A bit of drama.

After Sarah we went to pick up the others. We went to get Alice, and since Kevin lived relatively close to Noelle, we went to get him after we picked her up. Besides, he had to show up at Lena’s door himself.

We went to Mila’s house and I had an awkward moment with her dad when he went to open the door for me. I know he didn’t mean anything bad, but…

“So you’re bringing her home… tomorrow?” he asked me with a frown.

A little reminder that Mr. Aliev is a mountain of a man. About as huge as Mr. Carlos. Not only that, but he used to be an Olympic wrestler. Strong as I was, I got the feeling he could still fold me in two.

“I… W-Well…”

“Where are you staying?” he asked.

I winced. “Uh…”

How the fuck do I tell him seven of us are staying at a hotel tonight? I mean, I get he’s worried and he SHOULD know where his daughter is in case something happens, but…

“Uck…!” He let out a low grunt when his wife smacked him lightly on the back of his head.

“Leave him be or I’ll start telling stories of OUR school days. It took my dad years to even stand seeing your face, remember?”

Mila just laughed and skipped past them, holding my arm as she smirked at her parents. “Besides, we’re going to be living together soon. Better get used to the idea, dad.”

My face was red and so was Mr. Aliev’s.

“Just…” He sighed. “Alright. Have fun but be mindful, okay?”

“We will. I promise,” Mila told him, giving her dad a peck on the cheek before she grabbed my hand and dragged me excitedly towards the limo.

We went to get Ben, who sat with us guys at the end closest to the driver while the girls all shared how hectic their day of preparation had been. Apparently there were problems with some hairdresser appointments and dress zippers not working well and almost breaking. Mila’s little brother bumped into her mother while she was doing her makeup and almost had to do it all over again. Sounded like a nightmare.

“How long did it take you guys to get ready?” I asked them

“Like 20 minutes if you count the shower,” Kevin said.

“Same,” said Thomas.

“I actually had to borrow a new shirt from a cousin because the old one didn’t fit my shoulders anymore,” Ben said.

“Ugh, been there,” I told him.

Grace was the last one of my girls. I… I know I should’ve expected her to be alone, but it still made me sad for her. Her dad was out of town and her mother was in Italy, apparently.

“Hey, don’t make that face,” she told me, pecking me in the lips. “Soon I’ll end up in the other ****, in a house way too full of people.” She giggled, and it was genuine. “And I’m warning you now, I hate when people eat the stuff I save in the fridge for later.”

“That’s not gonna be an issue with me, but…”

“Yeah, it’s Mila I’m worried about.”

We got in the car again and Grace seamlessly joined the girls’ lively conversation. Seeing them all from a distance… It was strange.

They all looked beautiful and sexy in their dresses, they had prepared and looked their best, wearing outfits for a special occasion. And it did feel special. We were doing something out of the ordinary and going to one of the last important events of our high school life. And yet it all felt so normal, too. Picking them up at their house for prom didn’t feel all that different to just meeting with them like always. I suppose it was bound to happen when we see each other almost every day.

Last on our list was Lena. Last one at her own request because she apparently was having some issues with something. Diana parked the limo in front of her house and Kevin went to get her while we waited.

Not five minutes later, the couple came back to the car with concerned frowns.

“Um, people, we… Uh… We have a situation…” Kevin said.

“What happened?” Alice asked Lena as she sat beside her. “Are you okay? Is there a problem?”

“Not with me,” Lena said, sighing. “I’ve been calling Amanda. She says she’s not coming to prom.”

“What? But… But we went to buy our dresses together,” Noelle said. “She was so excited.”

“Apparently… I don’t know exactly what happened, but she broke up with her boyfriend.”

“Shit, I can see why she wouldn’t be in the mood to go, then…” Sarah said.

Then it hit me. “Wait, is this why Mark said he was busy right now?”

“Yes, he went to her house to try and convince her to come to prom,” Lena told him.

“...” We still had about 20 minutes before prom began, and even if we arrived a little late, it wouldn’t really matter, would it? “What do you guys think? Should we wait for them?”

“If it’s not a problem with anyone… Please. I don’t want Amanda to miss this,” Mila said.

“Oliver, text Mark,” Grace told me. “Tell him to tell Amanda we’re all going to prom in a limo and that we’re waiting for them.”

Alice smiled wryly. “Are you sure that won’t make her feel worse?”

“No, it won’t,” Lena said with a confident smile. “Do it, Oliver.”

“On it.”

I texted Mark and passed on the message. He texted me back only saying ‘OK’.

“Sorry to drag you around like this, Diana,” Noelle said to our driver.

“Please, I think this is great,” Diana said. “Makes me jealous, actually. I didn’t have this many friends in school.”

“...”

This many friends, huh?

Grace gave Diana the address to Amanda’s house and we parked in front of it. Ten minutes later, her and Mark came out all dressed up for prom.

“I’m sorry for the trouble…” Amanda said.

“Shut up and sit down,” Lena told her, smiling at her and patting the empty seat beside her. “Come here.”

Amanda sat down next to Lena and accepted the big hug from her friend. Mark, meanwhile, sat down with us guys with a sigh of relief. He looked at me with a tired smile and gave me a thumbs up.

He’d fill us in later. For now, we were all ready for prom to start.

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