Author's Note: I'm still pretty sick so I won't drag this on. Just a few things though. 1.) After this chapter, there will most likely only be three more. 2.) I've been working on the sequel and I now have a name, cover and summary for it- it's Give Me Love, the cover is on my Instagram- millie_wattpad, and I'm not gonna reveal the summary until I finish this story so that the ending won't be spoiled. I'm not 100% I'll do it though, but the chances are looking good. (: 3.) Last night I was listening to my Taylor Swift songs and I was super bored so I made a Tumblr just for Taylor Swift stuff, because I'm just weird and I love her so much. But if you wanna follow it, it's queentaylorswift13.tumblr.com. Also, I changed the URL to my original tumblr to: millie-starlight.tumblr.com, just because, so yeah, you guys should follow that, that'd be cool. 4.) I really hope you like this chapter and the next chapter is Prom, so yeah. The picture over there is Jaime's outfit for Prom because I'm gonna put Sydney's on the next. I'm sorry for how long this is. Don't forget to comment and vote! If it sucks, I blame it on my sickness.

Chapter 34 - Prom Better Be Freaking Amazing

“Oh my gosh, I never thought that this day would come,” I rejoice, walking into the locker room.         

"It wasn’t that bad,” Regina Rutherford, a girl on my track team with me, says walking in after me.

“You’re right; it was worse.” I sigh, shaking my head and parting ways with Regina.

Today was the last day of track practice of the year; thank God. Well, for seniors anyway. The underclassmen and juniors still have about a month left until they’re relieved from the torture that they call track. As for us seniors though, our last meet is tomorrow, which is poo because tomorrow is Saturday. Saturday, April 11th. That meaning that the day after tomorrow is Prom, so that’s nice, I guess. The past two weeks have practically flown by and occurred without flaw.

They’ve been very uneventful, actually. I spend most of my free time with Bradley, much to Arianna’s evident dismay. She keeps saying that if I’m not gonna, erm, what’s the phrase she keeps using? Give him any. That’s it. She said if I’m not gonna ‘give him any’, then I need to stop tempting him. I don’t actually think I temp Bradley though, not on purpose anyway. Besides, the two of us are really, really close to that point, I think. We just haven’t actually gotten there yet, but it won’t be very long from now that it happens; I can feel it.

I walk over to my gym locker and spin the dial on it for the last time, pulling it open. I take my black Nike track bag out and slam the locker, heading towards the showers. I usually don’t stay here after track practice any longer than I have to but seeing as how today’s the last day I’ll ever set foot in here, I may as well take one last shower. 

There’s only a handful of girls in the showering area, which is good; it’s just so weird changing in front of them and being naked. I’m just so awkward and self-conscious that I honestly cannot take it; I always feel like I’m being scrutinized or something. It doesn’t really matter though, since today’s the last day.

I peel of my spandex track uniform, tossing it on my bag and then stepping into the shower, turning the head on. Ten minutes later, I leave the locker room, walking out into the saturated April air. The weather’s been really weird lately, so you never really can tell if you need to leave the house in Uggs and a Northface or a bathing suit. It’s ridiculous, really. Just two more months though and the boys and I are off to Italy. I literally cannot wait for our vacation; it’s gonna be amazing. 

I’m about to pull my phone out to tell Bradley he can come get me now- he brought me to school this morning like usual and we rode in his car, so we just decided he’d come pick me up after practice. As I’m tying the message to him though, I look up and see Mikey’s car idling in the parking lot. I crinkle my forehead in confusion as to why he’s here at school still and walk across the lot to the car. Reaching his car, I raise my knuckles and lightly tap on the glass twice.

The tinted window smoothly glides down and I see Jaime sitting in the passenger seat, Mikey in the driver. So yes, Mikey finally stopped acting like a four year old child and asked Jaime out. Obviously, she said yes. That was about a week ago and I think that the two of them are the cutest couple at Lincoln High, honestly. Apart from Bradley and me, obviously, because we’re adorable. At least, that’s what a few girls have been stopping me in the hallways and saying. Jaime’s really cool though, so that’s nice. We’re not exactly friends, Jaime and me, but we’re pretty friendly towards one another. A lot friendlier than I ever was with Alison. That’s probably just because Jaime has a soul though, unlike the demented Alison.

Speaking of Alison, I haven’t had to see too much of her these past couple of weeks. I think she’s finally beginning to accept the fact that Walker doesn’t want her back. I mean, I know he still loves her and all, but he’s not stupid enough to take her back. According to him, she always patronizes him amongst other things. 

“Hey Siddey,” Mikey calls around Jaime with a chirpy grin.

“I told you not to call me that,” I remind him, rolling my eyes. .

“That you did, and I told you I wouldn’t.” Mikey replies.

“What’re you doing here?” I ask, ignoring his comment about the dumb nickname he made up.

“I have a proposal for you,” He explains, turning the radio down a bit.

“And what might that be?” I ask, climbing into the seat behind the passenger seat.

"Oh, so Prom is Sunday, right?” Mikey asks, speeding out of the school parking lot.

"Yeah…” I confirm, letting my voice trail off.

“And Jaime doesn’t have her dress yet, and you probably don’t have yours either, right?”

“You know me so well,” I exclaim, shaking my head.

“Well, we have been friends since we were like, ten; I’ve had years to figure you out.”

"That’s true,” I agree.

"So, like I was saying. Since neither of you have your dresses why don’t you go shopping?”

“What’re you up to?” Jaime wonders, looking at her boyfriend inquisitively.

I can see why Mikey would go after Jaime Lockhart; she’s gorgeous. She has long dirty blonde hair that is somehow always perfectly straight and in place. She has light brown highlights which only make her already flawless hair even more flawless. Not to mention she has amazing fashion sense. Take right now for example. From what I can see - which isn’t much since I’m sitting in the backseat - she’s wearing a seafoam green colored bandage skirt, a sleeveless white full tip lace zip top and a pair of white gladiator sandals. If she wasn’t so nice an just amazing, I’d hate her.

Mikey shrugs innocently, “I was just thinking that maybe the two of you should bond and stuff.”

Jaime nods in agreement, “Oh, yeah, that’s fine. Like, if Sydney doesn’t mind, I don’t.”

“Sounds great to me,” I approve. “Oh, that’s if you don’t mind my annoying sister coming.”

“Sydney, Arianna’s not annoying.” Mikey retorts, swiftly switching lanes with no warning at all.

“Yeah, she is.” I argue. “I mean, like, I love her, but Jesus Christ.”

It’s true, Arianna is nineteen, almost twenty and I’m eighteen, but I swear you’d think I was the older one of the two of us. It’s not that she’s immature, she’s just not very business-like, if that makes any sense. She’s the one making me get a Prom dress anyway, Arianna is. I was planning on just wearing something from my closet in order to avoid having to go shopping but she said that I had to go Prom dress shopping. I just had to.

“How’s Charlie?” He wonders.

“Charlie’s good,” I reply with a smile. Man, I love that baby. “She cries a lot though.”

“She’s a baby, Sydney,” Mikey laughs.

“So, that means she can’t go one night without waking up at 2 a.m. yelling?”                

“Exactly,” He tells me with a cheeky grin. “So, J, what’d you say? You wanna go?”

“Sure, I like meeting new people.” She chirps.

“Oh my God, you are such a unicorn,” I coo, leaning over the console between the two of them.

"Thanks?” Jaime replies with a light laugh.

“It’s a compliment, don’t worry; Sydney’s just weird with her accolades.” Mikey explains to her.

“Compared to Walker’s last girlfriend? She was like a reincarnation of Hitler and Ted Bundy.”

“That’s a bit dramatic, no?” Mikey asks laughing heartily.

“Not at all,” I reply, shaking my head with a grin.

“Do you all date horrible girls?” Jaime wonders.

“Well, obviously not. I’m dating you, aren’t I?” Mikey retorts, glancing at his girlfriend.

“Well, the other guys, I mean.” She corrects, her slightly tanned cheeks going a light shade of red.

“Oh, no, not really. I mean, Bradley’s dating Sydney. Tanner doesn’t have a girlfriend. I’m dating you. Drew’s got a thing with Darcy but I don’t know what that’s all about and Walker had Alison, the only bad seed.” Mikey explicates, coming to a smooth stop as we arrive at my house.

“So, what time should we go shopping?” I ask, grabbing my track bag.

“Ah, what, like two, three hours? Jaime and I kinda have something we gotta do.”

“I don’t wanna know,” I tell him in a sing-song voice, already a pretty good idea of what that is.

“You’re a pervert.” Mikey chortles.

“Hey, you’re the one who’s about to do it. I just said it.” I remind him, giggling.

“Uh huh, but I think we both know where you’re about to go.”

"You mean my house?” I ask, raised eyebrows.

“Your house, Bradley’s house, either one.”

“Goodbye Michael.” I chuckle, getting out of his car. “I’ll see you in a little bit Jaime.”

“See you later, Sydney,” They chorus in unison. They are just so stinking cute together.

Just to prove Mikey wrong, I don’t walk up Bradley’s driveway; I go to my own house. The driveway is littered with cars, which is stupid because we have a garage. Ben’s in near the garage door, my mother’s car is parallel to Ben, Arianna’s car is in behind my mother’s and Jared’s is behind mine, blocking me in.

I walk past the cars and retrieve my house keys from my pocket, unlocking the door and walking in. Mikey honks and pulls off, speeding down the road. He drives so fast. Like, I really wish he wouldn’t, but he never listens to me when I try to tell him these things. I walk into my house and immediately, I’m met with the ear-splitting cry that belongs to none other than baby Charlie. She’s adorable and all, but she just cries so, so much.

My stomach growls and instead of going upstairs to help Jared and Arianna with their daughter, I make my way to the kitchen. Surprisingly enough, my mother is actually standing in front the stove cooking. Actually cooking. My mother doesn’t cook. Unless someone dies or something. But that’s about it.

"Hey mom,” I say awkwardly, walking to the refrigerator.

“Oh, hi sweetie. I didn’t hear you come in. How was school?” Another thing she never does- ask about school. Hmm, something fishy is going on here.

“It was…okay,” I reply. “What’s wrong?”

“What do you mean?”

“Like, why’re you here?”

“I live here?”

“Well, yeah, but you’re never home when I get home from school and you never cook.”

“I know, but I’m taking a vacation,” She explains.

“Yeah?” I ask uninterestedly as I pull the small bag of baby carrots from the refrigerator shelf.

“Mhm, and I’m spending here with my babies.”

“Oh, you mean you aren’t actually going anywhere?”

“Don’t sound so surprised,” My mom scolds. “is it really that surprising that I want to be at home?”

"No, I guess not.” I shrug, biting down on a carrot.

“So, talk to me. We haven’t had a real talk in a while.”

“What do you want to talk about?” I wonder, hopping up on the counter and swinging my legs.

“How about Bradley? You two are still dating, right?”

“We are,” I confirm with a nod. “Though there’s really not much to talk about.”

“Meaning you two are being totally safe?”

“Mom,” I groan, rolling my eyes at her. “You do know I’m an adult right?”

“An adult who’s never had a job and is still in high school, so as your mother I need to know.”

“You’re so weird,” I inform her. “But yes, we are.”

“Does that mean you’re still a virgin?”

“Does that mean that being a virgin is the only way to stay safe?” I shoot back.

“No, but for now I want you to abstain; you have your whole life ahead of you for babies.”

“Yeah, I know mom. Besides, I don’t want a baby right now.”

“Good,” She chirps. “So, you did have a tattoo? More than one at that?”

“Oh,” I reply, looking down at my exposed wrists. “well, technically at the time, I only had one.”

"Only? And how many do you have now?”

“Just three,” I shrug.

“Just? I hope you’re not planning on getting more.”

“Maybe, maybe not. I dunno.” My phone vibrates in my pocket and I pull it out seeing that it’s Bradley. Desperate to get out of this awkward conversation with my mother, I wave the phone in front of my face, and say, “Well, this was a nice chat. Bradley’s calling me though. I’ll talk to you later though.”

“Okay, tell him I said, ‘hello’.” She replies as I walk out of the kitchen.

“You have amazing timing,” I answer the phone, walking up the stairs.

“I do? And hello to you too.”

“Hello,” I giggle. “but yeah, my mother was forcing me to talk to her.”

“Why don’t you wanna talk to your mom?” He wonders.

"I mean, like, it’s not that I don’t, it’s just that it’s so awkward.” I tell him as I walk into my room.

“You are pretty awkward,” Bradley admits with a soft chuckle.

"Thanks,” I sarcastically say.

“But I love you more for it,” He adds.

“Cheese ball.” I cough.

"Call me a cheese ball all you want, I know you’re blushing and I know you like it.”

“No, I’m not.” I deny, knowing that my face is going red.

“Liar,” He chirps. “anyway, what’re you doing tonight?”

“Well, in a few hours I’m going dress shopping with Arianna and Jaime. Why?”

“Just wondering.” Bradley tells me. “until then I’m coming over.”

“Over where?”

“To your house, stupid,” He jokes.

"Oh, right, I knew that.”

“I’m sure you did.”

“I did!”

“Okay,” Bradley relents. “I’m hanging up now because I’m leaving now.”

“Okay, you weirdo; you didn’t have to narrate it.” I tease before hanging up the phone.

-------

“I’m not wearing that Arianna,” I squeal with laughter.

“What? Why not? It’s sexy! Isn’t this sexy, Jaime?” Arianna asks, showing Jaime the dress.

“Yes, that is very sexy.” Jaime agrees with a flouncy giggle.

“See?! Jaime thinks so too. At least try it on,” She whines.

"It’s too sexy for Prom,” I argue, shaking my head.

“What about this one?” She wonders, holding up another one.

“The neckline plunges way too far down,” I critique, disproving the pale yellow dress

“What about for you Jaime?” Arianna offers.

“I’m with Sydney; we wanna look sexy but classy not dirty and trashy.”

“Exactly!” I exclaim. “Someone who gets it!”

“Touché.” Arianna retorts, putting the dress back.

The three of us have been in this dress shop for the better part of two hours now and we still have no dresses. I mean, it’s humongous store; there are dresses literally everywhere. And surprisingly enough everything’s so in order. Like, considering the fact that Prom’s are right about the corner, you’d think this place looked like a tornado just ripped through it what with all the teenagers in and out of here, but no it’s all nice and pristine looking.

“Oh my gosh,” Jaime squeals as the three head to the other side of the store. Yes, it’s that big.

“What?” I ask, stopping as she does.

“That dress. It’s perfect,” She cries, walking over to a rack and pulling said dress off of it.

“That is perfect,” Arianna coos, gaping at the dress.

“It really is,” I agree, eyeing the strapless silky chiffon blue J.Crew Taryn dress.

“Should I try it on?” Jaime asks, holding the dress in admiration.

“Yes! You definitely should,” I assure her.

“Okay,” She chirps. “I’ll be right back.” She tells us, prancing off to the dressing rooms.

“See? Why can’t you be simple?” Arianna teases..

“Oh hush. A Prom dress is the most important dress a girl wears; I need one that’s impeccable.”

 “Don’t you mean second most important? What about a wedding dress?”

“Who gets married anymore?” I scoff.

"You’re ridiculous.” My sister laughs, rifling through the racks.

“Wait a second,” I tell her as she thumbs past one.

“This one?” She asks with an icky expression, looking down at the dark green dress.

“No, not that one. This one,” I reply, moving the hangers down the rack to one she passed.

“Oooh! That one. It’s gorgeous.” She exclaims, taking the hanger from the rack and holding it up.

"It is, isn’t I?” I agree, taking it from her and holding it in front of me, looking down.

“Yes, yes it is, so go try it on.”

“But what if I find another I like?” I ask.

“Then you have a choice to make. Now come on,” Arianna says, hooking her arm through mine.

Arianna practically drags me over to the dressing rooms and just as we reach them, Jaime opens the door, coming out in the blue J. Crew dress. If blue was my color, I’d totally try to get it, but it’s not. I just don’t like blue dresses on myself for a reason. I mean, it’s fine on other people, but I hate it on me.

“Does it look awful?” She asks, spinning around in the three-way mirror.

“No! It looks amazing,” I tell her truthfully.

“Y’all think Mikey will like it?”

“Mikey has this infatuation with the way silk feels,” I inform her. “So, yes, I think he’ll love it.”

“You made the weirdest friends, Sydney.” Arianna tells me with a laugh.

“I know,” I sigh. “they’re weird, but amazing.” I defend. “So, are you gonna get it Jaime?”

“I think so, yeah. It’s kinda expensive, but it is Prom, after all.”

“That’s the spirit.” Arianna interjects, handing me the dress. “And you try this on.”

“Okay, okay.” I say, taking it from her and going into a dresser room.

I quickly get my clothes off and slip the dress on over my head. I should have probably just stepped into it and pulled it up like a normal girl, but whatever. The dress doesn’t have a zipper or anything, so it’s pretty easy to get on. I slide the thin straps up on my shoulders and look in the mirror encased in the dressing room.

The dress goes way down to the floor, but it’s a nice length for my short height, I think. It’s not so long that it’ll be dragging across the floor, but it’s long enough that it’ll probably cover my shoes for the most part. That kinda sucks though because shoe shopping is the next best part. Overall, it’s a really nice dress though, I think. Right around the area where my rib cage begins spanning to my waist, there’s a embellished sparkly strips on the dress and the rest of it has little flicks of a glitter-like material on it.

“Hurry up!” Arianna shouts, banging the door.

"You are so peculiar.” I tell her, unlocking the door and stepping out.

“Awww,” Arianna cries. “look at my baby sister wearing a Prom dress. I feel so old.”

“Ari?”

“Yes baby sister?”

“You’re literally a year and ten months older than me,” I remind her.

“So? You’re still making me feel old!” She whines with a happy smile on her face.

“Do you like it?” I ask her, examining myself in the mirror.

“Of course I do; you look amazingly wonderful and just perfect. The question is though, do you?”

“I love it,” I admit with a small smile.

“I’m back,” Jaime announces in a sing-song voice with her bag in tow. “Aw, you look so pretty!”

“Thanks,” I reply. My phone suddenly rings in my purse and I reach down on the bench, pulling it out. I see Bradley’s name on the caller I.D. and wrinkle my forehead in confusion. Pushing a lock of my messy hair behind my ear, I slide the bar over, accepting the call and put the phone to my ear. “Bradley?”

“Where are you?” He whines.

“I told you I went dress shopping. Remember?”

“You take too long to shop.” Bradley complains.

“Well, I have to look good at Prom.” I reason.

“You could wear a rag and still look as amazing as always.”

“I’m glad you think so,” I say giggling.

“Know so.” He corrects. “Oh and I called to ask what color dress you’re getting.”

“I just found the perfect one and it’s Coral.”

“Coral?”

“Yeah, like the color? It’s Coral colored.”

“Is that like, red or something?”

“Coral? No, it’s like, pink, I guess. Why you wanna know anyways?”

"My mom’s forcing me to get a new suit for Prom because she says I can’t just wear an old one.”

“Have I mentioned how much I love your mother? She’s just so cool.”

“I’m glad you think so on that matter because she’s not. At all. I can’t stand her.”

“You’re so mean.” I reply, shaking my head.

“I am not. You don’t like your mother, either.”

“I love my mother; she just annoys me like a lot.”

“Same difference.” He argues. “Coral? I’m gonna just Google that. I have to get a matching tie.”

“Is that Bradley? You better hang up, missy. We have stuff to do.” Arianna commands.

“I’m being forced to get off the phone now.” I tell my boyfriend with a chuckle.

“If this is how your sister reacts to your Prom, I can’t wait to see her at her wedding.” Bradley says.

“That will be a terrible, terrible sight. Anyways, I’ll call you when I get back home.”

“Okay,” He sighs. “I love you.”

“I love you back,” I chirp before hanging up and seeing both Jaime and Arianna staring at me. “What?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.

“You two are saying the L word?” Arianna gushes.

“Yeah?”

“I swear, you two are gonna win ‘Cutest Couple’ for the yearbook.” Jaime interjects.

“I dunno, I hope not; that’s weird. I’m gonna change out of this now,” I say, going back into the room.

Once I get dressed and come out of the room, the three of us walk up to the front registers and I pay for the dress, pushing the receipt down in my back pocket as we head towards the exit to the huge store. I can’t believe it’s actually inside a mall; it’s just so big and it’s just one store. The space is literally the size of a normal Wal-Mart.

"So, now where to?” Jaime asks as we walk out of the store through the mall.

“I’m starving; let’s get food.” I suggest.

“Okay, but first, we need to find the perfect shoes for you two!” Arianna exclaims.

“Your sister sure is energetic.” Jaime notes.

"Hey, I warned you.” I remind her.

“Come on, slow pokes!” Arianna calls as she walks into an expensive shoe store- Giorgio’s. Prom better be freaking amazing for all the money and time I’m spending here.