Georgia On My Mind-Book Four

Chapter 7 - Break Ups Are Never Easy

TWO YEARS LATER...

My secret relationship with John Luke was a roller coaster ride over the next couple of years. Momma and Daddy constantly questioned me as to why I was always going out with John Luke but never dating anyone. Momma says an essential part of growing up is putting myself out there to date and experience love and, unfortunately, heartache. She says it's what helps you grow and molds the person you become as an adult. I just kept coming up with more excuses to keep my relationship under wraps as I couldn't bear the thought of losing him due to my Father's constant need to protect the women in his life. I knew that he had the best intentions to keep us from getting hurt, but I grew to resent him for it.

Eventually, John Luke and I hit a rough patch in my senior year of high school. He couldn't seem to stay out of trouble with Wyatt, and I had reached my breaking point, so I finally ended things with him. The pain of losing him that year was excruciating. I endured many sleepless nights during that time. Even if I did sleep, it resulted from crying so much that my body, mind, and heart just gave out. It was as if my heart was being ripped from my chest, and not a soul knew about it, but I vowed to suffer in silence.

That year, I was captain of the cheerleading squad, and I was at the top of my graduating class. Anyone from the outside looking in would see me and think that my life was perfect, except it wasn't. It didn't have John Luke in it, and I missed him terribly. I missed him so much that it was physically painful for me, but I couldn't keep him from experimenting with drugs or hanging out with Wyatt, so I knew that I needed to move on. That wasn't the kind of life I wanted for myself, so I knew in my heart that I made the right decision to end things.

That year, Daniel Arlington asked me to Prom, and I accepted. He was the most popular guy in school, and he was easy on the eyes. The girls on the cheerleading squad were envious of me. Little did they know that deep down inside, he made my stomach turn. The thought of Daniel Arlington and I together completely repulsed me. He was the most arrogant son of a b***h I had ever met in my life. However, I put on a show for everyone because I felt like that is what people expected of me. If they only knew who held the key to my heart.

When it got closer to Prom, Momma took me shopping to pick out the perfect prom dress. The one I chose was a sparkly navy blue two-piece detachable dress with a silver belt. I picked out matching silver heels that completed the entire ensemble. Momma was overcome with tears when I came out of the dressing room to showcase my new dress. I tried it on for Daddy when we got home. He wasn't too happy, but I was able to keep it after Momma and I put our foot down and demanded so. Daddy was content having me dress like a nun. Some things never change.

On the day of the Prom, the plan was that Daniel, Tracy, and Scott would meet at my house. Daniel's Father had ordered us a limousine for the night. My parents were so excited; they took several pictures of us together around the entire property.

Eventually, my parents got over their little picture-taking spree, and we climbed into the limousine and headed for the Banquet Hall, where the Prom was being held.

On the way there, I sat next to Daniel on one side of the limousine. Tracy and Scott sat across from us on the other side. Their public display of affection was overboard and made me feel uncomfortable; they were not a bit shy about it.

I notice out of the corner of my eye, Daniel slides closer to me. He gets so up close and personal to me that I can feel his warm breath on my ear. "You look beautiful, Georgia." He whispers.

"Thanks," I respond quietly.

He clears his throat. "Let's put those fuckers over there to shame. What do you say?" he asks as he puffs out his chest and messes with his tux.

I stare at him, dumbfounded. "No, thanks. I have no intention of putting them to shame," I respond with a snarky undertone.

He huffs and moves in closer to me. "Listen, I got us a limousine because I wanted this night to be special. Not to mention, I asked you to Prom over every other girl I could have asked. I think you owe me, sweetheart."

I throw my head back and chuckle. "Wow, do you say that to all the girls? Or just the ones you are trying to impress?" I ask him sarcastically.

He sighs in frustration. "Hey, I shelled out a lot of money tonight. A little thank you would be nice."

"Oh? A little thank you as in what? What are you hoping to get out of this little arrangement?" I ask him curiously.

He flashes me an evil grin. "You can start by kissing me. Then I got a room at the hotel later we can go to afterward." He mentions as he pulls the key out of his pocket and dangles it in front of my face.

A wave of nausea sweeps over me. "Yuck! You are a disgusting, vile pig! Driver! Pullover!" I yell.

Daniel looks at me with a worried expression. The driver slams on the breaks; I swing open the door and climb out. "Georgia, get back in the limousine, please. I'm sorry." He begs.

I climb out of the limousine and point my finger in his face through the window. "No! You will not talk to me like that, Daniel! I don't know who you think you are." I yell as I stomp off. These heels are not for stomping, I can assure you, but I'm mad as hell at the moment, and I could care less.

Tracy peaks her head out. "Georgia. Please get back inside. Don't do this." She hollers.

"Not a chance! I'm not a w***e, and I refuse to be treated like one!" I respond to her. I reach down into my sparkly silver clutch and pull out my phone. I dial Momma's number as I storm off down the road.

"Hello." She answers.

"Momma, please come pick me up." I huff.

She gasps. "What?!"

"Please come pick me up on Main Street. I'm walking to the UDF. I'll tell you everything when you get here." I plead.

"On my way." She responds.

I hang up and pick up the pace down the road like I'm on a mission. The limousine zooms past with Daniel, Tracy, and Scott peeking out the windows, watching me. I just keep my eyes forward and continue walking.

I make it all the way to the UDF and wait on Momma to pick me up. After a few minutes, the Jeep pulls up. I walk up and open the door and climb inside. I look up to start explaining to Momma what happened, and I am startled to see the eyes staring back at me. "Daddy, what are you doing?" I ask in shock.

"What is going on?" He demands.

I cross my arms and pout. "Apparently, Daniel only asked me to Prom to go to a hotel room with him afterward. He was expecting to get lucky. I got the hell out of there as fast as I could."

He clenches his fist and grits his teeth. "I'm going to kill that little s**t head!" he yells with a threatening tone.

"No, you aren't. You are going to let it go. I took care of it, so just take me home. I don't even want to go." I bark.

His face drops. "Wow. I'm proud of you, princess, but I'm sad that you can't enjoy your Prom. You are on the Prom court. What if you win?"

"I could care less at this point. I'm not a w***e, and I refuse to be treated like one!" I cry out.

He nods and puts the car in drive. "Damn right, princess." He says as he squeals out of the parking lot towards the house.

Momma is sitting on the sofa as we both storm through the front door waiting for us. "Hey, baby. What happened?" she asks me.

Before I even had a chance to explain to Momma what happened, Daddy interrupts us. "That little s**t rented a hotel room and was trying to score after Prom."

She sighs and shakes her head in disapproval. "Ahh! Boys are boys. I'm sorry." She says as she reaches out her hands for me.

I walk over, take her hands, and sit down next to her. I lean down and rest my head on her bosom, and she begins to stroke my hair to comfort me. "My senior Prom is ruined now." I whimper with tears streaming down my cheeks.

Daddy paces the floor, no doubt trying to control the rage building up inside of him. Suddenly, I hear a knock at the door. Daddy storms over to answer it, expecting the person on the other side to be Daniel, I'm sure. When he opens the door, I am shocked at who's standing there. It's John Luke in a tuxedo with his hands in his pockets. "Hey, Dylan, I was wondering if I could take Georgia to Prom?" He asks. Daddy looks back at me in shock.

"John Luke... I.. what are you doing here?" I ask in disbelief.

"I saw on Tracy's f*******: that Daniel tried to put the moves on you. She uploaded a video of you storming off down Main Street. Once I watched it, I threw on this old thing and rushed over here to see if I could take you instead." He admits.

I get up from the sofa and walk towards him. "Wow, you didn't have to do that! I can't believe that b***h put me on f*******:. How rude!" I bark at him.

He chuckles. "Yes, I did have to do that. We are friends. I'd do anything for you, Georgia." He says quietly.

The minute John Luke makes that statement, my heart begins to race, and I run and jump into his arms. He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me into him. Daddy reaches out and pats him on the back. "Watch out for her tonight, bub. Daniel is there, and I don't want her night ruined."

"Yes, sir. I'll make sure he doesn't come near her." John Luke says.

Momma approaches us, "Take the Jeep. It's more room." She says as she hands me the keys.

John Luke takes my hand, and he leads me outside to Momma's Jeep. We both climb in and drive off towards the Banquet Hall.

I look over at him to admire how f*****g gorgeous he looks tonight, but It throws me off that he's not looking back at me. He has his head down, avoiding my gaze. "Georgia, I'm so sorry about everything. I miss you so much." He admits.

"I miss you too, John Luke, but I just can't keep doing this with you all the time. My heart can't take it." I confess.

While still looking down to avoid eye contact, he continues, "I know. It's just sometimes I do things to numb the pain."

"What kind of pain are you talking about, John Luke?" I ask curiously.

"The pain of wanting you and not being able to have you." He utters.

His words cause a ripple of emotions in me, and I am overcome with sadness as I begin to sob uncontrollably. I pull over on the side of the road quickly until I can compose myself. John Luke leans over and grabs my hand. "I'm sorry, I never wanted to ruin your night."

"You didn't, John Luke. You make it better. You always make things better." I respond as I reach up and run my fingers through his hair. He looks up and leans in, and plants a gentle kiss on my lips. My body reacts instantly as if a surge of electricity flows through my veins.

When we pull apart, he reaches up and rubs my cheek with his thumb. "Are you ready to go have fun?" he asks.

"Yes," I respond as I wipe away the tears flowing down my cheeks. Then I merge back onto the road towards the Banquet Hall.

Once we arrive and walk through the doors, everyone is staring at us. I don't care; my eyes are fixated on how incredibly hot John Luke looks tonight. I wish people only knew how wonderful he was. We dance and ignore everyone in the room as if it were the only ones in Banquet Hall.

Before long, they announce the Prom Court. I prayed to the heavens that I wouldn't win, but they announced my name as Prom Queen and Daniel Arlington as Prom King. I shake my head in protest when they tell us we have to dance together. I pull John Luke out on the floor and dance with him instead. Daniel gets upset and storms off, causing a commotion across the room. I don't even care what he thinks or what anyone else thinks, for that matter. I'm not going to let it ruin my night.

Once Prom is over, I am relieved. I know Prom really isn't John Luke's thing, and he only did it to make me feel better, but I'm forever grateful to him for it.