My 1st Prom

Date: 5/7, Tue

 My iPhone vibrates, notifying me of WhatsApp texts from an unknown number. "Eva here. Is something wrong?" Plus a selfie of her at Starbucks. I don't need to enlarge the pic to identify the cool guy next to her. A coffee cup on the wooden table-only one straw. Another one of Eva's endless jabs. I reply "you're wrong" and smash the green button -beside the text bar- with a thumb, not acknowledging the unbearable sting in my chest. Lucky Eva. Why didn't I see that they are close enough for indirect kisses?

The final school bell releasing us from school, S1G2 classmates snatch their belongings and head out, switching the lights off on their way. I'm inches away from snivelling my heart out. Not having any energy to move, I lay my head over the crook of my arm and face downwards on the table. Staying there for what seems like forever, waiting for nothing in the darkness.

Light crawls in as the door swings open for a brief second and footsteps announce someone's presence. The chair in front of me is pulled out by unseen hands. 'Oh cutie. Are a few texts all it takes to bring you down?' Male voice with humour. I peek up, taking in brown hair and captivating brown eyes. My heartbeat pumps dizzyingly fast. The boy spins a chair around so it's facing me. 'To what do I owe this pleasure?' I huff, voice bored. Nick plops down, resting his feet -plus his shoes- on my table. 'Eva borrowed my phone a few minutes ago.' Sly girl. 'Thanks, dude. Nice shoes, by the way.' I keep my head up, overlooking his shiny black leather shoes. I've got Nick's number! 'Are you jealous?' He tries keeping the conversation afloat. 'Nope,' I demonstrate unconcern, 'she only wanted to piss me off and she did. The end.' Silence proves my point. Walk away if you know what's good for you. Nick sweeps his feet off the table, half smiling at me, 'How about me ? Did I piss you off ?'

He abruptly thumbs my brow. This is really comfy. I scoot backwards, grateful for the darkness camouflaging my warm cheeks, 'What ar-' 'Making sure you're not trying to communicate in telepathy,' Nick cuts in, 'for the gazillionth time.' 'Were you frowning at me in the library?' I ask tentatively. 'Scuse me,' he winces, 'shouldn't have judged an acquaintance. Besides, you were laughing to refrain from crying back there. Only idiots couldn't see it.' 'I-I'm honestly relieved,' I open up a bit, 'Wait, acquaintances?' He caresses my brow in response. I take the bull by the horns, 'You don't mind my M germs?' He stands up and walks around the classroom, 'I'm immune since the beginning of time.' I pop his perhaps-we-might-possibly- be-friends bubble, 'Says the popular guy who didn't step in much.' He teases back, 'Says the cutie who failed all French dictations.' He must've seen my disastrous results. 'Hey,' I defend myself, 'I never understood whatever Madame Lafrance babbled on about.' 'Too bad,' Nick ruffles his brown hair, 'did you really not talk to me because-' He stops himself. I take the plunge, holding out a hand, 'Yeah, popularity and all that.' 'I don't bite,' another one of his half smiles. Nick briskly walks over and opts for a hi-five instead of a handshake. The shield of misery veiling my heart goes poof, 'K, don't expect me to fangirl.'

'Sure, sure,' he chuckles, 'Oh-now that you've got my number, I can help you in French.' His voice fills to the brim with sincerity.... and kindness. Is he psychic? I beam, 'Nice of you to assume I need your help, Mr. Top-of-the-class.' He doesn't shrink from me. 'Are you seriously going to flunk French without studying ?' 'I'll quit in style when I reach Secondary 4, Monsieur Swanspin.' He kicks the chair back in place, 'In that case, Mademoiselle Blank, I look forward to French dictations next year.' 'C'est difficile, non?' I hurl out one of the few phrases I know, plus a feeble smile. He thumbs my eyebrow again and I don't shy away this time, 'I'll indulge you at McDonalds if you pass one.' I gradually lean back, wondering if he likes me,'Tempting, but I'm going to fail no matter what. Trust me.' 'That's why I offered to help, dumbass.' He gives one of his fascinating cocky grins. I could've sworn my muted, greyish world is blossoming vivid colours like in anime scenes. And the cloudy sky is suddenly bright and sunny. The thought of him teaching me makes being at school much more tolerable than I'd admit.

'Is Eva your girlfriend?' My mouth spins faster than my brain, 'You took her out for coffee.' I'm definitely getting carried away. 'I don't have a girlfriend, cutie. What the hell are you thinking?' He casually reaches for my brow again. My cheeks heat up from physical contact. Change of tactics, gotta let him know I'm interested.

'Nothing, handsome boi.' I stand up and wink, 'Au revoir and see you at McDonalds.' Nick's mouth drops -and hangs- agape. Oh my god. I'm not used to flirting, can I continue? 'You look funny,' I push the door wide open, 'did you practise that facial expression in the mirror? Cuz you still look great to me.' He collects himself before the door shuts, 'Want me to teach you French kissing 101, Celcel?' I forbid myself from giggling helplessly while holding the door open, 'Save the best for last. And don't forget to clean my table.' Time to prep for my new study goal. Life is suddenly wonderful.

'Close your eyes, Cel.' Mum reminds me. Clanging sounds of Mum hanging a clothes hanger on a rack in my walk-in wardrobe, 'Now open them.' A squeal leaps from my mouth as I feast my eyes on the prom dress. The strapless dress is glamorous up close, except for a pretty pink bow attached to the waistline by a safety pin. Something about seeing my dream dress in reality makes it unreasonably beautiful. Nothing can top the moment as one of my best days. 'I picked up your dress from the tailor's,' Mum smiles. Gorgeous won't ever be enough to describe it. I try it on, removing the bow and checking my reflection in the mirror. The sheet of pink almost skims the floor and the straight across neckline is just what I've pined for. Twirling around, it swishes around my legs like a magical gown in fairytales. If I lift my dress off the ground, my reflection looks like a noble lady in an aristocratic family. Sweet! Luke enters my walk-in wardrobe. 'Slutty chi-.' 'No rude words,' Mum points her index finger towards the ceiling, 'from you. I'll confiscate your Xbox if you cuss.' Luke mutters 'child abuse' and sulks off. I twirl out of the wardrobe in a daze. 'Good,' Mum follows and tries to lightly tug my dress downwards, 'the elastic bands are working.'

My iPhone vibrates once again, so I snatch it off the table in one swift motion, still in the dress. A text from Nick, "WhatsApp me if you need anything, cutie." An ecstatic smile lights up my face. 'Who is that?' Mum asks with a hint of suspicion. 'A-a friend.' I answer a bit too quickly, switching my iPhone off. 'Is your friend a male or female?' 'He's a guy,' I bluff, 'who already has a girlfriend -not me- who's very pretty.' 'Celestia, me and your dad never talked to you about boys.' She begins. I groan, 'Mum. I swear I'm not dating anybody.' Yet. 'Also, I might be bi,' I improvise, ' Who knows? You might as well give me a talk on both genders.' Her mouth drops open. 'Just kidding!' I finger the pink fabric, 'Iluvit.' Mum joyfully takes a few pics of me, 'My daughter in a prom dress. I've waited so long for this moment. ' I grin at my reflection, 'Try not to be too sentimental.'

After changing into pajamas, I lie on my stomach in bed. Elbows propped up by a soft fluffy pillow, holding my iPhone in both hands. "Sure," I text Nick with two thumbs, "what if I need a dude to talk to?" His reply is short and a kinda sweet. "If that dude is me, by all means." A new message from him seconds later, "Your profile pic is interesting." I reply, "I don't have one." "Exactly, why not?" "I don't want to be blocked" I begin typing, then pause. Nope, too pathetic. Deleting the words, I type "In case M germs spread online." Send.

"It so doesn't." His text bubble pops up. I press the microphone button, swiping up. My voice is small, 'I've got a serious case of M germs, ya know.' Lock, then press the white paper plane button.

A few minutes pass without any reply from him. I roll on my back, throwing the iPhone aside in progress. It vibrates from an audio. I press down on play. 'Look, cure and disease are two sides of the same coin, Celcel. You're a bitter pill, if it makes you feel better.' Hearing him makes me more energised despite the things I've endured. 'Ya... uhh... thanks. Haha.' I decide to stop before producing awkwardness out of nowhere, 'Text you later.' We both know "later" means another today.

'Not if I text you first cutie.' Plus a winky-kissy emoji face.

Needless to say, I lost sleep until 2 in the morning. 

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Flirty flirty～(づ￣ ³￣)づ

I had a fun time with this chapter. Imagine a teen girl typing on her iPad, occasionally giggling to herself inside her bedroom in 2020. That's me.

(^shameless wink) A vote, please? Leave a comment ? Merci!