Hooked (48 page)

     “Thanks, mom
,
”
I said smiling because I knew she cared so much.

     “I’m so glad you decided to go.  I think you will have fun.”

     “I hope so, I may stay at Cara’s tonight, I haven’t decided yet.”

     “That’s fine, just call and let me know, I love you.”

     “Love you
,
too.”

     I walked out to the limo nervous and excited.  I was glad that I was finally excited for something
,
though.  Jess and Cara got out and met me before I got to the door of the limo.

     “You look awesome!” Jess said.

     “Very beautiful,” Cara added.

     “Thanks, you guys look amazing.”

     Cara had on a purple dress that fit her like a glove.  It was a halter top with a black belt and had a split that went a little higher than what she would normally wear.  As always, she had on her signature high heels as well.

    
Jess had on a sapphire blue fitted strapless top that showed her tanned, toned stomach and a black sequined toil skirt that came just above her knees.  It was such a cool take on a prom dress and she looked amazing in it.  Her shoes were black and had really cool blue designs on them.  I knew
sh
e made the outfit herself and had truly done a great job.

     My dress was simple
,
but pretty.  I went with a brown long gown that had a plunging neck line and a dark brown belt that accentuated my waist.  I was a little nervous about the neck line
,
but mom loved it.

     We hugge
d each other and got in.  It was weird seeing Rob there.  With everything going on, I forgot about the bet. 
Seeing him reminded me that he and Cara
ma
de
the bet and Cara telling him if our team won by more than ten points, he had to take her to prom.
 

    
“Hey,” I said to Rob and Jake.

     “Hey Mil
lie
, you look great,” Jake said smiling.

     “Thanks.”

     I kind of felt like the 5
th
wheel
,
but I was determined to have fun tonight.  I had months of sulking and sleeping in Cash’s shirt every night.  It was time to move forward with my life (well, I’m still sleeping in his shirt because I’ll never lose hope
,
but I can still be me and achieve things for myself).  My mom was right.  I finally realized, whenever I meet back up with Cash, though I had no idea when that would
be,
I wanted to be successful in whatever I chose instead of being in the same place he left me.
  After talking to my mom, I was really going to attempt to be more social.  She was right, I was slowly losing who I am and I don’t want to be that person, Cash wouldn’t want me to do that either.  I still read his letters every night.  I felt like it still kept me connected to him somehow.

     “Are you guys ready to rock?”  Jess asked.

    
“Yep.”

     “Sure thing,” Rob said smiling.

     “Let’s do this thing,” Cara added.

    
I noticed her and Rob seemed comfortable with each other.  He had his arm around her and she had her hand on his leg.  By the time we made it to prom
,
everyone was already there.  We walked over and grabbed a table.  We didn’t sit too long and started to mingle and dance.  Once the dancing started, it only stopped for photos.  We took a group photo and then Jess, Cara and I took one.  I was so glad I ended up coming.  I was having a great time with everyone.  I danced with a couple of guys that I’ve known since middle school.  It felt really odd.  It was so impersonal having their arms around me.  They felt nothing like Cash. Ugh, I really need to stop doing that.  I can’t compare everyone to him, he’s gone.  I guess I needed more time than I thought.  I wasn’t looking to date anyone, I couldn’t.

     I ended up going to the after party at Cara’s.  We had a really good time.  I played pool most of the night, eating pizza and drinking good ole’
Dr.Pepper
.  It only takes me once to learn my lessons. 

      “I’m so ready for graduation,” Jess said as she leaned over the pool table to take her shot.

     “No babe, I’m ready for you to graduate.  I can’t wait for you to be the last person I see before I go to bed and the first person I see when I wake up,” Jake told her as he covered her body with his from behind as she was still leaned over gauging her shot. 

      Cara and I started laughing because we both realized he was talking sweet
,
but covering her body because the tank top she had changed into could have doubled for a sports bra it was so short.

     “Trust me, waking up with me won’t be as pleasant as you think,” she said.

     “I’ll step in if he’s not tough enough
,
Jess,” one of the guys yelled form the side.

     Uh oh, dumb
drunk
boys.  Why do they always have to be macho stupid dumb butts? 

    
Jake turned around so fast
that
Jess stumbled back with him, “What did you just say
,
asshole?”

     “Umm, I was just joking man, chill
.
”
T
he guy started backing down.

     “See, this is the thing, this is my house and my girlfriend you just chose to insult, so either you can leave or get your ass kicked, your choice.”
  Jake stood up to his full height.

     “Jake!”  Jess said coming around him to face him.  “Honey, he was kidding, he’s in my math class, I know him.”

     “I don’t give a damn
who
he is, he won’t get away with talking crap like that.”

     “Come on, come with me,” she said as she laid her pool stick on the table and
lead
him upstairs to his room. 

    
I knew she was probably easing his anger with a make out session of epic proportions
,
because she secretly loved it when he got a little possessive.  Cara and I laughed at them and continued playing as th
at
guys friends led him out.

     I decided to go home around two o’clock in the morning.  Some people stayed the night and crashed on the floor
,
but I wanted Cash’s
T-shirt
and my own bed.  When I got home
,
I snuggled in bed and thought about my life.  It definitely hadn’t turned out the way I thought it would.  Before school started, I thought about my senior year, about our predictions.  Two of them actually came true.  I fell in love with Cash and Jess found a guy that didn’t go to our school, which also resulted in her wearing a dress to prom. 
Its
ironic how Jess was totally trying to embarrass me with how hot Cash was and it ended up being that we fell in love. 

      I guess it’s true that life does really go on.  I’ll be start
ing college before too long and I have to start thinking about what I want to major in.  I sat here thinking about moving on
,
but I had to try to call him one more time.  Three months after the last time I called him and it went to voice mail, I dialed his number again.

     “Hello.”

     “Umm, yeah is Cash there?” I started to kind of panic because Cash’s voice
definitely
didn’t sound like hers.

     “No
,
I’m sorry you must have the wrong number.” 

    
I closed my
eyes
and whispered
, “
S
orry
.
”

    
That was one of my last connections with him.  I knew he hadn’t tried to contact me
,
but that number under his name in my contact list made me know he was out there.  Now…nothing, I don’t even have that.  I cried myself to sleep again that night feeling even worse because now I couldn’t get in touch with him even if I wanted to.

   
I woke up early on the morning of graduation.  I was excited to finally be done with school.  I wasn’t really looking forward to all of the pictures mom was going to make me take
,
but to finally be on my way to college, hell yeah.

     When mom, dad, Eli and I arrived at the gym, most of my classmates already had their cap and gowns on. 
It felt weird to be in the gym for the last time.  I spent most of my high school days in the gym. 
I found Jess and Cara while my family got to their seats. 

    
“I’m going to miss you guys so much,” Jess said.

     “I know, we have to keep some of our
girl’s
nights though,” Cara said
.

     “Yeah, we’ll just have to plan better.”

     “Hey, can y
’
all keep a secret?”
  Jess asked looking around at the other students.

    
Cara and I
looked at each other, “Yes,” we said at the same time.

     “I’m totally going commando under this gown.”
  She gave her devilish grin.

     “What?” I asked.  “Why in the world would you do that?”

    
“Because,
like a dumbass,
I bet Jake a
yorkie
that I’d do it.
  He wants a freaking Great Dane and I told him there’s no way in hell.  You know how jealous he gets
,
so I thought I’d call his bluff and you
know
, get my way
.  I bet him a
yorkie
that I’d go naked under my gown
,
but my plan backfired.  He called my bluff
and told me I wouldn’t, I said I would and when I win the bet, I get the dog.  So, here I am with this damn gown stuck to my ass and thighs because it is freaking hot as crap in this gym with all these people.”

     We couldn’t believe what we were hearing.  It all seemed so immature
,
but totally something those two would do. 
I smiled that they were so good for each other.  Jess totally met her match with Jake. 

    
“Well, on the bright side, it looks like you’re getting the dog,” I said.

     “Oh
,
hell yeah I am
.
H
e may be getting me that dog before we get our own apartment.”

     “Y
’
all are crazy.  I can’t wait to be an auntie,” Cara squealed.

     “Auntie to Bella, the dog,” Jess clarified.

     “
Aww
, what a cute name for her, she will be precious.  I love you guys and I’m sorry I left you for a little bit
,
but your truly one of the best parts of my life,” I said getting a little teary eyed.

     “You just had to find yourself again
,
Mil, it happens to us all,” Cara soothed.

     “Well, I’m just sorry it took me so long.”
  I hugged them both.

     “You took as long as you needed
,
babe
.  W
e love you
,
too.  Now let’s go
graduate
and get the hell out of here
,
so I can take my sweaty butt home and take a shower,” Jess grunted as she walked to her place in line.