"Will, I've told you a thousand times, don't forget your keys", I groan as I open the door just a few minutes after Will's left the house. Will leaving the house without his keys happens regularly. Once, I even had to drive home from a party to give him my keys because he wouldn't just put another key to a hidden spot. 

"He drove past me, looks like he didn't forget his keys this time", Scott says suddenly standing in front of me. "Reed", I greet him coldly remembering what happened when I last saw him, "Seems like you're standing in front of the wrong house. Zach's down the road." "I'm right here", Scott replies friendly instead, he probably knows that there's a good reason why I'm still angry, "Can we talk?" 

"Don't you have somewhere to be? At a supermarket with Amber or with your mom?", I emphasize harshly. "Els, please. I'm not here to fight with you. I flew here because I want to take responsibility for my mistake and ask you to forgive me. So can I please come in?" Instead of answering, I sigh and open the door for him. I hate the impact that I let him have on me. "So what do you want to talk about?", I ask as we sit down in the living room. 

"Us", he begins, but I already butt in. "There is no us. Not anymore." "Ellie, please. I know I've fucked up but I can't do this anymore without you. I.. When I left.. I didn't want you to be hurt any more than you've already been. I thought maybe it's better to let you go to the dance with someone else. Someone who still lives here and treats you right. But I also wanted to visit my mom, that was true. Amber's my cousin. I should have just told you how I was feeling about it and not make you feel like I was going out with someone else while you're waiting for me. I'm sorry." 

I slowly nod. I mean I'm still disappointed but I also appreciate him being honest with me and I understand his reasons. "What about Sarah?", I ask instead remembering how she told me about her feelings at the party. "A huge mistake. I was drunk and her best friend kind of talked me into giving in after she's tried it a few times. That was right after I told you to forget about me", he admits and I sigh not knowing how to feel about it. 

"I appreciate that you were trying to take care of me, but that's not your job, Scott. You hurt me a lot more this way and it would have been a lot more brave of you to just be honest with me before." "I know, I know. That's why I'm here. I want to make up for my behavior. I want to restart and I want to be with you again. It's only a few weeks until you're at Columbia as well. But before that happens, can I be your date for prom?" 

I immediately shake my head slowly. "I.. I'm not ready for big steps right now. I want to focus on getting over their deaths and I think you still need time for that as well", I explain myself and Scott nods understanding. "I don't mean to be jealous, but are you going to prom with Jeff?", Scott asks and by the way he's talking, I know that it's not about jealousy, but about understanding me. This is the Scott I love and I want him back. I just don't know yet when the right time is. 

"I'm not going to prom with anyone. I'll go there alone", I decide in that moment because prom is stressing me out when it's all about who is with whom. "Alone?", Scott repeats wondering, "Are you sure? We can also go as friends." "It's fine. I don't want any drama right now." "Drama?", Scott gives me a disappointed look so I shrug. 

"It's not only about you, Scott. I'd say no to Jeff as well if he'd ask." "Alright. I'll just.. if you change your mind, you know where I am." I nod and Scott and I give each other a weird look. Should we hug each other now? Are we friends? Are we trying to resolve our issues? I've got no idea so I just hug him in a friendly way. Sounds like a compromise to me.

Indeed, Jeff has asked me as well. I gave him the same answer and he understood me but was a little sad about it. It's weird getting ready at home without any stress thinking about what my date would say. But it's also a feeling of freedom. "I'm proud of you for doing it on your own", Will smiles at me encouraging. 

"Is it wrong that I still wish Scott would pick me up?", I ask getting nervous now. What if he showed up with someone else? He's probably asked another girl after I've said no. "Definitely not, Ellie. You do what's making you happy and if going to prom on your own helps, you'll do that. Everyone else will be there anyways." "You're right. Thanks, Will", I nod and hug him before getting into my car and driving to Justin. 

He didn't plan to go to prom although I told him he should but he's texted me a few minutes ago asking me if I could pick him up so of course I said yes. "How's it going with you and Scott?", Justin asks sitting down on the passenger's seat. "I mean I'm going to prom alone", I chuckle, "I told him I don't want any drama. I don't know what's going to happen between him and I but I need some time for myself first." "Sounds good. You're doing it just right, Els." 

"How about you and Jess? And how are you doing? You still look sick." "Yeah, I'm not feeling great, but I want to see her and be with her tonight." "She'll be glad that you go there", I smile at him, "Me too." "I'm glad to have you guys. Prom wouldn't be fun without you at all. By the way, thanks for pickung me up. Feels like the good old times when we used to drive around." "Yeah, when I drove from my place to Bryce's and back because you've stayed with him or me each day", I chuckle and appreciate what we've had as friends.

"Jeff and Scott look so stupid alone there. They could have gone to prom together", Monty laughs next to me as I look around. "They look good", I say instead and I kind of regret saying no to Scott. None of them came with another date. "Oh shut up imaginary Monty", I grin being glad that I somehow still went to prom with them. 

"Why don't you go over to Winston and let us alone?", Bryce adds. "Maybe I will", Monty shrugs. "He's hurting, too, you know", I mumble feeling sad for Winston as he didn't have a lot of time to be with the real Monty. "I'll go over to him, too. Later", Monty tells me, "Why didn't you want to distract yourself from the fact that we're only hallucinations?" 

"I didn't want to feel the pain no more. But right now I want to enjoy the moment with you by my side. Like whenever we went to a dance together." "Can we give you an advice, Ellie?", Bryce asks softly and I look at him interestedly, "Live with the living." "You'll be forever living in my heart."

I was thinking about what Bryce said and decided to do what he said so I went over to Scott. "You look great", I smile at him softly and watch his lips changing to a bright smile as I've said that. "Thanks, Ellie, you too", he says, "I don't mean to annoy you but I wish you would have been my date for the dance. You look amazing and I.. I've just missed you a lot, you know." "I've missed you, too", I admit and am about to say more when I see Justin breaking down to the ground so I leave Scott and storm over to my best friend.