Now that I officially have a date for the Senior Prom, it's time to pick the dress. My mom, Beth, Mrs. Mendez, and I spend the afternoon at a store in Coeur d'Alene looking for the perfect gown to wear to the event of the season. I'm not going to lie, I'm a little nervous about shopping for prom dresses. Shopping isn't really my thing to begin with, and I've never had something as pretty as a prom dress before. Plus, this is, from what everyone tells me, a once in a lifetime event. So I have to make it count.

Last night I scoured the internet searching for prom dresses just so I can get an idea of what I like. But everything just seemed so... extravagant. I'm a simple girl. My favorite outfit is my green plaid skirt, tight black long sleeved shirt, and black leggings. Sometimes I wear skinny jeans and a plaid shirt over a white t-shirt. Nothing too fancy. But these dresses are gorgeous. And while I don't know what to choose, I want something that's going to wow Baker. Something that's going to make him think he's on the arm of the prettiest girl at school.

So when we pull up to the boutique, I am determined to find the perfect dress. Whatever that is. Beth and her mom are excited and immediately start sifting through gowns, and to my mom's credit, she does the same. But I am immediately overwhelmed by it all. So many colors and styles. It's enough to make a girl like me have a panic attack.

And on top of all this, I just got a notification that my Columbia results will be dropping literally any second. So while I'm trying to sort through dresses looking for the one that's right for me, I'm also constantly checking my Columbia application, getting more and more nervous with every moment that goes by with a pending status. It's only one in the afternoon and my phone battery is already at 32%. Not a good sign. But I can't help myself. I continue to check.

"Girl," Beth says an hour later as I pull my phone and check my application status for literally the 50th time since we arrived. "You seriously need to put that thing away before I confiscate it myself."

I sigh as I slide it back into my pocket and face the dresses again. "I know. I'm sorry. It's just... I think I'm going to find out about Columbia soon. And it's distracting me from... all this." I gesture toward the dresses, and she sighs.

"Summer, we've been here for an hour, and you have yet to try on a single gown," she says, and I wince. "Your mom has pulled like... twelve for you to try on. Just get your ass in the dressing rooms with me. Come on."

One look at my mom's slightly disappointed face tells me she's right. So I make a promise not to check my phone anymore until I get home. I have to save the battery anyway, because I didn't think to bring a charger before I left the house today. A moment later, I walk into the dressing room with Beth and start trying on some of the gowns my mom picked out for me. Most of them are poofy and make my hips look way too wide. I wrinkle my nose at one that makes me look like a discount Cinderella.

"Mom," I say a little while later as I walk out of the dressing room holding the six dresses I just tried on. "I don't think this style is for me."

Her eyes widen in surprise. "What? But they're like princess gowns! And you deserve to look like princess on your special day, honey."

I smile at her. "I know. But can we try some other styles maybe? Like... maybe a knee length dress? Or a... what are they called?" I search around and point out a gown that is the exact opposite of the poofy ones my mom has been picking. "These? The form fitting ones?"

"Mermaid," Beth whispers in my ear.

"Yes," I reply. "Mermaid. These dresses are just... they aren't my style, mom. I feel like a cotton ball wearing them."

"You do have a very slim figure," Mrs. Mendez chimes in as she takes me in, her index finger pressed against her lips in thought. "Very tiny."

My mom sighs. "Yeah. I guess. I just always pictured you in ballgown, you know?"

"It's the blonde hair," Beth says, smirking. "Makes her look too much like Cinderella. Come on, Ashley. You gotta think outside the box here."

"Okay, okay," my mom replies, holding her hands up in defeat. "We'll try a different style. I'll pull a few knee length dresses. And I saw a high-low style that was beautiful."

My mom returns to the stacks like she already knows what she's looking for. I resist the urge to check my application status again and start sifting through gowns myself. And that's when I see it. It's a light blue dress with a beaded corset, spaghetti straps, and a slit. Simple but elegant. Beautiful. And totally me. My heart races as I pull it off the rack and sneak into the dressing room to try it on.

And when I look at myself in the mirror, my breath catches in my throat. It's stunning, and makes the blue in my eyes sparkle like diamonds. My mouth is hanging open as I turn around to see how it looks from behind, and it's hugging my light curves just right. This is it. I know it. I can feel it. I step forward to open the dressing room door, but hesitate for a second, worried that my mom isn't going to like it. That she's not going to see the simple beauty in like I do. She wants me to wear something that's so different than what I would usually wear that I get lost in it. But this dress... it just fits me.

"Summer?" she calls a second later, and I jump, startled. "Honey, I pulled a few more here for you to try on."

I suck in a breath and put my hand on the handle, but just before I push the door open, I hear a buzzing from my pants pocket behind me. It's probably nothing. A text, maybe. Or an email. But I have this weird feeling. The hairs are standing up on my arms, and my chest is racing, like I already know that notification was different than the others. I let go of the handle and pull my phone out of my pocket, breaking my rule about not checking again until I get home.

It was an email notification, but the words make my heart come to a full stop. My Columbia application has been updated. Swallowing hard, I sit down and click on the link, typing in my password before clicking the application status button. It seems like it takes forever to load. For all I know, it could be days. And finally, the page fully loads, and my eyes well up with tears. I hardly ever cry, and I can't remember the last time I cried in public. But this... I can't control it. The tears fall before I have a chance to stop them. I cover my mouth with my hands and start shaking.

"Summer?" my mom says again, and I suck in a steadying breath. "Honey, are you okay?"

I nod my head and get to my feet before walking toward the door and pushing it open. My mom is standing with three more dresses hanging over her arm, while Beth stands wearing a hot pink puffy knee length dress that doesn't suit her at all. All their eyes turn to me, and their jaws all fall open at the same time.

"Oh my God," Beth says, a smile forming on her lips.

"Wow," her mom whispers, her brown eyes wide with shock.

"Oh, Summer," my mom gasps, her hands flying to her mouth as her eyes well up with tears. "Honey... that's the one. That's it." Fresh, hot tears slide down my cheeks as I nod my head, and my mom grins. "Oh, sweetheart, it's okay. Don't cry."

"I...," I say, feeling my whole body start to tremble. "I got in."

"Got in?" my mom asks, confused. "What do you mean?"

I hand her my phone, which still has my acceptance letter on the screen. "I got in, mom. I... I got in."

She takes the phone from my hand and stares at the screen for a moment. Then she drops my phone on the floor as her hands cover her mouth and her eyes widen. "Oh my God, Summer! You got in! You got in to Columbia!"

I burst into tears again as I nod my head and start jumping up and down, not even caring anymore that I'm in the most beautiful gown I've ever seen in my life. Nothing in this moment is more beautiful than the letter I just received. The words I've been waiting my whole life to see. It's euphoric in a way that makes me want to scream, cry, throw up, and dance in all the best possible ways. Beth and her mom cheer for me, but they don't quite understand. This... this is everything I've ever wanted. Everything I've been working towards.

We finish our shopping, and my mom buys me the dress. And I can't help but think how extra special it is now, because I was wearing it the moment my life changed forever. So many years of late nights studying. So many hours put into extracurriculars. And it was all for this. Columbia. My eyes are puffy from crying, and yet no one can wipe the smile off my face. It's happening. This is all really happening.

My dad is ecstatic when he finds out, and together they decide to throw a little impromptu party for me. They order several large pizzas and pick up a giant chocolate cake at our local grocery store. Then they invite Beth and her family, as well as Baker and Ian. I'm on cloud nine as everyone congratulates me. Beth's brothers wrap me up in big bear hugs that lift me off the ground. Everything is going so well.

But the moment my eyes fall on Baker, I feel my heart sink. He's all smiles as he wraps an arm around me and pulls me close, pressing a kiss against my forehead as he whispers words of praise into my ear. But seeing him is a reminder that our days together are officially numbered. In a few months, I'll be heading to Columbia, and he'll hopefully be on his way to Stanford with Ian. The joy I felt earlier in the night cracks, because for once I'm scared of what the future is going to bring. Not because I fear I won't do well at Columbia. But because I fear I won't do well without him.

The party goes until late. At eleven o'clock, Beth and her family thank us for having them over to celebrate, while Ian is beginning my mom and dad to let him stay the night. Baker and I take a walk to the back deck, leaning against the wood railing as we both stare up at the sky. We fall into a comfortable silence, the only sound muffled talking from inside as my mom digs Ian up a new toothbrush and my dad readies the guest room.

"What's wrong?" Baker finally asks as he turns to look at me, his storm gray eyes penetrating me, searching my face for answers. "You just got into your dream school, and yet you look... down. You feeling okay?"

I nod my head as I try to swallow the lump in my throat. "Yeah. I'm great, actually." I turn around and press my back against the wood. "I mean, Columbia, Baker. I did it."

He smiles as he leans into me and brushes his thumb against my cheek. "I'm so proud of you," he whispers, and I blush. "Really, Summer. This is a huge deal. I mean, forget the fact that it's your dream school. But it's one of the hardest schools in the country to get into. And you did it. That's amazing."

My lips attempt to form a smile, but it doesn't quite reach my eyes. "Yeah. It is."

His fingers play with the tips of my hair. "But?" he asks, and my chest tightens.

I close my eyes and suck in a breath. "I just... I'm going to miss this, you know?" he blinks in surprise, as if he doesn't understand. "I'm going to miss you," I say, elaborating. "I don't know how I'm going to be able to survive out there without you. You've gotten under my skin." I say this last part as a sorry attempt at a joke, but we both know it's true.

He leans down and presses a kiss against my lips. Tender and deep. Warm and sweet. And I love kissing him beneath the stars like this. It makes me feel like I'm floating through time and space. I place my hands on the back of his neck and hold him to me, not letting him go. This kiss... I want it to last forever. But it can't. Forever doesn't exist, and our time is running out. There's a deadline to us now, and I need to savor every moment while I still can.

He stays over again, and it's the first time I sleep in his arms that I realize it could be one of the last. I rest my head on his bare chest and stare up at the ceiling, watching the popcorn float across like bumpy clouds. We're both awake, as we both seem to struggle with sleep. He strokes my hair with his fingers, not saying a word for a long time. Then finally he lets out a breath and says, "Summer... I'm in love with you. You know that, right?"

My breath catches in my throat. He's told me he loves me before. But he's never told me he's in love with me. The words mean the same, and yet one is somehow so much heavier than the other. I nod my head. "Yeah. I... I'm in love with you too," I whisper, the tears stinging my eyes.

He kisses my head, but he doesn't say anything else as we fall asleep in each other's arms. And when I open my eyes in the morning, I find that he's slipped away in the night. Probably for the best, as my parents don't need to catch him in my bed and think something more is happening when it isn't. But I can't stop thinking about what he said. About how he's in love with me. And even though I know my parents would probably flip if they knew he stayed over, I wish he wouldn't have left. That I could've woken up in his arms. Because it all feels like a dream now. And his absence is an ugly reminder that soon it'll be permanent. 

Author's Note:
What do you all think? Will Summer and Baker survive long distance? Or is Summer right in her assessment that this is the beginning of the end of their relationship? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! Next chapter will be up as soon as I can write it. Stay safe and healthy until then, my dears!
XOXO,
~Aly