The Prom

You wrack your brain as you stand at the phone, the combination of the dream and now this has you totally on the defensive. And quite confused to boot. "Doe ...I'm sorry I don't...I don't remember what I did last night, let alone something from almost a decade ago."

"Tommy said you asked Clarissa to the prom." Doe said, her voice on the verge of tears.

Then it hits you. In your dream this is where your distance from Doe started, with you taking Clarissa Cavanaugh to the prom. And now you remember the promise from third grade. You had promised Doe that you would take her to the prom.

But over the years she never said anything to make you think that she was holding you to a child's promise. While you had a crush on her, you had resigned yourself to being her best friend. "I..."

"But that's okay. How silly of me to think that I should hold you to a promise from ten years ago. Almost ten years." Her voice belies her words though as you can hear her holding back from breaking down completely.

"Doe...I..." You pause for a second. This could be your chance. Do you risk it? And ruin your friendship? Was that what the dream was about? Your subconscious mind telling you to take the plunge or she'll meet some asshole named Hank, and get abused? "Look, we need to talk. Okay? I'm going to take a shower, and I'll meet you at the diner for breakfast okay?"

"Don't you have to practice? It's the big game tonight and..."

"This is more important. Way more important."

Doe is silent for a long time, then "Okay...hour?"

"Forty five minutes."

"D-don't be late." She says with a stutter, and perhaps a hopeful glint in her voice.