ruin | guy germaine

22 | the big day

LANEY ROSE MCKINLEY 🌹

   Today was the day. Was I beyond nervous? Yes.

   I woke up earlier than everyone else, and made a nice breakfast for the tons of people in the house who all seemed to enjoy it.

   All of the girls were the first ones to get a shower. After we were all finished, kayli and grandma took us next door to her house while the boys fought over who would get ready first.

   I didn't know much of what we were going to do. I've never been to a dance before, so I didn't know what all needed done.

   We all woke up pretty late, and considering there were four of us, we wanted to rush to get finished.

   I had butterflies in my stomach all morning. I didn't know what to expect. I was excited.

   "Laney, you're going to have the greatest time of your life tonight, I swear. I'm so excited and happy for you. Are you nervous at all?" Kayli asked me as she started my hair.

   A smile started to form on my. I looked down at my hands on my lap.

   "I don't know what to expect. My first high school dance, and I'm literally going with the boy of my dreams. Are you sure this is all real?" I asked. I heard Linda and Connie laugh behind me, and Julie laugh beside me while my grandma did her hair.

   "It's very much real," Kayli said. She paused for a second, "I'm really glad you moved here, Laney. I'm not sure if we would've ever seen each other again if you didn't. You're so happy and that makes me happy. I know how much Texas was bad for you."

  My smile slowly started to fade, "well, I'm glad I'm still here, and I'm glad I'm here now because I have the most amazing friends I could ask for, and the best family," I softly told her.

   I've said this many times, but I had a rough life back in Texas. I never liked talking about the things that happened because it always put me in a bad state emotionally, and I knew other people have been through worse.

   I saw the girls give each other confused look, like they had an idea of what I was talking about. I stayed silent. They were all in a good mood and I didn't want to ruin it.

   "Oh, by the way, I took your dress to the dry cleaners this morning and I have to leave in an hour to get it," Kayli said.

   "Okay," I responded, "is it good enough for the dance?" I asked, "it was all I had. I didn't have much money to spend on one anyways."

   Kayli sent me the fakest smile possible while nodding her head, "of course!" her voice was higher than usual, "it's gorgeous!"

    Either she was lying, or she was up to something. knowing her, maybe it was even both. I playfully rolled my eyes and smiled.

      This was it. It was time to get changed. I was all ready, and I just needed to get my dress on. The girls were already downstairs, along with the rest of the team. Connor, Ryan and their friends were already outside getting pictures. I was running behind.

    Kayli had just left my room from dropping my dress. The dress bag hung on the back of my bedroom door.

   I let out a nervous breath, unzipping the bag. I didn't see my blue dress. It was the one Kayli had made for the girl in Chicago. I furrowed my eyebrows together.

    I quickly threw my door open and ran down the hall. I caught Kayli before she made it down the stairs.

    "Kay, you gave me the wrong dress!" I said in a panic, "now that girl has to wear my ugly dress to her dance instead of the one you made!"

    My cousin rolled her eyes. She smiled and shook her head.

   "It's very much the right dress, Bugs. It was for you the whole time. I wasn't going to let you wear that ugly old dress to your first dance at a new school, no offense," she told me.

   I looked at her in awe, "are you serious? I get to wear that dress?" 

   She nodded, "everyone was in on it too."

    I smiled wide. I immeaditly ran to the girl and wrapped her in a tight hug.

   "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I squealed as loud as I possibly could.

"Lanes-you're uh, squeezing me!" She spit out. I quickly let go of her and apologized.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," I told her. She smiled at me.

"Go get that dress on and meet me downstairs in five minutes, okay?" she ordered. I happily nodded my head.

I turned away from her and headed back to my room. What would've made this moment better was if my father was here, but I knew he couldn't have been. Hopefully next year he could, but I knew he was wishing the best for me tonight.

After I got my dress on, I looked at myself in the mirror over and over again, smiling wide.

This was a new me, and I quite frankly liked this new me. I grabbed my phone from my bathroom sink and texted Guy, staring to head out of my room and down the hall.

lanes 📸🎞
it's time, locker blocker. can you let
Kayli know I'm coming so she doesn't
freak out pweaseeeee?

guyger 🎂
Of course I can doll
face. I'm excited. I bet you look
absolutely stunning.

lanes 📸🎞
thank you 🥺 you're so amazing

guyger 🎂
Ugh, I like you so much!! 🥴 You
still like me, right?

lanes 📸🎞
of course I do, dummy. I like you
so much too

I locked my phone, placing it in the pocket of my dress I was so excited to have. A huge smile was plastered on my face. A real smile.

As I turned in the stairway, all of my teammates came into view who waited at the steps for late girl.

My eyes landed on Guy. He looked at me with what I assumed was shock. I hope it was shock, and not disgust. I couldn't believe how incredibly good he looked in a suit. I mean, he looked good in everything, honestly.

He rolled his eyes and closed them with happiness. I smiled wide at him, eventually making it to the bottom of the stairs. He was quick to wrap me into a tight hug.

I placed my arms around his neck, him lifting me up in the hug before setting me back down on the ground. I felt him place a small kiss on my forehead. My cheeks turned redder than what they were.

He looked down at me, his dimples sticking out, "I think I'm ready for pictures."