These Broken Roads

Chapter 27: Plans for Prom

~Natalie~

"What do you think?" Mary asked, showing me a new sketch of her prom dress.

I smiled at her looking over the gorgeous dress. The last fifty she's shown me were great too.

"Natalie, it's like you're not even excited." Mary said with a frown at my unenthusiastic response to her dress.

I shrugged. "I was excited about the first ten dresses."

Mary stuck a fry in her mouth and set her drawing pad down. She then took a sip of her milkshake.

"I'm sorry Mary." I said, taking a deep breath. "I was looking forward to prom, but now with everything that's happened...I'm just disappointed."

"I know Natalie." She said licking her lips. "Have you talked to E about it? You guys were going to go together?"

I nodded. "Yeah. Since I already graduated I can't go. E told me he'd take me and, well, it's not totally my thing, but I was still looking forward to it."

Mary nodded. "I'm really sorry. Do you think you'd want to still go with E? Just as friends?"

I gave her a look. "I think that's leading him on."

Mary tapped her chin with her pencil and took another sip of her milkshake. She got morbid for a moment and I gave her a worried look.

"What are you thinking about?" I asked.

She sat up from where she was lounging on our couch. "What if you go with Nate?"

I shook my head. "Mary, no. You have been planning your dress for weeks now."

"Yeah, but I'm a junior. I'll be able to go next year." She shrugged and closed her sketching pad. She gave me a small smile. "That way you'll still be able to go to Prom."

I shook my head again. "No. Mary..."

She reached over and patted my knee. "It's alright. Can I design your dress though?"

I swallowed hard. I really did want to go to Prom. I was excited about getting dressed up and having another night like Homecoming.

"Mary..."

"Alright I'll get started on your dress right away." She said getting off the couch. "I'll also let Nate know, don't worry about that."

"Mary?"

She smiled again, grabbed her half empty milkshake, and then headed out the door quickly, mostly avoiding my eyes. I opened my mouth again, but wasn't able to say anything before she closed the door. I gathered up the burger wrappers and tossed them in the trash. I kept thinking about Mary and how disappointed she must feel now.

~Elliot~

It's been a few weeks since I talked to the police. They have been quiet. Dad and the lawyer both said that that was good news so I had no choice but to believe them.

I was sitting on the couch playing video games when Dad appeared.

"Good news." Dad said with a smile. "I found a doctor to do surgery to repair your mobility."

I sighed and paused my game. "Dad, we talked about this."

"No. Actually we haven't, but I'm not letting you hurt your chances to play because of your accident." Dad said, his jaw set and face stern. "The surgery is scheduled for May 19th."