23|ℐᏉᎯℕ

   HERE WE GO. I smell the roses again, fresh and aromatic. After putting my phone in my pocket, I adjust the gold lapel of my Givenchy tuxedo.

   "Were you guys just texting?" her mother asks.

    I smile a nervous smile. "I only told her it was okay to come down."

   She shakes her head, smiling. I look up from her towards the staircase. There she is.

   Damn!

   Billions of thousands of thoughts run through my head. Now I know how grooms feel when they're standing on the other side of the aisle.

   Is it just me, or is she actually moving in slow motion?

   My feet begin to move and my heart triples its pace. I silently hope my face doesn't reflect the randomness of my thoughts.

    When I get to her, she smiles, batting her lashes. I take her hand. Her nails are painted in glossy pastel golds, and her dress is magnificent. The gold sequins and rhinestones look like the northern lights.

   Damn the rules today.

   "My breath is stole." I say. I didn't plan it. I'm also just hearing it for the first time. She chuckles, smiling fully. "This is for you." I hand her the roses. Her smile widens. Then I pull out the jewellery case from my pocket and open it. 

    Her eyes light up even brighter. "Oh my God. Wow!" She says, "they're beautiful. Thank  you."

    I prostrate. "You're welcome."

   "Help me." She turns around and lifts her hair, exposing her neck. For a moment or two I'm distracted by the daring design of the dress, her bare back. She turns around and our eyes meet. I smile and she whispers, "we're running late." I wrap the necklace around her neck and the diamond bracelet around her wrist.

   She has another one with cute angels on it. They both look like actual good-luck charms. I steal another glance at her face, and I can't tell if the colour in her cheeks is from the surprise or the makeup. But Damn! She's like crisp champagne, only sexier. 

   Rules. Remember the rules.

   I don't think I can calm the hormones today, I'm going to kiss her. Not right now in front of her mother, but today. I can feel it.

   "You've outdone yourself." She looks up at me from the bracelet, placing a golden eagle brooch on my lapel. 

   Gosh! She's beautiful!

   "Thanks for the. . ."

   "Shhhh, nice suit. How did you know to wear one with gold?" She doesn't blink when she says it. Her eyes are fixed on my soul. 

   God. Hot. Hot. Hot. Searing Hot! Breathe. Relax.

   "I didn't know. I just bought as my heart led and it's a tuxedo." I say, also not blinking. My eyes are burning with passion, or just the dryness from keeping them open.

   "Still a suit." She says, still not blinking.

   "Fine." Tears drop and I blink. "You win." She starts laughing. Her mother doesn't get it. We both look at her, laughing again.

   "Oh, I'm the joke, I see. Well you two should get going. You don't want to be late." She smiles like she wants to cry. 

   "We already missed the red carpet." Boma says. Like clouds, her dress flows effortlessly as she walks to hug her mother.

   "Boma don't ruin your makeup." Her mother says. Boma breaks the hug, she's looking up and fanning her eyes with her free hand. I don't want to ruin their moment, so I just watch them, saying nothing.

   "We're done crying." Boma's tells me, chuckling slightly and handing the flowers to her mother who grabs an empty vase by the stairs.

   "Alright ma. I'll bring her back before 8."

   "Okay, you guys should have fun"—she raises her index finger—"But, be reasonable, please?"

   "Sure, Mom." Boma smiles.

   I nod, leading her out of the house. My best day ever has just landed. I'm not going to be sketching this one, I am in this one. 

   We keep smiling all the way to the car and while she's entering, my elbow brushes her boob. She's wide eyed, looking at me.

   "I don't believe you just did that," she says.

I don't believe it happened either, it was an honest mistake. "Sorry."

   "You're not really sorry." She says. I smile and close the door.

   "Any extra tips about your class?" I turn on the ignition when her mother opens the gate.

   "They're like bees and vipers." She turns to face me. Her blue eyes look mesmerizingly bluer. "The Sweet Boys are the sweet boys, literally. They're intimidatingly handsome, Quincy is part of that clique, so you get the picture?" she asks.

   I nod, listening attentively. I drive out and we wave at her mother. I've not told her my mother invited us over for dinner yet. I'd like for it to unfold, and I'll tell her everything in the most natural way. It's true what people say about waiting for the perfect time.

   "Ivan!"

   "Ow!" I cry out as she smacks me across my chest.

   "You have to listen carefully. If you want to survive this prom." She cautions.

   "Sorry. I'm all ears."

   "They will buzz around you, cause you're their type."

   "I'm glad you think so." I smirk. She shoots me a straight amused glance.

   "Don't flatter yourself," she says. I nod respectfully. "The Girls On Soft are the vipers. I founded the group and they kicked me out. Jacklyn, Mabel and Confidence will be flirting with you from every direction. Don't fall." She looks at me and her eyes read 'I'm not kidding'.

   "Noted. I'm a hundred percent sure that you're the prettiest girl there, and even if you weren't, I'm blinded to them," I say.

   "Am I blushing?" she asks, holding a smile and trying not to laugh.

   "Yeah, a lot. You're all flushed." I say, and she starts laughing.

   "Thank you," she pats my arm. "This wouldn't have been possible without you." She says, and my heart turns to pap.

   "We're not even there yet. Wait till you see my dance moves, then you can thank me." 

   "You can dance?" her voice is airy, surprised.

   "You'll have to wait and see." I say. She looks at me. Her gaze lingers long after I turn towards the windscreen. She bites her bottom lip, a small smile escaping. 

   Prom: our first date.

   Mood: Electric.

   Implications: Sights and Touch.

   Rules: On the fence.

   Me: Ecstatic, over the roof.