Vampire Prom
Written by
R. Brownell
“I have been waiting all my --- well thirteen years for this moment,” she spoke. He swooped her up into his arms, his cape flung swiftly around her.
“In the back of your mind didn’t you always know I’d come back for you?” he questioned, his red eyes gleaming down into hers.
“Only in my wildest dreams, but you see the thing is that I knew that you were real, I always did. I had just been told by everyone including my parents that I was crazy,” Sherry couldn’t help but melt into his arms.
“So are you ready to leave this life all behind? If you aren’t you can say so now… because everyone is staring,” he choked on his words slightly. The music had stopped and everyone had been looking at only them.
“I have always been ready,” she didn’t make one glance at the crowd surrounding her; the only thing she saw was his face…
~*~*~*~*~*~*
Beep, Beep, Beep
Eighteen year old Sherry McGovern reached her arm lazily towards the sound of her alarm. She slammed it down hard causing her alarm clock to come crashing to the wooden floor below. Groggily she opened her eyes at the sound of the crash and scooted over to reach down to grab it.
“Sherry if you are not up in five-minutes you are walking to school,” her mother pounded heavily on her door. She tried talking but the only thing that came out of her mouth was a mumbled, “what-ever”.
Sherry sat up and stared blankly at the calendar on the back of her white door. Crossed off were the days that had passed. Surrounded by pink and black marker were the dates June tenth and June nineteenth. In big purple lettering the tenth had PROM written in big letters, while the nineteenth read GRADUATION. Only one more day till prom and the senior class was starting to stress, Sherry on the other hand was perfectly calm.
Staring at her from the right side of the room was her prom dressing hanging on the closet door. Her mother hated it, the dress was black. The top resembled a corset, you even had to tie up the back, the dress fluffed out at the bottom and the material looked bunched up a bit, with a satin-like feel. Sherry fell in love with it the moment she laid her eyes on the gothic beauty; her mother told her she looked terrible. She was used to it though, her mother barely spoke to her because she was always out with her co-workers drinking and coming home late. It was like living with a teenaged parent.
She ran her hands against the silky fabric and closed her eyes, and that’s when it hit her --- the dream she’d had, it wasn’t the first time. He had always been there, sleeping had never been a problem for her as a kid, going into the dream world and seeing him made it worth dreaming rather then being awake.
Sherry had two best friends Kayla-Jane (KJ) and June. They were the only good thing the real world held for her. Her father had never been around, because of that she had remained the only child. As for getting away to go to college it wasn’t happening. Without any help from her mom Sherry was stuck working as a Senior Book Seller at the local Book Nook, just to pay her way into college for the following semester.
Downstairs she heard the front door slam closed and knew she was on her own again. With another forty minutes to kill before she had to leave for school, she decided on taking a nice long shower. On the way to the bathroom she stopped short in front of the mirror which was on the left side of her door. To her she was normal, to everyone else including her mother she was a freak. The black eye liner she’d forgotten to take off the day before smeared across her bright green eyes, and her black hair that was in a high pony tale when she went to bed now dropped on the side of her head. She didn’t mind the fact that she wasn’t stick thin like most of the girls at her school, but she wasn’t heavy either, she loved just being normal.
The shower lasted at least twenty minutes before the water turned cold and then shut off completely. Her mom had forgotten to pay the water bill, again. Shivering with some remaining soap still lingering on her body she stepped out of the tub and wrapped the blue towel around her. Then un-fogged the mirror with her hand and began to get ready. In total it took her exactly forty minutes to get ready.
On her way out the door she stopped in the kitchen to grab a pop-tart from the cupboard and then slipped out the back door. Her bike had still been in the same spot she’d left it. She’d hid it in the bushes because if she hadn’t her mom would put it out for trash. It had been her punishment several months ago, over something stupid. Little did her mom know she retrieved it from the trash just before the garbage men came down the street.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
School wasn’t too far; she made it in less than ten minutes. The only down side was now that it was June it was way too hot to be riding a bike, even in the early morning hours.
Argyle Mountain High School was small just like the town. It was home to grades six through twelve. The junior high had a completely separate wing from the senior high, and the kids younger than that all crowded into one elementary school housing kindergarten through fifth grade. Sherry had met KJ and June the first day of kindergarten and they’ve all been friends ever since.
KJ was the “artsy” friend; she carried around a sketch book everywhere with her. Her green messenger bag that she carried with her always had new paint splatter from her paintings. Her clothes also had spots of colorful paint. She wore things like overalls and crazy-colored suspenders. She also never once let her hair down; her brown hair was always tightly pulled back.
June was your resident “band-geek”. She was the winner of several awards for the flute, clarinet and violin. Every summer she headed off to band camp, but this year it was off to a fancy music school in New York City. She was your typical band-geek, sporting her black thick framed glasses. Her hair was always in a braid that ran down her shoulder to around her stomach. She was also one that always dressed up like she was going to a catholic school. She wore long pleaded skirts and white dress shirts.
And who was Sherry in that group? She was the “Goth chick”. Aside from that she aspired to be a Gothic novelist. She started writing a dark novel about a vampire, the one that she’d dreamt would come back for her. His dark black hair hanging in his face and the red eyes that always made her shiver with delight. Sherry would never be caught with paint on her clothes, or dressing up like a catholic school girl, black was good enough for her. She liked to stick to her studded clothing, and black doc martin boots, or her fully black converses. Her mom and therapist thought it was done only for attention, but that’s not how she saw it, to her it was just her style not who she was.
KJ and June greeted her the second she locked her bike up at the rack that was against the school beside the stairway to get inside.
“I vant to suck your blood,” KJ greeted Sherry with a pair of fake vampire teeth nestled in her mouth. She leaned in against her and moved her neck going in for the bite.
“Get off me you weirdo,” Sherry chuckled pushing her friend throwing her off balance for a second.
“I thought your dream guy was a vampire?” she questioned as they girls made their way up the stairs.
“Shh,” Sherry put her finger to her lips.
“People already know I went to therapy for that stuff, keep it down.” She had a serious tone in her voice. KJ backed off slightly.
“Sorry love, but aren’t you the least bit excited for a prom theme?” she questioned.
“They are only doing it to mock me and you know it,” Sherry noted as they entered the long hallway.
“It’s not all about you,” June went off. Sherry watched her struggle to put her flute together while walking down the hallway. She kept blowing into the mouth piece while fiddling with the bottom.
“June-bug, don’t be such a brat,” KJ smacked her in the arm causing her to screw up her progress.
“Now I have to start over. Well here’s the band room anyway I’ll see you two later,” June grumbled and separated from the two of them.
They made a turn at locker fifty five about half way down the hallway. This is when the lockers changed from blue to a brownish color. Then they turned light blue after ten or so lockers towards steps that would take them to the senior wing. The hallways had been painted different colors to help distinguish where each grade’s lockers were kept. Once they reached the third floor, the red lockers notified them they were in the senior wing.
Sherry banged on her locker which was three away from KJ’s who had to do the same. The lockers were so old if you didn’t hit them they wouldn’t open.
“Students this is Principal Vickers speaking, with only one day left till prom there is still a lot of preparation. We ask that all senior class members report to the gym during seventh, eighth and ninth period to help with the set up. And now our senior class president has a few words for you,” Principle Vickers raspy voice spoke loudly over the speakers.
“Oh great like this is totally going to be an awesome prom,” KJ shouted over to Sherry. It was impossible not to laugh when she imitated Katie Jenkins, senior class president. Typical blonde destined to be prom queen, but really needed to be bitten by reality, how convenient since prom was vampire themed.
Sherry and KJ cracked up as they heard her clearing her throat and then hitting the microphone screaming, “1, 2, 3 is this thing on?”
“Good morning to everyone, but most importantly to my senior class. We hope to see all of you seniors helping out and making my- I mean our prom the most unforgettable night of our lives. Also remember to vote for me- I mean you’re…. hey give me that back,” her high pitched voice squealed through the hallways. Chatter turned into laughter as everyone heard Principle Vickers yelling at Katie to give him the microphone.
When the chaos ceased the first bell rang and it was time for class.
Sherry spent most of the day doodling in her notebook, writing down what she’d remembered from her dream. He had been there at prom, a prom filled with fake vampires and he’d shown up just like that.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It all started when Sherry was only five, it was late at night. All she could remember hearing was the racket of her mother’s party going on downstairs. When she was younger her mom would always throw parties at their house instead of going out, but would still ignore her. Music rattled the walls and the sounds of drunken adults drifted through the whole house.
It had been a cold November night, but Sherry kept her window open anyway. She curled up under the ugly princess sheets her mom bought her, and had a book in her hand. Ever since she learned to read she hadn’t put a single book down. She loved scary books about creatures like vampires, werewolves, witches and any kind of evil being. Vampires were her favorite of course.
A gust of wind fluttered through her window blowing her matching pink curtain. It also caused the sheets of paper on her desk to blow away. She threw a book mark into her book and jetted for the fallen papers.
“Shouldn’t leave your window open on such a cold night,” a deep voice came from her window.
“You never know who might be lurking just outside,” a deep laughter rumbled in his chest.
Sherry looked up, perched just inside her window was a young guy. He couldn’t of been older then seventeen. His black hair hung in his face, hiding only parts of the red in his eyes. His face was pale, never in her life had she actually met someone that pale.
“Who-who are you?” she only stuttered once, her heart fluttered but she wasn’t scared.
“The names Ezra,” he announced jumping from the window and onto her desk.
“And you’re Sherry,” he now had positioned himself so that he was sitting on the surface of the desk.
“How did you know that?” she asked stepping closer.
“I have my ways. I see you like reading,” he picked up a book that was lying on her desk, “My Friend the Vampire,” he read.
“You like vampires Sherry?” he questioned.
All Sherry could do was nod. He hopped down off the desk and in a heart beat he’d gotten to her.
“You’re fast,” her voice was young and high pitched.
“Very fast,” he kneeled to be at her level. She stared into his red eyes, they made her feel safe.
“SHERRY MARIE MCGOVERN, IF YOU ARE NOT IN BED WHEN I COME OUT OF THE BATHROOM YOU WILL BE SORRY. DON’T THINK I DON’T SEE YOU’RE LIGHTS ON YOUNG LADY,” it happened just like that, one minute she was standing there staring at him, and the next he protectively had her in his arms. She gasped and looked up at him.
“Don’t worry, one day I will be back for you. I will take you away from all the pain I sense,” he let go of her, making her feel empty inside. She wished he’d take her away now, wherever there was she wanted it more than she wanted to be here.
“You need to be patient.” As he spoke she watched as his fangs slowly emerged from his front teeth.
“You… you’re… a,” she was stopped when he placed his finger over her lips.
“Shh… and get into bed quickly before your mother comes back.”
Sherry quickly jumped into her bed and the lights flickered off.
“Promise you’ll wait for me Sherry?” he whispered. To her it sounded like he’d been right against her ear, but he was actually crouching in the window.
“I promise,” she said back just in time for her mother to barge through the door. She stopped in mid-sentence about to bust her for being awake, but it was too late. Sherry was already fast asleep, dreaming about her vampire who’d be back to rescue her one day.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“Sherry,” Mrs. Rose stood at the foot of her desk looking down at her. The pointer stick she used for the chalk board smacked onto the desk, and her foot tapped against the linoleum floor.
“Yes Mrs. Rose?” she looked up from her notebook. Mrs. Rose adjusted her rounded glasses; they slid down her nose and cleared her throat.
“Have you listened to anything I have taught for the past twenty minutes?” she questioned.
Sherry looked up at the clock, the bell was on the verge of ringing, but the whole class had their eyes on her.
“You gave us the essay questions for the final,” Sherry nervously spoke.
The pointer stick loudly struck the page she was on. She was taking notes, but not about the final questions.
“And can you tell me what they were?” her brown eyes dug deep into Sherry.
“Um… write … um…,” She could feel her cheeks burning. A few giggles erupted just as the bell rang.
“Okay class, please study those three questions and you will be prepared for you’re exam.” She spoke to everyone who had stood up. Sherry was packing up her notebook into her red jansport backpack when the stick slapped against the desk again.
“You are going to stay after today and write an essay for me,” her tone was serious.
“Get out your notebook, I want you to write a thousand word essay on Pearl Harbor, you have an hour.” She crossed her arms in front of her chest.
“But Mrs. Rose I am supposed to help the senior class decorate,” Although she never really wanted to, she’d rather be doing that then writing an essay.
“You can go when you are finished, a thousand words, and began,” she said lifting her hand to look at her watch. She plopped her notebook back onto the desk and opened to an empty page. Well here goes nothing, she thought.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Where on earth have you been, you totally just missed the funniest thing ever,” KJ turned around. She was painting a huge mouth with fangs. There was a hole cut out in the middle; it was going to be used at the entrance of the gym.
“I had to stay behind in Mrs. Rose’s class,” she explained.
“Daydreaming again?” June questioned.
“I can’t help it, it’s what I do. Oh great here comes the head blood sucker herself.” The girls followed Sherry’s eyes. Katie was walking over to them.
KJ and June giggled; they tried to hold it in when Katie stopped to talk.
“Better late then never McGovern,” Katie remarked.
“What do you care, you almost wouldn’t sell me a ticket to this damn thing, why should I show up to even help?” Sherry questioned.
“First off be lucky you got an invite, second off we need you to work on table decorations,” she flung her blonde locks gracefully behind her.
“And why should I listen to you?”
“Because if you don’t do you see Mr. Russo over there?” she questioned pointing to one of the youngest teachers. Sherry always found him creepy, but most girls just found him dreamy. The dark haired blue eyed dreamy.
“I’m not blind,” Sherry replied.
“Okay well he’s in charge, and I can get him to take your ticket back with no refund, and then you’d miss out on prom. That would be sad,” her voice irritated Sherry and her friends.
“How tragic that would be,” Sherry said sarcastically.
“Mr. Russo,” Katie turned and sprinted over to him.
The three girls watched her twist pieces of her hair in attempt to flirt with Mr. Russo. He didn’t look like he cared one bit about the story. From a distance it even looked as if he’d scolded her, especially when they noticed her stomping away like a child.
“This is going to be one interesting prom,” June said as she turned to blow up some balloons from the tank of helium behind her.
“Tell me about it,” KJ replied.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sherry,
Fend for yourself I have a date.
Mom
Sherry tore through the note her mother had left her. The second she got home from school she knew she’d be alone again. Really it wasn’t a big deal; she enjoyed having the house to herself. it was calming. Sherry grabbed some double stuffed Oreo cookies and a small glass of milk. Then she headed to her room to finish homework and mentally prepare for prom.
At AMHS the senior class was given the day of prom off to prepare, because it was always on a Friday night. Sherry was actually a little excited to do some girl-like things with her friends. They were going for a pedicure, manicure; followed by facials and hair. It was the only girly thing that Sherry could handle.
It was always custom the second she got home from school to open the window above her desk. The slight summer breeze blew the curtains softly. Then she sat down at her desk with cookies, milk and her notebook. She was determined to write more. All of her work was hand written, any school work that needed to be typed was done at the Library, June’s house, or KJ’s house. Saving up for a laptop had been one of the things on her top priority list. Her bank account almost had enough to cover that, and still have enough to save up for college tuition.
The summer sun danced along the desk as she wrote causing different shapes and patterns along the surface. Every few minutes she’d stare out the window. Maybe was hoping that Ezra would be back for her, maybe her dream wasn’t just a dream. She wanted it to be real; every Cinderella needs her prince charming. Ever since that nigh, she always felt like that’s who she was, and that she really was waiting. Patients was a virtue, she lived by those words.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“I’m not crazy you know,” Sherry said to her mother as they sat side by side in huge red cushioned chairs at Dr. Sullivan’s office.
Dr. Sullivan was one of several Doctors that her mother had taken her to. Three years and about five doctors later her mother swore she’d found the right guy. Sherry was getting good at lying, after the first two places she realized no one was going to believe her. She figured that lying would be her only way out of this hell.
“Sure honey what-ever you say,” she spoke as she licked her finger to turn the page on the magazine.
Sherry sighed. Only moments later the nurse, Ms. Pierce called for her. Quietly the two of them headed to what would be her last session.
“Please have a seat,” Dr. Sullivan gestured towards the orange couch.
Sherry plopped herself down, and dangled her feet off the edge. While her mom stuck her nose in another magazine and sat across the room. Dr. Sullivan’s room was the most inviting. His desk was made of fancy dark polished wood, which matched the floors. The walls were a dark green, but were mostly covered with bookshelves. To her it had more of a home-like feel than her own home. Dr. Sullivan sat down in the chair next to Sherry. He cleared his throat.
“Shall we get started?” he questioned her. Sherry nodded, her feet moving rapidly below her.
“Now tell me Sherry, what happened that night you thought a vampire came into you’re room?” He pushed his oval shaped glasses up his nose, and stared with a scrunched face.
“It was all just a dream, I fell asleep at my desk and had a dream, that was all,” she spoke in a monotone voice.
“Very good,” he said.
Ring… Ring… Ring…
Sherry snapped out of her memory and noted her phone shimmying on the desk. She literally owned the oldest cell phone at Argyle Mountain High. Everyone else had advanced smart phones with internet and TV, all she had was an old gray flip phone with a green background and black writing. Flipping it open she saw it was KJ calling.
“There’s a severe thunderstorm warning for tomorrow night, can you guess what time they’ve predicted for the storm to blow in?” she questioned. Sherry sighed.
“Hmm… just in time for prom?” she asked.
“You’ve got it; my dress was carefully crafted out of duct tape by me. I am already regretting sweating on the dance floor, but getting it wet ugh I just can’t even imagine.”
KJ had made her duct tape prom gown a few months back. It ended up being a black knee length dress, with a poof out and underneath was all pink, that you could see a little bit of from the poof. The top was designed like a tube top. Directly in between her chest was a small opening. Lined around the waste of the dress was pinker duct tape that acted as a belt. She had been so proud of it, that the second it was finished she made sure Sherry and June were there to see it.
“I am sure you’ll be fine.” Sherry noted.
“So anyways that wasn’t my initial reason for calling but the weather channel was on and I had to get that off my chest. Now for the real news, I booked our Manicures and pedicures for nine-AM, and then our hair for three, since all three of us are getting done.”
“Nine? Isn’t that a little early?” Sherry moaned. “Plus when did you become all girly?” she questioned.
“You know we only get one night to humiliate Katie and her posse.”
Ding… Dong…
“Crap, J gotta answer the door can I call you back?”
“Yeah sure thing,” KJ said with a click.
Sherry got up from her desk and bolted down the stairs. The door was directly beyond the stairs on the right side. She pulled the door open.
“SLEEP-OVER,” June yelled carrying a box of Chinese take-out. KJ walked in behind her over-loaded with sleeping bags and backpacks. They both walked through the door like they’d live there. Sherry always felt as if they had, they were like sisters to her. Sherry closed the door behind them and followed June into the kitchen.
In the center of the kitchen was an island with a green marble counter top. Four stools lined up along one side facing the biggest window in the house. The window over-looked the mountains; it was the best view in the house.
“Pigeon and Broccoli,” June joked pulling out a take-out container. Sherry reached over to grab it.
“You know me all too well,” she commented as June handed her a set of chopsticks.
“Shrimp Lo-Mien,” she called out holding it like it was diseased.
“Please don’t hold my food like it’s poisonous,” KJ responded as she grabbed her food and chopsticks.
“And what did you get the vegan special?” KJ joked.
June sat down and opened up her container. Sherry and KJ leaned over to peak.
“Fried Veggies and white rice, really?” Sherry questioned.
“I told you I will never touch that,” she waved her hand at the two of them slurping down their food with their chopsticks. “Disgusting stuff ever again, do you know how…,” she raged on.
“Okay June we get it,” Sherry laughed. June sighed and began to eat her meal.
Beep, beep, beep
Sherry rolled over for the alarm clock but instead smacked June smack dab in the face.
“Oww, damn that hurt, Sherry what are you trying to do, you can’t turn me off,” her immediate response caused her to giggle.
“Oh baby,” KJ giggled in response.
Beep, beep, beep
“Turn that off will you?” Sherry asked June. June reached over and smacked the button.
The three girls lay there stretching, and trying their hardest to get up. Their nail appointment was in an hour, and all three of them needed to use the shower.
“Maybe we shouldn’t have stayed up so late watching those Twilight movies,” KJ sat up and yawned.
“Although it really helped me sleep, with visions of Eddie and Jakey dancing in my head,” she added.
“Enough about your fantasies let’s get a movie on,” June threw the covers off of herself and headed for the bathroom.
“Guess I am going first,” she spoke as she rummaged through her bag looking for clothes.
Forty-five minutes and three showers later, the girls were in KJ’s black jeep on their way to the nail place. Town was only a few blocks over, and Main Street filled with the senior class. You could tell it was the end of the year, a big banner sprawled high across the road read “CONGRATULATIONS SENIORS”.
The buildings around the town were pretty old, and always reminded Sherry of an old western movie.
KJ parallel parked into a space between a mini van and Zack Greene’s blazing blue convertible. Zack was Katie’s boyfriend and on the football team, unlike Katie he actually had a nice side.
The three girls walked into Village Nails. It had been Sherry’s first time getting her nails done; KJ’s mom had taken her a lot when she was younger. The owner knew KJ, you could just tell as she walked in, they hugged and greeted each other in a friendly manor. Then she introduced Sherry and June. The lady led them through the isle, tables and chairs were placed on both sides. Each table was occupied by someone getting their nails done; for the amount of people in the place it was awfully quiet. The only sound being made was a video of a waterfall which sat across from the pedicure chairs. There were three empty ones waiting for them.
~*~*~*~*~
“I cannot believe you almost kicked that lady square in the face,” June cackled as they left the salon.
“Shut up, that was my first time,” Sherry laughed.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Another cold winter had come and like usual Sherry kept her window open; she was waiting for him to come back like he said he would. The only time she’d ever close that window was when she’d leave the house. It had been eight years since he showed up, and all she wanted was to see him again. He promised he’d be back to take her with him.
A noise startled her, it came from the window. Jumping up off her bed she hurried to where the noise had come from. When she got there, lying on her desk was a single black rose with a small note folded in half. Her heart beat a million miles a minute, it was him he was here, but why didn’t he stay? She picked up the rose and brought it to her nose, it was definitely real, and it smelled good. The familiar scent of winter brought back the memory she had of him, and those eyes how much they haunted her, it all flooded through her brain.
With a shaky hand she carefully opened the note.
Sherry,
Soon!
E
She rushed to her bed and flopped heavily onto it. Then with all of her breath she let in a deep sigh and a huge smile. He was real, and this couldn’t be a dream.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Sherry I am sure you look fine, now can you get you’re butt out here so we can see how gorgeous you look in your dress,” KJ shouted through the bathroom door.
In one hand Sherry held the small white note with black lettering, and in the other she held a corsage. She’d crafted it herself. It was made with a deep red crimson rose, and the petals from the black rose, it never died. Maybe tonight would be the night that he’d come back for her, and take her away from here. She also wouldn’t have to be at graduation. Prom she didn’t mind, but graduation she wanted to avoid. Everyone would have family to take pictures with and wave too when they got their diploma, she wouldn’t have anyone, and hated that more than anything.
She pinned the corsage to the right corner of her dress, and then spun around twice in the mirror on the door. The layers fell nicely down the dress and the wonder bra that KJ made her buy did wonders for her A-cup chest. With another deep breath she was ready to face the world.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The three of them drove to prom in KJ’s jeep, it was the cheapest transportation. Who needed a fancy limo, when they could blast their own music and sing loudly out the window? They had just finished singing to New Kids on the Block when they arrived at the school. Two men in suites approached the car.
“Holy crap, they paid valet people, it’s just a prom,” June cried out.
“Katie planned the prom of course she’d go all out,” Sherry added.
The three of them stepped out of the car and adjusted their dresses. KJ in her duct tape dress, Sherry in her gothic dress and June, showing off all of her curves in a sexy red one sleeved dress that flowed perfectly on her.
“Well here we go guys,” KJ announced as they entered the school’s front doors.
Right at the entrance a group of guys in capes, and girls in blood red dresses. They had fake blood dripping down their necks. They greeted the girls, and took their tickets.
The entrance to the gym was the painting that KJ did of the vampire mouth. One of the teachers had stopped them. He took a picture with them in front of the giant mouth.
“You ladies can pick your picture on the way out,” he told them as he handed them a number.
They walked through and were in awe, the gym had really come together. The decorations were all hand made by the art department, in fact KJ had pointed out every piece that was hers. Several tables surrounded the dance floor, and the DJ was set up at the end. The music blared through the speakers. No one was dancing yet most students were just gathering on the dance floor to say their “hellos” to each other.
The tables had long red table clothes, and the back of the chairs had a black furry cover on them. Hanging over each table was black gothic looking chandeliers. The DJ booth had vampire teeth scattered all over the front. The sounds of “Thriller” now blasted through the speakers.
“I really didn’t want to say it, but this prom looks pretty kick ass,” June admitted. Sherry and KJ couldn’t help but agree, because everything had looked amazing. In the back of Sherry’s mind she really hoped that this would be the sweet 16 she never had.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It was a cold December morning and on top of being cold she felt abandoned. It was the morning of her sweet 16, and to begin there had been no food in the house. Adding in her hunger, she felt alone, her mom hadn’t been around since early the day before. The rest of the day was spent sitting at her desk. June and KJ had called her several times, but she still felt alone.
Sherry never wanted a big birthday bash for her sixteenth birthday, but she wanted a party. All of her friends had sweet sixteen’s earlier in the year. She envied them for the amazing family each of them had.
The wind was picking up and although she was freezing she wanted the window open. She was always there waiting. She hoped that if he didn’t come, that she could just catch a glimpse of his face. She saw him last when she was thirteen, only just a glimpse, that’s when he left the rose.
A shadow caught her eye as it danced across the room. In her doorway stood the guy she’d been longing to see. His eyes were the same way she’d remembered them. A feeling of want and need carried through her body. She wanted so badly to be close to him again, even if it was only for a few minutes. He’d only been close to her the first time she’d met him, now although he was close he seemed so far away.
“You’re here again,” she spoke quickly afraid he’d disappear as quick as he’d come.
“I just had to see you, even if for a minute. You shouldn’t be sad on your birthday,” in a flash he was standing just inches away.
“Are you real? Sometimes I feel like you are, and sometimes I feel like I am just dreaming some crazy dream,” she stared up at him.
He reached his hand to her right cheek and slowly caressed her face with his thumb. Without a word he bent down, and planted a small kiss on her trembling lips. The second that she tried to kiss him back he’d disappeared again. Sighing heavily she turned towards the window where he’d escaped from. That’s when realization hit her, and all the traces of him being that close to her vanished in a heart beat. That was the day she stopped believing, but still nudging deep down in her heart, she’d still believed.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“Dance with me?” KJ held out her hand to Sherry. She’d been sitting down at the table furthest from the DJ sipping her Shirley temples all night.
“Do I have to?” Sherry moaned.
“C’mon, last chance to show off everything you’ve got, show every guy in the senior class what they’ve been missing,” KJ wined.
Sherry rolled her eyes and took KJ’s hand. She looked around the dance floor as KJ pulled her along. June was over by another table with the rest of her band-geeks, which left her and KJ dancing with each other. “OMG” by Usher pounded through the gym. KJ was trying to show off that she could actually dance, while Sherry shifted back and forth.
“Move those hips girl,” KJ said grabbing Sherry’s hips to sway her. Giggling uncontrollably she finally let loose and broke out in full dance with KJ.
~*~*~*~*~**~
“Gather around everyone, please it’s time to announce the homecoming Queen and King. Please gather around,” Principal Vickers stood tall and proud up at the DJ stand.
“All of the nominees are as follows, Katie Jenkins, Marsha Digby, Sharon Cummings-,” Principle Vickers paused for just a moment. He adjusted his reading glasses, and read the paper over and over.
“And, Sherry McGovern,” the thunderous applause had come to a complete stand still. Sherry looked around wondering who’d placed her name in that ballot, was this some kind of sick joke?
“Sherry get up here,” Sherry looked towards Principal Vickers, checking for snickers from the others, but all she could see was complete confusion.
“Go on up there,” KJ pushed.
“But I wasn’t- how?”
“Just go,” she said pushing her again.
Sherry wearily made her way up front, no one clapped, well aside from the one idiot who made the slow clap seem impressively loud. She shrugged her shoulders at the principal who seemed just as confused as she was.
“Now for the guys; Zack Greene, Michael Zavatsky, Taylor Melbourne, and well look at that another surprise, transfer student Ezra Knight,” the clapping died out only slightly for the “transfer student”.
Sherry could feel her heart rate speed up, there had only been one person she knew with that name. Everyone began looking around for this mysterious “transfer student”. Slowly making his way up through the crowd was a tall figure dressed in all black. He wore a cloak that covered his head, and lightly shifted as he gracefully walked up the dance floor. He stood directly next to Taylor Melbourne, whose blue eyes were wide with fear.
“And now for your winners, which should be extremely interesting,” Principal Vickers placed the microphone under his arms causing loud noises, making people cover their ears.
“Sorry folks,” he apologized.
“And you’re 2011 Prom Queen-,” he paused.
“Um… Ms. Sherry McGovern,” silence rang over the crowd. Sherry looked embarrassed as she put her head down. Her face grew warm and she felt almost sick.
“Sherry,” he spoke again.
Slowly she walked over to him, and allowed him to place the crown on her head. She faced the class and finally they began clapping, the loudest being KJ and June.
“Now for the 2011 Prom King… new comer Ezra Knight,” another quiet clap radiated through the gym.
Music slowly started in the background.
“Our King and Queen will now dance to “You and Me” by Lifehouse.”
Sherry’s hands were shaking, her heart sped up and her mind raced. Was he really here? Was tonight the night she’d been waiting so long for. Everyone around her nearly became invisible. Her vision blurred and focused solely on Ezra. He held out his hand to her. Slowly both hands touched and a spark of electricity flowed through her.
The words began, sung by the lead male of Lifehouse. The gym was quiet. Gracefully he twirled her into his arms and held her close. For a few minutes the only thing she stared at was his black cloak. Slowly her eyes lifted, they were met with the red eyes she’d longed to see. She could feel as her eyes welled up with tears, they stung.
“You’re here, this is it isn’t it?” she asked.
Carefully he placed his hand gently on her cheek, and like he’d done that night of her sweet sixteen. Softly his fingers stroked her face. He leaned down and pressed his lips against hers. She was trembling again, so he held her tighter. When they pulled apart, she felt a sense of déjà vu, but this time it was really happening.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
“I have been waiting all my --- well thirteen years for this moment,” she spoke. He swooped her up into his arms, his cape flung swiftly around her.
“In the back of your mind didn’t you always know I’d come back for you?” he questioned, his red eyes gleaming down into hers.
“Only in my wildest dreams, but you see the thing is that I knew that you were real, I always did. I had just been told by everyone including my parents that I was crazy,” Sherry couldn’t help but melt into his arms.
“So are you ready to leave this life all behind? If you aren’t you can say so now… because everyone is staring,” he choked on his words slightly. The music had stopped and everyone had been looking at only them.
“I have always been ready,” she didn’t make one glance at the crowd surrounding her; the only thing she saw was his face.
A second later he took off running through the school gymnasium and out through the gym doors. The wind was slamming into her face, but it didn’t bother her. Her mind was only on him and the fact that he’d found her, and now they’d always be together.
