I can feel Cadenza's thin fingers wrap a line of measuring tape around my bust once before taking the number in and writing it on a ripped out piece of notebook paper. She learned about Garroth's sneaky plan from Laurance before she could've learned it from me.
"All three Zvahls," she coos, moving the tape down to my underbust. "Going to prom."
"Cadi, Garroth hasn't asked me yet."
"But he will."
If this were for us actually going as friends, I could see it going either way. But Garroth's a man of his word, so I lean closer to the idea he'd take me if I wasn't his girlfriend. It's just if that was the case, what would be there to have him want to ask me? It'd be awkward to take your best friend's little sister to prom because you felt bad. It's Garroth's loyalty is something I admire, but sometimes I think of it being his greatest fault.
The door to the bedroom is open, and Laurance walks by the doorway, only to moonwalk back to look at us. His face scrunches up in confusion before he invites himself in and plops on Cadenza's made bed. She's in so much concentration she doesn't argue about it.
"Why?" It's the only thing he says. At this point in time, I thought Laurance would've been used to the continuous taking of measurements that Cadenza does with us.
"Dad's credit card will be in pain by buying two dresses," Cadenza says, jotting down another measurement, this time from my hips. "The fabric will be a pain too, but not nearly as much as two dresses."
"She hasn't even been asked. You can't just assume."
"Garroth's a man of his world, silly Laurance," Cadenza comments, placing her hand on her hip. She has me sit next to Laurance on her bed before quickly looking through her sketchbook for an empty page. "Even you know that. He said he'll take her, and he will. I can feel it."
"Stop with your stupid feelings."
My eyebrows furrow together before I frown. I'm confused. Why is he acting so different now than he was before? At lunch, he seemed fine with the idea. If he was truly against it, he wouldn't have been afraid to tell Garroth no. He didn't think Garroth was joking, was he? Did he find out?
"You gave your permission," I comment, trying to work up enough confidence to utter a few words. "Why are you so bitter about it now?"
He goes onto an entire rant. Laurance explains that he didn't have to worry about going to prom his sophomore year, and now there are a bunch of females chasing after him. He's bitter because he's attractive. Oh no, run for the hills.
"Well, if you're asking Kandi, you better do it fast. Dante's eyes seemed to sparkle when she was talking about prom."
I'm not completely oblivious. I pay attention to some things. Maybe they're not the most important things, but they're things nonetheless. The entire table was a mess. Dante and Laurance seemed like they were in a dream state too much to notice Garroth's cocky smirks. Vylad seemed extra quieter than normal. The girls chirped about prom like it was the only thing that mattered in the world. It makes you begin to wish there was never a poster tapped to Aphmau's locker.
He stands from his place, making an excuse that he needs to leave. He claims he has a homework assignment and needs Garroth's help on it. I can tell it's a bullshit excuse. No one goes to Garroth for homework help. He doesn't even share a class with Garroth.
Cadenza turns to look at me when Laurance is out of ear shot. She rolls her eyes dramatically and groans loudly. She complains that he's ruined her head, and she moves me to my feet, so we can go to her desk.
Her desk is the messiest thing I have ever seen in my entire life. It's full of loose notebook pages tacked into the wall and fashion inspirations tapped as well. There are lists of fabrics she needs on a post-it note, and I know for a fact there's a drawer of loose fabric scraps without having to open anything.
"Tell me. What kind of dress do you want?"
°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°
By the time dad gets back, Laurance is still gone. Dinner is on the table, so it's just the three of us tonight. It's quiet, but I don't mind it.
The beginning of dinner is filled with small talk. How was your day? How was school? How was work? Today I. . . it's the same thing we start with every dinner before diving into an actual conversation. This is something that reminds me of dinner at the Ro'meaves'.
"Where did your brother go?" Dad asks, cutting a piece of the meat on his plate with a knife and a fork. He cuts as he eats. It differs from me. It must be cut before I start. It's easier that way.
"He went to the Ro'meaves. He claimed he needed to see Garroth for homework help, but I think it's really something about Kandi and prom."
The noodles on my plate are of little interest to me. I push them side to side on my plate. Somehow, for some reason, I'm not hungry.
"Alex, don't play with your food. Something's wrong. What is it?"
I look up from my plate. Was it really that obvious? I feel embarrassed for being caught, and the look on Cadenza's face tells me she's about to burst from excitement. She's never been one to hold a secret. That's why we don't tell her any.
"Well, daddy, can I go to prom? Garroth wants to take me."
His eyebrows lift in surprise. Is it that surprising to think Garroth would want to take me to prom? Wait until he learns Garroth is the same boy that sneaks into my room at night. "Laurance's Garroth? Wait. . . that didn't sound right. I-I mean, you can go, but you have to be safe. I just. . . I just wasn't expecting my little girl to grow up so quickly."
