“Then that’s what you should do. Shout it from the mountain tops!” Sid says, matching his dramatic flair.
“Yeah, right,” Shane says with a snort, dismissing her.
“No, she’s right,” I say, sitting up a little straighter. “Don’t let Courtney Fleming move in on your man, or some dumb scout scare you into secret-hood. Show the world who you are and who you love. It’s time, Shane. I can tell you are ready.”
Sid jumps right in on my speech. “Yes, it’s as if this whole Johnny thing is like a gift to prove not only can you come out, but you need to.”
Shane looks at us as if we have lost our minds. “A gift? Really? That’s the best you’ve got.”
We both break into hysterics, which causes a little of the soda I was drinking to come up through my nose, but I don’t let that stop our momentum. I look at Sid and jump back to trying to keep a serious face.
“That’s right; a gift. You need to go buy that sparkly blue prom dress, put it on, and go get your man.”
Just as I say that, our waitress comes over with a huge tray of food. She obviously overheard the last part of our conversation, because she gives us a curious smile as she places our orders down. We all try desperately to hold in our laughs, but we totally lose it as soon as she walks away.
The smell of fries, grilled cheese, and bacon fills our table, distracting us for a second and taking us to our fried food happy place as we all take bites.
“You’re right,” Shane says with a mouthful of food. “I mean, not about the dress,” he quickly clarifies. “Pink is much more my color,” he adds as an aside. “But just because Johnny and I haven’t been in the same place at the same time doesn’t mean we can’t be. Maybe I need to tell him how I feel instead of playing along with his stupid game.”
Sid and I glance at each other with relieved smiles. I don’t know if it’s the greasy food or if it was our speech, but Shane finally seems comfortable in his own skin, comfortable enough to show Johnny just how he feels about Courtney Fleming.
Chapter 22: Prom
ASHLEY
We’re all meeting at Brian’s house for pre-prom pictures. My heart starts beating overtime as Dad backs out of our driveway. I can’t wait to see Todd in his tux. My brother, for some reason, decided on a light blue tux with a ruffled collar shirt. Watching him fidget with Gretchen’s corsage is pretty hilarious.
“Nervous about Gretch’s reaction?” I ask sarcastically, sitting next to him in the back seat.
“No,” he says quickly, but I can tell he is.
Our parents are driving us since Ryan already dropped his car off at the hotel. It’s just like when we were little kids. We rarely get driven around now that Ryan has his own car. There is something about all four of us in a car together that brings me right back to Ry being ten and me being eight and the two of us fighting over something absurd while our parents scream at us from the front seat. Now, in a few short weeks, he’s going to leave, and it will just be me and my parents.
“What?” Ryan asks, catching me looking at him.
I shake my head. “Nothing.”
“What, Ash Bug?” He nudges me in the ribs. “Do you have tux envy?”
“I can’t believe you’re leaving so soon. What will I do without you? Who will distract Mom and Dad?”
“Mom and Dad can hear you. We’re right here, Ashley,” Mom says from the front seat.
Ryan gives me a sly smile, as if he’s impressed, and I raise my eyebrows in response.
“I won’t be far, Ash.” He wraps his arm around my neck to bring me into as much of a headlock as my seat belt will allow.
“I know. It’s just—”
“Just nothing. I’ll always be here for you. You know that, right?” His face is completely serious, all traces of our joking wiped away.
I smile. “I do now.”
“Hey.”
I look up, and our eyes meet. His are the same exact color as mine.
“You look really pretty tonight.”
“Thanks. You’re not so bad yourself.”
He nudges me with his elbow. “That was tough for you, huh?”
“A little.” I smile. “Although, I’m not sure I agree with your tux choice.”
“Whaaat? What do you have against powder blue?”
“Nothing as a color. It’s more the accompanying ruffled shirt.”
He throws his head back and laughs so heartily I can’t help laughing, too. I love making him laugh, always have. It gives me such a feeling of accomplishment, because I have always looked up to him.
“Just wait,” he says as he gives me a sideways glance.
“What does that mean?”
“You’ll see,” he replies as we pull into Brian’s circular driveway.
Brian’s house is right on the lake, so it’s perfect for pre-prom pictures. I think back to last year when we were here for prom. So much has changed.
As we get out of the car, Brian opens his front door and shouts, “It’s about time.”
He’s wearing the same powder blue tux as Ryan. I try to hold in my laugh, but I can’t since Brian’s is even tighter than my brothers. And I know instantly that there are not just two.
“You look gorgeous.” I hear Todd’s voice from behind me. I’m afraid to turn around.
“Are you wearing what I think you’re wearing?” I ask with my back to him.
“A tux?”
I smile as I turn around, and there he is in a powder blue tux and the same ruffled shirt. One huge positive is the blue really makes his eyes pop.
Despite the fluffy, ruffled shirt and tailored, blue tux that is older than he is, he still looks amazing. He could truly wear anything.
I press my lips together to try to hold in my laugh. “I love it.” I step closer to him and run my hand over his giant lapel. “It’s perfect.”
“You’re lying.” He places a loose curl behind my ear as he steps closer to me. “Sorry I couldn’t tell you. We made a pact when we were kids that we’d wear these to our senior prom.”
“Of course you did. I should’ve known. But you do look good in ruffles.”
“There’s a sentence I hope to never hear again.” He pulls me in closer. “But you really do look incredible. I love your dress.”
I love my dress, too. It’s a light blush color with the most beautiful details. There is small beading and silver embroidery along the bodice. It’s vintage and feels very old Hollywood, which is the theme for this year’s prom. After trying on hundreds, I knew it was my dress as soon as I put it on.
I step up on my tiptoes to wrap my arms around his shoulders, although I don’t need to step up quite as high as usual since I’m wearing heels. That’s another thing I’m much better at than last year—heels!
“Hamilton, get over here!” Brian shouts from the large gate that separates his front yard from his back.
I can see the setting sun glisten off the water through the gate. I cannot imagine growing up in this house with this as my backyard.
“Tux pictures on the dock!” he shouts to the boys.
When Todd looks at me, as if silently asking for permission, I push him toward the rest of the guys. “Go.”
I watch as he does a slow jog to catch up with everyone. It’s so good to see him running with two healthy legs, even if it sounds ridiculous to appreciate something so simple that so many people take for granted.
I head into the house where the girls are gathered around the kitchen island. The entire back wall of Brian’s house is made up of large glass sliding doors so we can see the guys doing body building type poses as they line the dock.
“Can you believe them?” Gretch asks with a laugh as we watch them pose together. “I can’t believe Ryan didn’t tell me about the tux.”
Gretchen is stunning, as usual, wearing a gold dress that hugs her body perfectly, and her long, blonde hair is down with gorgeous, loose waves. It’s really not fair.
“Join the club,” Blythe says with
a chuckle. “Did you know, Ash?”
“Nope. No idea. And I live with one of them.”
“Man, they are good,” Blythe says, impressed. “That’s a little scary. Who knows what else they are hiding?”
Blythe’s dress is incredible. It’s a peachy tan color and clearly from the 1950s. It has gorgeous, subtle beading throughout, and the color is perfect for her skin tone. Her red hair is up in several braids, making up a loose side bun with a few curls framing her face. It’s messy perfection. She looks like she’s going to the Oscars, not prom. She’s so sophisticated, but something about it is still edgy. It’s perfectly Blythe, and of course, she paired it with her favorite worn-in brown cowboy boots.
“Sorry we’re late,” I hear from the front doorway. I instantly recognize that grating voice.
Well, this was perfect. I think I blocked out that RTS was coming with us. I know Blythe isn’t a big fan of hers, either, but unfortunately, she still has her hooks in Gretchen.
Blythe has a look on her face I can’t read, so I turn around to see for myself, and my eyes land on Casey. I feel like all breath is stolen from my body. What is he doing here?
“Hi,” he says with a small wave.
I can’t imagine what my face must look like right now, but if it’s anything close to how I feel, I must look pretty frightening. I can’t even pretend to hide my shock.
We hear the guys coming toward the glass doors with all of the parents behind them. They are all laughing as they slide the large glass door open.
“We need our dates for pictures!” I hear Brian’s voice, but I can’t turn around. I can’t move.
I close my eyes and then open them, hoping it’s not true. He’s not really here. It’s just a figment of my imagination.
“What is he doing here?”
All laughter stops. You could hear a pin drop it’s so silent.
Brian asks it, but I know everyone is thinking it.
“He’s my date.” RTS interlocks her arm with his.
“Rebecca,” Gretchen says with such disapproval, “what were you thinking?”
“Yeah, what exactly were you thinking?” Todd steps away from the crowd, and Ryan grabs his arm.
“Not here,” he says low but loud enough for us to hear. “Not tonight.”
I feel Todd stiffen from across the room, making it clear how angry he is. He can’t control himself when it comes to Casey. There’s too much history there.
“Rebecca, a word,” Todd says calmly, stepping toward her. “Outside.” He gestures to the patio.
He’s a gentleman, even now. He opens the large, sliding glass door for her, allowing her to go first. When he closes it behind them, he gives me a sweet smile, but as soon as they take a few steps away from the house, his arms start flying with emphatic gestures. Although I can’t hear his words, I know they are not kind.
I walk up to Casey. I don’t want to; I need to. He looks handsome in his black tux. Just by the tailored fit, I can tell it’s not rented; this is something he owns and has worn before. I sometimes forget what a different life Casey has from the rest of us.
“Why?” Feeling a large lump in my throat, I try with all my might to push it back down. I will not cry here. However, no matter how many times I repeat those words to myself, it’s not stopping the tears from welling up.
“She asked?” He shrugs, but his tone is hard, unsympathetic.
I want to hide how upset I am from him, yet it’s impossible. As soon as he realizes it, I see his look soften a little.
I feel Ryan’s eyes on me. I know everyone’s are, but it’s Ryan’s I feel. I know he’s seconds away from coming over here.
TODD
I’m so angry I keep squeezing my hands together at my side. Open, close, open, close. Concentrate on that, so you don’t hit a girl in her prom dress.
I would never even think of hitting a girl, but she has pushed me over the edge so many times I’m at the brink of losing it. Actually, it’s already lost.
“Why exactly did you bring him here?” I calm down enough to ask.
“I needed a date.” She shrugs as if my anger is unfathomable. “It has nothing to do with you, Todd,” she says sweetly.
I shake my head in disbelief. “It has everything to do with me.”
“No, really. This was for Ashley. One last, little gift.”
I squeeze my eyes shut tightly. “I can’t believe you.”
“She ruins everything. We were close.” She steps closer to me, and I instinctively step back. Disappointment washes across her face, but she continues. “We were together, and then she came along. We had the Sour Lollipops, and now you don’t even want that. And I know it’s not you; I know it’s because of her. It’s all her.”
“NO!” I shout. “No, Rebecca, you’re wrong. None of that is because of Ashley. All of that is because of me, because I want to be with Ashley. I love her. Her! And you need to understand that, even if she wasn’t in the picture, I would never be with you!” I’m inches from her face, screaming with so much venom spit is flying out of my mouth, but I don’t care. I can’t stop myself.
I can’t read the look on her face. It’s as if she’s enjoying it, but I don’t stop to think. I need to get all of this out. We were friends; I dated this girl; and still, I can’t believe how cruel she is.
In one motion, she wraps her arms around my neck and pulls me in closer. Before I know it, her lips are on mine. They are familiar yet wrong. They have always felt wrong.
I instantly push her away without noticing how close we are to the edge of Brian’s pool. On my push, her heel slips, and she stumbles backward. I try to catch her, but I’m too late. There is a huge splash as she falls back into the pool.
All I can do is stand there in shock. I can’t believe that just happened.
“My dress!” she screams at me as it floats up around her. It’s soaked. She’s soaked.
I never meant for this to happen, but it was a happy accident.
With the loud splash, everyone comes running out of the house.
“Oh, my God!” Gretchen screams and runs to help her out of the pool. “Todd?” She looks at me like ‘how could you?’
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for it to happen.” I’m not sure what to say.
“Ding dong, the witch is dead,” Blythe says with a laugh as she grabs my arm. “Nicely done. She deserved that,” she whispers to me. “I know, I know, it was an accident.” She winks with a smile.
I merely smile back. It honestly was an accident, but I definitely don’t regret it.
“Where’s Ashley?” I ask, noticing she’s not out here.
She gestures toward the house. “Talking to Casey. Maybe we can get him out here and accidentally throw him in, too, drown both rats at once.”
“I like the way you think.” I raise my eyebrows with a smile as I head back into the house.
“I can’t believe this happened!” Rebecca screams through tears as Brian’s mom brings her some towels.
I feel a little bad, but not as bad as I probably should. Right now, I need to find Ash.
ASHLEY
Casey steps closer to me. “I’m sorry, really. I didn’t know we were coming here. I mean, I knew I’d see you, but I had no idea she was actually going with you guys. Honestly, I didn’t know until we pulled into Brian’s driveway.” He steps even closer.
“Stop. Just stop.” I shake my head. “You should not have said yes, not after everything. Casey, you knew it wouldn’t be good, even if we weren’t all going together. You knew Todd would be there. It’s his senior prom, and you know we’re together. I love him. Him. You know that. Why did you do it?”
He looks down at the ground and places his hands in his pockets. “I don’t know. At the time, it seemed like a good idea.” His eyes stay on the ground.
“Casey, it will always be him. Even when he’s not here and away at school, it will be him. There will be someone for you, but not Rebecca,” I say with a stern, motherly tone
and laugh at how passionate I feel about that. “But there will be someone. I know it. I know you are a good person, and I feel lucky that you let me in enough to see that. But I will always choose Todd. A thousand times, I choose him.”
Casey’s bright green eyes lock with mine, and he gives me his flawless smile with his hands still stuffed in his pockets. “I get it, Ashley. I do.”
I smile up at him. “Good.”
TODD
I started to walk in during Ashley’s speech, but her words grabbed me and stopped me in my tracks. I’m standing off to the side, hiding behind the doorway to the living room, listening to every word. I think I just fell even more in love with her.
I clear my throat to make my presence known and pretend I’m just entering the house.
“Um … Casey, I think Rebecca needs you outside.”
Casey turns in my direction. “Thanks, man,” he says with a small smile then starts to walk toward the back of the house, but before he passes me, he stops. “Hey, I’m sorry.” His eyes study mine, and there’s a moment of silent understanding between us. “For everything.” Then he turns and walks away.
I watch him for a second and smile to myself at the chaos he’s about to unknowingly walk into.
“What are you smiling about?” I feel Ash’s arms wrap around my waist from behind.
“Let’s just say there was a little accident outside.”
She pulls her hands away and comes around so she can read my expression. “What happened?
“Never mind that.” I take her hands and pull her close so she has no choice except to re-wrap them around me. “So you’d choose me a thousand times?” I smile down at her.
The smile that breaks onto her lips is unforgettable. “You heard?”
I wrap my arms around her. “I did.”
She looks down at the ground to avoid my gaze. “It’s true,” she says on a whisper.
I touch her chin to guide her eyes back toward mine. “I feel the same way.” I lean down to kiss her. It doesn’t matter what else happens tonight; the night is already perfect.
“Hey, hey, save it for later,” I hear Ryan’s voice, but we both ignore him. “There’s mass hysteria out there, and you are both in here making out?”
Unbreakable (Accidental Crush #3) Page 23