Ella's Twisted Senior Year(42)
“Huh?” Ethan and I say at the same time.
April and Toby exchange a glance and suddenly it’s like they’re the ones dating and not us. “We talked about prom a few minutes ago and Toby asked me to be his date.”
“Where was I when this happened?” I ask.
“You were right here but I guess you and Ethan were too busy making puppy eyes at each other to realize it.”
“Damn,” Ethan says, chewing a fry.
April stacks our food trash into one pile and stands, slinging her backpack over her shoulder. “What did I tell you in economics? You guys are totally in love with each other. Right, Toby?”
He nods. “I think this one is a keeper, Ethan. I’ve never seen you like this with another girl.”
The bell rings and it’s a good thing because all of this Ethan and Me talk is making me blush something fierce. April and Toby exchange phone numbers. As we’re walking back to the school, Toby throws an arm around Ethan and me, slipping himself into our personal bubble. “We should all go on a double date sometime. You in?”
Ethan looks at me and I shrug. “Sounds good.”
“I’m free any day but Saturday,” April says. She seems to have grown ten feet taller now that she has a date to prom. “Ella and I have some prom shopping to do.”
I must visibly flinch because April pouts. “Come on, El. It’ll be funnnn,” she says, dragging out the last word.
“We should do something after you’re done shopping,” Toby says, releasing his chokehold on us. “Ethan and I have some T-shirt designs to work on.”
“So it’s settled,” April says. We get to the cafeteria doors and Toby holds it open as we walk back into the throng of jerks who like to stare and laugh at us. “The boys will do whatever they’re doing tomorrow and we’ll go prom dress shopping.”
She makes a little jiggle of her hips and falls into step with Toby who genuinely seems interested in walking her to class.
I link my hand into Ethan’s, an act that now feels as natural as brushing my bangs behind my ear. “I’m not ever sure I want to do prom,” I say, adamantly ignoring all the stares as we make our way to fifth period.
“So about this starting a war thing,” Ethan says like he hadn’t even heard what I said about prom. “What exactly are you planning?””
I give him an evil eye wiggle and squeeze his hand. “I’m still scheming. But trust me, it’ll be good.”
*
Since Dad’s off work on Saturday, I actually get the rare usage of what used to be my car. It takes a few minutes to get the seat and mirrors adjusted to fit me, but once I’m behind the wheel again, I feel the sweet rush of being in control of my own life. Sure, bumming rides from Ethan is fun because I get to hold his hand, but nothing is as satisfying as hitting the open road on your own, going anywhere you want to go.
I go to April’s house. We hit up the mall and April has a prom dress plan all worked out in her head. We hit the specialty shops firsts—the ones with high end designers and dresses we’d never be able to afford, not even for our wedding day. According to April, this is how we find out what’s in style this season.
Then, we take the styles, colors, and fabrics from the expensive stores and look for similar dresses in the cheaper stores.
April’s long auburn hair looks amazing with navy blue and she quickly finds a sleeveless gown with shimmery glitter lace patterns on the skirt. Though she’s pretty sure she wants to get that dress—it’s a steal at only three hundred and sixty dollars, she says—we still have to hit every dress store in the Galleria Mall before we can consider buying anything.
I’m starting to question if having a best friend is actually worth all the things you do to make them happy, when a dress catches my eye. It’s a pale pink chiffon gown. The bodice is covered in silver rhinestones and above a sweetheart neckline, the fabric goes sheer with only rows of rhinestones up to the shoulders.
I feel the soft fabric and turn the dress around on the hanger. The back is dropped low, nothing but sheer nude fabric covered in beautiful rows of rhinestones. It is so beautiful, the urge to try it on goes deeper than my strong feelings against attending prom.
April walks out of the dressing room wearing a short black dress with a massive satin bow on the butt. “Try it on,” she says, sashaying over to me and grabbing the dress in my size. “What do you think of this one?” she says, spinning around.
I crinkle my nose. “I think you should put that thing back before I throw up.”
She laughs. “Yeah, I think the blue dress from two stores ago is the magic dress. I’m just doing due diligence before I commit to anything.” She points a finger at me. “So you trying that thing on, or what?”
I bite my lip. The gown is gorgeous but there’s no way my parents can afford it. With trembling fingers, I reach for the price tag. It’s on sale for a hundred and fifty-five dollars.
April looks over my shoulder. “Not bad, El. Try it on!”
It is a beautiful dress and the price isn’t as bad as most of the dresses that will walk through the doors on prom night, but still. I can’t ask my parents for that kind of money. Plus, there’s shoes, and hair and makeup and ugh. I go to put the dress back on the hanger and April stops me with a fierce swipe of her hand. “Try it on, Ella. You have to.”