Chapter 2 Prom And Principles #9
His parting words are bizarre but hopeful, as is that reckless glint in his eyes. I watch from the porch as he hops into his truck and drives off into the night.
I’m still mad at him.
But I’m more curious than anything.
The following day, Weston makes himself scarce.
I receive only a few optimistic text messages reminding me about tonight’s invitation to the country club.
As I’m getting ready, trying to decide what to wear (sweatpants are too unsophisticated, even though it would prove a point), I overhear Mom talking on the phone with Weston.
She’s already agreed to give me a ride tonight, but that’s not the subject on her lips when she comes into my room to help me choose my “formal attire.”
“You should wear your prom dress,” she advises, reaching into my closet to slip the flowery gown off its hanger. “Trust me, you’ll wish you had if you don’t.”
I narrow my eyes at her suspiciously. “Do you know what Weston has up his sleeve?”
Mom purses her lips and shakes her head, but she’s not just the worst liar in the world—she’s the worst liar in the history of the world.
“Come on, Mom. I heard you on the phone with him. What’s he scheming? Some sort of ridiculously elaborate dinner? Don’t you think I’ll look absurd sitting there in this sparkly gown?” I hold it up to my body like she hasn’t seen me in it already.
“I think…” She pauses, biting her lip. “When you pay that much for a dress, you should wear it more than once.”
I give in, knowing Mom is clued in on Weston’s plan, even though she won’t divulge the smallest hint of that plan to me.
So she helps me put on the fairytale dress and zip up the back.
I tell her I don’t want to fuss with my hair this time, but she insists on sitting me down at my desk to weave together a quick princess braid that crowns my head, allowing my golden waves to flow freely like a waterfall behind me.
“You look beautiful,” she says, kissing my cheek.
“Thank you.” I give myself a once-over in the mirror before admitting, “I do look pretty. Prettier than Weston deserves.”
Mom chuckles at my icy comment. “Oh, I’m sure Weston is well aware of how lucky he is.”
We make our way downstairs, outside, and into Mom’s Subaru. I remain silent the whole drive to the Glasswater Lake Country Club—a tangle of emotions warring in my heart. I keep glancing at the dash clock as though my obsessive time-checking will convince the minutes to move faster.
At eight o’clock sharp, we pull into the parking lot of the sprawling, white-columned country club.
“Well, this is the end of the line for me,” Mom says. “Just walk over to the big steps. You’ll find your way.” With a wink, she shoos me out of the car.
I assume Weston is going to be the one to drive me home as I watch Mom’s taillights roll down the road and vanish into the night. The warm glow of the country club guides me onward, down the path towards the cascading staircase that leads up to a magnificent wraparound porch.
I see someone waiting at the base of the steps for me, but as I draw closer, I realize it’s not Weston.
“Rudy?” I frown in puzzlement as I look him up and down. “What are you doing here?”
He grins mischievously and offers his arm with a flourish, like he’s an usher at a royal wedding. “I’ve been instructed to escort you.”
“Instructed by Weston?”
He nods. “He’s waiting for you inside.”
Truthfully, I’m surprised he’s not out here to “escort me” himself. But I assume it all ties into the mysterious plan as I loop my arm through Rudy’s and walk up the stairs with him. Once inside, I pivot towards the restaurant entrance, but Rudy tugs me back and says, “This way.”
I frown. “But I thought…”
Rudy brings one finger to his lips in a gesture that tells me all will be revealed in a matter of minutes. He leads me down a posh hallway lined with oil paintings, finally stopping at a pair of double doors marked Kensington Ballroom.
The name alone is fancy enough to make me glad I decided to wear my prom dress.
Rudy knocks on the door in a rhythmic pattern—a secret code. He steps back, hands folded, like a very official security guard.
I raise an eyebrow at him. “What are we waiting for?”
“Music.”
But not just any music. The Pride and Prejudice soundtrack. I instantly recognize the familiar piano melody oozing from the other side. And now the suspense is killing me.
Rudy steps forward on cue and throws the double doors open, revealing the ballroom beyond. I gasp, my hands flying to my lips as I take in the sight before me.
The first thing I notice is an archway decorated with silk flowers and ribbons—like a gateway to a magical realm. A hand-painted sign curves above the arch, declaring in glittery letters:
PROM FOR TWO
My heart melts as I step through the archway and into the ballroom, which is decked out just like the Rockford High gymnasium was the other night. But unlike the dance floor at the school, this place is gloriously, spectacularly empty.
Strobe lights caramelize the room in shades of pink and gold, reflecting off the disco ball spinning from the ceiling and scattering stardust over everything in sight.
Including Weston.
He stands in the middle of it all, wearing a white button-down shirt and a black vest, looking unfairly handsome—a hopeful smile on his face as he watches me absorb this dazzling sight.
He made my wish come true.
Happy tears spring to my eyes as I lift the hem of my skirt and run to him. The music crescendos just as we crash into each other—and it makes my heart swell with love for him.
“You look breathtaking,” he rasps, holding me tight for a moment before stepping back to take me in.
“So do you,” I say, gazing up at him in the syrupy rose-gold light.
“I would’ve worn a tux, but my rental expired.”
I laugh just as a tear escapes down my cheek. “How did you pull this off?”
Weston shrugs, a smile toying with his lips. “I may or may not have bribed the prom committee to let me borrow their decorations. Everything was already packed up from the other night.”
“And this ballroom? It must’ve cost an arm and a leg to rent it.”
Weston nods. “It cost two legs, actually. Did you not notice I’m missing limbs?”
I fall against his chest in a flurry of laughter. He laughs, too, and before I know it, I’m crying, and there’s a sweet ache in my heart from all the hurt melting away.
“Oh, Wes… I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry, too.” He kisses the top of my head.
“I kept wishing we could go back and do prom over again. So that’s what I thought we could do right now.
Prom for two—me and you. If you don’t count Rudy.
He promised to stay out of sight and be our DJ.
It’s all thanks to his mom that we got the ballroom for tonight.
There was a last-minute cancellation, so I guess it was meant to be. ”
I smile, blinking away my tears. “I can’t believe you did all this… just for me.”
“Tessa, I would move heaven and earth for you.”
A ball of emotion rises into my throat, and it’s impossible to speak—all I can do is mouth the words I love you.
He catches my hand and gives it an affectionate squeeze, his lips forming the same words. I love you, too.
The distance between us is suddenly unbearable. I slide my fingers around his neck and pull him down to my level, kissing him deep and slow. His hands encircle my waist as his lips move over mine with tenderness and passion, saying more than his words ever could.
That’s when the music changes, as if by magic. Another familiar piano tune starts playing, and when I recognize it, I nearly start crying again.
“Bridge Over Troubled Water.”
It really does feel like our song now, especially when Weston threads his fingers through mine and smoothly leads me into a slow dance.
The disco ball shimmers overhead as we fall into rhythm with each other, moving in graceful circles around the ballroom floor.
He gazes down at me with love in his eyes, and I smile up at him with happy tears in mine.
And it’s even better than that scene in Pride and Prejudice.
A thousand times better.