THE BAD BOY

8. Inviting To Prom

Ellen POV

I grabbed that man's hand, then he helped me up.

"Yeah, I am okay. Thank you for helping me," I replied.

"Oh, it's my mistake. I should have watched my step," that man said.

I accidentally noticed his face. Oh, damn! This guy is so hot. He was also friendly. Very different from Axl Smith. But from his stature, it looks like this guy is not a student.

"I have to go to class," I said.

"Alright," that man replied, still with his warm smile.

I walked away. Whether I realized it or not, it seemed like I was blushing because of this guy. I walked to class. Arriving at the class, I immediately sat down and caught my breath first.

"What's going on, Ellen?" Poland asked. Apparently, she had come to class first.

"Oh, nothing. I accidentally bumped into someone," I replied.

"Who? Is it a man? Handsome? Cool? Rich? Danger? Bike? Axl?" Poland was eager to link everything to Axl. Why him? There's no other guy who's better than Axl. I was really surprised.

"Not Axl. And I don't want to talk about him," I said.

I quickly opened my bag. I flipped through the books I had to

return to the library in the afternoon. Books are the things that make me comfortable. My world is here. If I'm tired or sad because of Wilma and Jessica, I will choose to read a book. That way, the pain will go away by itself.

"Jessica is coming," Poland's voice was heard whispering. "I don't like her. She's so annoying."

I glanced at Jessica, who just entered the classroom and joined the girls. She was like that ever since New York. She acts as if people like her. She's very selfish and also self-centered.

"She is beautiful," I said. "People like her." I tried to give her a good image of Jessica. Because if there was a bad issue, she would accuse me of spreading it.

"She is not beautiful. She just thinks she's pretty. She thinks she's special just because she's from New York." Poland looked at me. "You're even prettier than Jessica."

"Me?" I was surprised. It seemed impossible. "I don't even know how to dress up."

"Your beauty is natural. You don't even need to dress up to look beautiful. Especially if you wear a dress, get dressed up, and go to prom. I am sure that guys will be clamoring to dance with you." Poland looks very excited.

I sighed. Apparently, she had a purpose after calling me beautiful.

"I'm not going to prom," I said.

"Why? Why not? It's a very special occasion. You might meet your crush at prom." Poland touched my hand. "Please, come with me. Don't worry about the dress or anything. I'll prepare everything for you."

"I am sorry, I can't. My Dad won't let me. I don't like wearing dresses anyway." I don't like wearing dresses because I'll think of my mom. She was very pretty when she wore dresses, and I would miss her even more.

"I hate you, Ellen. You're not my friend." Ellen's words were so rude. Why is she mad at me just because I didn't go to prom?

"You can invite other friends, right?"

"I don't have any friends other than you. People think I'm weird." Poland looked at me. I saw her pleading eyes. I can't be like this. Poland was trying to force me.

And finally, I gave in. "I'll talk to my Dad. If he allows it, maybe I'll try to come."

Poland was very happy. She hugged me immediately. Poland was very happy. Meanwhile, I didn't know what to do. If I get permission from my Dad, then this is the first prom in my life.

***

During dinner at home, I asked my Dad for permission to attend the prom. I looked at the situation first. Right now, Wilma and Jessica were busy munching on food.

"Dad, can I go to prom on Saturday night," I asked my Dad.

Jessica turned to me. She probably didn't expect that I would come to prom.

"Oh, that's good," my Dad said. "But you should come with Jessica. Invite her too."

I furrowed my brow. Why did I have to be with Jessica? I didn't want to come with her.

"Oh, I'm going with Poland, my friend," I said.

"Friend?" My father smiled. "You have a friend now?"

"I've always had friends, Dad. Why do you say that?" I grumbled. I just wanted to hear a yes from him. "Let me go."

I glanced at Jessica, who looked annoyed. She must think that I came because of Axl. I came because Poland kept whining to me.

"Okay, whatever. But you can't come home late at night. Give me the address of the place. I'll pick you up before twelve," my Dad said.

"I'll also come with my friend, Dad." Jessica suddenly interrupted. "I told them I had to do my homework, but they insisted."

"Oh, you must also hang out with your friends, Jess. Don't occupy yourself too much with studying," my Dad replied.

Jessica's words were a lie. She never studied. Every school assignment was always done by me.

After the dinner, I washed the dishes in the kitchen. Jessica had to help me because my Dad was in the living room.

"Who told you that you could come to prom?" Jessica immediately attacked me with her question.

"Poland asked me," I replied.

"I don't care about Poland. You should have known that Axl wouldn't come if you didn't. Are you showing me that you can control Axl?" Jessica was accusing me. This was so bad. I wasn't even thinking about Axl at all.

"I don't want to meet Axl, Jess. I came because of Poland. If you want to meet Axl at prom, go ahead. You can ask him to dance," I said.

"Then you should ask Axl," Jessica said.

"What?" I didn't understand what Jessica meant.

"You have to try to get Axl to approach me. Axl has to dance with me at prom. You have to get Axl to do it."