Page 97

Story: From the Ashes

Such a problem to have.
I didn’t do anything special with my hair. Dressing up was enough of me going outside my comfort zone. I let my long red hair fall around me. Liz did straighten it for me, helping to control the fly aways or something as she put it.
Walking over to my bed, I sit down slowly and reach for my shoes. I may be in a dress, but that doesn’t mean I can’t wear my Docs. I smile knowing that while every other girl in there will be in pain fifteen minutes in with their stilettos, I’ll be nice and comfy.
I wiggle my toes in my Docs and jump up to grab my phone and purse. I check it for any messages, but I have none. Nothing from them. No ‘see you there’ or ‘can’t wait to see what you look like in that dress’, nothing.
I close my eyes and try to push back the feeling of unease. Placing a hand on my stomach, I take a deep breath and try to calm my nerves.
That’s all they are. Nerves.
“Ready? The limo’s here,” she calls from the other room.
What?Did I hear her right?
I cautiously ask, “Limo?”
“Yeah! We are showing up in a limo. What, did you want to take a taxi? No. Limo. Besides, my daddy paid for it. So, money well spent.” Her lips turn up.
“Kind of extreme, don’t you think? This isn’t prom.” I shake my head as I head into the living area.
She bites her lip and thinks for a moment. “No, you’re right. For prom last year we showed up in giant Hummer super-stretch limos and party busses.”
Oh. Yeah. Makes total sense. A regular limo is so not prom worthy.
“Why not just get flown in on a helicopter?”
“Oh, that happens too,” she informs me.
What the fucking fuck? If I ever have that much money, which I won’t, I’m donating it. There is no way I’ll ever live like these people. There is such a thing as too much, and when you’re taking a helicopter into prom, that’s when it hits the too much mark.
Helicopters to a fucking prom. Fuck that.
Before we leave, I reach into the fridge and grab the three boutonnieres that I got the guys. I was so torn on getting them each one, but Liz convinced me that I should. That they probably each got me one. I got them each a black rose. A symbol of rebirth and new beginnings. Which I thought fit well with everything that has been going on between us. Also, it’s black, and I do love the color black.
Liz is bouncing at the door waiting on me. She’s too excited about all this.
We make our way out to the front of the dorms, and there are other students dressed up taking pictures with each other before making their way to the hotel.
As we walk towards the parking lot, a voice calls out my name, and it sends chills down my spine. I don’t turn right away, but I close my eyes and steady my breath. Finally, I turn and see one of the last people I wanted to see tonight.
“Phoenix! Wait up!” I turn to see Chad dressed in a black tux running down the stone path towards me. You know for an asshole, he really is good looking. Especially in a tux, but he’s still an asshole. And that ruins the whole thing.
“What do you want Chad?” I roll my eyes. I feel Liz tense up next to me, but she stays silent.
“I just wanted to tell you how beautiful you look.” He smiles down at me, and my stomach turns.
“Great. Thanks.” I start to turn, but his hand shoots out and grabs my shoulder. “Get your fucking hands off me, Chad.”
“Hey, hey, hey!” He holds his hands up in the air. “I just wanted to have a little chit chat is all.” His voice is higher than normal.
“I don’t want to talk to you. I’d prefer it if you disappeared and went back to whatever it is you do to convince other women to sleep with you.” I flick my wrist to shoo him away, but it just makes him angry.
“What, because the kings gave you five minutes of their dicks, you think you’re on our level? You’re not. You’re trash and will always be a whore who will spread her legs just to try and get ahead in life. I mean, that’s why you took all three of them at once right? Three times the chance at a happy ever after in riches?”
I gasp, and he laughs at my reaction.
“You don’t think we talk about it in the locker room? How they easily convinced you to get fucked in every hole? Just eager to get spit roasted, weren’t you?”