Promtastic Page 11

  “Jason!” Her heart flipped and she spun round, the cream and gold lace of her dress swirling around her ankles. “Jason! Jason! Jason!” She flung herself into his arms.

  Over his shoulder she saw Evan had found his way through the congratulating crowd to her side.

  Jason extracted himself from her and solemnly shook Evan’s hand. “Good job, mate. That took bravery. Well done.”

  Evan shook his head, “Should have done it a long time ago. I wanted to apologize and say thank you for … you know, everything. I’m sorry. Start again?”

  Jason smiled and pulled Evan into a bear hug. “New start.”

  Tom and Ben came up, and Evan stood looking at them; Grace could tell he was tense.

  “Come here, you idiot,” Tom grinned, grabbing Evan in another big hug. “Should have guessed it when you bought that freaking awful shirt.”

  Ben stood awkwardly until Tom released Evan, then held out his hand. “Good call, mate.” Evan reached out his hand to take it. “Aww, what the hell!” Ben guffawed and enveloped Evan in his huge frame.

  Grace was enjoying watching the relief on Evan’s face when Tony from their English class appeared. He gave Evan a level stare.

  Evan frowned. “You OK, Tony?”

  Tony nodded and looked Evan right in the eye. “Want to dance?”

  Grace caught Evan’s look of confusion – then understanding. A huge smile broke and lit up his whole face. “Really?” he asked, as if he could hardly believe it.

  “Sure, why not? I guess it’s goodbye-to-secrets night and I don’t see why you should get all the attention. God knows I’ve waited long enough for you.” Tony gestured towards the dance floor. “Don’t tell me you’re chicken after that performance.”

  Distracted by Tony and Evan, Grace and Jason became aware of the disturbance coming towards them only at the last minute.

  “I’d better make myself disappear,” Jason whispered and took his hand out of hers.

  Grace snatched it back. “Don’t you dare go anywhere! Time to make some introductions, Jason.”

  “Grace! Grace!” Her mother appeared, snapping through the crowd like a dragon out of a volcano, her father in tow.

  “Oh God, she did wear her prom dress,” Grace sighed, as a vision in yards of yellow net appeared in front of her, obviously struggling to control itself.

  Breathing heavily, her mother glared at Evan. “You,” she exclaimed, jabbing at his tuxedo with a red talon, “you are a liar and a disgrace and … and … you will never see my daughter again. What a terrible shock for your poor parents, and your father so high in his profession. To think I let you out alone with Grace … that I trusted you…”

  “Well, look on the bright side,” Evan grinned, “she couldn’t have been in safer hands.”

  Jason, Grace and Tony tried to stifle their giggles.

  “Come on, Tony, let’s dance.” Evan and Tony headed off.

  Her mother whipped round. “You again,” she sneered icily at Jason, “and who may I ask, are you?”

  Something snapped in Grace. “How dare you speak to Jason like that? How dare you? To someone you’ve never even spoken to? He’s my boyfriend, Mum; we’ve been going out for six months and he’s the most—” Grace felt Jason put a calming hand on her arm.

  “I’m Jason Roberts. I work as an apprentice chef at The Bay Tree. Pleased to meet you.” He held out his hand.

  Grace’s mother stared at it as if it were on fire. “A chef? A chef? Doug, Doug…” She pushed Grace’s father forward. “Grace, your father and I want you to come home this minute. We shall sort out the Prom Queen fiasco on Monday in an appointment with Mrs Keane. And if you think you are ever going out of the house between now and Oxford you have another think coming. And … Doug…” She gestured towards Jason. “Tell this boy to leave, please, and that he won’t be seeing our daughter again. As if she would be seen with a … a … kitchen person.”

  “No.”

  Her mother did a double take as her father suddenly pulled himself up to his full height.

  “No, I won’t. I think that Jason appears to be a very polite young man and that he must be extremely talented to have a job at The Bay Tree. It’s an excellent restaurant. Jason, I have every faith that Grace makes good choices in her friends. Allow me to shake your hand.”

  Her mother opened and closed her mouth – but before she could say anything her father went on, “And if Evan wasn’t having such a lively time on the dance floor I’d shake his hand, too. That can’t have been easy and I can understand all too well the reasons that both he and Grace had for their actions. But now, no more lies. For any of us. Understood?”

  Grace flung her arms round her father’s neck and hugged him tight. “Understood totally. Thanks, Dad,” she whispered.

  “How dare you!” Her mother was gasping as if drowning. “Don’t you care about what’s best for Grace? I’m telling you now, Jason and Evan are not welcome at the after-prom party. No one is after Grace’s deception. It’s cancelled.”

  “No, it’s not,” her father said firmly. “It’s my house too, my money paid for it and I shall have who I please to the party. Jason and Evan are most welcome. As are all Grace’s friends. It’s about time she had her own life. Her own dreams. She’s not a little girl any more. Seems she has found her voice today. Time to let her fly now.”

  “Doug!” her mother screeched. “What’s the matter with you?”

  “I think I might have found my voice too, my dear. A little late – but what do they say? Better late than never. Now turn around, my little lemon sherbet, and head for the doorway. We’ve got a lot of people turning up for a party very soon.”

  Grace watched in astonishment as her mother, mouth still opening and closing like a goldfish, meekly turned and headed towards the exit. Her dad turned back to wink at her before disappearing after her.

  Grace put her arms round Jason. “I’m sorry,” she said, “for not being considerate enough of your feelings…”

  He pulled her close. “No, I’m sorry. I didn’t trust you enough; I thought you’d never be able to stand up to your mum. But I was wrong! You were amazing. Time for one last dance?”

  She melted into his arms.

  He whispered into her ear, “I would kiss you, but…”

  “But what?”

  “I only kiss official Prom Queens.”

  “Shut up!” she giggled.

  “So what happened?”

  “It’s a very long story.”

  “Tell me.”

  But before she could open her mouth, Jason’s lips were on hers and her heart was singing like a freed bird.

  Kristyn

  7.51 p.m.

  Kristyn fled. She found herself outside in the car park. It felt like the end of everything.

  She sat on the wall of the car park, rocking back and forth with shame and misery.

  She knew it was the end. The end of any hope that she could ever see anyone from school again.

  She had seen the way Lindsay whispered to Lexie, laughing at her as she ran off the stage.

  And the people she now respected – Evan, Grace, Jason. They must all hate her. She was sure they would have told everyone else by now. She couldn’t blame them. She had done a horrible, mean thing.

  She would have given anything to turn the clock back. She would even go back to being the mouse, grateful for a crumb of attention from someone like Lindsay’s table. A mouse. She knew that was what Lindsay must call her.

  She would have to take that salon job now. There was no way she was going to sixth-form college. She couldn’t see anyone from school again, not every day, all looking at her and knowing what she’d done – it would be torture. The Style House wasn’t what she wanted – but what else was there now? At least her mum and dad would be pleased she’d stop going on about staying at college and doing fashion. Jessie was always telling her it was a stupid idea anyway. Kristyn sighed. But that’s what she was – stupid. Time to stop dreaming an
d realize what she was: a dull, talentless, stupid, mean…”

  “Hey, Kristyn,” a voice said gently.

  She started and looked up. “Jessie? What are you doing here?”

  “I came to find you. They said you might be out here. I have something to tell you. Something important. It’s about the Style House.”

  Kristyn tried to smile. Stop being selfish and be grateful, she said to herself. “If the junior job has come up at last, of course I’ll take it. Thank you, Jessie.”

  Her sister sighed and took her hand. “Look, Kristyn, I know you don’t want that job.”

  “I do, really I do,” Kristyn protested weakly.

  “No you don’t, you liar, liar, pants on fire. You never have. I’ve pushed Mum and Dad and you about that job because … because…”

  “Because what?”

  “Because I thought the fact you obviously didn’t want to work there was like saying it wasn’t good enough for you. As though what I did wasn’t good enough – you know, working in a hairdresser’s.”

  “But you love it – you’re the top stylist in the whole town!”

  “I know. And I do love it, with all my heart – and that’s because I love my work. And I’m good at it. Guess I always wanted to be to the big, successful, favourite daughter – but I always knew you were smarter than me. And you really have a talent for fashion. I saw that when you couldn’t keep your mouth shut while Fallon’s stylist was in the salon today. She listened to you. And Fallon went with all your suggestions.”

  Kristyn thought back to sorting through the racks, pulling out outfits, accessorizing them – it had been the best fun ever. And then Fallon had asked how she could thank her, and Li had jumped in and told the story of the dress and then… She looked down at her beautiful dress. Well, it didn’t matter any more, did it?

  “I saw a different you then, Kristyn. You were confident. You were doing what you loved. I realized then that you’ve got to go to college. I went home and spoke to Mum and Dad; it took a long time but they listened to me and they’ve agreed.” Jessie beamed at her. “So what about that, hey? You’re going to college, going to be a fashionista and leave your big sister way behind. Promise me you’ll still style me when you’re famous?”

  Kristyn shook her head.

  “What? What are you shaking your head for? I thought you’d be dancing!”

  “I can’t go. I don’t want to go. To college.”

  Jessie eyes were round with disbelief. “Are you kidding me? It’s all you’ve ever talked about.”

  “I’ve changed my mind.”

  Jessie took a deep breath. “OK. So you’re saying you don’t want to do fashion at college. You don’t want to work for someone like Fallon Fernandez, despite the fact that she said you had real talent and would be interested in hiring you once you graduate. You want to work as a junior in my salon, the job you clearly have hated the idea of since it was first mentioned.”

  Kristyn nodded her head dumbly.

  Jessie was exasperated. “I don’t know what to say. There is no job at the moment, so your new dream of working in the salon will have to wait.” She scrutinized her sister closely. “I don’t know what’s going on with you. We can talk about this later. Maybe your friends can talk some sense into you.” She walked off with her hands in her pockets.

  Kristyn was close to tears. Her dream of college, right within her grasp … but she couldn’t. Not now. It was impossible. Suddenly seeing Grace and Jason making a beeline for her, she gasped in horror – then hung her head low, wishing she was a chameleon.

  “Hi, Kristyn,” Grace said, sitting next to her on the wall.

  Kristyn was aching with holding back tears. “I’m so sorry, Grace. I don’t know what else to say. I behaved so badly. I deserve all the hate I’m going to get. I know I do. I was just … jealous. And that’s no excuse. You didn’t deserve it.”

  “No, I didn’t,” Grace responded calmly. “But I do owe you a thank you.”

  “What?” Kristyn thought she must have misheard.

  “I owe you a thank you. You didn’t have to say anything up there on stage, but you did. And everyone saw what it cost you to do it. Because you were honest and did the right thing in the end, Evan felt he could come out…”

  Kristyn stared in shock.

  “Yup,” Grace nodded, “he did. In front of the whole school. And he wouldn’t have if you hadn’t led the way with the baring-the-soul stuff. You ended up doing me a favour. With one bound I was free!” Grace threw her hands in the air and laughed. She grabbed Jason’s hand. “And now the whole world can know about me and Jason.”

  Kristyn managed a smile. “I’m really and truly glad for you. I tried to call you earlier, Jason, to tell you to come, to get you back with Grace, but…”

  “I saw on my phone, but I was already on my way. But thanks, anyway, for trying…”

  Grace stood up. “Look, I know you’re sorry. Anyone can see how bad you’re feeling. Come back in with us. No one really knows anything – except Evan, and he sort of owes you too. Could we start again?”

  Kristyn thought she must be dreaming. “Yes,” she answered with all her heart. “Please.”

  “Come on, then – we don’t want to miss the big surprise everyone’s talking about.”

  As they entered the heat and noise of the main room, Lindsay suddenly appeared, her face contorted with anger. She grabbed Kristyn’s arm and roughly pulled her aside.

  “Hey!” Grace protested.

  Lindsay’s face was in Kristyn’s. “What do you mean by telling Jed I cheated in the test today?”

  Kristyn was confused. “I don’t know what…”

  “Don’t pretend you don’t know. It must have been you. Turns out Jed worked his guts out for that test and isn’t ‘impressed by girls who cheat’. I thought you were my friend, you cow, you dropped me right in the dirt and after all I’ve done for you…”

  Grace stepped between them. “If I may,” she said calmly. “Two points of error, Lindsay: one, Kristyn is not your friend any more; two, the reason is that you haven’t done anything except use her­—”

  “Oh, is that right?” Lindsay snapped. “Well answer me this, then: who else knew I had her paper, apart from Lexie, who is a real friend? Who else but her?”

  “That would be me.” Grace smiled. “Perhaps you shouldn’t go shooting your mouth off about what you did on the phone quite so loudly. You do have a very er … foghorn voice.”

  Grace and Jason took Kristyn firmly by each arm and led her off to the dance floor.

  “You look incredible in that dress, by the way,” Grace said. “Dior?”

  She nodded. “I had a lucky break today.”

  Grace raised her eyebrows. “I’ll say! It’s amazing. You really know how to put an outfit together. We should go shopping together sometime. I have such a hard time finding things that work for me. Maybe you could help?”

  “Sure.” Kristyn now knew she must be dreaming. She was dancing with Grace, Jason, Tom, Charlotte, Alex, Ben, Zoe, Evan and Tony, all the people she liked the most at school. And they didn’t hate her.

  A boy from her history class was dancing closer and closer to her. “Coming to Grace’s after-prom party?” he said hopefully.

  “Yes, she is!” Grace yelled, winking at her.

  “Our last night at Harper High!” Alex yelled. “Roll on sixth-form college.”

  Kristyn smiled. When this dance was over she needed to send a message to her sister.

  The End of the Night

  Leigh

  8.30 p.m.

  “A crutch, Dad? Must I?”

  “Yes – you’ve sprained your ankle and fractured your wrist.” He tapped the hard cast, which Leigh had chosen in blue to match her dress. “You’re lucky I’m letting you go to prom at all, even if it is just for the end. All the excitement will be over by now…”

  “Nothing about prom seems so important now,” Leigh sighed, leaning into Owen’s shoulder. “
Everyone can manage without me. I’m sure it will be fine!” She stopped and laughed out loud. “‘Fine’! Listen to me!”

  Her Dad looked at Owen. “Shall I call a cab, then?”

  Owen smiled. “No need, Dr Kowalski – I’ve arranged something.”

  As she hobbled towards the exit past the cubicles she glanced at her reflection. A nurse had lent her some thread and her dress was slightly less ragged, and at least the main slash had been sewn up. She had dried out and redone her make-up. It wasn’t as good as Charlotte’s, but it didn’t matter any more. It would do! She laughed again. Had she really said that? And her hair, all that expensive salon styling, washed out. She had hung her head upside down under the hand-dryer in the toilets and brushed it through.

  “I’m sorry I’m not quite the gorgeous creature I should have been tonight,” she sighed to Owen.

  “Are you kidding? You look amazing. I love your hair long like that, all shiny and natural. You look like a princess.” The automatic doors swung open on to a landscape washed cleaned by the rain. The building was now bathed in the pink and gold of early sunset. Leigh stood rooted to the spot in astonishment.

  “And you know what happens to princesses…” Owen smiled. Outside A&E was a delicate white carriage drawn by two grey horses, who were swishing their long manes and jingling the silver bells on their blue harnesses. The coachman, in blue uniform, jumped down and opened the carriage door.

  “Time for your prom, Leigh,” Owen grinned, holding out his hand to help her inside. “You shall go to the ball.”

  Leigh gave a squeak of joy. She was the luckiest girl in the world. Not because she was going to prom, but because she had someone who cared about her, even after the way she had acted.

  When they arrived, the best thing about it was not that it looked like a perfect Hollywood night, nor that everyone was congratulating her on pulling off the best prom ever, but the welcome she got from her friends. People fell on her with cries of genuine concern and delighted welcome when they realized that she was all right. This was what it was all about. Caring about people and friends.

  “I forgot,” she said.

  “Forgot what?” Owen asked.