Ch. 8 The First Big Mistake
Lights glimmer across the walls, floor and ceiling. Music plays in the background, and smoke runs along the floor, giving the school gym an ethereal ambience.
The prom committee has truly outdone themselves.
I lift the skirt of the gown Christopher gifted me and step in.
The moment almost feels—sacred.
The glitter and sequins of my dress catch the twinkling lights, and shimmer beautifully.
For the first time in my life, I look like I belong.
People mill about in couples or groups and I just realized—I've got no one to hang out with.
Christopher offered to give me a lift but I declined. I didn't want to third wheel with him and his date.
I run my palm across the dress. He's been more than kind already.
I skirt the dance floor and head towards the refreshment table. There's all sorts of snacks and punch.
I grab a glass and stand to the side. I catch Christopher's eye while he's dancing with his date. I raise my glass to him in thanks and he grins back.
I'm wondering what I should do when Marcus and Madison walk in.
My breath gets caught in my throat.
They both look like movie stars. Marcus looks so dapper in a deep navy suit, holding Madison's hand as they walk in.
Madison looks stunning in a pale blush satin dress, cut beautifully to enhance her figure. Her hair is pulled up in a messy bun that highlights her slender neck.
I stumble back and the empty glass slips from my fingers.
Everyone stops what they are doing to gawk at this beautiful couple.
Marcus leads Madison to the dance floor and a slow song starts playing.
My stomach twists in knots and I feel sick. I find a dark corner and collapse against the wall.
What the hell was I thinking?!
That Marcus would take one look at me in my blue gown and forget about Madison?
I don't know how long I stand there, breathing in and out, trying to get my heart under control.
I'm just straightening up when Madison stops near my corner, standing with Janice and Rachel.
"Celeste came to prom after all. I heard people say she looks gorgeous." I can hear Janice's voice above the music so far away from the speakers.
"Really?" Madison's voice is sour. "That whore tried to ask Marcus to prom, did you know?"
Rachel and Janice gasp at the news.
Madison continues in the same venomous tone. "Yeah. Someone saw it. That bitch is just a whore trying to steal another woman's man—just like her mother."
I don't hear what anyone else says. "What did you just say?"
Madison and her girls turn around, surprised to find me there. Madison's lips curl in disgust.
"Were you eavesdropping on us? From your corner?"
I see red. "What did you say?"
She smirks and looks me straight in the eye. "I said you're a whore. Just. Like. Your. Mother."
My hand flies before my mind can register what I'm doing.
Her words break the crumbling wall within me completely.
I slap her so hard her hair flies free. She screams and falls to the floor.
Silence falls.
Then someone gasps, "Oh my God!" A glass slips and falls, splashing punch everywhere.
Slowly, the roar in my head recedes and sounds start filtering in.
My fingers twitch and hurt on the hand I struck her with.
I just stand there, staring at Madison, breathing hard.
"What happened here?! Celeste, did Madison say something?"
Marcus's voice cuts through the haze in my mind.
I open my mouth to explain but Madison rushes forward.
"She just hit me! Why are you asking her that?"
"She called me and my mom a whore." The words slip out of my mouth.
He whirls towards her. "Madison! Why would you say something like that?!"
"She's lying! She's just jealous that you chose me over her."
Marcus looks between Madison and me—lips pursed. He clearly wants to get to the bottom of things.
Janice steps forward. "Marcus, why would you doubt Madison because of Celeste?"
His eyes widen, like he's been struck.
"I—that's not what I meant. It's just—Celeste isn't unreasonable—"
Madison's face crumples. Marcus looks devastated.
Her cheek is an ugly red now, and tears stream down her face. She leans on his arm, and he turns away with her—patting her back.
His friends stare at me in horror. Christopher pushes through and looks at me with such shock I almost feel guilty.
His eyes shift between me and Madison, conflict clear on his face as worry for his friend wars with the desire to get me out of there.
"Come on." He grabs my hand and leads me out.
"Wait here. I'll drive you home. Let me just say bye to everyone else. I also need to apologize to my date. Just stay here. I'll be back."
I nod. It's best if I go home.
Christopher goes back inside while I stand on the side.
"You shouldn't have hit her."
Marcus's sharp voice cuts into me like a knife. "You could've seriously hurt her. You might get expelled."
"I've already told you why I did what I did."
His face pulls into a grimace and he runs a hand through his hair. "Even if what you say is true—don't you think your reaction was a little extreme?"
I snort. "Is that your concern for me speaking? Or Madison?"
He stares at me incredulously. His mouth opens, then snaps shut. He looks like he's come to a decision.
"To me, you're a friend. Just a friend."
His tone carries a note of finality. "I like Madison. And we plan to date each other beyond prom."
Something snaps in my chest. Whatever hope I had left corrodes away to nothing.
Tears sting my eyes—but I refuse to let them fall.
"So you're saying you felt nothing for me? No connection?"
His eyes lower to the ground before lifting up again. His jaw is clenched tight, fingers fisted on the side.
"No."
I step closer to him, to look into his eyes. To see the truth for myself.
"Liar." My voice is a whisper.
There is only one way to find out for sure.
Before I can think things through I lift up my feet and lean in. His scent swirls around me, warm and heady.
My lips meet Marcus's in a kiss—my first kiss.
—-------------------
I don't know what to think or feel. Madison was definitely wrong if what Celeste said was true—but to hit Madison over something like this?
To jeopardise her future over a mean comment? It doesn't feel like Celeste.
I stare at Celeste as I struggle with my emotions.
Her face is partly in the shadows, though the starry effect is enough to make out her expression. Is she still angry?
She steps closer and I tense myself. Does she want to hit me too?
"Liar." Her one whispered word completely locks my body in place.
My heart thuds in my chest. Her scent—like vanilla blossoms and winter wafts closer—enveloping me in her presence.
She rises on her feet, and before I can so much as make sense of what's happening, soft lips land on mine.
She leans into me, and my hands instinctively land on her waist.
What—
I jerk in place and try to step away. Her balance falters—eyes widening as she stumbles backwards and falls.
I flinch back, shocked at what happened. I step forward—
"How dare you!" Madison screams, standing at the door, staring daggers at me, flanked by Chris, his date and the rest of our group.
"I—" I try to speak but Madison stomps up to me and slaps me—hard.
"I asked you if you liked her! And you said no!" Her voice is near hysterical.
"I don't! Maddy, I'm so sorry! She ambushed me!" My heart hurts at the fury in Maddy's eyes. I would never do that.
"Don't call me that! Don't ever call me that! We're over!"
Madison runs away, eyes shining, and I rush after her.
Our friends follow after us.
My whole body shivers as the reality of what just happened settles over me.
My lips still tingle from where Celeste's lips touched mine.
The urge to turn back towards Celeste is ruthlessly buried—the sting of betrayal sharp and cutting.
Does anything remain to be salvaged?
—--------------------
I sit on the floor, silent tears running down my face.
No one asks me why I did what I did. No one asks about my fight with Madison.
They all just...leave.
Even Christopher. He turns to follow the others before pausing to look at me, disappointment clear on his face.
"How could you do something like that?"
His question rings in my ears, sharp and stinging.
Long after everyone's gone, I struggle to my feet. I slowly walk to the bus stop and collapse on the bench.
People whisper as I sit there numb, dress soiled and torn.
I was wrong.
I was wrong to think anyone would care.
I was wrong to hope that I could be different—better.
I should've known to not feel the things I'm feeling.
Mom once dropped me in an open gutter near our house in our old town when I was only a couple years old. I don't even remember why anymore.
But I remember the stink, the looks as I dragged myself out—the pointing, the whispering.
How everyone I asked for help turned away. Even years later, they still avert their eyes and walk away.
I should've known—there are some stains you can never rub out, no matter how hard you scrub.
I would never be one of them.
A young mother sits on the far end of the bench with her child. He points towards me and asks loudly, "Mama, look! Why are her clothes torn?!"
She hurriedly shushes her boy and whispers, "She fell down. She must've made a mistake..."
My lips twitch, but no smile appears. My mouth tastes bitter.
I did make a mistake. I did fall down.
I just hope when everything's said and done, I have the strength to get back up.
Kindly note, Chapters 8 and 9 have been revised for clarity and character development. If you've already read the chapters, I recommend re-reading for the updated versions.
updated: 21/02/2026