“Are you okay?” Stacey asks.
“I’m fine. Don’t worry.”
“I assume you’d like to stay at home tonight,” she says softly. And I remember it’s Prom Night.
I’m just about to nod, but I stop myself. That school has given me so much pain. It only intensified the lonely feeling I always carried around. I could never been myself when I was there. And I’m finally graduating, finally leaving every pretense, every gossip, every shame behind and shouldn’t I celebrate it? Shouldn’t I take one more good moment this school can give me?
I don’t want to stay at home and be afraid of what could have happened if Elijah wasn’t on time. I refuse to give anything that hurts me more thought.
Lifting my head as Stacey and Jessica watch me with worried eyes, I come to my decision. “I’ll go to prom. I won’t graduate twice from high school, right?”
That puts smiles on their faces.
Jessica claps her hands. “I’ll bring your dress, Miss Faye.”
“It’s Eva,” I say and watch them as they prepare the space for my hair and everything.
I’ve never noticed it before, but as they work around me so I can have the best possible day I realize I wasn’t really alone. I was just so blind to see it. I was so focused on every bad thing in my life I couldn’t see the good. But I have West Town, I have the house with people who care for me in it…
And Elijah… I guess he has changed me, given me hope to see the goods so close to me.
Grabbing my phone, I quickly fire him a text.
*Is everything alright?*
I start worrying when minutes passed without his reply, but when Jessica comes with my dress and Stacey start rushing me to make my hair, I don’t get a chance to keep looking at my phone.
Letting them pamper me as we talk about nothing and everything feels right.
They prepare me in no time, and soon, I’m in a cab, heading for the Madison Hall hotel which was rented for the prom.
Worry tugged at my heart as I got no reply from Elijah.
29
Elijah
The house is empty when I’m back to the guest house. The security guy, I forgot the name of informed me Eva has gone to the Prom.
I can’t hide my surprise when I hear it.
She didn't want to go to the Prom, and after what happened I thought she would be shaken to do so, but my girl surprised me with her strength. Then again, maybe I shouldn't be surprised. She's gone through losing a brother, being neglected by her parents, and being talked about, but she's come out on top of it all as kind and generous. Instead of being petty, she found a way to help people in need. My girl is strong and unique, and I want to worship the ground she walks on.
With a proud smile on my face, I start to get ready myself.
I quickly take a shower and dress in a pair of black jeans and a black button down shirt. This is the only one I have, it must do. I find a blazer I don't even remember having and place the boutonniere on its collar. Checking the corsage I have made for her one more time, I leave the guest house. I'm glad I stopped by the florist on my way home. I didn't expect her to go to prom, but I wanted her to have something beautiful to end the day. A memento that represents her graduation. But now, she'll be really wearing it in the prom.
I didn't attend my high school prom. I thought I was too cool for that shit. But now, I feel excited. I check the time on my wrist one more time. I’m fifteen minutes late, but if the crowd in the parking lot is any indication the thing hasn’t started yet. These things are never on time anyway.
Getting out of my car, I scan the crowd.
There's a line in the right where the entry is. I hurry toward it. People walk on a red carpet, and a photographer takes their photos. My eyes search for Eva, and I find her when it's her time.
My beautiful girl is like a Greek Goddess. The pearl colored fabric flows down her body from a delicate braid circling her one shoulder, hugging her delicious curves just the right to leave you wanting for more. The moonlight sends a soft, almost ethereal glow to her face.
She's stunning. She takes my breath away, but even from afar I can see the sadness in her eyes, and I'm about to change that.
I quickly walk to her, ignoring all the whispers from the students I pass by until I reach her.