I was turning to the side for the tenth time, straightening and tweaking things when the doorbell rang. I didn’t feel the fluttering excitement that most girls did, however – just a lead weight in my stomach. The wrong guy was coming to pick me up.
As I went downstairs, however, I was surprised to hear a woman’s voice instead of Brian’s at the door. When I saw Marcy on the other side of the doorway, talking to my mom, I stopped in surprise.
She looked past my mom’s shoulder and saw me. “Oh, Rylie – you look beautiful. No wonder Colby’s breaking his heart over you.”
As if I hadn’t felt awkward enough, this made me blush to the roots of my hair. “Um, thank you. I think?” I didn’t know where to look, so my eyes settled on a wrapped gift she was holding in front of her. She looked down at it too.
“Colby asked me to bring you this, and, well, I wanted to apologize for the other night. There’s no excuse for how I acted, but I want you to know I’m sorry. Sometimes I react without thinking things through. I know you are a responsible and sweet girl, and we were lucky to have you stay with Abby. I hope you’ll forgive me.”
“Of course,” I responded automatically, though I wasn’t too sure that I would be able to forget it very easily. It had been pretty traumatic for me.
“Well,” she said, “I’ll give this to you and get out of your way. Colby would have liked to give it to you, but he’s been up at the school for hours getting ready for tonight. Plus, he didn’t know if he’d be welcome.”
Not knowing what to say to this, I took the gift she handed me and remained silent, though I attempted a smile.
After an awkward moment she said, “Ok, um, I hope to see you again soon, Rylie. And I’ll see you at work, Emily?”
My mom nodded and said goodbye as Marcy turned and left.
The front door clicked shut and I heard my mom take a few steps towards me, but I continued to look down at the little silver box in my hands. I couldn’t believe that Colby had sent me something.
“Aren’t you going to open it?”
I glanced at my mom and almost laughed at the look on her face. She obviously thought I was being really weird. And I was, so I opened it. Inside, I found a beautiful little crescent moon pendent. It was sliver filigree with a few tiny crystals tucked in the scrolls of the silver. It hung on a delicate silver chain that I immediately put around my neck. I went to the mirror and stared at it against my skin, glinting in the light with an icy beauty.
“Did you see the note?” my mom asked.
Anxiously I took it from her and read the words: I can’t wait to see you tonight. I know you’ll be beautiful. Save a dance for me – your huckleberry friend.
I laughed as I recognized the words from “Moon River.” I thought about the night we’d sung it together, when I’d felt the first stirrings of attraction for him. Had it only taken two weeks to fall so hard for him?
“Marcy gave this to me before she left,” my mom said, handing me a small white envelope. I barely had time to open it and realize the money inside was to pay me for the last week’s babysitting before the doorbell rang again and Brian was there.
He looked amazing in a white tux coat, black pants and aqua blue vest and tie to match my dress. Not many guys could have carried the look off, but he did. Of course, he was the kind of guy who could make anything look good.
Brain smiled, looking me over from head to toe and nodding his approval. He gave me a white orchid wristlet and I pinned a matching boutonniere to his lapel. As I did so, I realized for the first time how perfectly coordinated we were, and I knew it had been Brian’s eye to detail, not mine, that had accomplished it. I glanced in the mirror, and doubted there would be a better looking couple at the prom tonight, but I only had a hollow feeling inside.
Brian was clueless that something was bothering me though. He just grinned and said, “We look great. Let’s take some pictures and get going.”
I raised my eyebrows but followed him out onto the porch. My mom called my dad out to see us off and took some pictures of us as we posed in the front yard under a maple tree. She even took several pictures with Brian’s phone after he had tweaked my pose and tucked a stray curl back from my face. By this point I realized how right Colby had been about Brian and my skin was crawling where his hand touched my waist.
My mom’s expression was kind of comical. She knew I was a little stunned, and felt bad for me, but she was also trying hard not to laugh at Brian’s vanity.
Finally, we’d taken enough pictures to satisfy him and he led me to the white limousine he’d rented for the evening. We were going to pick up some of his friends who were sharing the limo, and then we’d be at the prom. I felt like hurling, so I touched the little crescent moon that lay over my heart. A warm glow, full of hope and anticipation, trickled through me.
*****
I’d glimpsed the decorations in the gym before I’d come home earlier that day, and they’d looked kind of cheesy. It was all just balloons, crepe paper streamers, white Christmas lights, and cardboard stars covered in glitter. Somehow though, with the all the lights turned off but the decorative lights and spotlights on the stage, it did look pretty magical tonight. I walked beside Brian around a giant tree sculpture that was painted white and dripping with crystals to catch the twinkling lights.
Soon, it felt like we’d been swarmed by people I barely knew. It was getting painful to smile, but I forced myself to keep it up. After all, I was getting a million compliments, and I could hardly be rude. All of Brian’s friends were hanging around in a group, but I didn’t know any of them well, so I broke away to look for some of my friends. I found Olivia and her boyfriend, Parker, as they were coming off the dance floor, totally wrapped up in each other.
Not wanting to be a third wheel, I was about to turn away when Olivia saw me. “Rylie, oh my gosh! You look so beautiful. Almost ethereal. Wow.”
“Ethereal, huh? That’s a new one. Thanks. You look gorgeous. I wish my hair would curl like that.”
“Whatever. You know it drives me crazy and your hair is perfect. So where’s Brian? You didn’t ditch him after all, did you?”
“No. We came together, all matchy matchy but without a thing in common. We just got here and I’m bored out of my mind.”
“Aw. I’m sorry. What about Colby? Have you seen him yet?”
I shook my head and glanced around for probably the hundredth time. My eyes swept the crowd and the stage, which was empty except for the microphone stands and instruments that lay ready there. Right now there was a DJ playing music, but the band would probably go on soon so he had to be around somewhere.
Seeing my fruitless search, Olivia said, “Well, I know he’s here because I had to warm up with the band earlier. He seemed really on edge. This can’t be easy for him.”
“What?”
“Seeing you here with a guy you used to have a crush on – especially since you haven’t talked since your argument. He’s probably staying away as long as he can.”
It made my heart hurt, but I knew she was probably right. If only I could talk to him before he went on stage, maybe I could tell him I was sorry for driving off on him that night – and that he was totally right about Brian.
“Hey Rylie, let’s go dance,” Brian said, coming up next to me, his voice more commanding than inviting.
Speak of the devil. I tried to hide the grimace that was pulling at the corners of my eyes and mouth, but Olivia saw and looked sympathetic as Brian led me to the dance floor. I half-heartedly put my arms around him and hoped he wouldn’t want to talk as we danced. Thankfully, he didn’t seem to. A minute later, I looked over his shoulder and saw Colby watching us from the door by the stage.
I couldn’t see his expression, but I could feel the intensity of his emotions from across the room. I was drawn to him, every part of me wanting to be with him. My arms slipped from Brian’s shoulders and I took a step towards him, but the music stopped and someone was talking over the microphone on st
age. I didn’t see or care who until I realized they were announcing the band. I glanced up and saw Principal Duncan welcoming Micah out on stage. I glanced quickly back to where Colby was standing, but he was gone.
One by one, Micah introduced the band as they joined him on stage. Colby was the last one, and when he came out and stood in the spotlight near Micah, my heart lurched at how good looking he was. Brian looked like he belonged in a fashion magazine, but Colby had some magnetic, careless attraction that had nothing to do with what he was wearing.
In fact, in a sea of sequins and tuxedos, he stood out in his black collared shirt with the sleeves rolled up and un-tucked over a pair of grey slacks. He stood confident and relaxed as Micah talked a little bit about their band and their first song. I had moved closer to the stage without even noticing, only barely aware of Brian drifting along behind me.
I was a little left of the stage, but Colby’s searching eyes found me. I knew it must be hard for him to see me with the lights in his face so I moved even closer. I touched the pendent he’d given me and mouthed the words, “Thank you,” to him. He nodded and his mouth twisted in a half smile, but then he looked past me to where Brian stood behind my shoulder.
Colby’s eyes flashed briefly before he bent over his guitar and traced the strings a moment before settling his fingers in position over the frets. As the band began playing, I could sense Colby’s absorption in his music. The rest of us in the room might as well not have existed for all the attention he paid to us.
I felt shut out and alone, cold and empty inside. Colby had gone somewhere I couldn’t follow, so I turned and left the dance floor. There was a crowd growing around the stage, mostly girls, so he would never miss me - even if he bothered to look again.
“Where are you going?” Brian asked, catching up to me.
“I want to get out of that crowd for a minute.” I found a chair in a dark corner of the room and sat down, not caring if Brian came or went.
“Uh, we can go if you want. I’ve got more plans for tonight anyway.”
I looked at him like he was speaking another language. Something in his tone set my suspicions flying. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
Now it was his turn to look confused. “What?”
“Look, I don’t know what you had in mind, but even if it was just going for ice cream before you took me home, I’m not going anywhere right now.”
“Ok,” he said, drawing out the two syllables. “What’s your problem all of a sudden?”
I sighed. “Look, Brian, I’m sorry. Can you just give me some time alone?”
He looked at me for a second or two, trying to study my face in the dim light. “Did I do something wrong?”
“Not really. You’re just the wrong guy.”
His eyebrows went up. “Ah. Well then, I'll just…” He made a clicking sound with his tongue and pointed his thumb over his shoulder to show he was leaving. When he was a few feet away, he called back over his shoulder, “Be sure to send me the pictures your mom took.”
I nodded, relieved he wasn’t too upset, and didn’t think about him again.
I was too busy torturing myself, my eyes glued to Colby up on stage. Micah was sure putting on a show, but I knew I wasn’t the only girl in the place more interested in watching his lead guitarist. I was incredibly proud that their music was going over so well, but I knew I’d have a lot of competition for Colby’s attention from now on.
Once Olivia took Micah’s place on stage and Colby began singing harmony, I was sure of it. Some of the girls up by the stage were actually screaming. I didn’t blame them. The same thrill was running up and down my spine at the sweet, husky tones of his voice.
Someone sat next to me and I looked over, startled. It was Sienna Whitfield, the girl who’d taken my picture for her blog and gotten me my “dream” date to prom.
“Wow. They’re amazing, aren’t they?”
I nodded and tried to come up with something to say. “Incredible. They sound so good together.”
“Yeah. They look good together too. Parker had better watch out. Want to see a picture I got earlier?”
“Sure.”
“I snuck backstage and got this.”
I glanced at the screen on the back of her camera and saw a picture of Colby in silhouette against the spotlight. The light glanced off his profile as he looked into the crowd, and I was sure it had been taken when he’d been looking at me. It was an incredible picture, but that wasn’t why it held me silent.
“So you’re going to tell him how you feel tonight, aren’t you?”
I looked at Sienna in surprise. “How did you know?”
“Olivia told me. I was asking how things turned out with you and that Brian guy, so she explained the situation to me. You know, I’m starting to figure out that people are better off if I leave them alone. Sorry if I made things difficult for you by putting you on my blog.”
“No, it wasn’t your fault. You gave me what I wanted. I just wanted the wrong thing.”
“Well, at least it’s not too late. Prom is just a moment of surreal craziness. Real life starts again tomorrow. Make sure he’s part of it.”
A shadow blocked out the little light that found its way over to our corner and I looked up. And up. It was Sienna’s boyfriend, Lee. My heart might be aching over Colby, but I couldn’t help but appreciate what Lee did for a tuxedo. Dang.
“Hey! Rylie, right?”
I nodded, surprised he knew who I was.
“Mind if I steal Sienna? This is kind of our song.”
I smiled and shook my head as he took her hand and pulled her up. “Of course not,”
I said. “Want me to hold your camera, Sienna?”
“You think there’s a chance she’s putting that thing down? I’ve learned to live with it,” Lee said, his voice dry.
Sienna paused and looked up at him. Without a word, she handed me the camera, and a look passed between them that nearly curled my toes. What I wouldn’t give to have that with Colby.
Colby and Olivia were singing “Blown Away,” their voices rich with the passion of the song and the power of the lyrics. It was physically painful to listen to them, my heart aching with the hope that Colby sang with such intense emotion because he felt that way about me. The final lines of the song hummed in my brain long after they had faded away.
“I’m blown away by the strength of your love
Hold me tight or I’ll get carried away.”
Then I had nothing to do but wait – though for what, I wasn’t exactly sure. Sienna came back with a soft expression on her face and Lee’s arm around her waist. She got her camera and disappeared into the crowd. I felt as if I had disappeared as well.
Somehow, I had become a spectator at my own prom – there, but not really part of it. Couples drifted by my dark corner and a group of guys stood talking nearby as they tried to look cool while avoiding the dance floor. A few people sat at the tables around the room, looking bored despite the cookies and punch in front of them. But they were all still part of prom, even if they weren’t out dancing.
I was somewhere else, alone.
When Micah took back over for Olivia, I could tell that he was a little put out at what a hit Olivia had been. There was a tightness around his mouth and a mocking tone in his voice as he encouraged the crowd to cheer for her as she bowed and left the stage. A few seconds later, I realized he was jealous of Colby too.
Looking over at him, Micah said, “So, Colby, my man – it looks like you have some fans out there.”
A chorus of screams erupted from the girls around the stage, and I could see Colby’s expression flicker between surprise and dismay before finally settling on a weird combination of embarrassment and satisfaction. He nodded his head slightly, acknowledging the cheers he was receiving, and waited silently – and impatiently – for Micah to get on with the show.
Talking to the audience again, Micah said, “Well, even though he’s so popular, he’s flying solo, so he’s
not in the running for the first of tonight’s awards. I’ve been asked to announce the winner of the Best Dressed Couple competition.” He tore open an envelope and laughed as he read the names. “Actually Colby, you’ll like this one. The Best Dressed couple is Brian Gibbons and Rylie Butcher.”
There was cheering and whistling. I could see Brian pumping his fist in the air as he went up on stage. My brain didn’t quite catch what was going on until hands were grabbing mine and pulling me towards the stage.
“What are you waiting for?” Olivia asked me, her eyes shining with excitement and laughter. “Get up there.”
I had never been more reluctant to do anything in my life. I would rather have faced a spider infestation than stand next to Brian with Colby watching, and no bug ever made my skin crawl like his arm slipping around my waist did. I reached behind me and tried to push it away, but he was determined. He pulled me close to his side, and I glanced frantically at Colby as I clawed at Brian’s hand on my hip.
The anger I saw burning in Colby’s eyes startled me. Surely, any chance I’d had of working things out with him was gone now. Angry and sick with the pain in my chest, I elbowed Brian’s stomach enjoying his pained grunt as he let go of me and hunched over. I got off the stage somehow, despite my blurry eyes and high heels. I could hear a roar of laughter behind me as I pushed my way through the crowd to the exit, and over it all, Micah was on the mic calling, “Go get her, man! Um, I guess the band will be taking a break. Hey, DJ, take over, will you?”
I made it through the series of doors and finally outside, a rock song crashing in the gym behind me. I wanted to hide, get out of the lights flooding the school parking lot – away from everyone and everything and be alone. I hurried to the corner of the school and had just escaped the pool of white light around the door when I heard footsteps behind me.
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