“…party?”
“Huh” I say unsure of what Luke had just said. I couldn't really tell him that I was thinking about his sister.
“Earth to Ivy.”
“Sorry Luke what about a party?” I ask.
“It’s one of my friends birthday, he’s having a party. Its real posh and he’s hired the function room of that 5 star hotel and there’s a proper DJ too” he practically gushes. “Would you like to come as my date?”
“Huh” is all I can think of surprised by what he’d just asked. “A date?”
“Just so I don’t look lame turning up by myself of course.”
“Of course” I mumble under my breath.
“So 7pm outside your house on Friday?”
“Yeah sure sounds good” I reply.
A date? I hoped Luke knew the boundaries of our friendship.
“So its formal dress” I say to my mom hoping for some useful input in what I could wear. “Any advice?”
“How about your senior prom dress dear” I roll my eyes. So my 12 year old sister gets a new dress and I get the suggestion of my old prom dress. I really hoped it still fit.
“Who are you going with?” she asks.
“Luke.”
“Of course. It’s a shame you two aren’t going as a real couple. He’s such a nice boy” I frown shaking my head before leaving.
I rummage through the attic where I had shoved my prom dress after graduating. It was still up there just a little bit dusty. I take it down and to my room. “Time to see if you still fit” I say zipping it up. “Who’d thought it, it still fits” I say to myself looking into the mirror twirling the only formal dress I’d probably ever own besides hopefully a wedding dress. It was an amazing shade of purple and showed off the minimal amount of curves I was actually blessed with.
It was 7pm and on cue Luke knocks on the door. I open it up to Luke who was wearing a smart black suit. It really felt like prom all over again.
“After you my lady” he grins before opening the car door for me.
“Thank you dear sir” I laugh.
As we pull up to the hotel it looks incredible. The room is decorated out with tiny fairy lights and the DJ has the tunes blasting out of the huge speakers, it was like a nightclub.
“Oh wow” I mouth as we walk over to the bar.
“Yeah did I say my friend is pretty loaded” he winks. “By the way you look as beautiful in that dress as you did at prom” he says catching me off guard with the compliment.
“Thanks” I blush never comfortable with compliments.
“A dance?” he asks holding out his hand which I grab. We dance to a pop song laughing at our lame attempts at dancing. Suddenly the music slows down feeling awkward so I move back towards the bar.
“Wait” he says grabbing my hand. “Dance?” I give up on getting away and move back to him. He holds my waist and I put my arm around his neck. Despite spending my entire life with this guy the close proximity like this felt awkward. I watch the other slow moving couples before my eyes focus on a lone figure.
“Sam?” I question my sanity.
“What?” Luke asks.
“Sam’s here” I repeat.
“She is?” he questions as he turns to look in the direction I was looking at.
“What is she doing here?” he angrily says before releasing me and walking over to Sam with me following in tow. “What are you doing here!” he shouts at her unexpectedly.
“I’m friends with Riley’s sister if you don’t remember, duh” she mocks.
Luke walks off muttering something under his breath about Sam always ruining things. I should go after him but I decide to stay with Sam who didn’t deserve being shouted at.
“You ok?” I ask.
“Yeah Luke can be an idiot sometimes maybe he thought he’d get some time alone with you” she peers up from the floor her eyes glistening with the fairy lights.
“Luke needs to understand we’re never happening” I exclaim.
“He doesn’t get that” she says. “And now he thinks I’m trying to steal you away from him.”
“And are you?” I joke.
“Who wouldn’t” she winks at me.
“I need some air” I say before the heat overwhelms me.
“I’ll come. It’s a pretty lame party anyway.” I shake my head disbelievingly. This had to be the most expensive party either of us had been to.
We reach the hotel gardens which were also dotted with small lights, it was mostly deserted. I find a corner and sit on a stone bench and Sam sits next to me. After about 10 minutes of silence I start giggling to myself. “What?” she asks confused.
“I don’t know just the ridiculousness of everything. I’m here with your brother and he should be the one sitting with me right now.”
“Oh jeese thanks, I’ll go and find him then?” she retorts.
“No” I say putting my hand out to stop her. “That’s exactly the thing. He should be here but I only want you sitting next to me. It’s crazy.”
“It’s not crazy” she smiles.
“But it is and it’s ever since the night on the beach. I thought it was because I was drunk but I’m not drunk now and I still feel the same. Sam why am I feeling like this?” I plea for an answer.
“Like what?”
“I think you know, stop playing around. Since the beach, that film, why I hated seeing you with Kayley.” I stop and kiss her before pulling back. “Why I want to do that!” I cry out. Her eyes look at me in a strange way and I wonder what she’s thinking.
“Just a hunch but maybe I can suggest something. Maybe just maybe you have feelings for me?” she smiles. I shake my head but I knew it was true, I had feelings for Sam.