Meeting up with a friend

A voice called out to the right, “Over

here!”

Turning

to face the person that called out to them, Noah was blinded by a series of flashing lights. He blinked a few times as a way too excited girl in a lavender prom dress holding a camera waved at them before getting back into position to take the picture of the next couple.

“Great...now I've been caught on camera like this,” Noah muttered quietly.

With yet another worry rattling in his head, Noah looked over the gymnasium for potential ways out. It wouldn't be long before everyone was inside and he could attempt to slip out but that would be difficult with the chaperones watching the doors to make sure prom attendees didn't leave before the approved time. He thought about potentially picking a fight to get tossed out but he quickly scratched off that idea because he wanted to have as little attention on him as possible. Noah scanned the room until he spotted the restrooms and an idea pops into his head. If he just waited in the girls' bathroom, Noah could avoid all kinds of embarrassment. He knew to hide out in a stall until midnight would be incredibly boring, but it would be a small price to pay to avoid the rest of the night.

“Uh, Jacob. I need to-” Noah began to say before being interrupted.

“Hey Jacob!” a blonde girl called out.

Jacob smiled seeing her approach, “Hey Courtney, looking sharp.”

Courtney was dressed in a Violet dress, sporting a lavender corsage on her wrist. Her wavy hair had just a small amount of length and appeared to have been treated with some kind of glitter. Seeing her in a dress was a rare sight and saved only for special occasions and formal functions. After she had moved into town and befriended Noah and Jacob she had made mention of her discomfort with dresses. Courtney said she didn't hate them, exactly, it was just that she didn't like how skirts would limit her movement. Noah hadn't really understood what her complaints were before but having to walk around in his own skirt was giving him a new respect for her position.

“Thank you, thank you,” she said with a theatrical bow.

When her attention shifted to Noah, he was pretty sure his heart stopped. He held his breath and waited for her to realize who he was but he saw no sign of recognition on her face. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, not sure what he should do as there was a brief moment of silence.

“Oh! Right. This is Noelle. Noelle, this is my friend Courtney,” Jacob said.

Noah squeaked out a simple, “Uh...hi.”

“Well, it's nice to meet you, Noelle. So, how did you and Jacob meet?” She concluded.

“We...uh...just did...,” Courtney eyed him with a bit of confusion and glanced over to Jacob.

Jacob jumped in, “Noelle didn't have a prom to go to, she's home-schooled, so she signed up for the same mystery date program that I did. We actually did only just meet a little bit ago.”

Courtney turned back to Noah, “That's really cool. I'm glad you got linked up with Jacob. He is one of my best friends and one of the nicest guys out there.”

“That's...great...Uh, I'll be right back,” he said, almost dashing toward the girl's bathroom.