Beautiful One (24 page)

“You're welcome, Aidan.”

Our moment was interrupted when the sound of Spencer's bike started up. I backed away from Aidan in time to see his unreadable expression before he put on his helmet and rode away.

Mason's voice woke me. “It's almost time for dinner.” He walked closer to my bed, but I didn't budge. The bed dipped down where Mason sat. I stretched my arms above my head and yawned. I had been sleeping more than usual. I was mentally drained. Sleep seemed to be the only thing that freed my thoughts.

When my eyes adjusted, I looked at Mason. He seemed to be deep in thought, regarding me speculatively.

“What?”

Mason held something in his hand. “Aidan wanted me to give you this.” He handed me an envelope.

I sat up in my bed, glanced at Mason, and ripped open the envelope.

“Do you want some privacy?” he asked.

“No, it's okay.” I pulled out a handwritten note on lined notebook paper.

Dear Liz,

This belongs to you.

The choice is yours.

Aidan

Out from the folded paper dropped my prom ticket.

“Is he going?” I asked.

Mason shrugged his shoulders. “I don't know. He only said he wanted you to have it.”

My mom's voice beckoned up the stairs and summoned us for dinner.

“You've got twenty-four hours to think about what you want to do.”

“I know.” I read the ticket one more time before I placed it on my bookcase and went downstairs for dinner.

****

No regrets.

That was the first thing that came to mind as I stared at my prom dress which now lay draped across my bed. The second thing that came to mind was Mrs. Chapman. I walked toward the small white canvas and the unopened pack of watercolors that sat proudly on my bookcase. I reached up and read the inscription on the back of the canvas, allowing my fingers
to
skim across the shaky black script.

Sweet Elizabeth,

My life is near its end and yours is just beginning.

A blank canvas of life is before you.

Remember my words and use every color.

Love, Barbara

I placed the canvas back and smiled, knowing she would have been proud of me. Good or bad, I had made the decision to go to my prom. I took a deep breath, picked up my dress, and hung it on the doorjamb of my closet. I applied the finishing touches of my make-up.

The shrill of my mom and Melissa squealing downstairs wafted up into my bedroom. They were so similar it was frightening. I was in the process of shimmying the dress on when Melissa burst through my door.

“C'mon, Liz, time for pictures.” She beamed. Melissa motioned for me to turn around and then zipped up the back of my dress. “I'm so glad you're going.” She hugged me as we walked out of my room to the waiting paparazzi of my parents below.

****

A parade of busses lined the school parking lot. I stood between Melissa and Mason while we slowly moved along, inching our way toward the check-in table. Once we were on the bus, the feeling of humiliation set in. Everyone was paired up. Too bad parking at the prom site was limited. If we could have driven ourselves, I wouldn't feel so exposed. I sat in the first empty seat I came to. Melissa sat in next to me, and Mason squished in beside her.

“You guys, they're not gonna let you sit here,” I protested.

Mason gave me a wink. “Don't worry about it, Liz, I'll handle this.” He rarely used his good looks and charm to get away with things, but I guess he felt he'd pull out the big guns to help out his pathetic dateless sister.

With clipboard in hand, Ms. Dunbar approached us as she checked off each student in his or her designated seat. She glanced at the three of us, Mason gave her his best smile. He reached out and said something to her. But with the hum of the motor and the chatter that echoed throughout the bus, the only thing I heard was her response to him. “Nice try.”

Mason leaned in and whispered. “She never liked me anyway.” He smirked.

“Listen, I'm fine. You guys can just sit over there.” I pointed to a couple of empty seats a few rows back.

“No, you're not sitting alone, Liz.” Melissa started to say something to Mason while she motioned to the seats toward the back of the bus.

“No, Melissa. Please. I'll feel horrible if you both don't sit together. I'm fine. It's just a bus ride. Please. Go.” I could sense her unwillingness to leave me. I continued to persuade her until she left my side to go sit next to Mason. I glanced over my seat and smiled at them both before I sat back down and gazed out the window. My mind drifted to what was ahead. If the empty seat next to me was any indication, it was not going to be good.

****

The three of us entered the resort hotel. A grand staircase was the focal point of our prom venue. Several kids had already grouped together, whipping out their cell phones to take pictures. It made me laugh when Melissa and Mason got bombarded. It seemed like each group that took a picture wanted the potential king and queen of the prom to be in their shot. I left them and moved beyond the staircase into the massive ballroom.

A least a dozen large chandeliers cast a soft glow over the luxurious room. A sea of round tables covered in white linen surrounded the already-crowded dance floor. I made my way to one of the empty tables and sat down, taking everything in. I had left my sullen mood on the bus. Since I'd made the decision to be here, I was going to make the best of it. This was my prom, and I was determined to have a good time. Melissa soon joined me.

“Sorry about that, Liz. That was nuts.” Melissa pulled out a chair and sat next to me.

“Where's Mason?”

“Who knows? Over there somewhere.” Melissa motioned to a large group of kids still snapping pictures. I just laughed and shook my head.

The music went from slow and romantic to upbeat and loud. Melissa started dancing in her seat, and the next thing I knew she was up gyrating around my chair.

“C'mon, Lizzie.” Melissa giggled then pulled me up from my chair onto the dance floor.

Melissa and I danced to several songs without stopping. I started to feel guilty, wondering where my brother was, but Melissa didn't seem to mind. Guys she knew kept bouncing between the two of us. Melissa rolled her eyes and smiled when Mason finally found us. Several single girls who wanted a turn at dancing with my brother followed him. It didn't seem to bother her. They were both so confident I could see why their relationship had survived high school.

The football team joined our dance party, and soon we were all singing in unison to the song that blasted through the speakers. It didn't seem to matter I was alone. Everyone just melded together, and before I knew it, a handful of guys I casually knew had asked me to dance. It was hard to avoid the wandering hands of a few of them but, all in all, I was proud I was able to handle myself.

Melissa and Mason motioned they were headed back to our table. I nodded that I understood, but since I was having such a good time, I stayed. The upbeat song that hummed through the speakers was soon replaced with a romantic one. I had already chastised the handsy guy I was dancing with during the more upbeat songs. I decided it was safer if I excused myself when the slow song came through the speakers.

I was leaving the dance floor when my eyes locked on the profile I knew all too well.

Aidan.

I hadn't seen him all night, so I had assumed he had decided not to come. But here he was, looking perfect in his dark suit. And here I was, a sweaty, hot mess. I picked my hair up from my shoulders in a makeshift ponytail and waved it up and down in an attempt to cool my heated body. To avoid eye contact with him, I made a beeline for our table.

Melissa and Mason returned with their dinner plates just as I sat down.

“You want some?” Melissa asked as she sat between me and Mason. “The buffet line is packed.”

I glanced over her plate of chicken, some sort of pasta, and broccoli with cheese sauce. “I'm not hungry yet.” I guzzled my water and then whispered to Melissa. “I just saw Aidan.”

Melissa had just taken a bite of her pasta. She quickly swallowed.

“He's here?” Her wide eyes darted around the ballroom.

“Yes. I saw him, but he didn't see me.” Melissa nudged Mason, and I heard her tell him Aidan had showed. He leaned in so he could hear our conversation.

“I didn't think he was coming. Are you okay?” Mason asked with a look of concern in his eyes.

“Yeah, I'm fine.” I took another sip of my water. “He has every right to be here. It's his prom too.” I shrugged. “Things between us are actually pretty good.”

I thought about the other night when we'd stood near his truck. The moment we'd shared. It felt like we had resolved our differences and were respectfully moving on. At least
I
felt like that.

Until I glanced to the dance floor and saw Aidan. It was my eighteenth birthday all over again. There he was with his hands all over some chesty girl in a low-cut dress. Watching them together made my stomach turn.

Melissa leaned in close. “Don't look at him, Liz.”

Mason started to get up. “I'm gonna tell him to take it to the other side of the dance floor.”

I tore my eyes away from Aidan and looked to Melissa and Mason.

“Mason, sit down. He can dance with whoever he wants.”

“But…” he started to say.

“But what? We're broken up.” My fake smile was in place as I rose from the table. “I'm going to go use the bathroom. I'll be right back.”

“I'll go with you,” Melissa chimed in.

“No, Melissa, sit and eat. I'll be fine.”

I got up from the table before Melissa followed me. I wanted to be alone to gather my thoughts. Five minutes ago, I had felt like Aidan had enough respect for me to at least honor what we had. Instead, it seemed like he was shouting to everyone he was a free man, up for grabs. Seeing him act that way made me question if he'd ever been who I thought he was.

I washed my hands and wiped the sweat from the back of my neck with a paper towel. When I felt composed, I made my way out of the bathroom. Some fresh air would be great right now, and I wasn't ready to go back and sit at our table quite yet.

Several of my classmates were milling around the hotel as I made my way through an open door that led to the outside. An empty bench served as my refuge. I removed my shoes and began to massage my aching feet. A few minutes later, a group of kids burst through the doors, putting an end to my time of solace. I grabbed my shoes and slipped back into the hotel before the doors closed.

The hotel was so large it was confusing trying to find my way back to the ballroom. I meandered through a large hallway and pushed past several doors that led me back outside again. From across the courtyard I could see the windows of the ballroom. With my heels in hand, I breathed a sigh of relief and headed across the beautifully manicured grounds. The entrance to the ballroom was in sight. I was a step away from the door when my heart rate accelerated.

Not again
.

From what I witnessed, I wasn't even a thought in Aidan's mind. My eyes swept over my ex. He and the girl he had been dancing with were all over each other. His hands were up her dress as hers were wrapped around his hips grinding into him. I saw more of her tanned skin than I cared to.

Apprehension filled me while I reached for the door. For a moment, I thought they might not even notice me. No such luck. When I nudged the door open, the sounds of the music from the ballroom distracted them from their… activities.

Aidan flicked a glance my way as the girl continued to run her lips the length of his neck. His expression was blank until his brain must have registered it was me. My heart sped up when our eyes met. His eyes widened, and I held his gaze. His jaw clenched for a moment before he pushed away from his…
date
. He opened his mouth and was about to say something, but I slipped through the door before he had the chance.

Determined to hold it together, I made it to our table just as Melissa and Mason were being crowned king and queen of the prom. My mental turmoil was forgotten for a moment
while I watched my brother and my best friend glide across the dance floor. Kids began to stand up to get a better look at the perfect couple. I shuffled through the crowd and made my way to the edge of the dance floor. My brother was dressed in a black tux with a blue tie that matched Melissa's dress perfectly. She was all sparkles and glitter. Watching Melissa and Mason sway back and forth made my heart swell with pride.

In that moment, I was happy. I hoped one day I would have the love that was reflected in the eyes of my brother and my best friend. Aidan and I had never shared that, and a part of me wondered if I ever would.