Chapter Text
Holding the door ajar for them to step through the threshold Kat walked into the local thrift store just after Bianca and [Name].
The immediate frown on Bianca’s face became blatantly clear the moment she set foot inside, looking at the racks of clothes filling most of the store with furniture and home decor thrown in towards the back.
This was never a place Bianca or anyone she associated with would ever spend a dime at. Her friends would say it was cheap and abhorrently tacky.
“I thought we were going to the mall. The only dresses they’d have here are from grandma’s closet.” She groaned while crossing her arms.
Kat held a stern finger towards her, saying pointedly, “My money, my rules.” Kat turned towards the woman at the counter for a short moment before adding to Bianca, “This place has tons of dresses, you’ll live.”
Grabbing ahold of her arm Kat pulled Bianca over to the far side of the store, the far wall having an array of sparking and shining dresses; [Name] following along right behind them.
Kat started rifling through a rack adjacent from the lined rack on the wall, pushing through each one looking for something to offer to Bianca, even if she wasn’t thrilled to be doing so.
[Name] also began going through a line of dresses though nothing jumped out to her that moment.
[Name] looked over her shoulder to Bianca who was still hesitantly looking at the garments Kat had gone through and pushed aside. Kat tried again, “Just look, you might actually find something you like.”
Bianca rolled her eyes and huffed, but she did as she was told and began looking through the dresses on the other side of the rack, same as Kat as she dramatically pushed each hanger aside as she went down the row slowly, making sure they clanked loudly with each dress she pushed away.
The store was quiet. Broken music crackled over the sound system and none of them spoke, but though Kat couldn’t see them, Bianca’s eyes were flickering over to her again and again after looking up from the next dress.
She stopped her side shuffle down the idle and rested her hands over top of the rack, “Kat.” It was all she said and froze when too, Kat’s eyes lifted her. “I’m really sorry.”
[Name] froze when she heard the declaration from behind her and slowly began to back away from the and walked farther down the wall away from them, giving them a private moment.
Kat cocked her head while not responding. With everything that had happened within the last number of weeks Kat had a hefty list of things Bianca could be apologizing for, she was just wondering which one she was going to cross off.
“I’m sorry for everything I said. I was angry and I was being stupid.”
Kat’s eyebrows rise in momentary surprise. “Wow, [Name’s] talking to must have really worked.”
Bianca chided back, “I’m serious. Just take the apology cause I’m not saying it again.”
Kat shrugged and went back to looking at a purple dress she found that had long sleeves.
“I’m serious, you know.” Bianca spoke after the moment of silence, “you opened up to me and… I’m sure it was hard for you to tell me that, but I was angry, and I shouldn’t have acted like that.” Bianca bit the inside of her cheek harshly.
“It’s alright…” Kat returned before adding, “I’m sorry I yelled at you earlier.”
They both mutually nodded, exchanging small smiles of understanding.
Kat held up a small, tight-fitted cheetah print dress with black, sparkling fabric ruffles at the bottom and a huge bow around the waist. Bianca scrunched her nose at the dress. Her small grimace grew into a grin watching Kat’s eyes bulge, horrified and her lip curled in faint disgust; clearly it was to neither of the tastes.
The next one to that was a simple, short cut black dress, then a long shimmering, iridescent periwinkle dress with thin straps and Bianca plucked it from the rack, holding it up to herself as she cleared her throat, causing Kat to look up, and silently waiting for her sister’s opinion.
Kat didn’t turn her nose up at the dress, and Bianca tucked it under her arm and headed off towards the dressing room with it. However, after trying it on, it ended back on the rack, and she continued looking.
It was so beautiful, delicate, and elegant color and Bianca almost had her mind made on it, though it was too long for her and too wide in the bust; things that would to take more than just a few short hours to alter and hem to fit her so with a pout on her lips and much disappointment she changed back out of it and hung it back onto the rack.
A lot of the dresses were the same, long and slim fitting dresses with single colored, satin fabric, though a few were made of velvet material.
However an unfortunate trait, Bianca was known for her impatient nature and after going through only one side of one dress rack she was huffing and already beginning to lose hope and whatever forbearance she had left.
[Name] seemed overly delighted looking through all the dresses, wandering over to one of the racks closer to them and was taking her time looking over each article of clothing methodically.
A small shine caught Bianca’s eye, and she dug in between the stored clothing, looking for whatever it was that took her notice. Whatever it had been, it was buried between two rather puffy dresses.
Her hand froze, stopping over the dress and her breath hitched, her pupils widening as she slowly peeled the hanger off the rack and looked over the subtle and delicate pink shade.
Bianca held up the light pink dress, staring down at the starburst spiral of the pink beading covering the entirety of the floor length gown. She ran her hand over it and looked at it longingly.
“Find something you like?” Asked Kat. She noticed the way Bianca’s face fell as soon as she spoke, now shooting her eyes to the floor.
“Emma and Chastity would never let me buy something like this. They would hate this.” She said yet still holding onto it without any intention of letting it go.
“So?” Kat barked, “Who cares. Get it because you like it.”
Bianca took another look at the dress, “I don’t know, Maggie said she was going to wear pink. I shouldn’t wear the same color.” Kat sent a stern look to her when Bianca looked up to her, looking at her for what to do.
“It’s high school prom, at least half the girls there will be wearing pink.”
Bianca looked over it again, her brows tightening and picking up the length of the dress. “It’s a little long, I don’t think this one is going to fit either.” She argued.
Kat hooked whatever top she found back on the rack and rounded the aisle, walking over to Bianca and taking the dress into her own hands, pulling up the tag to her sights. “It says it’s a small. It’s your size.”
“The blue one was also a small and it swallowed me.” Bianca didn’t need to be told again, as the silent look on Kat’s face said everything. “Alright, I’ll try it.” Kat’s face turned upward with a more pleasant expression.
“It’s perfect!”
They looked over at [Name’s] outburst, her face not falling when she looked up from the dress, that more so resembled a table doily, despite their eyes as well as the eyes from the woman at the counter being locked onto her.
It was a beautiful ivory dress, with what appeared to be a straight across neckline with a lace overlay on the bodice that went into off the shoulder, ruffled bertha and connected to sheer sleeves with a subtle, pale polka-dot patterned in the fabric.
Small beading V’d into the layered skirt of bedded ruffles down the skirt that was emphasized by a petticoat underneath, overlayed with the same sheer fabric as the bertha and sleeves with added, white lace trim at the bottom.
It must have been part of some sort of Halloween costume at one point, or a very, very old wedding dress, but she didn’t care, it was the perfect dress for her, she knew it after just one look.
All the accessories she had bought and collected over the years came to her mind to pair with this dress. Maybe she could use some of her lace shawls, or some of the silver chains she turned into thin belts.
Looking at the beading just above the skirt she remembered a certain necklace her mother found at a small Halloween store for her costume a small number of years ago and if she remembered correctly, it would match the color of the pearls on the dress perfectly.
———
They walked around the store for about half an hour, Bianca tried on the dress and rushed out of the dressing room, with it in her hands grinning uncontrollably at her sister, while [Name], carrying the dress she found within her own hands, wandered around the rest of the store looking around at the furniture, paintings, and jewelry and any other house hold items or clothing/ accessories that filled the store.
Somehow [Name] made it to the counter before they had, putting the dress in front of the woman along with sever, red beaded necklaces and bracelets as she chatted with the woman.
They waited and Kat bit her lip, looking at the dress and then shooting her eyes up to the dazed off smile on Bianca’s face.
“So, you and this Cameron guy?” Kat inquired slyly with a drawn-out tone, and she smirked seeing Bianca’s eyes rocket to the floor with an accompanied, meek grin.
“Yeah, I started talking to him while he was tutoring me for French.”
“What about…Joey Donner!” Kat joked with an exaggerated, deridingly cherry emphasis on Joey’s name along with a nudge to her shoulder and Kat saw Bianca’s smile drop speedily, while contempt laced her voice.
“I am so over that.” She assured, “After Bogey’s party I don’t know what I ever saw in him,” Bianca giggled slightly, “and Cameron drove me home and… I don’t know, it just happened.”
“I’m just hearing about this now…” Kat raised a brow again and Bianca sent her a dangerous smirk.
“Well, you were a little too hammered when it happened.”
Kat’s mouth snapped back closed. Kat chose not to respond and after a silent moment, she spoke again.
“I think those earrings dad got you would look good with this,” Kat mentioned, while looking at the dress now draped over Bianca’s arm.
Bianca, too, looked down on the dress as she recalled the oval, pink opal earrings their father had given her for her birthday that had passed several months ago. He always gifted Bianca smaller (typically on the more expensive side) gifts like dainty pieces of jewelry: earrings, necklaces, bracelets/ anklets, and occasionally a small ring.
The color of the stone matched perfectly to the dress, displaying a pastel pink stone in the center with tiny diamonds encompassing it; one of the more expensive gifts from him on the occasion of it being her sixteenth birthday.
“Thank you,” Bianca breathed, looking up at her older sister with a subdued smile, one with genuine gratitude and appreciation carved into it.
—————————————————————————
Saturday morning was uneventful yet nerve-racking and also exciting for Kat, [Name], and Bianca. The Stratford and [Last name] household started with a late breakfast, and once [Name] finished the final touches on her accessories, she collected all of her things as well as her makeup and walked right next door just a little after one.
Mr. Stratford didn’t even look up from the television as she walked in, he was used to them coming in and out of the house whenever she or Kat pleased. Their residences were unrestricted to one another.
[Name] started for the stairs with her arm teeming with her dress, and accessories, as well as her makeup box and shoes. “Kat,” she called from the bottom of the stairs before taking the first steps to ascend to the second floor. “I’m here.”
———
Opening the closet Kat pushed everything to the side, digging towards the very back of the right side. Moving the hanging clothes out of the way and a few stray articles of clothing and old stuffed animals off the floor she pulled out a large box, it was covered in a thick layer of dust. Picking it up and setting it in front of her bed before sitting on the floor, wiping away the dust with her long sleeve, Kat sighed.
The grey box was marked in sharpie in small penmanship on the center of the lid.
Janice
She peeled open the lid and was met with midnight blue fabric. She pulled the thin shawl cloth off the top and lopped her fingers through the thin straps and slowly drew the dress up and out of the box.
It was an old dress of her mother’s. One that her mother told her, when she was much younger than she was now, that she would give to her when she was older. It was the only thing of her mother’s that was left in the house that day when Kat came back home from school and she was gone.
It had been untouched since Kat found it a couple of days later, lying on the closet floor.
Kat always thought she and her mother had a close relationship; one anyone would love to have had with their mother. But she was wrong. She didn’t want to admit but she abandoned her. She abandoned them and the family that loved her.
Kat’s memories of her mother were fractured into different shaped shards that didn’t seemed to fit no mater how she tried to put them together to make a whole image of the woman that was her mother.
How could she have memories of a slightly distant, often dismissive woman that up and left them when given the chance of what she thought was a more convenient life for herself along side the memories of her mother’s delicious strawberry and chocolate chip pancakes she make everyone morning without fail?
Her witty humor, and stubbornness she passed along to Kat and her sister. Their silly dances in the living room as her mother blasted the whatever played over the radio. How her mother never failed to buy her every band poster Kat asked for or distress every dyed t-shirt she wanted to, despite her father’s obvious disapproval.
Kat scrunched the dress within her hand in a tight grip and hurried her face into the lush fabric. The faint remnants of the floral perfume her mother used to wear were still soaked into the fabric.
“Kat. I’m here!”
[Name’s] voice called from the hall, snapping Kat out of her haze. Kat pulled herself off the floor, the dress hanging from her hand and she bent down to pick up the matching shawl.
—————————————————————————
“Are you sure your mom was ok with you getting ready here?” Kat asked, pulling a short fly away from her face.
She never expected to be like this.
Face covered in makeup, glossy lips and all with expensive earrings weighing down her ears in a the simple but flattering blue dress with [Name] working on her hair in a stunning up-do; all primmed and ready for senior prom.
[Name] nodded, holding Kat’s curl in place on the curler, waiting patiently. “Before, when I originally told her we weren’t going,” she raised an eyebrow and gave Kat a look through the mirror, “She made plans to eat dinner with my grandparents while we would be hanging out. But she said we have to take lots of pictures.”
Kat groaned and pouted slightly, continuing to groan and make clear her displeasure. “One picture.” [Name] begged. “Just one.”
Kat huffed and rolled her eyes without any more argument to which [Name] sent her a triumphant smile via the mirror.
“So, have you finished Mr. Morgan’s assignment yet?” Asked Kat.
[Name] sighed, “No, not yet. I haven’t even started it.”
“[Name],” chastised Kat, “It’s due this upcoming Friday!” [Name] shook her head, “I know, I know. I just have no ideas. I’ve been clueless ever since he gave it to us.”
“Your funeral,” Was all Kat had to say with a shrug of her shoulders, letting [Name] continue styling her hair as she went quiet again.
[Name] smiled looking down at Kat’s curls. “Bianca was right. Your hair looks good like this, you should give her some credit.”
Kat’s nose scrunched, “Never. That would be admitting defeat.” Her and [Name] shared a teasing smile via the mirror as [Name] set down the curler and picked a bobby-pin off the counter, working it into her hair, pinning the curl with the rest of them sitting on the top of Kat’s head.
Picking up the curling iron from the counter [Name] took one of the last stands of hair and carefully coiled it around the blistering rod, holding it in place. “You know, Bianca really appreciates you doing this for her. She’ll be bowing at your feet forever. Me as well.” Said [Name] and Kat nodded without saying a word, but she knew Kat was happy to do this for them.
“I never thought I’d go to prom. Kind of upset that I’ll be going to my first and only prom by myself.”
“Well, I’ll be there… and Mandella.” Offered [Name].
She watched Kat nod but the solemn look that washed her face was apparent as she bit the inside of her cheek and tucked in her lips. She let the strand fall off the curler before setting it back on the countertop again, pausing before could reach for the next bobby-pin. “Well, I can be your unofficial date.”
Kat turned her head slightly, [Name] following with the curler, as she looked up at her with a tender gaze. “You don’t hav—“
“I want to.” Interjected [Name].
Bianca walked into the bathroom struggling to work one of her earrings into her ear with her little purse tucked under her arm. She looked beautiful in her new pale pink dress with matching glossy pink lipstick and her hair styled in a cute, curly shoulder length bob.
Looking up at Bianca from the reflection in the mirror Kat perked up. “I told you the earrings would look good.” Bianca mumbled a bashful “thank you” and nodded with a smile.
She was awkwardly grinning widely in the mirror; her eyes trailed on Kat’s reflection whose eyes had glazed over while [Name] pinned the last curl and added the finishing touches to her hair.
Kat looked up and took notice of Bianca’s odd behavior and her eyes fell to Bianca’s neck, decorated with a thin gold chain and pendant. She raised an eyebrow. “I put mom’s pearls on your dresser for you; I thought you would like to wear them.” Bianca’s smile remained planted on her lips, now becoming unsettling.
After what felt like a long pause Bianca broke her intense eye contact and plucked her purse from under her arm, reaching into it and pulling out the string of pearl from inside and before Kat could speak Bianca threw it over Kat’s head and began to fasten the necklace to her neck.
The clasp clicked together, and Bianca’s hands fell tenderly to her shoulders, both girls staring into the mirror. “They look better on you.”
Before [Name] or Kat either one could say anything, Bianca bounced out of the bathroom towards her room and was gone from sight. Their eyes returned from following her with their gaze and exchanged silent surprise.
Kat stood and grabbed the hairspray and coated the curls on top of her head in it, smoothing down the fly away sticking up from the slicked hair in the front and the little curls next to her ears, not seeing [Name] freeze.
She caught herself in the mirror again. The laced dress, spiked chain bracelets, her smoked makeup with dark burgundy lipstick and a pearl necklace of her own making with stringed, blood red beads hanging from it. As if small beads of blood were slowly dripping onto the curve of her collar bone.
Her lips drew into a thin line. “I look like a Halloween decoration.” She commented, running her hand over the necklace. Even as she said it, it didn’t sound like herself talking.
Kat cut her eyes over to her, with a pointed look that needed no words to convey the sharp message intended. “You spent half the day making that necklace.”
“I know,” [Name] whispered.
She fiddled with her earrings that dangled from her ears.
She spent most of the time during dinner the previous night dumping the baggie of beads she bought from the thrift door and her shoeboxes of old necklaces and beads and chains she collected over the years on the table. She picked apart the red beaded necklace, attaching them to old pieces of thin silver chain before clipping them to old earring bases.
If anyone looked closely enough, they would see that the earring base was a gold tint, and was not in fact silver but it was the only set of earrings she hadn’t taken apart yet.
The necklace was trickier, but she managed, putting her painting and crafting skills to the test and it turned out exactly how she planned it to be.
“I called him earlier today.”
Kat’s movements halted, her head slowly turning over towards [Name] who anxiously picked at her nails. “Your dad?” She asked, lowing her voice as if it were shameful to mention him and [Name] nodded. “For what?”
“Well, with us coming closer to graduating and my mother preparing for that I… I thought…” she shrugged, her shoulders remained tense by her ears, “I called him and invited him to graduation.”
“What did he say?” Kat asked.
“He said he’ll think about.” [Name] nodded. Kat went silent, but she couldn’t help seeing the storm of conflicting emotions from behind her eyes as the racked over her form in the mirror with underlying contempt.
[Name] thought he loved her. That’s all he ever said when she was a kid, that he loved her unconditionally. However, the list of conditions was growing too long to even commit to memory anymore. She knew it was a mistake the moment he hung up the phone. She should have left well enough alone.
She wanted the idea of who she used to think her father was at her graduation. But she was sure if he did show up, she would see every thought he was having playing on his face.
Why would she do her hair like that? Did she not think she looked like a circus clown dressed like that?
The judgmental looks he would give to her friends. She was sure he would think she looked like a “freak” just like he told her she did on her first day as a junior.
She remembered exactly every word he said to her when he picked her up to spend the day with him. ”Why would you wear that crap on your face and go looking like that?” and ”I can’t believe you mom let you embarrass yourself at school.“
Why was she dressed like this? She looked like an undead bride.
[Name] felt Kat’s hand firmly rest on her shoulders while her chin came to rest on her shoulder. “You… look beautiful.” She whispered.
[Name] reached over her shoulder and rested her hand over top Kat’s, squeezing tenderly. She whispered a faint “thank you” that only Kat would be able to hear.
After a long moment that felt paused in time Kat walked away, going over to the far side of the bathroom and grabbing the small purse from the countertop, not before taking one last look at herself in the mirror, inspecting herself. “Everyone will see you and think the place it haunted.” She jested with a bite in her tone that [Name] knew was meant to be teasing.
“I can only hope.” [Name] giggled.
Kat grimaced in the mirror, “I’m taking this off.” She snatched up the hand towel on the wall hanger next to her and scrubbed off the pink lip-gloss from her lips, leaving a temporary red chafing in its wake. Both girls made their way to the stairs, hooking their arms together as they started down the stairs.
“Bye, Dad. [Name’s] taking me to the prom.” They both headed out the door not, not catching Mr. Stratford’s snort. “Funny sweetie.”
His head shot for the door when no response was given to him, and he hopped up from the couch worriedly.
“Bye, Daddy!” Bianca broke for the door, but was stopped short by her father whose piercing stare was frightening and froze her into place. “What is that?”
“It’s a prom dress.” She answered back with a beaming smile.
He sighed while letting his head drop and his hands clenched into fists. “I seem to be hearing that word a lot lately.”
A pointed knock sounded at the door and Bianca opened it, throwing it open wide and Cameron, about to step through into the house, froze when his eyes met hers. She was like a vision. An angel causing him to question the reality around him, as it all seemed to blur, and she was the only thing pulled into focus.
He reached up to loosen the ebony tie around his neck, which matched his classic black suit. A dopey smile was unable to resist, and he tumbled over his word with many breathless attempts in their place. “Wow…”
Bianca shied away with a bashful smile. “Bye, Daddy.” Both of them made a speeding break for the door. “Stop.” They both froze. “Turn.” Walter demanded and they did. “Explain.”
Licking her lips Bianca spoke up, “Okay. Remember how you said I could date if either Kat or [Name] dated? Well, [Name] found this guy who’s actually kind of perfect for her… which is perfect for me because Cameron asked me to go to the prom, and I really, really wanna go, and since Kat went, I guess I’m allowed to based on the aforementioned rule, and its previous stipulations, of course.” The longer Bianca carried on the angrier Mr. Stratford seemed to become.
Crossing his arms, and eyes twitching as they slowly shifted over towards Cameron at the mention of his name, keeping a steady hold on him. Cameron too, licked his lips nervously and extended his hand after a moment, his voice cracking as he finally worked up the courage to speak. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Let’s go.” Bianca said, and took hold of his open hand, finding one last attempt at escape to extend Cameron’s life. But they were too late. “Hold on.”
They turned around and awaited his wrath.
“Son?”
Cameron cleared his throat and attempted to speak in an even tone but was unable to help the small strain within his voice. “Yes sir?” Another long pause was shared between them, the only sound being Walter’s breathing before a short huff was forced out from between his lips. “Name.” He demanded.
“Cameron James.” Said Cameron.
“How old are you?” Then asked Walter.
Cameron answered again without hesitation. “Sixteen. I’m a sophomore.”
“How did you meet my daughter?” Mr. Stratford’s chest puffed out with a harsh inhale, and he readjusted his arms yet still keeping them firmly crossed.
“I tutor her in French.” Stated Cameron. Rocking on his heels Cameron felt a small layer of sweat start to form on his forehead, the room becoming uncomfortably hot with Mr. Stratford’s unwavering and penetrating stare splitting into his head.
“What are your expectations for tonight?”
“To take Bianca to prom and have a fun, but responsible night and then bring her home by ten-thirty.” Cameron rushed through the sentence without coming up for air until it was finished. Afterward he sucked in a quick breath that he gripped tightly within his chest.
It was an agonizing pause shared between the three of them, Mr. Stratford only staring at him and Cameron was sure he hadn’t seen him blink the entire time they had their eyes locked with one another.
Walter flickered his eyes over to Bianca, scanning over her and she was sure she saw a momentary falter in his rigid demeanor.
His little girl was growing up faster than he wanted to admit. She looked so much like her mother more now than ever before. The subtle, baby pink complimented her rosy complexion; her short bob was curled just beneath her ears and she never looked so beautiful. She was growing up and maybe right now, this was an inning where he needed to take to the sidelines.
His eyes cut back to Cameron, and he straightened again, clenching his jaw for good measure. “Make it ten.”
Cameron swallowed thickly, “Yes sir.”
Bianca couldn’t contain herself and she threw her arms around her father’s neck, harshly pressing a quick peck to his cheek. She then latched onto Cameron’s arm, “Let’s go,” she muttered and pulled him out of the door and down the front porch stairs, running towards Cameron’s car parked on the side of the street.
Walter slowly walked to the wide-open door, watching Bianca and Cameron rush down the sidewalk towards the street. “I know every cop in town, bucko!” He called after them, adding, “Ten o’clock!” when Cameron threw a concerned glance over his shoulder before nodding Mr. Stratford’s way.
To his gratification, Cameron ran to the passenger side door and pulled it open for Bianca, easing her inside the vehicle; his hand in hers before shutting the door and running around to get into the car himself.
A tight knot formed in his chest when the engine roared, and the car pulled out into the road and set off away from the house and out of sight. “This is not good…” he muttered to himself as he closed the front door and turned the lock.
—————————————————————————
The venue for the Prom was quite… extravagant. But they all supposed it was because many well-off families sent their children to Padua and many of them, particularly one Mr. Donner who frequently provided generous donations and funding to the school.
It was held in a performance theater a few short miles away from the school, that had large ballrooms on the upper levels. The music from the main ballroom carried down to the lower level, growing steadily in volume as [Name] and Kat made their way up the stairs.
Mandella said she would be taking her own car and meet up with them there. They had yet to find her and after fifteen minutes they decided to make their way up and meet up with her later.
They both felt the stares; something they should have been familiarized with by now. Patrick was right, no one would have expected her to show up, especially not also while joined by Kat Stratford. They all most likely expected their absence, or at the very least standing outside with large sighs in protest.
[Name] heard a group of giggling girls and to their left saw the four girls posing for a photo in front of the set backdrop. A bright flash incapsulated them, capturing their smiling faces and beautiful dresses.
Latching onto Kat’s wrist she pulled them towards it, much to Kat’s annoyance and she groaned.
“Just one picture. Just one.” Pleaded [Name] as they came over.
The previous group of girls parted from the backdrop and Kat and [Name] readied themselves as they waited for the photographer to ready himself.
“Smile…” [Name] whispered to Kat, who promptly pouted her lips with down turned brows, trying to prevent the smile tugging relentlessly at the corners of her lips.
The photographer was almost ready, and [Name] snaked her arm around Kat.
Kat nudged [Name] with her hand, gesturing her head and name turned seeing Patrick looking at them both with a content smile.
[Name] sent him a small wave before turning back to the camera with a beaming smile, hugging onto Kat who sent a close-lipped grin towards the photographer.
The photographer waved them off and they moved out of the line and [Name] strayed her way over to him, leaving Kat to go ahead and head towards the main area where the music was coming from. She stopped just before the railing next to him, scanning her eyes down him before flicking them back up to his face.
It was a simple black tux. Very classy and he looked like her complete opposite, covered in mostly black to her white dress. She wished she would have thought of the idea sooner and they both could have had miniscule accents of red to match.
“Where’d you get a tux at the last minute?” She asked and he answered with a shrug. “Just something I had lying around?” He said. “So… where did you get the dress?”
It caused [Name] to smile with a chuckle. “Oh, just something I had, you know, lying around.” She jested with a grin.
Patrick pulled his hand from behind his back and held up another one of the roses he’d given to her just the week prior. It was smaller than the full roses; a small little rose just at the beginning of starting to bloom. He reached up and tucked it behind her ear before letting his hand trail down to brush to cheek.
“One more thing,” [Name] heard Patrick mutter while he pulled away, digging around his pant’s pocket and pulled out something clutched in a closed fist.
He opened his palm and she saw two silver bat pendants that still had the bails sticking out from the top. One attached to a hair claw and the other to a safety pin; both glued to the attachments very crudely with hot glue. “I was gonna get a boutonnière, but since you didn’t tell me what you were wearing…” he trailed off.
[Name] chuckled apologetically, “Sorry about that,” she offered by Patrick shook his head with a small grin.
He brought the one attached to the hair claw up near where he tucked the flower behind her hair, and clipped it into her hair just above it. [Name] instinctively brought her fingers to touch the clip, feeling the rough texture of the engraved wings.
Patrick dropped the other into her hand and stood patiently as she guided the needle through the fabric of the outer lip of the breast pocket of his jacket and secured it.
She was very predictable. Make it a bat and she would be happy. Patrick grinned to himself at the thought, seeing her eyes glow with a new found light that hadn’t been there just a minute prior.
[Name] brushed out his jacket lapels, letting her hands sit on his chest, her finger prodding at the tip of the wing of his own accessory. One that was matching to hers.
[Name] stepped back abruptly afterward and asked, “Ready for the prom?” She smiled nervously and watched as he held his arm out for her.
He replied, “Yes ma’am.”
She linked arms with him as they made their way to where the rest of the student body was congregating in the main hall with the live band already performing for them with great vigor.
It wasn’t long after they walked in, they were drowning in the sea of their peers, bumping shoulders with the person next to them every step they went.
As [Name] scanned the crowd, she miraculously spotted Bianca, and Cameron turned as they danced with one another.
Cameron’s eyes found hers, she’d never seen anyone with a more joyous smile in her life. [Name] sent a short wave followed by a thumbs up that was joined with a smile. He hardly had time to send a nod back when Bianca threw her arms around his neck and jerked him closer.
“Have you seen him?” Mandella appeared in front of her dripping with worry as she latched her hand onto [Name’s] shoulders.
“Who?” [Name] asked her and Mandella groaned, “William!”
“William?” Questioned Patrick, but his voice was overshadowed by the overwhelming noise and Mandella was frantic, searching in the crowd for something. Mandella let out a stressed whine, looking positively distressed. “Kat said I’m having delusions.” She cried.
[Name] felt Patrick nudge her arm and gesture towards the stage and both of them erupted into knowing grins. [Name] caught Mandella gently by the arm, stopping her pacing.
[Name] chuckled, pointing over Mandella’s shoulder, watching as she turned and followed her finger to the stage, where Michael stood waiting just in front of the lead singer.
He awkwardly waved, showing off the white frilled cuffs underneath his red velvet jacket with simple gold embroidery; a matching white lace jabot was tucked in the front of the collar. He hopped from the front of the stage and eventually made his way through the crowd, already sweating bullets from the non-breathable fabric.
She was so beautiful and wearing a dress he picked out for her. The way she was smiling at him, the sun would pale in comparison to its shine, for it could never compare to its warmth that it brought, and the moon would be ashamed to even be called ethereal when she walked along the earth itself as the most beguiling creature he had ever known.
Every movement, every gesture, every word she spoke was like poetry.
“M’lady.” He flirted, cupping her hand in his and raising it up to him. Mandella fully extended her hand to him. “Good sir~” she proclaimed as he pressed a short yet firm kiss to the back of her hand.
“So,” Mandella purred while peeking through her lashes with an infatuated grin, “you’re my Sir William?” She teased while slipping her hand from his hold, though she felt him squeeze it just for a moment before he let it go.
“Doubt thou the stars are fire; Doubt the suns doth move; Doubt truth to be a lair: but never doubt I love.” He professed and taking hold of her hand again he drew her closer, wrapping his other around her waist as a beaming smile painted her face along with a pink blush on her cheeks.
———
“I think I outdid myself getting those together.” Patrick grinned looking over at Cameron holding tightly onto Bianca and [Name] followed his sights.
She raised a questioning brow, “That was you?”
Patrick nodded with pride. A smug grin crept onto [Name’s] face, “Well I think I might be coming for your matchmaking job. Because I was an integral part of getting Michael to asked out Mandella.” She said assertively and Patrick grinned.
“Really?” He asked and Name nodded pointedly.
His eyes wandered off past her before suddenly locking onto something.
“They’re not the only one having fun.” Patrick gestured his head towards somewhere behind them, causing [Name] to turn her head.
A little ways into the crowd Kat was chatting and dancing with another girl in a dress in similar style to hers though made of a black, shiny fabric as opposed to Kat’s dark blue dress. Her arms were covered in distressed fishnets while a spiked chocker sat around her neck.
She’s never seen Kat smile so big unless she was interacting with Mandella or herself, and the girl across from her was smiling just as big, before [Name] saw her laugh and lay a hand on Kat’s shoulder as she did; Kat too laughed.
“I’ve never seen her smile,” Patrick voice pulled her back to facing him. “Is she sick?”
[Name] groaned but a playful smirk still tempted her lips. “Come on…”
“I’m serious,” Patrik reared his head to look over at Kat again. “She’d looking a little pale.”
She bumped him hard in the shoulder. “Very funny.” Said [Name] with a short smile as Patrick pressed a short kiss to her head.
The last piercing percussion of the band reverberated into the room and all the students and staff of Padua high school erupted into furious applause as Mrs. Perky stepped onto the stage.
All the band members stood, the drummer placing his drumsticks to the side, the guitarist walking over to place his guitar in a holder and the lead singer placed the mic back into the stand in front of her as well as the three back of singer’s shoulders slumping as they stepped back from their mics.
The lead singer flashed a bright smile towards Mrs. Perky, who reciprocated it as she took to the stage and placed herself in front of the mic. “Wasn’t that wonderful?” She asked and the crowd erupted into another surge of applause and whistles.
After finishing clapping herself, Mrs. Perky added, “The band is going to take a short break but, in the meantime, we’ve got more hits to come.” Her false cheeriness was blatant a mile away, however her brows furrowed once the music started up over the speakers.
[Name] brows also came to furrow at the tips as the base rattled and a distinct guitar began to play watching as Patrick kept silently smiling at her. She recognized it instantly as the harmonizing vocals hummed and rose for anticipation of the first verse. [Name’s] mouth fell open, but no words escaped, only a growing smile.
“Tonight, I wanna give it all to you
In the darkness, there’s so much I wanna do”
Patrick leaned over, “I called in a favor from the AV guys.”
“And tonight, I wanna lay it at your feet
Cause, girl, I was made for you
And, girl, you were made for me”
Patrick leaned in closer again for her to hear him. “I was going to pick something else but then Perky would have killed them.”
[Name] shook her head, “No.” She said. “No, it’s perfect.”
—————————————————————————
Finishing just washing her hands Bianca flicked the excess water from them and grabbed a paper towel, fully drying off her hands.
This night had been nothing like how she had been imagining it for the past number of weeks, yet she couldn’t imagine wanting it to turn out any differently than it had played out.
She felt like the most beautiful girl in the world with the cutest, sweetest boy on her arm. Along with all that had transpired, her, and Kat’s relationship had never been on such a solid foundation as it had been now. Everything seemed to fall into place for all of them.
Bianca fluffed out her curls and adjusted her necklace when a familiar face caught her eyes in the reflection of the mirror, and she felt her body freeze.
She watched Chastity drawing closer in a muted blue dress that hugged her all the way down before stopping just below her knee, mimicking the pattern of snakeskin. They hadn’t spoken in over a week, awkwardly avoiding one another while she hadn’t even glanced Bianca’s way after Bogey’s house party.
Chastity’s heel clicked with each slow and drawn-out step, stalking closer to her with a deadly stare reflected in the mirror. Balling up the damp paper towel in her hand, Bianca tossed it into the trashcan next to the sink, taking a breath to steady her thumbing heartbeat.
“Hey...” She greeted her, not sparing much of a look her way as Chastity stopped at the next sink, looking herself over in the mirror while pulling a single stray hair that was caught in her lip-gloss.
Chastity’s eye cut her eyes sharply across to her, flicking her eyes up and down before starting the water in the sink, diligently washing her hands. “I thought Maggie told you she was wearing pink.”
Instinctually Bianca looked down at her own dress with an audible swallow, and an anxious pit dropped in her stomach. She knew this would happen and she willed herself not to feel guilty for choosing something for herself for the first time in so long. She couldn’t remember a time she picked out something she truly liked without sparing a thought as to what others would things, or for other’s approval.
“Yeah well, it was last minute… and I liked it.” Her face stilled and she said again with more certainty, “I liked it, so I got it.”
Chastity let out an exasperated sigh, turning off the sink and pulling a paper towel to dry her hands. She grumbled in a hushed tone, “You always had to have what everyone else wanted.”
Bianca’s brows furrowed, “What is that supposed to mean?”
Bianca flinched when Chastity wrenched away from the sink, snapping her head towards her and coming to stand just before her, their faces inches away from one another and Bianca could feel the faint fan of her seething breath on her face.
“You always were the star princess, and I was just Bianca’s friend. No one even took the time to know my name. You had it all, you were on the popularity rise and you threw it all away. You threw it all away for a crowd of losers!” Chastity huffed while crossing her arms. “Following in your sister’s footsteps, I guess.” She sneered followed by a smug grin.
This wasn’t the friend she thought she knew, the girl that always helped sneak her out to go shopping after school, who always drove her and their friends to school and always was by her side since eighth grade. She thought she knew Chastity better even though there were times her, Emma, or Maggie protested everything she genuinely liked, she had always assumed they were just helping her to present her best to everyone.
Always telling her what to buy, what music was trending or which peers to be friends with and which ones to never be seen in the same room with. The reality of who her friends truly were was encroaching on her and she felt her eyes begin to dampen.
“I guess I should thank you though, cause Joey finally saw what he was missing.” Chastity continued.
“Joey?” Bianca questioned. “What happened to Damien?”
Chastity merely shrugged. “Joey caught us before we left his house and asked me to go with him.”
Bianca’s lips drew into a thin line, before pursing them tightly, “Well congratulations, he’s all yours.”
Chastity replied with a tight-lipped smile. “Very generous your majesty. And just so you know,” she stepped closer, standing over Bianca and leaning in even closer to be just inches away from her, “Joey was only interested in you for one reason; Damien told me. He had bet going with his friends. He was gonna try to nail you tonight.” Chastity smiled down at her with false sympathy.
Bianca’s mouth fell open. “You knew…” Bianca asked in a broken whisper and coldly, Chastity nodded with a light twitch of her lips. That water dampening her eyes was welling up, brimming in the corners of her eyes and clouding her vision. Bianca sprinted from the bathroom gaining stares and concerned looks from other girls near the sinks.
Turning back to the mirror Chastity adjusted the straps of her dress before looking through her purse and adding just a thin layer of powder base to her cheeks, taking one more overall look. She felt the stares and with a harsh scowl turned to the girls next to her who all snapped their heads back front, averting their eyes in unison before walking out of the bathroom.
She dropped the little container of powder back into her little, glittered purse and strutted out of the bathroom now immersed back into the darkened space with flashing strobe lights dancing in every corner.
Chastity spotted Joey just a few feet away, his back to her and she started his way placing a hand on his arm over the pristine white sleeve of his suit jacket and letting it drag up until it reached to rest on his shoulder, her other hand also coming to rest on the other shoulder.
“What took so long?” He asked. Chastity rested her chin over her hand; her face pressed to his head while her lips rested just next to his ear as she talked over the music.
“Just ran into someone.” Chastity explained with an annoyed drawl. Joey didn’t respond to her answer looking over the crowd, smiling every so often as some of his peers or other students looked his way. Suddenly his shoulders tensed underneath her hands.
Bianca was standing in the corner, and he caught the faint glimmer of small tears beginning to run down her face; however, she wasn’t alone. That little shit was with her, holding onto her hand and using the other to cup her face, gently swiping away the descending tear with his thumb. Then that dirt under his polished shoe pecked her cheek, drawing her into a comforting hug while Bianca tucked her chin on his shoulder. “What the hell?” Joey spat.
“What?” He just barley heard Chastity’s voice from behind him ask. She followed his gaze over to the pair and she grimaced. “I can’t believe she went with him. He’s not even that cute.”
Joey briskly looked over his shoulder, seeing Chastity’s unsurprised gaze also trained on them. With accusatory finger he squawked savagely, “She left me to come here with him?!”
“What’s the problem?” Chastity chastised but Joey ignored her to start frantically scanning the crowd and his head froze, starting off towards the mass of people but Chastity’s grip tightened on his shoulders.
“Get the hell off me!” He bellowed and jerked her hands off of him, storming over to where he saw Patrick’s head just poking out above the crowd.
———
“Milwaukee!” Patrick shouted over the rattling base from the band after spinning [Name] out and then back into his arms.
Her brows furrowed, “What?” She yelled back and he spun her out again before pulling her in again, leading a very chaotic and quick paced dance.
“That’s where I was last year,” he explained. “I wasn’t in jail. I don’t know Marilyn Manson and I didn’t sleep with a Spice Girl.” He said and captured her waist again only to look off for a moment in thought, “I don’t think.”
“Then what is it?” She asked and was rampant with anticipation.
He continued on, “You see, my grandpa was ill and neither of my parents could take care of him, so I spent most of the year on his couch, taking care of him and watching Wheel of Fortune while making a lot of SpagettiOs.” He spun them both and leaned [Name] into a low dip. “End of story.”
[Name] laughed, leaning up to touch her forehead with his. “No way,” she beamed up at him with a smile.
A harsh hand clamped onto Patrick’s shoulder and yanked him back, seeing Joey come into view with raging anger blatant on his face. “Hey. What’s Bianaca doing here with that cheese dick?” Patrick’s face went blank and before he could speak Joey hollered loud enough for those around them to hear, “I didn’t pay you to take out [Name] so that some little punk could snake me with Bianca!”
Time froze, the music disappeared around her and reality as she thought it to be shattered
into a million jagged shards. It was confirmed when she looked past Joey to Patrick’s guilty expression, his face fell as he said nothing. Every word, every memory was instantly tainted. It was all a lie. Just like she feared it had been.
Feeling the ton that was sitting on her chest and the tears unwilling welling into her eyes she pushed back both of them and ran through the crowd of students, heading for the doors.
Without a second thought Patrick turned on his heel and sped in her direction.
He pushed through everyone after her, gaining Michael’s attention as he hurriedly ran past them. Michael conspicuously danced himself and Mandella over towards Cameron and Bianca, reaching over to tap Cameron’s back.
“The shit hath hitteth the fan…eth.” He pointed Joey’s way and Cameron nodded; slipping from Mandella’s arms Michael rushed in front of Cameron and made haste towards Joey.
“Joey, pal, compadre?” Michael was thrown to the ground after Joey latched onto the fabric of his jacket and slammed him to the ground.
Cameron could only roll his eyes. It was like in just a matter of seconds he saw just how pathetic someone like Joey really was, an arrogant asshole with his head so far up his own ass it took permanent residence. This was the type of guy many of their peers aspire to be. Shallow aspirations if you asked him.
He pushed past Joey and held out his hand to Michael. Joey remained belligerent, snarling over the music, “You messed with the wrong guy, and now you’re gonna pay.” Cameron could feel Joey creeping forward, his words spewing out like venom. “You and that little bitch!” Joey spat.
Cameron’s hand slipped from Michaels’, causing Michael to fall back to the ground, as he slowly rose to stand tall. The moment a single hand snatched the fabric of the shoulder of his jacket Cameron whirled around, yanking Joey’s hand off of him and throwing it down. “All right, that enough, okay!”
He only saw Joey’s little smirk before he was falling to the ground, stinging pain rippling through his nose as his vision skewed into a colorful array before he was face to face with the hardwood floor.
Joey shook off his aching hand, looking at Cameron’s unmoving body as he cupped his nose in his hands. “Oh, come on! Get up you little punk!” A noticeable audience had been garnered by the scene, the few people around them all looking onward and watching everything unfold.
A single tap on his shoulder caused him to turn his head and a hand connected to his own nose before he could think. His hands rocketed to it, touching at the end to check for any blood. Gasps and shocked chatter emerged from the group surrounding them.
When Joey saw his hands were clean, he looked down at a seething Bianca, her breath ragged and eyes locked onto him. “Shit, Bianca! I’m shooting a nose spray ad tomorrow!”
After a beat of silence she screamed, “That was for making my date bleed!” Her face fell stone cold, a look of contemplation flashing over her before she punched him in the nose again, “That’s for my sister!” She declared and hooked onto his shoulder before kneeing him in the dick.
Watching as he doubled over, she grabbed onto the lapels of his coat, forcing him to stand and look her in the eyes. “And that’s for me.” Said Bianca before she let him go, letting him drop to the floor.
She rushed over to Cameron, Mandella following suit, stepping over Joey and helping Michael up off the floor as he groaned.
“Oh my god, are you ok?” She searched his face worriedly, “What was that about?” She asked.
Michael tried to put on a brave face, but it was failing him. “My love…” he whimpered, “there… there’s something I have to tell you.”
———
Pulling him to his feet, Bianca tenderly cupped Cameron’s face, “Are you ok?” Her voice soft as she looked up at him and he could only smile despite the burning throbbing.
“Never been better.” He replied.
Bianca giggled and pulled him closer, guiding his lips to hers and brushing noses. Cameron jumped back with a small yelp, clutching his nose.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” she gasped, cupping his face again and gently kissing his cheek instead.
A hand sat on Bianca’s shoulder, and she turned around to see Kat behind her, “I heard you yelling, what happened?”
Bianca dropped her hands from Cameron’s face and pointed past them, towards the floor. “Joey happened.” Bianca seethed and Kat looked off to the floor seeing Joey lying on the ground curled in a ball and slowly rocking back and forth.
Kat’s eyes rose, searching the immediate space around them. “Where’s [Name]?”
“I thought she was with you?” Bianca replied and watched Kat’s face contort into one of worry.
Cameron put a hand on Kat’s shoulder, pointing past her head and both watched as Patrick’s head ducked out from the door. Bianca followed Cameron’s finger and gathering her skirt in her hand, she grabbed Kat’s wrist and ran through the crowd.
———
“[Name]!”
She didn’t listen, she just continued trudging towards the stairs, her only objective to walk out those door, go home, and never think about this night or the past month ever again.
“[Name]! Please, let me talk to you!”
“You were paid!” She cried as she snapped around to face him. Hot tears were cascading down her face, her makeup trailing down her face.
“You were paid to take me out,” she screamed and collected tears sputtered from her mouth, “by the person who has made mine and my friends lives miserable. Who took advantage of Kat…” she shook her head as speaking became too painful.
She pursed her lips tightly to keep the sob trapped in her throat from choking out. She whispered, “I knew this was a set-up,” and started for the stairs, quickening her pace when she heard Patrick running footsteps behind her.
“[Name],” he caught her arm and pulled her back, “it wasn’t like that, okay.”
“Really?” She asked. “Then what was it like? A down payment now and then a bonus for sleeping with me?” She snapped.
Patrick firmly took hold arms, “I didn’t care about the money, ok! I cared…. I cared about you.” He admitted faintly.
“Really?” She spat with an accusatory tone, crossing her arms.
A painful look contorted onto his face as he pursed his lips. “Ok! At first it was just about the money, but then, I spent time with you, and I cared for you… I got to know you.” Uttered Patrick.
She stepped back, letting his hands slip from her arms and fall back to his sides. “Kat was right.” She hissed. “You aren’t just arrogant, and pathetic, or brash, or egotistical and perverted, you are a coward! And you’re a lair, and a hypocrite, and the most selfish and manipulative person I have ever met!”
Patrick’s eyes fell as he had no argument. Everything she said was true.
“You…” She took another moment to compose herself as a tear shot down her face and fell to the floor, tears brimming in her eyes and welling up so far that her vision was impaired until she blinked them away. “You are not who I thought you were.”
She went to turn again but his hand grabbed onto her face, and he crashed his lips into hers, pressing a forceful kiss that she instantly broke away from. “What the hell is wrong with you?!” [Name] shrieked.
[Name] ran down the stairs, rushing down them with the ruffles of her skirt gathered in her hand and heels pounding the floor.
Patrick turned to see Bianca and Kat turned the corner, while Bianca examined the solemn look of Patrick’s face, Kat saw [Name] disappear down the stairs. Her face hardened and she rushed for the top of the stairs, pushing Patrick out of the way as she chased after [Name].
—————————————————————————
The past few hours were nothing but emotional turmoil. He didn’t sleep at all the previous night. Patrick sat on the floor of his room from the moment he got home until the next morning, watching the orange rays streak into his room as the sun rose.
It must have been nothing compared to what [Name] was going through throughout the same time.
The devil himself would be appalled to be compared to him and the heinous actions he committed.
The wind tussled the nearby leaves in the tree, causing the wind chimes hanging on the front porch to chime its ear-splitting screech that caused a shiver down Patrick’s spine.
Three pointed knocks. Each one in perfect synchronicity with the hammering of his heartbeat clogging his ears. The terror he felt as he waited, hearing nothing on the other end. The tension was palpable, and he jumped, stepping back when he hears shuffling from behind the door and a sharp snap of the dead bolt.
His heart dropped into his stomach when the door opened and standing in the doorway was [Name’s] mother. Patrick flickered his eyes erratically from her to the mat just before the threshold when a hardened scowl pinched at her face at the sight of him.
He swallowed thickly and cleared his throat where words were trying to force themselves out. “I-uh… I was wondering if [Name] was home.”
God, he couldn’t look her in the eye. The way she was staring at him, like she was restraining herself from leaping across the porch and strangling him. [Name’s] mother didn’t speak, just biting her lips and Patrick could tell she was trying to compose herself and not let a string of curses against him slip from her lips.
“You young men now surprise me everyday with just how cruel you can be.”
Patrick’s head fell along with his eyes. He should have known she knew. “I know I’m probably the last perso—”
“You are not going to speak.” She asserted with a pointed finger, “and I’m going to talk.”
Patrick took a shaky breath without comment, silently complying.
Her mother continued. “For years I have watched my daughter be beat down, ridiculed and harassed all of her life.” Her jaw ticked and Patrick watched as she bit her lip again, slowly shaking her head. “She is a sweet girl who wants to care and fight for the best of everyone. And I’ve watched people spit in her face just for the way she looks. And you sold her out for printed paper.” A venomous sting in her voice pierced into his skin as she spoke.
Finding his nerve again, he spoke, albeit with great hesitation and a tremor to his voice.
“I just want a chance to explain… to set things straight. To apologize.”
“What is there to explain?” She screeched. “Am I wrong that you were paid to take out my daughter for some sort of selfish joke?!”
Patrick let his mouth fall closed again, standing awkwardly under her heated gaze.
[Name’s] mother sighed and stepped back behind the threshold of the door, gripping the edge of the wooden door so tightly her knuckled began to pale.
“You are not welcome in my home again, you are no longer to speak to my daughter, and I will only ask you kindly once to get off my porch.” Her eyes shot back up to him and she demanded, “Now,” before slamming to the door in his face.