51. Chapter 51
Chapter 51
Sloane
May 1993
P rom is just ten days away, and I lay on my bed working on my homework. Maggie, Beth, Annalise, and I have plans this weekend to do each other's hair and makeup to see what looks best, and I can't wait to finish out the week. Just two more school days. As I work on a trig problem, the phone rings. Normally, I would assume it's another real estate agent calling for my mom, but she and my dad are at an event downtown for my dad's work. Since Bryn gets nervous answering the phone sometimes, I hop up as it rings a second time and grab it.
"Hello?" I say into the receiver.
"Hey," Ky's voice sounds through the earpiece.
"Hey!" I say as the butterflies start fluttering in my belly. I lay back against the pillows on my headboard, smiling. "This is a nice surprise."
"Yeah," he says. "How are you?"
"I'm great," I say, "especially since I get to talk to you on a weeknight. How was work?" I can tell by his voice that it must have been a tiring day.
"You know, it was work. What are you up to?"
He doesn’t sound happy, so I figure I’ll try to make him feel better. "Just working on homework and counting down the days 'til I see you. I can't wait for prom." The butterflies are fully awake, and I feel my pulse quicken as I continue. "Everything is set. The limo is booked, and we have reservations at a delicious restaurant close to the hotel where prom will be. It's going to be amazing, and my friends can't wait to meet you!" My adrenaline must be pumping because I can't stop talking. "You're going to love them and their dates."
"Sloane-" Ky starts.
"Oh," I interrupt, "and I have our tickets to the Metro Mount concert. The Lemonheads are headlining, but since it's a daytime show, we should have plenty of time to see them, then go back to my house to get ready for prom."
"Sloane," Ky says again, his voice firm.
"Yeah?" I ask, my voice quiet as my throat tightens with concern.
"Uh,” he pauses. “Um--I'm not going to be able to take you to your prom."
All the happiness and joy that filled my body seconds ago has been sucked out of me, replaced by complete and utter shock and devastation. "What? Why?" For a split second, I think he’s joking.
"My car is acting up, and I don't think it's safe to drive all the way up there."
I feel like a quarterback who has just been hit from his blindside. "Can't you borrow your mom's car? I've been looking so forward to this. The plans have all been made…"
"My mom needs her car, so I can't borrow it. I'm sorry." While he sounds sorry, I can't wrap my head around this.
"So that's it? You're not going to even try to find a way to get here?" My voice cracks as tears flood out of my eyes.
"I don't know what else to say, I just can't come. Sorry."
"Sorry?" I yell into the phone as tears and snot leak from my face. My sadness quickly turns to anger. "You're sorry? Do you know how long I've been looking forward to this? I've planned everything with my friends, who are expecting me to pay for part of the limo, by the way." I can't stop my tirade. "Ten days before prom, and you're just going to stand me up?" I can't help it, I'm so mad, so sad, so disappointed, and if I don't start taking deep breaths, I'm afraid I'll start hyperventilating.
"What do you want me to do?" Ky asks, irritation clear in his tone, as if I'm being unreasonable.
"Oh, I don't know, maybe be a man of your word. Find a way. Borrow a car?" My heart is breaking with every word.
"Look, this is out of my control," he says defensively.
"No, Ky, if you loved me as much as you say you do and if you really wanted to be here, you would find a way."
"Well, I'm sorry, I can't," is all he says to me.
I don’t say anything at first, the silence on the line deafening. "That's it?"
"Yeah, I guess so," he replies after a beat.
"Wow, alright," I say making my irritation and disappointment clear. I swallow hard. "Bye." I slam down the phone without waiting for a response and fling myself down on my bed, sobbing into my pillow. I’ve never experienced this kind of heartbreak. I feel as if my heart has been ripped in two, the sadness bleeding out into my veins and arteries, consuming my entire being.