Dresses they choose from left to right:
Ashley-Mia-Sofia-Emma-Olivia.
Enjoy!
............
The next few weeks were horrible to say the least. I was still not over the fact that I just a broke a perfectly nice guy's heart and every day that passed, I felt more and more like I did the wrong thing. Every time I saw him from distance, my heart skipped a beat. It choked me every day to see him so far away from him. He stopped hanging out with us and it all became really weird. He started talking to the football jocks and he ate lunch with them as well. Ever since that incident in Halloween party, he never even glanced at me. I never realized how much I missed his gaze on me. His eyes that held so many emotions were now just blank. Many times, he came to school to bandages around his hand or a broken arm. It clearly means that he has been participating in that bike race again and it pains me to see him hurt.
I parked my bike and went in to school. Everyone was talking and chatting excitedly with a pamphlet in their hand. I saw Mia and Ashley sitting behind a desk. There was a poster hung from one locker to the other where "PROM" was written in sparkles.
"What are you guys doing?" I asked them.
"Prom queen and king nominations, duh." Mia said.
"And who all do we have here?"
"I think Carla stood for it and considering how famous Emma became after that Halloween thing, we were thinking maybe she should stand up for it as well." Ashley explained and I nodded.
"And kings?"
"Chris thought of giving it a shot and so did Mark and there is another guy named Brian." She said and I frowned. I have heard that name before but I just can't put my finger on it. I shrugged the thought and started walking towards my locker. Ever since that Carter incident, I have been low. I feel like I have no enthusiasm or excitement for things. When I opened my locker, I saw Sofia and Emma chatting there.
"We have to go prom dress shopping." Emma said and I frowned.
"You know I am not going."
"Why not?" She said in annoyance. I didn't tell my friends about what happened because I felt like I was doing the wrong thing here. I was afraid to admit to my friends that I am a really really stupid idiot who let go of an amazing guy just because I was not ready. I don't even know what not ready means anymore.
"Can't say." I said quietly.
"Then we are taking you shopping." She said and I knew there was no point in arguing with her. I hummed and went to my class. I knew I was early but who cares. Rest of the classes went like any other day. Carter came and sat to the farthest corner from me and the girl who was sitting beside him sighed at his glory. Every time that happened it just made me realize more and more that if I didn't do something soon, I will lose him to someone who genuinely cares about him and understands how important he is. I tried talking to him once or twice, calling his name when everyone went out of the room but he never stopped. He never looked back, he never even acknowledged me. It felt like I was a pest in his life, someone that didn't matter to him at all, he didn't care if I existed in the first place and those realities were just like arrows piercing through my heart. On wrong decision and I lost him. But I will damned if I didn't give one last shot.
Emma came in front of my house with Sofia, Mia and Ashley at exactly six. We all went to a close by mall to choose the dresses. Halloween is on Sunday and it was Friday and although I was going to this Prom thing, I didn't have a date. By default I thought it would be Carter but after what happened, that plan went right down the drain. We parked and quickly went in. They said it was my turn to choose first and honestly I was more than happy with it. I just wanted to get this over with. I chose a white net dress and put it on.
"You are not getting married dude!" Ashley said and I noticed that was obviously a wrong choice.
"Try this." Emma said and handed me a blue dress which had cut on weird places.
"How do you even wear this?" I asked her skeptically and she chuckled.
"Just put it on and you will figure it out."
"Title of your sex tape." I said and went in. She was right though. It had a cut on my waist and it was strapless low neck dress that showed a lot of my cleavage.
"Yeah this is not happening." I said when I got out and they all smiled sadly at me.
"Guys, maybe I should just not go."
"Nope." Ashley said.
"Not happening." Mia said.
"You are going." Emma said.
"We will drag your soul if that's what it takes." Sofia said and we all laughed. They really are my best friends.
"Okay how about this?" I said when I came back wearing a red lace dress. It was strapless but not too down to look like a hooker. It had net around my lower body and it fit me perfectly.
"Damn girl that looks awesome. I am almost jealous that I didn't pick it first." Ashley said and I chuckled.
"So, this is it?" I asked and they all nodded eagerly.
Our shopping finished in less time than anticipated and I was more than thankful for it. Ashley chose a full sleeves off shoulder green dress and she looked like a Disney princess. Emma chose a blue dress with a cut down its length that showed her legs. She made a bold choice when compared to her usual outfits and she was killing it. Sofia chose a black gown with net around her neck and Mia chose a backless purple dress which was surprising since I have never seen her being comfortable with a dress like that. Maybe she is trying new and she looked absolutely gorgeous.
I went back home and packed everything for the bakery. I had to make sure I keep with my expenses or mom would be furious. After I practically dumped Carter, I burned half of my earnings in cookie and cream and god knows how but I didn't gain any weight. Talk about comfort eating. I was eating my bakery away hence, I had to cook for customers as well. I mean no one is going to pay me just to see me eat right. What kind of non-sense would that be? I quickly opened my shop and I started making chocolates and caramel shots for the day. My phone beeped with a message but my hands were already dirty so I decided to let it go. I will check it later. I busted my ass off today since many people came in. I had no time to think about how much I missed Carter or how alone I am going to be in prom. I mean, I was practically making that gorgeous dress cry but I had no choice. If I won't go, my friends will beat me to pulp plus it would be an insult to the dress and I can't let that happen.
After I was done, I locked the place up and went back to my bike. I remembered I had a message so I decided to check just in case my mom is again naked in house. It was an unknown number.
Random Number: Hey Princess! This is Brian. Remember me?
Liv: The guy who is standing up for Prom King? Sure!
Brian: That's all?
Liv: What else did you expect?
Brian: Remember football after party? I was flirting with you when Carter ruined my game. That's where I know him from!
Liv: Oh yeah! I remember now. Hey, what's up?
Brian: Actually I was a little late with this prom thing and I don't have any partner so would you like to go to prom with me?
Liv: How do you know I don't already have someone to go with?
Brian: Because I am sure you wanted to go with Carter but something has happened between two cause you guys are ignoring each other like a plague.
Liv: Pick me up at 8. I shut my phone off and kept it in my pocket. One problem solved.
When I went back, mo wanted to me try the dress out in front of her but I was not in a mood to do that. She saw the dress but she didn't say anything
"What? You didn't like it?" I asked her and she shook her head.
"The dress is perfect honey but are you sure you want to go? I know you should but do you want to?"
"I don't but my friends are practically dragging me there plus I got a date as well."
"You have got a date?" She said in utter shock and I was a bit hurt by how surprised she was. I could land a date.
"Yeah, there is this Brian guy I met in football after party but I was too drunk to remember. He texted me saying he had no date so he would like to go with me." I explained lousily and she nodded.
"I guess then you are going to prom." She said and I smiled.
"Yeah."
"Don't worry. Anything bad happens, you come straight to me and we will eat pizza, drink beer and bitch about guys."
"Sounds like a better night than prom." I said and she laughed. She made dinner and we ate in silence. I took my shopping bags and went to my room. I showered and finished whatever work I felt like doing. Last time, when I broke up with Taylor at least I had the energy to pick fights and get detentions but now it just felt like too much work. I jumped on the bed and slept. Tomorrow was a holiday so I had to go to bakery and it's going to be busy. It's not a bad thing for me though considering the more I work, the more I stay focus on it and the less I think about Carter. Work helps me keep my mind off things and I feel lighter. For instance, I wouldn't be thinking about that fact that Carter will bring Carla to prom. And the fact that they look absolutely perfect and stunning together, kind of like power couple. Or the fact that this random date that he has with Carla might turn out to be a real thing and soon he will forget about me and will only focus on her. He will look at her with the same intensity with which he proposed to me. Carla will never dump because let's face it, Carter is one of a kind and any girl who rejects him is crazy and I know that because I am that crazy girl. I have been trying to reach out to him but he has already blocked me in all social media handles and he refuses to talk to me in person. I have no idea what other way there is with which I can make him talk to me but I am gonna try until something works. Maybe I will go old school and send him letters. He will at least listen to what I have to say.
I groaned and put my pillow over my head. I need to sleep or my brain will explode. After shuffling for about an hour, I finally felt my eyelids getting heavy and sleep engulfed me.
..........
Just one chapter left you guys. I can't believe I did it, I completed my very own first novel.
*Excited shriek and Tobi dance*
(P.S. Naruto reference above)