[June 2003]
Chapter
fifty-one:
Becky had barely
returned from her preparations for Prom.
She’d gone all
out to have her hair put up, and to have a manicure and pedicure.
Zac had called
from the airport to inform her that his plane had gotten in a little late,
though he absolutely promised he would be there as promised to take her to the
prom.
She had asked
him months ago if he would take her, under the premise that if he did not, she
would not go at all.
Becky had been
so excited that she would get to go to prom with her boyfriend of two years and
her best friend since fourth grade.
However, Jenna
had insisted she would not be attending Prom because Luke would not be able to
go. She insisted it was lame anyway to cover up the fact that she missed her
boyfriend and wanted him there as her date.
Becky had hoped
that if she bugged Jen enough, she might at last decide to go, but it was
beginning to look futile.
Jenna had been
staying at Becky’s house for the last few weeks as Becky’s parents had gone
away on a business trip, and Becky felt unsafe in the house alone. Instead of
helping Becky get ready, which she insisted “bummed her out”,
Jenna went upstairs to work on an outstanding English assignment.
Becky glanced up
at her dress which was hanging on the door of the first floor bathroom, and
couldn’t help but get excited, even if her best friend wouldn’t be there.
The doorbell
rang and Becky dashed down the hallway and down the stairs to the entry
landing.
She pulled open
the door without even thinking about who it might be, and almost feel over on
the spot seeing Zac standing in the doorway, with a bouquet of pink roses.
“Zac!” She shrieked, throwing her arms around
him. “Oh, I’m so glad you’re here!”
“I’m glad to be
here too.” He hugged her tightly with a rather huge grin on his face.
Becky finally
released him and met him with a kiss.
Zac’s grin
broadened. “I missed you too, babe.”
“Oh, you have no
idea.” Becky smiled.
It had only been
a few months since she had last seen him, but it felt like ages. They hadn’t
been together for more than a week since they were fifteen and it was now two
years later.
“You look
beautiful.” He smiled, gently brushing back a long black curl which had come
loose in the excitement.
“Thank you.” She
couldn’t even try to wipe the smile from her lips.
“I brought you
some flowers. I’ve never been to a prom before, and I probably should have
gotten a corsage, but that’s a whole… difficult process in its own, so I hope
you don’t mind, I got you some pink roses. Your favorite.”
Becky smiled and
kissed him again. “You’re so sweet. You’re the best boyfriend in the world.”
He shrugged. “I
try… I brought another surprise too.” He stepped aside and motioned to the cab,
where Luke was helping the driver lift out suitcases.
“Luke!” Becky jogged
over to him, and hugged him as well. “Jenna is going to freak! She’ll be so
happy, she was going to miss prom because you couldn’t be here, and now you’re
here!”
“Yeah, I figured
that. I thought I’d surprise her.”
Zac appeared
next to Becky. “Yeah, I thought I should bring him along. Had
to talk him into it, though.”
Becky laughed
and kissed Zac’s cheek. “You really are the best…”
“Yeah, I know.”
Zac handed Becky the flowers. “Why don’t you put these in water? Us men will bring in the heavy luggage.”
“Okay, sure.”
“Hey,
Beck? Don’t tell Jen
yet, ok? I want to surprise her.” Luke added, setting a suitcase down on the
driveway.
“I won’t. But
she’s upstairs, third door on the right, when you’re ready, ok?”
“Thanks.”
(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)
Jenna was
sitting in the room she had taken over at Becky’s house. It was one of the
spare rooms, with a window that looked out over the lower half of the town,
right across the hall from Becky’s. She occupied it every time she stayed over,
and it came to be known as ‘Jen’s room’ as an inside joke.
Jenna sighed,
and put down her book, staring out the window.
She missed Luke
even more than words could describe. She refused to go to Prom without him,
even though Becky promised she would enjoy herself.
Jen just
couldn’t imagine herself having a good time, seeing all kinds of couples
dancing and having fun when her significant other was miles and miles away.
“Jen?”
Jenna jumped out
of the chair in alarm, and found herself facing Luke who was standing in the
middle of the room.
“Luke?” She
asked in disbelief.
He grinned. “Surprise!”
Jenna ran to him
and threw her arms around his neck, kissing him. She smothered him with kisses.
“I missed you so much!” She said between kisses.
“I missed you
too!” He chuckled softly, returning her kisses.
“God, I can’t
believe you would do this. You’re the sweetest guy on the planet.” Jen smiled,
ceasing to kiss him, but leaving her arms around his neck.
“I know. But
it’s your high school prom.”
“What about your
high school prom?”
“Well, I wasn’t
going to go. I knew I’d miss you too much.” He admitted.
Jenna suddenly
kissed him again.
Luke grinned
when the kiss broke. “I think we should greet each other like this more often,
okay?”
“Deal.” She smiled and kissed him again.