Chapter 29
When the signs go up for prom at school, we seniors have to vote for a prom king and queen.
The student council put forth three guys and three girls to choose from, and Seb's one of the guys. He has to attend a luncheon and campaign at school. Seb, being Seb, revels in the attention campaigning gives him. We all vote for him, of course. I don’t really know the three girls, but Gabby is friends with one, so I vote for her.
Seb is going with E to prom officially, although he asked both of us to be his date. With Jake mobile now, we agreed I should ask him. Jake and I always assumed we would be each other’s prom dates, so I plan an epic ask.
Two weeks before prom, I show up at the condo with balloons and a box of cupcakes, with the icing asking Jake to be my date. Completely cheesy, which I know he'll love. Seb asks to join me.
Ray is beaming when we enter the condo, ushering us into the living room.
I texted him about my surprise last night.
Will and Jake are sitting on the sofa, and when Jake sees the balloons, he gets up to hug me.
He’s still a little slow standing, but it’s so amazing to see him moving around. “What’s all this, Sum?”
“Well, handsome, prom is coming up,” I reply, opening the cupcake box and tilting it for him to read.
He breaks into a brilliant smile. “So cheesy, I love it. But what about my mobility issues?”
“What about them?” I enquire. “You’re doing amazing, and I would love for you to be my date.”
“I doubt I can bust a move yet, Sum.”
“That’s where having others comes in handy,” Seb interjects. “E, Alex, and I will be there, and we can take her for a spin on the dance floor when she wants.”
Thinking it over for a minute, Jake grabs a cupcake and takes a huge bite. “You’ve got a date, Sum. We’re doing the whole matching tie and corsage, right?”
“Of course. Who could forget your love of 80s and 90s cheese.”
“Classic,” he points at me, “not cheesy.”
Rolling my eyes, I offer Ray and Will a cupcake. I let Jake know I’m dress shopping tomorrow with Holly and Gabby. Seb offers to take Jake to the tailor Finn uses for suits with him and E tomorrow.
I drive Holly and Gabby to a new formalwear store Gabby found in North Charleston. According to her, it has every type of dress you could want, and as a savvy shopper, she texted us when they had their grand opening, so we each have a 20% off coupon to use.
The store is part of a cluster of new retail buildings in the area.
I park, and we follow Gabby inside. The store is on the smaller side but has two floors.
A sales assistant greets us when we enter and explains the layout to us.
The main floor has the newest dresses, with sleek evening gowns near the front and princess styles in the back.
Upstairs, they have older stock, returns, and imperfect dresses.
We decide to start upstairs since the girls are excited about a bargain.
There are a few teens on the second floor looking through the racks, and we each pick a section and split up to browse.
I don’t have anything in particular in mind, so I stroll through the rows to see if anything catches my eye.
I find a black lace evening gown with a nude slip underneath in the returns area.
The sales rack is next and holds a lot of bright colors.
Gabby pulls out an emerald strapless gown she insists I try on.
It’s not a dress I would’ve chosen for myself, but I sling it over my arm.
I find several dresses in the imperfect section I want to try as well.
Both Gabs and Holly have their arms full, so we trudge back downstairs to the changing rooms. After hanging my gowns up, I close the door and strip.
In anticipation, I wore a strapless bra today.
I try the black lace and nude dress on first, and it’s very sexy with a low V cut in the front and a slit almost up to my hip.
Gabby hollers for us to show her each dress, so I step outside to the mirrors.
“Sexy lady,” she comments when she sees me.
Smiling, I look in the full-length mirror. I’d need heels since the dress is a little long. “Too sexy?” I ask. I love it, but it might be more appropriate for me in a few years.
“Wear whatever you want,” Holly says, stepping up beside me. She’s in a strapless blue tulle puff, and she scrunches up her nose at her dress. “Nope, definitely not.”
“I agree, you have no shape,” Gabby tells her as I nod my head in agreement. Holly walks back to try on another dress. “What do you think of mine, Summer?”
“Not as pretty as your birthday dress, Gabs. I’m not a fan of the red on you.”
“Me either. Keep yours in the maybe pile.” She heads for her next choice, as I do the same.
I take a pic in the dressing room mirror before trying on the green strapless Gabby picked out, and it’s actually pretty. The dress drapes nicely over me, not puffy but not fitted. The bottom half is plain, while the bodice is covered in beading and crystals.
When I step out, both girls are in front of the mirror.
“Gabs, that’s the one.” She’s in a soft bluish lilac color that looks amazing against her skin.
A beaded sweetheart neckline attaches to scoop chiffon straps over her arms. The dress is fuller than mine but not puffy at all.
It cinches at the waist with a beaded belt.
“I said that too,” Holly replies. “Mine is another bust, but I really like the green on you.”
I stop in front of the mirror to have a look. “Gabs?”
“Hmm, yeah, it’s better than the first one. Set it in the maybe pile, too. I’m going to get this dress. I’ll change and wait out here for you guys.”
I don’t really like the next two dresses I try on.
One is a red fitted satin with a scoop neckline, and the other is another fitted lace dress.
The final one I love. It’s a pale blue, fitted mermaid style gown with crystals, embroidered flowers, and butterflies everywhere.
Slim straps lead to a structured bodice reminiscent of a corset.
The deep V neckline runs to my belly button but gets narrower the lower it goes.
A built-in nude bra keeps me covered, and a long slit runs up my thigh for movement.
I’m smiling when I step out in front of the mirrors.
“That’s the one!” Gabby claps, standing from her seat.
“I thought for sure it would be the green one, but this is it.”
Holly joins me in a red satin dress similar to the one I had on earlier. “Summer, buy that dress. Ugh, I don’t like this one on me either.”
We change back into our clothes, Gabby and I holding our gowns in hand as we follow Holly back upstairs to keep searching for a dress for her.
Gabby helps her narrow the color choice before we go searching.
Gabs finds a dark blue, strapless gown among the imperfects.
Initially, I don’t see any flaws, but Gabby points out some snags in the chiffon, but she assures Holly ruffles are in and she can modify it for her.
Holly tries it on, and it looks beautiful. Gabby finds some pics online to show Holly what she wants to do, and Holly readily agrees, so we search to find a matching shawl that Gabs can use to mend the dress.
The girls buy shoes to match their gowns, but I want to buy something online I can walk in. With the 20% discount, we’re all happy with our purchases. Gabby even negotiates a lower price for Holly after pointing out all the pulls in her dress, since it's more damaged than the others upstairs.
We met at Gabby’s house this morning, so I drop the girls off there. Holly leaves her dress with Gabby, waving goodbye, and I check in with Seb and Dad. Seb and E are at Jake’s condo, and Dad's at work, so I drive over to visit the guys.
I yell a greeting after entering the condo. “Come join us, Sum. We’re racing cars,” Jake yells from his room. Smiling, I say hi to Will and Ray in the kitchen.
“I’m making sandwiches, Summer. Have you eaten lunch?” Ray asks.
“No, I’d love a sandwich, thanks.”
All three guys are actually racing cars in a video game. “Geez, I thought you were pulling my leg again, Jake.” I roll my eyes as they pause the game, and I get hugs from all three before sitting on the edge of the bed.
“Did you find a dress, Sunshine?”
“I did. It’s pale blue, and I love it.”
“And?” Seb asks.
“And nothing. No more info and no peeking. You’ll see it on prom night.”
Seb and Jake both pout while E gives me a small smile. “I got fitted for a suit with the guys. I’ll order a blue tie to match your dress,” Jake tells me.
“Sounds good. Are you getting a classic black or something else?”
“I’m not telling either,” he smiles at me. “We should all make Sum wait until prom night too.”
“Seems fair. I’ll let Alex know,” Seb grins.
“Go ahead,” I shrug. “I can wait. Gabs and Holly found dresses too.”
Ray calls that lunch is ready, so we gather at the dining table, Jake using his walker since he’s been on his feet all morning.
We spend the afternoon with Jake while Ray does his weekly shopping.