"Hey darling. You know what? Let's go shopping tomorrow!" excitement burst through every word in Melanie's voice.
"Do you have any idea what time is it?" she groaned and a string of curses were buried in her pillow.
"Yes or no? C'mon darling, we need our prom dresses. I'm thinking white since it's the new pink, and yellow makes me look fat......"
Suddenly, drowsiness faded from her eyes. As they struggled to adjust to the dark surroundings, she thought of the ticket in the drawer.
It wasn't exactly forgotten, neither was it remembered. A hundred bucks for a piece of laminated paper imbued with every shade of blue was bloody expensive. Thanks to Melanie, she was broke.
"Kendall!"
"Erm yea?"
"Are we going to get our dresses or not?"
She hesitated. Mom would gladly give her a blank cheque, maybe even call up Carven Ong to design a dress. Dad wasn't happy with it, but he said he would skin her alive if she didn't enjoy prom.
"Sure."
~*~*~*~*~*~*
It was black.
A simple knee-length dress without lace or rhinestones. A plain cocktail dress.
But it was gorgeous.
She stared at the mirror as Melanie squealed at the sight of her, literally singing praises of how it suited her and how hot she looked.
"You're getting this dress. I'll even pay for you!"
Rapture waltzed in her heart and a little smile appeared on the curves of her lips as she told herself, "That's you in the mirror."
~*~*~*~*~*~*
Dad smiled when he saw her walk down the stairs. With a little foundation, some teal eyeshadow and sweet pink on her lips, she shone as radiantly as her petite earrings and Mom's diamond necklace.
They did not talk in the car.
She didn't know what to say to Dad. What exactly should you say to your father when he's driving you to your prom, knowing that his daughter will be slow dancing in some random boy's arms, and his arms might accidentally slide down.
There were so many things in his mind, where should he start? No alcohol, no making out, no dirty dancing, no thinking of losing your virginity before you're married. These were for her own good, yet he wondered whether he was going to be a killjoy stuffing her ears with rules. After all, she was supposed to have fun during her prom.
They reached the hotel.
"Erm... could you pick me up at 11?"
"Sure."
"Ok... bye, Dad."
"Have fun, sweetie."
She pushed the door open. I should at least tell him, she thought when her foot touched the ground.
"You know, Dad. I'll take care of myself. You won't need to worry if I'll end up pregnant or drunk, I promise I won't. Just some dancing and maybe fooling around with Melanie and the others. I won't drink --"
"You're a big girl, Kendall. I know you can manage yourself. Go have fun. Dance, flirt, I don't mind if you kiss a boy. It's your prom. Anyway, it's just for one night."
It was as if the whole world stopped spinning when her arms wrapped his neck. "Thanks, Dad. I love you," she whispered. He patted his little girl's hair, "I love you too."
Then he saw her disappeared through the glass doors.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
Melanie looked as if she owned the dance floor, strutting her stuff and laughing with all the others. Then the deejay invited all the couples for a last dance on the floor, a slow jazz fraught the ballroom.
He walked across the room towards her and asked, "Hey Kendall, do you wanna dance?"
She looked up into his hazelnut eyes and smiled. He led her to the middle of the floor and they swayed slowly to the music.
"So this is it, the end of high school," she said.
"Yea, time flies, doesn't it?" he smiled.
"What are your plans after this?" there was a little sadness in that question.
"My parents are thinking of sending me to Australia, it's either Medicine or Dentistry for me."
"Oh," she prayed that he couldn't hear the tremble in her voice.
"What about you?" which part of the world would she be?
"I'll still be here... then maybe I'll try applying for Oxford, or maybe Leeds."
"I'm gonna miss you," he looked into her eyes.
"Me too," she tried to hold back her tears.
It was slow like the dance, a little pressure, that's all. There was nothing between them, they were just friends. Maybe a crush, perhaps just lately or perhaps it was always there.
For one night, they were more than friends.
She was sure that she'll remember him for the rest of her life and maybe they'll meet again sometime in the future, as friends.
And she was sure Dad meant what he said, he wouldn't mind her kissing a boy. After all, prom is only one night and for one night, she'll have fun.
P/S: Inspired by my friends who went to their proms and had fun. Thanks for sharing your 'interesting' experiences with me. This is dedicated to all the girls out there, whether or not you've been to a prom.
