Chapter 19
Nineteen
Autumn bent over in her closet digging through mounds of unfolded clothes she should have tended to a long time ago. The central air droned overhead. Light spilled through her window and into her room on a brilliant late spring day.
“So, what are you going to wear to prom?” Lauren batted her large cerulean eyes, twirling a golden strand of hair around her finger.
“Yeah, Autumn,” Ellie chimed in as she used her selfie phone camera to apply a layer of pink lip gloss. When she finished, she slid her phone into her back shorts pocket. She combed her fingers through her long umber-brown hair before fastening the strands into a sleek, high ponytail.
Autumn looked up from a paperback she found at the bottom of her closet while searching for a pair of heels she had in there somewhere, buried beneath one of her many piles of laundry.
Lauren chuckled as she reached over her head and pulled the book from her hands. She groaned. “Seriously, girl, you’re not acting like senior prom is the day after tomorrow. You need to stay focused. You never know what might happen between you and Caleb,” she winked. “You’ve been together for four years and maybe he’s finally ready to seal the deal prom night.”
Her cheeks set on fire, and she nodded. “Yeah, you’re right. I’m probably worrying for nothing.”
Ellie knelt beside her and tilted her head to the side. “What do you mean?”
“He’s just been so distant lately, and weird. He’s been spending a lot of time studying with Misty of all people. They were assigned some ‘project’ together.”
Ellie gasped. “Oh no, that hoe! She’s probably putting her moves on him. I hate to say it’s not his first time. I heard from a reliable source he was flirting with?—”
Lauren kicked her in the butt, and she fell forward, softening her fall with her hands.
“Seriously, Lauren? Ouch!”
“We don’t need your negativity and gossip column right now. Autumn is trying to focus,” Lauren threw her hands up in the air.
A knock came to the door, interrupting their conversation. Her mom entered with her golden highlighted curly hair fastened in a high bun. Tendrils framed her heart-shaped face. Her large brown eyes sparkled, crinkles forming. A plate of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches sat in her hands.
“I thought you girls might be hungry,” her mom smiled, placing the tray on her bed.
She chewed her bottom lip then continued, “And mija , I overheard you were having a little trouble,” she winked.
“Yeah, I think I am,” she admitted. “I don’t know if I want to go through with this prom thing.” She twiddled her fingers.
“You see, moms know everything,” she placed a hand against her hip, grinning.
Her mom turned and left the room then reemerged with a white satin garment bag and passed it to her. The bag was weighty and fluffy with air.
“Mom, seriously, what did you do?”
Her mom shrugged. “Just go try it on.”
Worry seeped through every pore in her body. What if it was something frilly? Or something her grandma would wear? Eww, no. She didn’t want to be seen looking like a little grandma at prom.
But she didn’t want to hurt her mom’s feelings, so she took the garment bag and went into the bathroom to change. As she pulled down the zipper, she was far from disappointed. When she reemerged, she wore a dress of tulle with golden foiled stars. It was the most beautiful dress she’d ever seen.
She grinned, and her mom took her by the hand and spun her around in a circle. She stumbled over her feet, but her mom caught her before she hit the wall. Crap. “We can work on your dancing skills later,” she chuckled. “You need to move your hips more like this.” Her mom danced around the room and her friends giggled.
“Yeah,” she ran a hand through her hair, shrugging off her embarrassment.
“Now that’s what I’m talking about.” Lauren ran up and hugged her tight.
Ellie clapped her hands. “You look amazing.”
“Thanks,” her cheeks warmed as she glanced into her floor-length mirror. She really did.
“We’ll go shopping for your accessories tomorrow,” her mom raised a brow. If you don’t get this kind of reception from Caleb, he isn’t worth your time. I don’t care how long you’ve been together, four years or a lifetime. You want a guy who always puts you first and puts your needs before his own. He should be willing to take a bullet for you if it comes down to it.”
Ellie snorted. “I don’t think any guy like that exists, they’re all so selfish and stupid, and they only want one thing.”
Her mom smiled, tucking a coiled strand of hair behind her ear. “Believe me, he’s out there. You just have to be ready for him when he comes around. He may show his love in unconventional ways, but it doesn’t mean he loves you any less, and sometimes that’s the best kind of love. A love that sets you ablaze.”