Chapter 18
2040 Words
Chapter 18, Prom Night
Iris POV
Tonight, was the night! Prom night! I was nervous and excited. I hoped Keith did not expect me to make love yet. I was very attracted to him. But it was too soon for us to go all the way.
I hoped he would be a gentlemen and not put pressure on me. A lot of other guys would have. But Keith was not a lot of other guys. Keith was amazing. I was all dressed up. Mother had taken me to the beauty parlor in town to get my hair all curled.
I never had felt so pretty in all my life. I felt like a real life doll. But in a good way. Like a real beauty queen. Laurie was meeting me here early so she could get ready.
Then my mom wanted photos of Keith and I and Mrs. Partridge wanted photos of all of us as well. This was it. My senior prom. I never actually thought I would be going to it. Much less be asked to go to the prom.
I was so proud to be going as Keith's date. I knew I was going to be the envy of many other girls there. I saw the way girls looked at my Keith. They wanted a chance with him.
He was handsome. And he oozed talent. It was hard not to fall in love with Keith. I managed to get around. I get a drink of water. Checking my make up in the mirror for the tenth million time that afternoon.
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"Laurie is here!" announces my little sister.
She heads into my room. She smiles at me.
"What?" I ask her.
"Nothing, you look so pretty" she tells me. I hug her.
"Sometimes you can be so sweet" I praise her. She hugs me back.
"Have fun" she says to me. "I wish I was going with Danny. Dances sound like fun. And you get to dress like a princess for a night"
"One day you will have your night at the prom. I will help you pick out the perfect dress when that time comes" I promise her.
Laurie heads upstairs. Her smile lights up when she sees my dress.
"Wow you are going to knock Keith right out of his socks when he sees you in that dress" she tells me. I blush at her kind words.
"Thank you" I answer her.
"I better get ready. Keith is on the lawn waiting pacing the lawn. And my date will be here soon for photos" says Laurie. I nod. Her hair and make up was all done up. She looked pretty. She gets dressed. Emily helps her zip up her dress in the back for her.
"How do I look?" she asks us nervously.
"Pretty perfect you both could win prom queen" Emily says as she smiles.
"Sweet girl" gushes Laurie as she hugs my little sister. "are you as nervous as I am?" Laurie wonders.
"Yes, god yes" I breath out.
I glance out the window. I spot Keith talking to my mom and his mom out there. My heart sticks in my throat. Maybe tonight he would tell me he loved me. And I could say it in return.
That was all I hoped for. That was what I wanted out of tonight. Keith was all dressed up. I could see him holding a flower in a little box for me. My handsome date.
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"This is it" says Laurie. She grins.
Then she hugs me. I hear a snap snap snap. Flash.
My sister was taking photos of us.
"What you guys will want to remember this one day" says Emily. "when one day Keith marries Iris and you become our sister Laurie"
I am really blushing now.
"Marrying me off already? This is only prom" I remind her. "not so fast" I laugh. "one thing at a time"
"Right" laughs Laurie.
"Girls the guys are waiting for you" mom calls from downstairs.
We slowly come down the stairs. My mom is taking photos of this to.
Laurie and I giggle.
I soon stop laughing when my eyes meet Keith's. His stunned pretty eyes were all on me. I am blushing with pleasure now. I walk slower to him down the stairs. He makes his way to my side as Laurie heads over to her own date. Keith takes my hand. Then kisses me on the cheek.
"You look stunning Iris" he whispers near my ear. "so beautiful"
"Thank you, Keith," I manage to find my words. "you look very handsome" I praise him.
He had on a yellow suite not to yellow. With brown in the mix. I liked the way it looked on him. I loved how he dressed. He always knew the new fashion for guys.
That was one thing I admired about him. He hands me a flower in a box. He helps me open it carefully. Mom and Emily are busy taking photos. So is Keith's mother.
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"Do you like it?" he asks with worry.
"Oh, it is lovely" I breath out. A corsage. I felt so fancy. He pinned it on my dress carefully.
He nods shyly. Then offers my arm.
"Everyone outside for photos." orders my mom.
"We have to go mom" I groan.
"Now" orders mom.
When we get out there I notice a limo pull up.
We gawk with delight. No one planned for a limo.
"Dad got it for you Iris. Enjoy your night. He wishes he could be here" says my mom.
Happy tears come to me. I hug her and Emily.
"Don't cry you will ruin your make up" warns Emily.
Mom has us all pose by the limo. Then we get in.
"Wow Iris that was so nice of your dad to pay for this" says Laurie once we were all in the limo.
"Very" agrees Keith.
He places his arm around my shoulder.
"Is there an open bar?" jokes Laurie's date.
"We do not drink" warns Keith. "no drinking tonight" he warns sternly.
He made me proud of him.
I beam happily.
We get to prom night. We hear loud music blaring. There was a live band playing. Excitement flows in me. I did not think I was going to be nominated for prom queen. Maybe Laurie would tonight.
She was so pretty. We find out table. We were all going to be seated together for dinner. Then we set our purses and shalls down at our seat.
♡♪♬♪♡
"Want to dance?" offers Keith.
"Yes" I say happily as I nod yes. He hands me his hand. Then he takes me to the dance floor. The Partridge new song Brand New Me, was playing right then. Keith pulls me in his arms.
"You really do look beautiful tonight" Keith tells me as I wrap my arms around his neck.
"Thank you, Keith you look, as handsome as ever" I say.
He smiles. "You are wearing my ring and necklace" he tells me. He looks happy.
"Of course," I say. He smiles when I surprise him by kissing his lips.
"You are wearing the perfume to I bought you" he breaths out after the kiss. "you smell so good"
"Thanks Keith. All for you" I softly say.
"The guys can't take their eyes off you Iris" he says to me. "you are the best looking girl here tonight"
"Besides Laurie" I joke.
"Maybe" he chuckles. "I mean that though"
"You are so sweet" I say.
We dance so much. I nearly forget to eat. My tummy growls at me.
"Let's eat before our dinner gets cold" he says to me.
He leads me back to the table. We had a small garden salad. Then a posh type of tomatoe brisk soup, then chicken or steak was offered to us. A small portion.
This was a school event. Then they announce the prom event. Queens and kings. While we waited for dessert to be served.
We were all having so much fun.
Keith was nominated king. Laurie was nominated queen. And that Rachel was nominated queen as well. And I was nominated to. I stood on stage feeling so nervous.
I had butterflies in my stomach. Laurie smiles over at me. She wins queen for junior prom. Everyone claps. Then they announce her king. Who was her date. Keith wins king for our class. And then it was time to announce queen. I hear Rachel's name being announced. I groan inwardly. Keith's ex.
I watch as they both are crowned.
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"Congrats"I tell them. I step off the stage.
"Iris!!" calls out Keith.
"Can we have our king and queen on the dance floor?" says the announcer.
I head to my table.
"It is good to see Keith back with Rachel. He never was the same since she broke up with him" I hear a girl saying to another.
"I thought he was with Iris now" says the other girl. "It was not to last. We knew he never was over Rachel"
"True" says the girl as they walk by me. Not knowing I heard.
I wince as I watch the kings and queens dance. Rachel looked thrilled to be in Keith's arms. Tears come to me. I brush them back. Some prom night. He looked happy as he smiled brightly. I see Rachel grab Keith and kiss him.
I feel like I am punched in the stomach. I had to get out of there. I had a feeling Keith was going to dump me anyway. He was not in love with me. That is why he had yet to say it. He was still in love with Rachel.
I grab my things. Then head to the limo that waited for me outside. I have it drive though town. I did not want my mom to see me come home crying over Keith.
I cry in the limo over him. I should have known. It was too good to be true. Nothing ever lasted. Mom was right. Love never lasted. We were never in love. I was in love with him. And I lost him.
I finally head back home. When I get to the door Keith was waiting for me on the porch swing. He looked mad. Upset then confused. He stands up when he sees me there. I let the limo driver go. And make my way to Keith. Preparing to give him his ring back to him.
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"Sorry I left you without a ride" I begin to say.
"Why did you take off like that?" he asks me. "I was so worried" he answers.
I was stunned. I did not think it mattered. "I saw you kissing Rachel. I know you want her back. Good luck to you both" I say. I go to hand him his ring. He places back in my hand.
"No, Iris. I want to go steady with you. I wanted a chance with you. I am with you. I am you're boyfriend. I am yours. Not Rachel's. Yes, she dumped me. Yes, it hurt back then. I did not want you to know she dumped me for not being smart enough for her. She wanted me back tonight. I said no" he rambles on. "I want you, Iris. I want you to be in my life. I want to be with you to share my life with me!" He pulls me in his arms. "I am so sorry that hurt you. I would have been to my sweet Iris"
Then he pulls me closer to him. He kisses me. I close my eyes as my lips return each kiss.
"You are my girl" he whispers softly. "we are going steady" he says to me. He looks me in the eyes. "understand me now?" he asks me.
I nod. "I understand. I want to be your girl"
"Good because you are" he promises me. "my only girl"
Then we kiss. And prom night ends magically. With a happy ending I needed. I never felt more wanted. Or adored as I did right at that perfect moment. It was all I needed to be sure of where I stood in Keith's life.
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- Writer
