Proms Are For Lovers
The sky was blue, the road was empty and with only a day left until prom, Nina raced down her street. She had just gotten off the phone with Jessica, and she was running ten minutes late. She was supposed to meet the girls at the mall for a day of shopping and just chilling. With the temperature exceeding seventy degrees, Nina had the top down on her blue BMW convertible. Her wind blown, sun streaked hair flapped in the rushing wind as she pulled over the speed limit. Fresh Azmiz blasted through her car speakers as she checked her appearance. She readjusted her JLo sunglasses and smiled to herself, flashing a set of pearly white teeth. As she turned her attention back to the road her cell phone began to sing. “Hello?” She asked into the phone. “ Hey baby, what’s up?” Nina smiled to herself when she heard her boyfriends’ voice. “ Hey Mitch! Um, not much, just in a rush to get to the mall. Supposed to be looking for a prom dress and chilling with the girls. What about you?” She asked, once again checking her appearance. “ Ah same old stuff. Hey Nina...” he paused, “Um, we need to talk. Do you think I can stop by tonight after work?” He asked cautiously. “ Sure babe, you know you can stop by whenever you feel like it.” She smiled at what she thought was a stupid question. “ Okay. Well, then I guess I’ll see you tonight. Bye.” He said, with a little distance. “ Okay. Love ya babe. Talk to you later.” She said, not totally ignoring the fact that he had hung up without saying he loved her. As she maneuvered her way into parking place and shut the ignition off, Nina stopped and thought to herself. Was there something wrong? Why was Mitch acting so weird? Maybe he wanted to ask her something important. “ Oh my god! He wouldn’t!” Nina thought aloud. Nina pushed the thoughts aside as she stepped out of her car and locked the doors. She took a deep breath and slung her Gucci purse over her shoulder and made her way to the food court entrance. Once she was in, she looked around for Jess and the other girls but could not see them. She decided to grab a seat and wait for them. As she sat, she thought to herself. The next thing she knew, her cell phone was singing again. She looked at the senders name and let out a sigh of relief when she recognized her best friends number. She thought it had been Mitch calling to break the news to her early. “ Hey Jessi. Where are you?” Nina asked quickly. “ Um, well Amanda ate something that didn’t quite agree with her. So she’s in the bathroom and Sammy is with her. Rachel isn’t here yet. Where are you?” Jessi responded. “ The food court. Tell me what bathroom and I’ll come find you guys.” Nina said as she got up from her seat. “ We’re at the one across from Victoria Secrets. Do you know which one I am talking about?” Jessi asked her from the other end of the line. “ Yeah. I’ll be there in about five minutes.” Nina said. “ I don’t think we’ll be leaving anytime soon.” Jess laughed into the phone. Both girls hung up at the same time. Nina began weaving her way through the crowd of Wednesday shoppers. *** Gage checked his phone for any messages, but to his disappointment there were none. He felt an elbow jamb into his side. “She’s not gonna call you unless you tell her how you feel. If you would just tell her...” His friend paused. Gage looked across the car into his friends piercing green eyes. “ Tell who?” He asked Jason, playing stupid. Jason just looked at him with amusement. “ Dude, you worry me. All the guys know you like her. Why don’t you just ask her out and get it over with?” Jason asked, shifting his body in the seat so he had a better look at Gage. “ Well for one thing, we have been friends for like ever. Second of all, she already has a boyfriend.” He said quietly, wishing it wasn’t true. “ Come on! We both know that Mitch is a dirt bag and he is with Mikky on the weekends. Nina deserves better than that. You wanna know something?” Jason asked. “ I expect you will tell me anyways.” Gage sighed. “ I hear that he is leaving her for Mikky. Do you hear me? That dirt bag is gonna leave Nina for some girl he barely knows.” Jason sat back in his seat and stopped to catch his breath. He looked at Gage. “ Come on. I know Nina is here spending the day with Jessi and the girls. Lets catch up with them and have some fun. Let Nina know.” Jason didn’t leave room for Gage to respond. Instead he got out of the car and shut the door. “ Come on, let’s go!” He turned and began to walk towards the entrance. Gage sighed and got of the car and joined him. When he stepped into the mall his phone began to ring. “ Hello?” He asked. “ Hey Gage! I didn’t know you were coming to the mall.” The female voice said. “ Nina. How do you know I was here?” He asked “ I saw you walk in. Not to mention I am right behind you.” Gage heard her laugh and turned to face her. His breath caught when he saw her; there was nothing to say except simply that she took his breath away. He couldn’t believe he had been friends with her since the fourth grade when she had moved here with her family. When he had gone home that day he had found out that she was his new neighbor. “Gage? Are you ok?” Nina asked, seeing a blank a stare on his face. “What? Oh yeah, I am fine. Sorry about that.” He said, snapping back to the present. “ Well anyways, I was just on my way to find Jessi and the others. Wanna come with?” Nina asked, addressing them both. “ We’d love to wouldn’t we?” Jason jumped in before Gage could decline. “ Great. She said that they are over by the restrooms. Amanda had something that didn’t quite agree with her.” Nina said, laughing a little at the same time. Jason looked over Nina’s head to peer at Gage. He knew the look on his face. He saw it every time Gage was with Nina. Instead of speaking up, he just smiled and mumbled to himself. “What’d you say Jason?” Nina asked amused that he had been talking to himself. “ What? Oh nothing, well actually I think I’m gonna stop at this store. I need a new shirt so I guess I’ll catch up with you guys later.” Jason smiled at Gage and left. He could have killed Jason for leaving him to tell her. How could he not? The guy she was dating was cheating on her. As her friend, he needed to tell her what was going on. “ Hey Nina? Can we stop for a moment? There is something I think you should know.” He said as he steered her towards a bench. Once she was sitting, she looked up into his eyes. He took a deep breath before he began. “ You know I would never lie to you right? And that I would protect you against anyone and anything?” He looked deep into her crystalline gaze. “ Of course Gage. Is something wrong? I have never seen you act like this before.” Nina looked confused, and Gage felt like a monster for what he was about to say, but she had to know. “ Nina,” he paused. “ Nina, Mitch is playing you. He has been lying to you about everything. He is with some other girl on the weekends.” There he said it. It was out. He looked at Nina. He felt his heart stop. Pure pain was reflected in her eyes. They were glazed over with unshed tears, and looked like a crystal lake. He reached out a hand and brushed back a strand of her hair that had escaped her ponytail. “ Oh God!” That was all she said. That was all she could say. Nina felt like her heart had been torn from her chest. She looked at Gage, pain stricken. She couldn’t say anything, how could she. She thought Mitch had loved her. But here was her best friend telling her that he was playing her. Suddenly Nina couldn’t think anymore, she could only feel. She launched herself into Gage’s arms and laid her head on his shoulder and began to cry. Gage could feel his heart breaking for her. God, how much he loved her. There were so many things he wanted to do to Mitch right now, but knew that none of them would solve her problem. He gently stroked her back, trying to give her any comfort that he could. Nina couldn’t stop crying. Why did he do that to her? She had given him everything, and he had in return torn her heart out and fed it to the wolves. She turned her head more into Gage’s shoulder and tried to stop crying. She was so lucky to have someone like him. He was easy to talk to and he understood almost everything. “ Nina? Do you wanna go for a ride? Come on, lets get out of here.” Gage said gently. “ That sounds perfect.” She removed her head from his shoulder and stood up. Gage got up and stood beside her; he looked down at her. He wished that he could hold her hand, but knew that now was not the time. They walked, side by side, silently out to his car. Gage called Jason and told him to find Jessi and the others, and tell them that she wasn’t coming after all. Once she was sitting in the passenger side she turned to look at him. “ Thank you so much Gage. You have no idea how much that means to me.” “ No problem. Nina, I am so sorry and I know how you feel. Mitch is not even worth a second thought. Just forget about him.” Anger laced his words. “ I know. It’s just… I was with him for so long, that I thought we were meant to be together, but now I can see that we were never meant to be.” She gazed out the window at the passing road. Gage wanted to reach out and hold her, to tell her everything would be alright, but he didn’t want to hurt her anymore than she already was. *** Nina felt like someone had gone in and torn her heart right out of her. She couldn’t believe what Mitch had done. Although she knew that something was wrong when he stopped seeing her so much. It had pricked her, but she thought he was just busy. Now she knew that hadn’t been the case. Somewhere deep inside her, she was happy. She couldn’t explain in any other way, except that she had been falling out of love with him and in love with someone else. She looked over at Gage and sighed. He was her best friend in the world, the only one who really understood her. She loved him for that. She loved him for the way he could cheer her up and she loved him for the way he protected her. She smiled to herself. To think that she had fallen in love with him over the years that they had been friends. There was one thing holding her back from telling him, and that was the fact that she was afraid of taking the chance that they might lose the friendship end. She couldn’t bear to think what it would be like if Gage wasn’t in her life. He was like a lifeline for her. She studied him for a moment. He had his eyes on the road, but when he had those eyes on her, her whole world stopped. His sable brown eyes were memorizing. That was one fact that she loved as well. She could see into those eyes and feel that she had a purpose and that she was needed. They were also a mystery to her. They were hard to read, so she sometimes felt shut out; that he was hiding something from her. His hair was amazing as well. With sun streaked highlights and its golden brown hue, it blew gently in the breeze that was created because the window was down. When the wind died down though, she couldn’t help but stare at it. It was the way most boys wish they could wear their hair, but that very few could pull off. It reached down a little below his ears and had a slight flip to it in the front. To Nina, he was perfect. He was the sweetest person you would ever meet as well. He had no problem laughing at himself, and knew how to have a good time, but be safe. Nina had to break her trance before he noticed that she had been staring at him. Gage grew uncomfortable from the oppressing silence, so he decided to break it. “ So where do you wanna go?” He asked. Nina swallowed then remembered that she still had to get a dress for prom. “ Can we stop at Nicky’s Formal Wear?” She asked, praying that they could. Prom was a day away and she still didn’t have a dress and now she had no date as well. “ Sure.” He said, a little nervous that he would be watching her try on dresses. He knew this wasn’t going to be easy, but he was going to enjoy watching her. *** As Gage sat in one of the plush chairs, he had to slow his heart rate. It was going crazy and all of that because of one simple red dress. It had been alright but it had paled in comparison to her beauty. “ Are you ready? This ones ok, but I don’t know if I like it much.” Nina stopped and sighed, before stepping out of the dressing room. Gage felt his breath catch. She looked amazing. He was at a lost for words. Her beauty caught him off guard. He shook his head to try to bring himself back to reality. “ I, ah…” He stopped. “ Gage? So what do you think?” She asked again as she turned around to see for herself. “ That dress is perfect.” He was telling the truth. The square cut looked perfect. The light pink was such a beautiful color and made her eyes look like diamonds. “ You really think so? Oh, I am so happy. Thank you so much, this means so much to me.” Then she stopped, remembering that she didn’t have anyone to go with. She felt her hopes dashed and plopped down into the seat beside Gage. “ But it doesn’t matter. I have no one to look good for, so I might as well leave the dress here for someone else.” She got up from her seat and began walking back towards her dressing room. Gage reached out and caught her hand in his. She stopped and looked at him. “ Nina, what are you talking about? That dress was made for you and in no way are you leaving it here. And what do you mean, are you not going to prom?” He asked. “ What’s the point? I have no one to go with and Mitch will probably be there with his little ‘friend’. I don’t think I could bear that.” Nina sighed and looked down at Gage. “ Then go with me. I am not going with anyone, and I would be happy to take you to prom.” He said, praying to God that she would say yes. He had been thinking about asking her all day, and had finally gotten the guts to do it. “ Really Gage? Oh my God, that would be awesome! Thank you so much!” She had hoped that he would ask her but hadn’t really thought he would. She reached down and gave him a hug. “ Oh this is so wonderful Gage!” She turned and went back into the dressing room. She came out, back in her own clothes with the dress draped over her arm. She walked towards him. “ Ready to go?” She asked. “ Yup.” He got up and walked with her to the check out counter. The women at the cash register smiled at them. Obviously thinking they were a couple. “ Ah, so it’s your prom?” She asked kindly. “ Yeah.” Nina answered for them both. “ I see that you have chosen one of our best dresses. Hope you like it. You’ re lucky know, it just went on the shelf today.” She smiled again as she checked the dress for rips or tears. She printed out a receipt and handed it to Nina. “ Thank you very much.” Nina said as she took the receipt and bag from the woman’s hand. “ You’re very welcome. Have a nice day.” The woman said. She admired the pair as they walked out together. She thought they made a very handsome couple. She smiled to herself and returned to work, glad that her dress had been sold the first day it had been put out. She had watched the girl trying on the dress and was proud that it had looked so good. *** Once they were back outside, Nina looked over at Gage. “ Are you sure you want to go with me Gage? I mean you don’t have to do this just because you feel bad for me.” Nina prayed that he didn’t regret asking her but she had to know if he did. “ Of course I want to go with you. I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want to. And get rid of the thought that I asked out of sympathy. You are attractive and my friend. Why wouldn’t I want to go with you?” He could have almost laughed. “ Ok, I just didn’t want you to regret asking me.” Nina smiled, she was deliriously happy that he hadn’t said no. “ Ah Nina, you make me laugh.” He was so happy that he was going with her that he couldn’t do anything except smile. Nina stopped and looked up at him. “ Gage, I really appreciate everything you did for me today. You know how to make things better and you always have a way of cheering me up. I just wanted to let you know that.” She smiled and continued to walk to his car. “ I think it’s time that we head back to get your car.” Gage said, a little sad that it was ending. Then he reminded himself that he had tomorrow with her too. “ Yea, you’re right.” She sighed and got into his car. *** “ Thanks a lot. I had an awesome day. Well the time that I spent with you was awesome. I guess I’ll talk to you later.” Nina said as she climbed into the drivers’ side of her blue BMW. Gage shut the door for her. “ I had an awesome time too. Just remember what I said. He is not worth it. And Nina?” He asked gently. “ Be careful. Don’t let him hurt you.” He said softly, not liking how vulnerable she looked all by herself. “ I will be. I promise.” She said, with a smile on her face. Gage stood waving as he watched her drive out of the parking lot. He turned and got back into his own car and drove home. *** Nina drove while she listened to the several messages Jessi had left her. Nina, please call me when you get home. I was worried about you when Jason told me that you left with Gage. What happened? Are you ok? Please call me. Love ya! Nina deleted the message and listened to the other one. Nina, it’s me again. Where are you? Are you sure you are ok? Mitch has been calling me asking where you are. He says he’s at your house and needs to talk to you. Nina deleted the message and listened to the last one. Nina, baby, it’s me. We really need to talk. It’s like 7:30 and I am sitting at your house waiting for you, where are you? Call me when you get this and let me know where you are. With that last message, Nina thought she might be sick. She hated him and knew that he didn’t really care where she was or if anything happened to her. When she pulled into her driveway, she glared at the black mustang parked in her there. She got out of her car and walked towards the front door. It was quiet when she walked in but she knew that he was waiting for her in her room. She took off her coat and hung it up and put her shoes in the closet. She quietly padded up the stairs. She paused outside her door and took a deep breath preparing herself for the inevitable confrontation. She slowly opened her door and stopped in her tracks. Mitch was leaning with his back to the window staring at her. He pushed himself up and walked towards her. He snaked his arms around her waist and brought her closer. “ Hey baby. Where have you been? Jessi was beginning to worry and so was I. And what is this I hear that you spent the entire day with Gage?” Mitch asked, inhaling her scent. He had decided earlier that he wasn’t going to break it off with her after all. What she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her. And he was lucky to have her and Mikky in his life. He hugged her tighter and he felt her stiffen. Nina thought she was going to be sick. How could he stand here and act like he loved her. She wanted to hit him, but knew that wasn’t the answer. She pushed herself away from him and walked towards the window. “ Mitch, what are you doing? It’s over. I know.” Nina said, disgusted. “ Know what? What are you talking about baby?” Mitch sounded wounded, but Nina knew better. “ Don’t you dare! Don’t you lie to me! I know everything Mitch. I know about Mikky. I can’t believe you thought I wouldn’t find out. You make me sick, you know that? I can’t even stomach the sight of you right now! Get out! It’s over, so get out of my house!” Nina could feel the tears streaming down her cheeks. She couldn’t look him in the eye as he left. “ You know you are going to regret doing this! You still love me and I know it. Don’t lie to yourself Nina, someone is going to get hurt, and that someone is you. Oh by the way, I hope you have a great time at prom, by yourself. Talk to you later Nina.” He closed the door behind him and left Nina’s life forever. Nina fell onto her bed and began to sob. She hated him for everything. She thought he had come to break up with her, but he must have changed his mind. She felt so sick that she actually ran to the bathroom. When she got back to her room, she climbed into bed forgetting about everything. She just wanted the numbing relief of sleep. *** When Gage got to school he went to look for Nina. When he found her, he almost didn’t recognize her. “ Nina. What is wrong?” He walked over towards her. Concern was clear in his sable eyes. “ I didn’t get much sleep last night. He was there when I got home. He acted as if nothing was wrong and he thought I was stupid. He thought I would never find out. Did you know, that he wasn’t going to break up with me after all? He was gonna lie to me He was gonna play me some more! I can’t believe him! He makes me sick!” Nina said, choking back a sob. “ I hope I never see him again!” She said. Gage drew her into his arms, trying to comfort her. “ Nina, listen to me. He is nothing. He doesn’t think of other peoples needs, just his own.. Forget about him. He doesn’t deserve you. Look at me.” He lifted her chin so that she was staring straight into his eyes. “ We are gonna go to prom together and have a great time and forget about him, ok?” He asked. “ I don’t think I’m gonna go anymore. You should find yourself another date. He is gonna be there with her and I don’t know if I can handle it yet.” With that, she left his side and went to class. Gage could feel his heart breaking. He had been looking forward to walking into prom with her on his arm. Now what was he gonna do? Maybe he should just go. He did pay for his ticket already, and it was his senior year. Whatever, he was gonna go, and maybe she would come to her senses and come too. *** Nina felt like she had lost part of herself. She felt all eyes on her. She had seen Mitch with his arm around Mikky several times that day. She felt like crying, but then remembered that she was the one who had broken up with him. She sighed and just walked past them. Gage was in as much the same mood as Nina. The day was going slow. He was beginning to think that his friendship with Nina was over. Deep down, he knew he was over reacting. He knew that she felt something for him, but wouldn’t admit it. At the end of the day, Nina was so upset that she went straight home. Jessi had seen her leave but had refrained from asking her what had happened. She had seen it. She had known what Mitch was doing to her. She looked over at Gage and noticed that he wasn’t his usual self either. Gage and Nina didn’t say anything to each other, they both went home their own ways. *** “ Nina, sweetie! You’re going to be late for your prom.” Nina’s mom said from the other side of her door. “ I’m not going Mom!” Nina yelled, her voice muffled by her pillow. “ Can I come in? I think it’s time that we talked.” Her Mom said, not waiting for an answer to enter. “ Now Nina, what is wrong? Is this over what Mitch did?” She asked gently, sitting beside Nina on the bed. “ How did you know what happened?” She asked, not remembering if she had told her mother or not. “ Gage left a message for you. And I heard what he was saying. Honey, I know how you feel. Believe me, I went through it too. It’s not fun having the person you love cheat on you.” She said softly. “ What are you talking about Mom? Dad has always been faithful to you.” Nina said, confused. “ Yes he has been and I am very lucky, but I’m not talking about your father. I am talking about a boyfriend I had in college. One night I found him and my best friend together. I was heart broken. I later found out that he had been seeing her in private for about a month. I was so full of pain, I thought I would never be able to love anyone ever again. I was proven wrong. Your father is the best thing that has ever happened to me, and I thank God every day that I am with him.” She stopped to look at her daughter. “ But Mom, I don’t have anyone like that!” Nina said, throwing herself back against the pillows. “ Now that is where I think you are wrong. Gage is always there for you in every way, or do you not realize it?” She asked gently. “ Yeah I do. Oh my God, you are right. I have been so upset about this all and I never realized. I am in love with him, I think. Oh my God, I have to get to prom!” Nina jumped up from her bed. “ Mom, please help me!” She said, she was in a rush to get there before it was too late. *** The music was blasting, but Gage just wasn’t in to it. He stepped outside for a breath of fresh air. Jason followed him. “ Hey man, is everything ok?” He asked sympathetically. “ I don’t know anymore. I thought that maybe she would change her mind and show up, but I guess she isn’t going to.” He sighed and leaned on the rail to look at the terrace. “ Don’t give up hope too soon, you never know. You want me to stay out here with you?” He asked. “Nah. It’s your senior prom. Go inside and have a great time. By the way, you and Jessi look great together.” Gage said over his shoulder. Jason looked back once before he walked back into the ballroom. Gage sighed and rested his head on his arms. *** It was nine thirty when Nina arrived. “ Thanks Mom!” She yelled over her shoulder as she ran up the stairs. When she pushed open the doors, what she saw amazed her. The music was blasting and all her friends were on the dance floor having an amazing time. She saw Jessi and Jason and walked towards them. When she got there, Jessi gave her a huge bear hug and smiled. “ You have no idea how happy I am to see you! What changed your mind?” She asked. “ My Mom, and the fact that I was gonna be letting the only person I have ever loved down!” She shouted over the music. She turned towards Jason. “ Where is he?” She asked, yelling again. “ Out on the terrace.” He yelled back, smiling. He had known she would show up. He pointed her in the right direction, then turned back towards Jessi. “ You’re good. How did you know she would show up? I am her best friend and I didn’t even think she would show up!” Jessi yelled over the music. ‘” I can see when two people love each other us much as those two do.” He smiled then drew her into his arms and continued to dance with her. Meanwhile, Nina made her way to the balcony. When she saw him, she was stunned. He was standing in the pale moonlight. His hair was even darker looking and he had his back to her. She was afraid to walk towards him, incase he never wanted to see her again. He had felt another’s presence, but had never expected it to be her. She was standing, poised in the doorway, as if afraid to come to him. “ Nina. I thought_” But she cut him off. “ Gage, I was stupid. I have finally realized who I was meant to be with. I am so sorry if I hurt you, I never meant to. I_ I love you.” She choked out. Gage felt his heart catch as he watched the tears roll down her cheeks. He walked towards her and caught her and spun her around in his arms. “ Oh God Nina, you have no idea how happy I am to hear those words.” He smiled then buried his head on her shoulder. He hugged her and she hugged him back. She finally knew that this is where she belonged, at least for now. *** They walked back into the prom, hand in hand. He twirled her around once, then placed his hands on her hips and took her into his arms. Nina smiled. She was finally at peace with life, Photograph, by Nickleback was playing while Gage held her in his arms. Jason and Jessi came up beside them and both smiled. “ I am so happy for you two.” Jessi said. Her friend was finally with someone who deserved her. “ Me too. But I knew that it would happen all along.” Jason said, winking at Gage. Then they both danced away, leaving them alone again. “ Nina? Did you really mean what you said out there? Do you love me?” Gage asked hesitantly. “ I meant every single word. I hope you will still have me after everything I put you through.” Nina responded with words that came straight from her heart. "I love you too Nina. I have for the longest time actually.” Gage whispered into her ear. With that he pulled her closer, tilted her head up, and kissed her. Nina wrapped her arms around his neck and sighed. She was finally happy. She was complete.
Copyright © 2006 Devin M McDaniel |