table and noticed a message from Cayden.
Cayden: Roses or Daisies?
Me:Â Roses with some baby's breath.
Cayden: Got it! Thanks. ;)
I smiled at the exchange and turned off my phone, refocusing on getting my hair right. I heated up the curling iron again and curled my hair in sections.
Amelia emerged from the bathroom in her stunning pink dress, and I gasped. "You look fantastic!"
"Thanks! And you look incredible too," she replied, a proud smile on her face. "I'm glad you're my first friend going to prom with me."
Her words warmed my heart. "I'm honored to be here for you, Amelia. Seriously."
"I really struggled with finding good friends during my freshman and sophomore years. But you've stuck by me," she admitted, her voice softening.
I hugged her again. "Don't make me tear up before we go," I joked, pulling back to admire her dress again.
Amelia chuckled, "Fine, but you owe me a story later about that thing you mentioned earlier. I know there's something on your mind."
"Not right now," I said, trying to deflect. I needed to focus on the night ahead, not on secrets I wasn't ready to share.
"Alright, but I'm here for you if you ever want to talk."
I finished curling my hair and decided to braid half of it, tying it neatly at the back. The rest flowed down my back in soft curls. Amelia was busy tying her hair into a low bun, a chic look that complimented her dress.
"Ready to go?" she asked, glancing at her phone.
"Almost. Just need to grab my bag," I said, heading towards the living room.
"I'll get some water before we leave," Amelia said, disappearing into the kitchen. I took a moment to brush off my dress, smoothing out any wrinkles.
"Hey," a voice interrupted me. I turned to see Amelia's older brother, Caleb, leaning against the door frame with a smirk on his face.
"Caleb," I greeted him, a little taken aback.
"I thought since you're going to prom, I'd give you these," he said, holding out a bouquet of red and white roses.
"Oh wow, thank you!" I said, taking the flowers from him, surprised by his kindness.
Just then, the doorbell rang. "Oh! I'll get it! That must be the limo!" Amelia called out, rushing to the front door.
I smiled at Caleb, trying to find the right words to express my gratitude.
"Thank you veryâ"
But before I could finish, Caleb leaned in and kissed me, completely catching me off guard. Just then, footsteps approached from behind.
"Hailey, I got you some rosesâ"
I turned, eyes wide, to see Cayden standing there in a sharp black tuxedo. My heart raced, surprised by his sudden appearance.
"It's not what it looks like," I stammered, instinctively stepping back from Caleb. The moment felt surreal, as if the world had paused around us.
Cayden's expression shifted from surprise to confusion. "Uh... what just happened?"
I glanced between them, my mind racing. "I mean, it's really not what it looks like. I swear!"