Truth or Deal.

The closer it got to prom the more nervous I got. It was obvious to me I wasn’t going to miss my senior prom, and it was obvious to Zack that we were going together. My best friend from New York, Whitney, had bought me a plane ticket as a graduation gift and I was flying out today to spend the weekend with her and hopefully find the perfect prom dress.

I groaned for the millionth time and tried to force the zipper on my suitcase closed. Zack laughed and shook his head.

“It’s not funny!” I groaned, “Help me!”

“I tried!” He laughed, “But you wouldn’t let me take anything out.”

I glared at him and he got up and stood in front of the suitcase. “I need all of it!” I told him.

“You’re going for two days, why do you need ten pairs of shoes?” He zipped the suitcase shut with ease.

“Okay, Mr. Exaggeration, there are not ten pairs of shoes in there!” He shot me a look, “Okay, but I need all of them.”

Zack rolled his eyes and handed me my suitcase, “When are you leaving?” He asked me sadly, this was the first weekend we spent apart since we started dating.

“I need you to take me to the airport in an hour,” I said wrapping my arms around his neck. He sighed and sat down on the bed, pulled me so I was standing in between his legs and stuffed his hands into the back pockets of my jeans.

“Okay, but what if I don’t? Then you stay here with me all weekend.” He smiled.

I laughed, “No, then I get all mad because I have to take a cab to the airport or leave my car up there for the next couple of days.”

“Fine,” he sighed, “Guess I’ll just have to call one of those groupies that hang around at my concerts while you’re gone.”

I laughed, “I guess you will.”

**


I couldn’t help but laughing when I saw my favourite dark headed friend holding a sign that read hottest chick on the plane when my flight landed a few hours later. I ran up to and hugged her.

“I missed you!” I told her, “I’m sorry I haven’t really kept in touch. You’ll never believe what’s going on.”

Whitney hugged me back, “Oh, girl, don’t even worry about it. I know life can get busy sometimes! You’ve got all weekend to tell me about it!”

We walked out of the airport and got in the cab that Whitney had waiting for us, and the cabdriver drove us back to Whitney’s house. Once inside, I dropped all my bags and collapsed on her bed. “Jet lag is real!” I told her, but honestly I was tired from staying up all night with Zack the night before.

She laughed, “Well take tap. We can go eat dinner later.”

“Are you sure?” I asked her.

“Yes!” She exclaimed, “I have some homework I need to get done anyways.”

I nodded and was out before my head hit the pillow.

I woke up and it was daylight outside, Whitney was in pajamas next to me, drool slowly escaping her slightly opened mouth. I glanced at the clock and felt bad when it told me it was around nine in the morning the next day. I gently got out of bed and walked to Whitney’s bathroom to pee and wipe yesterday’s makeup off my face. When I was done I walked out of Whitney’s bedroom and downstairs where I could hear her parents talking in the kitchen.

“Evelyn, dear!” Whitney’s mom hugged me, “we didn’t hear you and Whitney come in last night.”

I laughed, “Yeah, I kind of came in and went straight to bed.”

Whitney’s dad chuckled, “Well, that’s not like you guys. When you lived here we always had to make sure you didn’t sneak out on our clock.”

I laughed and took a sip of the orange juice Mrs. Martin offered me, “Yeah, I can’t tell you the last time I snuck out, I guess I’ve grown up a little.”

Mrs. Martin nodded, “You and Whit both, dear. I think you both did some good getting away from Anne! Did Whitney tell you she was in the top 20% of her class?”

“No way!” I exclaimed, “That’s awesome.”

Mr. Martin nodded, “She’s made a lot of big changes in her life since she stopped being friends with Anne and that whole group. It makes me feel better when we leave her on the weekends knowing she’s not out doing anything stupid!”

Anne was always throwing parties when her parents left town, she even dabbled with a little bit of drugs. “So you guys won’t be here this weekend?”

Mrs. Martin shook her head, “Our anniversary weekend.”

Mr. Martin glanced at the watch on his wrist and put down his coffee, “Speaking of which, we should probably get going. I’ll grab the bags, Jo.”

Mrs. Martin nodded and looked up at me, “help yourself to the breakfast, dear, you know how much I like to cook! You and Whitney will clean up, won’t you?” I nodded and she scurried off with her husband, leaving me in the kitchen alone. A few minutes later I heard the front door close and Whitney walked into the kitchen with a disgruntled, tired look on her face.

She looked around at all the food, “My mother always did seem to like you more than me.” She laughed. She sat down on the chair next to me and helped herself to the food and orange juice.

“Your mom told me you’re in the top 20% of your class, Whit, that’s amazing.” I told her, taking a bite of my pancake.

She swallowed the sausage link she was chewing and took a drink of her orange juice. “It’s okay, I mean it’s not like it’s the top 10% or anything,” she shrugged.

“If I wasn’t paying my cousin to do my calculus homework I wouldn’t be graduating next month,” I fibbed, “so being in the top 20% of your class is great.”

“You’re paying your cousin to do your calculus homework?” She laughed, “How do you pass your quizzes?”

I shrugged, “Sometimes I’ll scrape up a passing grade and sometimes I’ll blame it on being a bad test taker.”

She shook her head, “you’re crazy. How much are you paying your cousin?”

I took a moment to respond, “That’s kind of complicated.”

“What do you mean?”

“Let’s talk about it later,” I shrugged, “what’s on the agenda today? It’s my only full day here so it has to be jam-packed.

She nodded, “Oh it is! I have lunch and dinner reservations at your favourite restaurants and the rest of the time will be full of shopping.” I laughed and she continued, “Have you guys had your prom yet?” I shook my head, “Okay, god because there’s this new place down town and it has the most beautiful dresses, we’ll go there after lunch!”

**


After lunch, Whitney and I went to the new shop and looked for a prom dress. I wasn’t even positive on what I was looking for, I just knew I wanted to look absolutely gorgeous, not only because it was my last prom ever, but because this would be the point in time when everyone would find out about Zack and I. It was going to be a big moment for both of us, and I wanted to look my absolute best.

“So, babe, what are we looking for?” Whitney asked me when we walked in.

I looked around at all the different coloured dresses and their different designs, “I don’t know,” I told her.

“Well, who are you going with because I know you’re not going stag?”

This was the part I was dreading. “It’s complicated.”

Whitney looked at me and pushed her hands on her hips, “Okay, spill.”

I looked around and took Whitney over to a corner that was empty, “You remember when I told you I was paying my cousin to do my calculus homework?”

Whitney’s mouth formed an “o” and she looked at me horrified, “You’re taking your cousin to prom, Evelyn Jane Sanders?!”

I laughed, “No! God, No!” It took me a few moments to get rid of my fit of giggled but when I did I had an uneasy feeling in my stomach. No one knew the truth about me and Zack except for me and Matt. Did I really want to spill the beans now?

“I’m waiting.” Whitney said.

I took a deep breath, “My cousin has this friend. He had a really big crush on me and Matt - my cousin – knew I was failing calculus. He told me if I dated his friend, he would do my homework. So I reluctantly agreed, and now it’s been a few months and I think I’m really falling for him.”

Whitney stared at me, “Well, it could have been worse. Why would your cousin do something like that to his friend?”

"I know the way it sounds, but Matt isn't meaning it in a bad way. Matt was sure that I would like Zack once I gave him the chance, I just needed a reason to give him a chance."

"What do you mean? Why wouldn't you give him a chance?" She asked me.

“He’s not the type of guy I usually date, Whit. He’s different.”

“Different how?”

I sighed, “Like my-brother different, Zack has actually brought Ryan and me a little closer.”

Whitney began to laugh, “You’re kidding right?” I bit my lip and shook my head. “Oh.” She paused and pretended to be interested in a puke-green dress next to us. After a couple of seconds she turned back to me, “Does he make you happy?”

I nodded without hesitating, “I’ve never been as happy as I am when I’m with him.”

Whitney nodded, “Then go for it, hun. If he makes you happy, who gives a fuck what anyone else thinks? You deserve this.” She grabbed my arm and brought me into a hug.

“Thanks, Whit.” I whispered, “I really needed that.”

“Not a problem,” she pulled away from me smiling. “Now tell me all about him so I can help you pick out the most amazing dress.”

I told her all about Zack and his band and out first date. I told her about Aaron and how Zack stood up against him for me, and proceeded to tell her how I tried to sleep with him but he forced himself away from me.

“Wow,” she said, “He sounds great, Evelyn.”

I nodded, “He really is.” She handed me a yellow dress, and I grabbed it.

We headed over to the dressing room and I began to change into the yellow dress she handed me.

“So,” Whitney started on the other side of the curtain, “Why haven’t you broke the deal off with his cousin if you’re so into him?”

I smoothed out the dress in front of the mirror absentmindedly. “My reputation there, Whit.”

I heard her groan and she ripped the curtain open, I stifled a scream and thanked God I wasn’t naked. “First of all,” she forced me to turn around and began to button the back of my dress, “you’re graduating in a month. Who gives a fuck about your reputation? You’ve changed, Evelyn, that’s obvious, so I know cheerleading isn’t making you keep this deal or whatever. Your finals are coming up and then after that Matt isn’t going to be doing your calculus homework for you anymore. I mean as long as you pass, that’s all the matters. So stop being so worried about people who don’t give a shit about you and focus on the guy that would literally go to hell and back for you. I know you care about him so don’t you dare give me any more stupid reasons as to why you and he won’t work out. As long as he treats you good and you’re happy with him, I’m happy for you.” She turned me around and eyed me up and down, “And secondly, you look amazing in that dress. Zack is as lucky to have you, as you are to have him. Don’t fuck it up.”

I turned and faced myself in the mirror and gave a little twirl. Whitney was right. Zack was good to me, he made me happy. So why wasn’t that enough?

After I changed back into my normal clothes and paid for my new dress, Whitney and I walked out of the store and started down the street. We were gossiping about the latest trends and Whitney suddenly cursed under her breath.

“I’m sorry,” was all she could say before I seen what caught her attention.

“Well, well, well…” Anne said walking up to us, “look at my old best friend, walking down the street like she own the place.”

I rolled my eyes, “We’re just walking down the street, Anne.”

Anne smiled at me, “Have you seen our boyfriend around? We were down at that new lingerie store and he just disappeared.”

“He probably saw another blonde bimbo and got the two of you mixed up,” Whitney said, crossing her arms.

“Oh, hi, Whitney,” Anne looked at Whitney, “I didn’t even see you there. How’s the nerd life treating you?”

“How’s the slut life treating you?” Whitney smiled. Anne shoved Whitney, and I grabbed Whitney before she could retaliate.

“Come on, she’s not worth our time,” I told Whitney.

Whitney nodded, “Yeah you’re…”

Anne interrupted Whitney, “Oh! There he is! Hey baby!”

My throat burned when I felt a hand on the small of my back. I felt my skin crawl and I wanted to run. “Hey, look it’s my two favourite girls!” Marcus winked at me. He looked over at Whitney, “Oh, hey Whit! How’s the nerd life treating you?”

“Real funny! Never heard that one before!” She rolled her eyes.

Marcus laughed and stood next to Anne. “How have you been Evelyn?”

“Good.”

“Seeing anyone?” He smirked.

I rolled my eyes, “Actually, I am.”

Marcus licked his lips and chuckled, “How does he feel about you’re sexual history? I’m sure he’s into you sleeping with the chicks, but I mean…all those guys. Have you been tested for STD’s yet?”

I just stared at him, unable to think of anything to say. Whitney noticed and stepped in on my behalf. “Have you been tested, Marcus? You’re the one sleeping with half the school.”
Marcus opened his mouth to reply but I interrupted, “Let’s go, Whitney. They’re not worth our time.”

Whitney and I walked off while Marcus and Anne shouted rude comments behind our back. Once we got far enough Whitney turned to me, “you didn’t really sleep with all those people, did you?” I shook my head. “I could tell by the way you didn’t respond. Why did you let him get away with so much when you were dating him?” She asked.

I shrugged, “I don’t know.”

**


I enjoyed the plane ride home, mostly because I had so much to think about. Whitney was right about Zack, he was a great guy and he deserved better than how I was treating him. I was more excited about prom now that I had a dress and I knew how I felt about Zack. I couldn’t wait to see him when the plane landed. I couldn’t wait to go to prom with him. I smiled and remembered the fire I felt the first time I kissed him. There was no way that was just a random feeling.

The plane landed, and I nearly ran over everyone that got in my way. I wanted so desperately to see Zack, had it really only been 48 hours? I smiled when I saw his mess of black hair, and his few tattoos poking out of the shirt he was wearing.

“Zack!” I called, and he spotted me. His smile lit up and I ran into his arms. He picked me up and spun me around. I crashed my lips on his and my body burst into that now familiar on-fire feeling. “I think I love you.” I told him when we parted.

Zack gently set me on the ground, a smile still played on his lips. “I love you too.”

Notes

Three chapters until the end!! I hope you guys enjoyed reading! Please don't dorget to leave feedback!

Title credit: Halsey "Coming Down"