From the moment
I laid eyes on her I knew she was different. For a while we kept passing each
other sneaking smiles. Every time I caught her smile I felt a tingle in my
spine and my checks grow warm. There was just something about her was it her
eyes. No maybe it was the way she was acting. Whatever it was I found myself
going out of my way just to get another glance at her.
It
was near the end of the day when I finally caught her by the door with her
hands full of bags. “Hi my names Aaron and I was wondering if you needed help
carrying all that” I say with a nod at all the bags in her hands. “Oh that
would be nice thank you” she says handing me a few of the bags. With that our
hands briefly touched but I felt my heart jump and my face get hot. With that
she quickly turned and started to walk through the ***** parking lot. It wasn’t
long before she stopped by a small red car and started to fumble for the keys
in her pocket. It wasn’t long before the car was unlocked. With the car now
unlocked she tossed in the few bags she had been carrying. She then turned to
me with a smile as I held the bags out for her to take. Once she had finished
loading those she turned back to me “Thank you Aaron wasn’t it? Anyway oh I’m
sorry I never introduced myself I’m Maren.” She said before turning to get in
the car. She started off giving me a wave before disappearing even after I
couldn’t see her I found that I was staring. Wondering in my head what it was
about her that made her different.
Within
days I had forgotten about Maren because of all that was happening the school,
work, and just everything else going on. But tonight she was probably the last
thing that would come to my mind. This was due to the fact that tonight was the
prom. My mind was on more pressing matters how I look, the ride, and of course
my date. I soon found myself waiting outside my house in the driveway for my
friends to show up with our ride to prom. We had all thrown in some money to
rent a limo for tonight so we were all going to share it. It was only minutes
before the limo pulled up to the curb near me. The door near the back opened
and a gravelly voice with a fake accent called out “come comrade we have much
to discuss and drink!” With that I hopped in to the chorus of laughter inside.
Once my eyes adjusted I saw my friends Nick, Andrew, and Phil which meant that
John was driving. With that I felt a pang of pity for John since he was the only
one who hadn’t gotten a date. But that pang was soon forgotten when Nick and
Andrew opened up the ceiling window and started yelling out of it. For a few
minutes I couldn’t stop laughing at them. But they stepped down and offered me
and Phil a chance at it. I gladly took it and as I looked out I was welcomed by
the sight of the city and wind as John sped down the highway. I turned to face
the wind forgetting any concern for how I looked as the wind went through my
hair messing it up. I stepped down and caught a look at myself with wind-swept
hair off of the glass the Nick was now drinking from. It was after a few
minutes of drinking some sparkling cider someone had brought that we arrived at
Andrew’s date’s house. He popped his head out the roof window and called out
“hey baby come on in!” It was seconds before a girl opened the door giggling.
She quickly went and sat with him he then introduced us pointing at us in turn
“guys this is Taylor, Taylor this is Nick, Phil, Aaron, and Johns driving for
us.” Taylor gave us all a small smile and nod as everyone was introduced to
her. I was too busy listening to Andrew to notice that we had stopped until
Nick hopped up and got out. He stood there and held the door for his date who
went and sat by Taylor. Nick quickly shut the door and sat by her. He then
introduced us in turn and introduced us his date her name was Marisa but I
already knew that I met her a couple of weeks ago when our classes changed. We
all talked and I yet again was oblivious that we had stopped until Phil’s date
opened the door making me jump. Everyone laughed at that as I felt my face grow
hot. The girl immediately went and sat with Phil who introduced her as Julia.
It was at that point with a sense of nervous excitement that I realized my date
was next. Her name was Sophia but we weren’t really a couple we were just
friends going together so we wouldn’t have to deal with anybody but we were a
couple as far as everyone else was concerned. But even then I had to admit
Sophia was pretty to say the least. She had blonde hair that shone beautifully
when the light caught it she also had a great smile. But to top it off she had
amazing hazel eyes. The driving felt like mere seconds before we arrived. As
soon as the limo stopped I quickly hopped out of the car only to be stopped by
the sight of Sophia. She was wearing an immaculate pink dress that complemented
her skin and perfected her already beautiful form. I quickly tried to recover
but she smiled and I felt my face get hotter as I held the door for her. But
before she was in she glanced at me smiling and I stiffened in nervousness. But
I immediately noticed the make-up that helped bring out her eyes and made her
lips stand out even more. Once we were
both back into the limo and settled in I introduced Sophia to everybody. As
soon as everyone else became focused on other things I turned to Sophia “y-you
look stunning S-Sophie.” “Awh thanks Aaron*” she replied back with a blush and a
smile. She looked away and I soon found myself staring at her and shook my head
and turned away. How could I not see this before, I mean she’s gorgeous and
only now I’m seeing it. It was then that I noticed the perfume she was hearing
and it washed over me with the familiar comforting aroma. I looked over at her
again as she listened to Taylor and Andrew bickering. She was smiling as though
she didn’t have a care in the world. She caught me looking and said “oh Aaron
stop being so stiff and nervous.” ”Ok I’ll try to” I reply faking a smile as I
take her hand in mine. She sat up straighter at my touch and turned away hiding
her face. I also glanced away only to see Nick shaking his head. ‘What?’ I
mouth at him. ‘Nothing you’re just so blind’ he mouthed back before looking
back to his date. I find myself thinking what is he talking about? But to
change the subject I turn to the front and shout out “So what’re you gonna do
since your dateless?” “Oh just be lonely and anti-social” he replied with a
burst of laughter. “Hey if one of you guys gets king I’m gonna lead the dump of
water on you” John yelled once he could stop laughing. “Ha if anyone’s getting
prom king it’s gonna be me!” Phil yelled in reply. This was probably true
because he was not only a football jock but also class president. “Yeah the
jockey president” Nick said roaring with laughter. Nick and every guy in the
car were also fellow jocks which is how we met. “While you all argue over who’s
going to be king I’ll be talking to the queen” Andrew said with a mischievous
grin. “Oh and who will that be?” I reply already knowing his answer. “Why my
dear little Taylor of course” He said turning and giving her a hug then kissing
her on the cheek. She immediately turned fire-engine red but was grinning
widely. “Awh come on man you need to stop lying it’s gonna be my sweet Marisa”
Nick said elbowing Andrew playfully in the ribs. With that the limo stopped and
immediately Phil jumped out and started hollering loudly that he’d arrived. He
was quickly followed by Andrew and they both (with their dates in tow) made a
B-line for the crowd waving for them. Soon only Sophia and I were left in the
back. We both very slowly got up she was the first to get out and waited for me
to close the door. As I looked up I tensed without realizing it as I saw the
large crowds. As if on cue Sophia reached down and grabbed my hand giving it a
reassuring squeeze. Then I felt her warm breath on my neck seconds before
hearing “your fine Aaron I’m right here with you.” At this I relaxed a little
bit. It was comforting to know that Sophia remembered my deep fear of crowds.
It
wasn’t long before I’d forgotten about meeting Aaron. Seeing as I was too busy
stressing about prom. I was overwhelmed with thoughts of what to wear and my
date. His name was Joseph and he hadn’t been my first choice but he’d have to
do. I’d actually hoped for one of the football players to take me. My only
problem I didn’t know his name and I’d never seen him helmetless. But from what
I knew of him he sounded amazing. But I only knew him as number 21. Oh well you
can’t change the past you have to concentrate on the present. Thinking of the
present prom was approaching with a growing sense of dread. But thankfully my
mom had been helping me the whole way. Like earlier today shed taken me to the
salon before picking my dress up from the seamstress. Then came the make-up and
everything else leading to where I now stand on the dance floor. I was dancing
with some guy id never met since my date had left me as soon as we’d arrived so
he could be with ‘the guys’. Loser I found myself thinking at the thought of
him. I turned my attention back to dancing only to realize the music had
stopped and everyone was turning to the stage. I glanced over and saw the
principal picking up a microphone “ladies and gentlemen the votes for prom king
and queen will be closing in five minutes.” With that I turned and started to
head in the direction of the polls. I quickly scribbled my name for queen and
wrote ‘football player 21’ for prom king. Hopefully if he made king id at least
know who he was. The next few minutes flew by quickly as if the world had been
put on fast forward. It was a few minutes after the polls had been closed
before the principal appeared on the stage again holding two envelopes. She
approached the microphone opening one of the envelopes. “Ladies your new queen
for 2016 is” she paused allowing some suspense before saying “Maren Williams!”
I could feel many face turn and begin to stare at me even as I got over the
initial shock.
