The Perfect Prom (long, if you click, please comment)

~1

As a hopeless romantic teenage girl, I have looked forward to my prom ever since I was very young. I would look at teen magazines and try to plan out my hairstyle, dress, and, of course, the perfect prom date. I always pictured him as the ultimate gentlemen, dressed in a tuxedo, opening doors for me, looking into my eyes like I was the only girl in the room, and no fantasy was every complete without the perfect goodnight kiss at the door.2

In my grade twelve year, I had my eye on one specific boy a year younger than me. He and I had many mutual interests, belonging to a lot of the same clubs at school, and we had quite a few friends in common. I had had a crush on him since we were in Jr. High school, and although we lost touch a little bit in my grade eleven year, my crush on him was still as strong as ever. After two years of liking him, all of my friends were pressuring me to ask him to the prom. I knew that they were right on some level, because I could not think of anyone else I would want to spend my night with more than him. I loved him; that I knew for sure.3

Of course, this task was a lot easier said than done. After a two-year long crush, my heart was more than just a little fragile, and I didn’t just love him as a possible boyfriend. I had grown to love Peter so deeply as a person that I did not want to risk my humiliation turning into an awkwardness that would never be healed, especially since I couldn’t bear the thought of not keeping in touch after graduation. I made it a priority to become better friends with him, and slowly ease my way into asking him to prom. I would ask him as a friend, nothing more.4

~5

Over the next few months my plans worked, and our friendship grew to a point where it was not out of the ordinary for me to ask him out for dinner with some friends. I could call him out of the blue and talk about absolutely nothing, and I could start conversations with him at school without worrying that people would automatically know how I felt about him.6

When Valentine’s Day came around, I didn’t think twice about slipping a valentine in his locker. That night I called him to make sure he received it.7

“Yes, I got it as soon as I opened my locker this morning, thank you.” He said.8

“Well, I’m glad you liked it.” I replied, hoping he couldn’t hear the loud beating of my heart, knowing what I had planned to do next.9

After a small silence, I spoke quietly, trying to control the quiver in my voice.10

“Peter, we’re pretty good friends right?”11

“Um…yeah, why do you ask?”12

“Well, because I wanted to ask you to be my date for the prom,” I said, quickly adding, “I know it’s really early, but I wanted to ask well in advance in case I had trouble finding someone to go with.”13

With my heart still pounding, I awaited rejection. I still didn’t think he liked me in the way that I loved him, and I couldn’t picture him saying yes to an invitation to the prom.14

The pause, although only a few seconds, seemed like forever. Then, with an audible smile in his voice, he said, “Sure Kaleigh, but I don’t quite understand why you would want to go with me.”15

Smiling, I simply answered, “Well, I dunno really. I guess I’d like to go with someone I’m comfortable with, and I thought it would be nice to bring you to a prom before yours.”16

“Well thanks, I’m very flattered.” He said, “I have to go though, so I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”17

“See you tomorrow then.” I replied, and the minute the phone hit the receiver I let out the happiest squeak of my life.18

~19

March and April passed by quickly, and before I knew it, it was May. My prom dress was finished, grad pictures were done, and Peter had already arranged a tuxedo rental. I was on cloud nine running through the plans for my dream prom in my head. I had the absolute perfect date, my dress was exactly as I had dreamed it to be, and my mom had put money aside to rent a white limo to drive me around for the most perfect evening of my life.20

Peter and I talked about the prom often, and although we both knew we were just going as friends, I still knew it would be the most memorable night of my life. With Peter there with me, every moment would be perfect.21

~22

Once June started, I began dreaming about Peter taking me to the prom. I had had dreams about him many times over the course of my crush on him, but never had I dreamed about him for a week straight.23

Every dream began the same. I’d be sitting in my living room in my prom dress, my hair perfectly styled to last for a long evening, and the door would knock. Then the dream would go in slow motion as I would open the door to see Peter in a tuxedo, holding a bouquet of pink roses. With one hand on the roses, he would reach his hand up to my face and touch my cheek with the sweetest smile on his face. He would then grab my hand, and we would walk to the limo.24

The rest of the dream always varied. I had dreams of us going outside in the dark and looking at the stars. I had dreams of holding hands under the table, and most of all, I had dreams of us kissing under the sunrise after a long night of dancing.25

I knew none of those dreams would come true. My feelings for him were to stay hidden, and I knew he didn’t have those feelings for me.26

~27

Prom night came, and as I had dreamed, my hair was perfect, my make-up was perfect, and when the limo arrived at my house to drive me to Peter’s house, I climbed in with butterflies of anticipation filling my stomach.28

We had agreed that I would pick him up, as it was my prom. The drive from my house to his was short in distance, but felt so long to me. I paused for a minute before getting out of the limo, and when I opened the door, the smell of fresh flowers filled my nose, and I opened his gate, slowly making my way to his door.29

It seemed like forever before Peter’s mother answered the door. I had only met her a few times, but when we had, we had always gotten along well. She looked at me and smiled, turning toward the stairs.30

“Peter, Kaleigh’s here!” she yelled, turning back to me.31

We heard a door close, and I looked up the stairs to where Peter was standing in a classic black tuxedo with a black bowtie. We looked at each other without speaking as he slowly came down the stairs. When he reached the bottom, he told me to wait there while he went to get my corsage. His mother squeezed my hand and told me I looked beautiful.32

When Peter came back, he slipped the corsage on my wrist, and I helped him pin his on his tuxedo jacket. I smiled at him, and he smiled at me, and as we turned toward his parents, his mother pulled out the camera. Although his parents knew we were just going as friends, they wanted to capture the moment of their son heading off to his first prom.33

Peter got quite embarrassed, but I was enjoying every second of it. First of all, when Peter gets embarrassed, he turns an adorable shade of pink, and secondly, I loved that his family got so enthusiastic. The evening was starting out wonderfully.34

After lots of pictures and gushing by his parents and sisters, we headed out toward the limo. Always the perfect gentlemen, he opened the door and helped me inside.35

Once we got into the limo, there was a moment of silence where neither of us said anything. Finally, he looked right into my eyes and said, “I know this is going to sound stupid, Kaleigh, but you look really beautiful.”36

I could feel my cheeks growing warm and I turned my head shyly.37

“Thanks Peter, you look amazing too.”38

It was one of those moments that you see on a made-for-TV movie that looks so rehearsed, but never ceases to make you smile to watch. Only, this was not a movie. I was in this limo, sitting with the boy of my dreams, and he just told me I looked beautiful. I almost could not contain the excitement bubbling within my heart.39

The rest of the limo ride consisted mainly of small talk. We talked about how finals went for us, what our plans were for the summer, and what I planned to do next year. Nowhere in my plans did I mention leaving, and somehow, I sensed he was relieved.40

~41

Once we entered the ballroom, we searched for my best friend Sarah and her boyfriend Ben, who we had prearranged to spend the evening with. As soon as Sarah saw me, her face beamed. With a quick exchange of our eyes she knew that I needed to talk.42

She turned to Ben and Peter and said, “Well, while we go to the ladies room, you guys get to know each other. We’ll be back soon.”43

Again, we barely left the room before I began to squeak.44

~45

“So, his mom took pictures and everything?” Sarah asked enthusiastically.46

“Yes!” I replied barely containing my excitement, “and she told me I looked beautiful!”47

“I told you that you had to ask him. The evening has barely started and you’re already so happy that you’re ready to burst.”48

“When we got in the limo…he said I looked beautiful.” I said, bringing my nail up to my teeth, as I do whenever I’m trying not to squeak. I waved her closer, and whispered in her ear, “Sarah, I am absolutely in love with him.”49

“Well, then let’s get you back to him!” She said with a smirk on her face, as she grabbed my hand, squeezed it, and began dragging me back into the ballroom.50

~51

We returned to find our dates were getting along very well. They both stood up when we got to the table and pulled out our chairs for us. It took all the strength Sarah and I had not to giggle, but we had very different reasons. Sarah has never been much for sappy and romantic situations, so she wanted to laugh at how ridiculous everything was. I could barely contain my giggles of excitement at being treated like such a princess.52

Sarah and I looked at each other, looked at our dates, and Sarah said, “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but we need to dance!”53

So Peter stood up, held out his arm, and escorted me to the dance floor.54

~55

A couple hours into the evening, while Sarah and Ben were out on the dance floor, Peter and I were sitting at the table talking. As it was the last school function of the year, and we didn’t have any plans together over the summer, we spent some time catching up on the many good school memories.56

“Do you remember that play at Provincials about the guy with the collection of glass cocktail stirrers?” I said with a slight laugh.57

“Of course. That one was hilarious.” He said, “’I call this one string bean, because it’s long and thin.’” He said with a southern accent.58

“Oh, and that play about the dark and stormy night…It was amazing that they could do such a good job of a two person play, especially when they sat down the entire time.”59

“I completely forgot about that one until you mentioned it.” He said, “but yeah, I agree. I was a little skeptical when I saw that the cast only had two characters.”60

“Oh, and let’s not forget our play.” I said to him, “I don’t think I’m ever going to be able to think of you as anything but Mellow Yellow.”61

“Yeah, well, I remember in rehearsal when we kept trying to get you to be a mean, angry Mayor, and we were so happy when you finally did it.”62

“Yeah, I was pretty happy too.” I said, and without thinking, I reached my hand over and touched his. For a second, I contemplated pulling it back, until I felt his fingers lace between mine. I looked down at our hands, and then at him. Our eyes locked together, and for a moment, I didn’t hear anything but the beating of my heart as I looked at him. The music seemed so far away, and all that seemed real was his fingers intertwined with mine. I looked down at the table briefly, and then back up at him, realizing then, more than ever, that I have never loved anyone as much as I love him.63

“Would you like to dance Peter?” I said with a slight blush.64

“Of course I would.” He replied, and this time, we walked to the dance floor firmly hand in hand.65

~66

From that point on, every slow song would be spent on the dance floor hand in hand, his arm gentlemanly around my waist, and my hand on his shoulder. As Peter was a lot taller than me, I did not have a comfortable hold on him, but my head resting on his chest was enough for me to feel secure as we danced slowly in time with the music. After a particularly beautiful song, I pulled my head away from his chest and looked up at him with starry eyes. His eyes looked down at me as well, and in that moment, I could see that he knew all that I felt about him, and to my surprise, I could see his feelings were exactly the same. Even when the song ended, we stood staring at each other, and at that moment, I knew he loved me too.67

I don’t know whether it was the magical lighting, or the fact that we may never see each other after this night, but the unthinkable had come true; Peter had fallen in love with me.68

~69

For the rest of the night, we held hands under the table. Sarah sat across from me trying not to laugh at me. I could see the “I told you so” in her eyes, and all I could think was how surreal everything was. Until that night, I had never once thought Peter may feel the same way as I did; in fact, I was positive that he could never love me the way I loved him. Now here we were, holding hands under the table while my best friend silently told me she was right all along.70

Peter then squeezed my hand so I would look at him, and when I did, he signaled for the door to the outside balcony. We slowly began to rise.71

“Where are you going?” Sarah said with a touch of mischief in her voice.72

“Never mind…we’ll be back soon.” Peter said, both surprising and intriguing me.73

I glanced back one more time at Sarah, and I may have been imagining things, but I swear to this day that I saw her eyes begin to tear. I knew she had never seen me so happy, and I was glad she was able to share this night with me.74

Before I knew it, Peter had led me through the door into the cool summer air. The sky was a dark shade of blue, and stars were beginning to come out. Still holding onto my hand, Peter led me to a bench where we sat together, looking at the stars. I leaned my head on his shoulder, and his arm was around me, resting on my shoulder as we watched as the sky quickly darken to black, and although the stars were shining beautifully, all I wanted to look at was Peter’s face. I grabbed his other hand and turned to him. With innocent longing, I gently leaned over and kissed him on the cheek before resting my head on his shoulder once more.75

That was all that was needed.76

~77

When we returned, they were playing my favorite song. I couldn’t believe how perfectly the night was going for me, and I began to fear that it was all another perfect dream. We danced until the music started to fade, then we headed back to the table. When we sat down with Sarah and Ben, Sarah looked at me with questions overflowing from her eyes, and as much as I hated to leave the warmth of Peter’s hand, I agreed to join Sarah in private.78

When we left the ballroom, Sarah turned me around forcefully and said, “So…………what happened? Did he kiss you?”79

I could see the anticipation in her eyes, and it almost broke my heart to have to tell her he didn’t.80

“No, he didn’t, but I kissed him…on the cheek…while he had his arm around me! Sarah, it was the most amazing feeling I have ever had. It was so romantic.”81

“Awww!” She said, hugging me tightly. “I’m so happy for you!”82

On that note, we walked back to the ballroom: two friends, beaming with happiness.83

~84

The night slowly progressed, and gradually, some people began to leave early. The music was becoming slower as it was getting later, and I began to rest my head on Peter’s shoulder more as well, which of course, was no problem to me.85

Eventually, after hours of playing with each other’s fingers under the table, the final song played, and we danced in each other’s arms for the last time that night. I still could not believe it. This was far from how I planned this evening. We went to the prom simply as friends, but sometime during the night, that changed forever. As we swayed to the last few lines of the final song, I felt my heart fill with so much love for Peter, and I knew if I didn’t say something then, I never would.86

“Peter…” I said weakly, lifting my head to look into his eyes.87

“Yes?” He replied.88

“Thank you…for coming tonight, and just for being in my life. You will never know how much I appreciate you.”89

“You’re welcome Kaleigh.” Peter said. “I am glad I came.”90

Our eyes said everything else.91

~92

The limo ride to the breakfast was shared with Sarah and Ben. All four of us had had an amazing evening, and I could see that none of us would forget it. The breakfast was a repeat of the evening, only instead of magical lights and slow music the room was bright and full of loud talking. That didn’t stop Peter and I from gazing into each other’s eyes as we ate. Lacing our fingers together, we must have looked like newlyweds, never taking our eyes off of each other.93

After eating, all four of us filed into the limo for the ride home. Sensing that we needed to be alone, Sarah and Ben offered to go home first. I told Sarah I would call her as soon as I got home, despite the amount of sleep we both needed.94

Now it was just Peter and me, alone again at last. It was strange to think that not even a full day earlier we were sitting in this same limo, starting off a night full of surprises. I looked at him in the darkness of the limo and we both smiled, knowing we were both thinking the exact same thing.95

~96

The sunrise was beautiful that morning. Peter and I sat on his porch swing looking at the glowing sky spreading over the mountains. His arm was around me again, and my hand was reaching up to hold his. My head once again found itself resting on his chest, and I could hear his heartbeat and feel the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. I felt so comfortable in his arms that I felt I could fall asleep. My entire body felt weightless, and all I could do was pray that this moment would never have to end. I heard his heart start to beat faster and I looked up at him to find him staring at me.97

“You looked very asleep.” He said to me, “I hope I didn’t wake you.”98

“No, I was just taking in this moment.” I replied quietly, and looked up at him with a smile.99

It was then that everything began to move in slow motion. As I looked up at Peter and saw him starting to lean towards me, I couldn’t breathe. My heart began to race as our lips met for that perfect goodnight kiss I had dreamed about my entire life. With my eyes closed, his lips on mine, and our fingers laced tightly together, time stopped, and I felt like no other person in the world could feel as happy as I did at that moment.100

When we pulled away, I let out a sigh. Both Peter and I had smiles on our faces, and I felt his grip tighten on my hand as if he didn’t want to let me go.101

“I had a lovely night Peter. Thank you for sharing it with me.”102

“Kaleigh,” he said, “I don’t know how I can ever thank you enough for inviting me.”103

As I sat there in his arms, I knew that it was time for both of us to go to bed and end this amazing night. I felt a lump in my throat as I turned to him and said, “Peter, I don’t want this night to end.”104

He looked into my eyes with sincerity and said, “Kaleigh, the night had to end, you know that. But that doesn’t mean that this has to,” squeezing my hand105

His words brought the smile back to my face, and I closed my eyes and took in one final breath before standing up slowly. I held onto his hand as long as I could before I had to let it go, and I walked to his gate looking down at my feet. When I got there, I turned around, and as he stayed seated on the porch, his smile brought the smile back to my face, and as our eyes locked for the last time that night, I knew that things were just beginning. When I sat in the limo, I continued thinking about the night and what I was going to tell Sarah when I got home. I didn’t know what I was going to say to her; I was speechless. All I could do was close my eyes and sigh.106

~107