Amy: A guy from her Judo class. Corrine: A good-natured football jock

As expected, neither Amy nor Corrine had trouble finding prom dates.

Amy asked some cute Latino guy named Miguel that she knew from her judo class at the YMCA. He had one of those chiseled Abercrombie bodies and dark, super-intense eyes. The way she tells the story, she pinned him to the mat in some sort of monster joint-lock and wouldn’t let him up until he agreed to go to prom with her (as if he needed any encouragement). The next day, Amy regaled us all with the steamy details of the sex they’d had in the sauna once their class got out.

Corrine’s date actually asked me for permission first, which I thought was all kinds of strange—especially considering the fact that the guy was Jake Freeman, varsity linebacker extraordinaire. He took me aside one day, uncharacteristically nervous, and stuttered, “Hey, Ian—are you and Corrine—I mean, I know you guys are friends and all, but are you—I mean, is she single? Just ‘cause, I didn’t, like, know if she had a date yet for prom, and I heard she might be going with you, but…”

In a surreal way, it was actually charming watching one of the most popular guys in school wringing his hands like he was asking for my daughter’s hand in marriage. Of course, Jake wasn’t your typical “popular jock.” Up until the 10th grade, Jake had been “The Fat Kid” in every class. I guess he’d finally had enough of it, because he basically locked himself in the weight room for eight months and emerged as the pride of our football team. But the sudden popularity never went to his head, and beneath Jake’s absurdly broad shoulders he was still that same genial, good-natured guy he’d always been.

He was also totally Corrine’s type: tall, handsome, and covered with muscle. I told him he’d be crazy not to ask her.

After she said yes, Jake had sought me out and picked me up off the ground in a bear hug of appreciation.

Two weeks later, after we’d all dropped a ton of money on clothes, a limo, and a half dozen hotel rooms, prom night finally arrived.