Promtastic Read online

  “All my lists, all those timetables. I forgot to put in the most important things.”

  “What were they?”

  “Friends. Family. You.”

  He squeezed her hand and kissed her.

  Everything was going to be all right.

  “Leigh! Leigh! Oh my god! What happened to you? Are you OK? We’ve all been worried sick!” The normally cool Charlotte was almost hysterical with anxiety.

  “Don’t panic – I’m fine. Fell off a ladder. How come you’re here? What changed your mind? I’m so, so happy to see you. Even if it was putting up your star that made me fall.”

  “Oh no. That’s terrible. But why? Why did you even make one for me?”

  “Because I just wanted you to be here, even if it was only a photo.”

  “And that’s all?”

  Leigh looked puzzled. “Yes. Why?”

  “You didn’t, you know, do anything to get me to come here?”

  “Do? No. What on earth are you on about?”

  Charlotte seemed to slump a little. “No, nothing.” Then she leaned in again. “Are you sure?”

  “The only thing I did to get you here is wish it with all my heart. And it came true. I’m sorry, Charlotte – I’ve been an idiot and a rubbish friend. I know you didn’t want to have anything to do with prom and I should have respected that.” She pulled a face. “Can you forgive me?”

  Charlotte gave Leigh a gentle hug and whispered, “I might have got slightly more involved in prom than you think…”

  Leigh looked puzzled. “What are you talking about?”

  Charlotte pointed at Ben. Ben! With a new haircut which had tamed his long dark curls into a slick, smart style, a fitted white dress shirt, bow tie and well-made tuxedo, it was hard to recognize him.

  “Wow! What happened to him? Talk about a makeover.”

  Tom had appeared. “All my own work. But that’s not the biggest surprise. What’s the time? Nearly the moment.”

  Leigh stared into the crowd. “Moment for what?” Then she clutched Charlotte’s arm. “Oh my god – is that Zoe? And why are Lindsay and Lexie giggling behind her?”

  “Watch and wait, Leigh. Watch and wait.”

  Zoe looked like a movie star in a vintage film. Her hair was styled in a short wave, shiny and cute. Her full lips were a dark red which looked amazing against her pale, smooth complexion, and her green eyes shone, lined like a cat’s with Charlotte’s trademark perfect eyeliner. Zoe opened her sequinned bag, which matched the vintage evening dress Charlotte had lent her that afternoon, took out a card and opened it nervously. Lindsay, behind her, collapsed laughing.

  Zoe looked at her watch, held her head up and began to walk steadily towards the edge of the dance floor, where Chris and Alex were dancing.

  Lindsay nudged Lexie and mouthed, “She’s actually going to do it!” But her face fell as Zoe walked straight past Chris without appearing even to notice him and stood in front of Ben – who was standing there, staring at her with his mouth open.

  He looked as if he was about to pass out, but whatever Zoe said to him must have been magic, because with a stunned expression he took her hand and led her on to the dance floor.

  “So what did it say on the card?” Leigh asked.

  “Originally, it said, ‘This is your promposal. I want the last dance with you and only you. Whatever I’m doing, whoever I’m with, please come up to me and claim this dance. Chris.’”

  “‘Chris’?” Leigh gasped. “I don’t understand.”

  “And neither do Lindsay and Lexie. They sent a fake promposal to Zoe from Chris. But I heard what they had planned, went past Zoe’s house where it was plonked on the doorstep with a bunch of rubbish garage flowers and I, er … swapped the cards – same message, different boy.”

  “Imagine if she had gone up to Chris!” Leigh frowned.

  “I know. She would have died. I think that was the point, wasn’t it? Let’s face it, he’s not Mr Sensitive, is he?” Tom said darkly.

  Zoe and Ben looked as if they had started a conversation that wasn’t going to finish for a long time. Leigh gave Charlotte a squeeze. “You’re a big softie, really, aren’t you? But I still don’t know what changed your mind about coming. I know, I know, you tried to tell me and I wasn’t listening. I know it’s all a bit crazy and nothing worked out according to plan, but having you here and having Owen here, all my friends – that’s the important thing, isn’t it?”

  Charlotte gave her another hug. “It is, Leigh. It is. And actually it hasn’t been total torture seeing everyone here.”

  “I told you.”

  “But I’m going now.”

  “But there’s still half an hour left.”

  ‘I’m sorry, but I’m not really in the mood.”

  Leigh sighed. “But you’ll miss the big surprise.”

  Charlotte

  8.45 p.m.

  As she wandered towards the exit, she was pleased for Leigh that everything had gone so well after all her hard work. But Charlotte’s evening was over; her friends had got her to stay much longer than she had meant to. To be honest, they had really helped her take her mind off things, and she had still hoped … but not any more.

  She had read the mystery boy completely wrong, made a huge mistake, the same way she had thought she could write songs. What a joke! Well, now she knew that he hadn’t really been interested. She had totally imagined the connection between them. What a fool she had been. And her songwriting… she was obviously no good, so that had been a fantasy too. She felt bad about saying no to the after-prom party, but she had never been going to go. She wanted to be on her own now.

  “LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!” The music cut out and a voice boomed out from the microphone. On the stage a drum kit had appeared, along with some mikes.

  Charlotte turned to see Leigh being helped up on to the stage to stand next to the owner of the booming voice. She recognized him immediately: the massive tall figure of Rob Harrison, head of Starlight Records, the biggest record company in America. What was he doing here?

  “First of all, I want to say welcome to tonight’s surprise event.” He got out an envelope. “We’re going to announce the winner of the British element of the Starlight singer–songwriter competition right here, right now, and one of the newest and biggest bands in the States are going to sing it as part of their set tonight. We went live on MTV five minutes ago.”

  The Triangle erupted in cheers, but Charlotte’s heart sank. Not only had she been duped into coming to prom and stood up by the only guy she had ever really been interested in, but now they were going to announce the winner of the competition she had entered, the competition she would have done anything to win.

  “First let me introduce the band and their first number, which will be the winning song: can you all give a big hand for … the Human Animals!”

  Charlotte immediately recognized the dark-haired boy who had pulled her mystery boy out of the record shop. She felt excitement and terror at the same time as she saw her mystery boy, bounding on to the stage behind him and grabbing the microphone.

  He started to sing:

  “The way you move is in my head,

  I hear your voice,

  I know your smile.”

  She could hardly breathe. That was her song? And her mystery boy was Jackson Rivers – lead singer of the Human Animals? What was going on?

  As he twisted the mike, crying out her words as if he might break, she saw immediately that he was straining to spot someone in the crowd. It couldn’t be her, could it? She looked away. She wasn’t going to make that mistake again.

  Why hadn’t she known anything about this?

  She felt her phone vibrate. God, not now. Who?

  It was her mum, shrieking down the phone at her. “You’ve won, you’ve won! You never told me! How dare you! I’ve just found the envelope under the kitten’s blanket. I think it’s been there a few days by the state of it. Oh my god! Is that your song playing now? Who’s pla
ying it? No, don’t tell me. Enjoy yourself and tell me later. Have a great, great evening. You deserve it. Bye…”

  “Stop, Mum – wait, before you go…”

  Behind her the music had stopped and Jackson was saying, “And that song was written by Charlotte Lau – who remains a mystery girl, so if you’re watching, Charlotte, you need to contact Starlight Records…”

  Her mother shrieked again.

  “Mum. Listen. Do you fancy an all-expenses-paid trip to New York? It’s the prize along with the recording contract.”

  Her mum’s scream went off the Richter scale.

  Well, at least she had been wrong that she was a rubbish songwriter. A little flame of hope ignited in her chest as she wondered if she had been wrong about anything else.

  Leigh had managed to climb down from the stage and was all over her, as was everyone around her.

  “Why didn’t you say?” Leigh yelled. “You crazy girl. Why didn’t you say?”

  Charlotte laughed. “I didn’t know! I tried to tell you I had entered but you were always too busy. And why didn’t you tell me this was going to happen?”

  “Wasn’t allowed. Big record-company secret. Now shut up, Miss Songwriter! Just enjoy your fame and watch the show.”

  When the band eventually crashed out the final chord of their set, the boy jumped down from the front of the stage like an acrobat. In front of hundreds of pairs of eyes he worked his way through people trying to talk to him – until he was standing straight in front of her. “Hello, Beret Girl. Sorry I’m late. There was a problem with the sound system so we went on late. Did you like the song?”

  “It’s mine.”

  He looked at her in amazement. “No kidding?”

  “No kidding.”

  “You’re a freaking genius, then!” he cried, grabbing her hands and twirling her round. “And the best part is … apart from finding you here, I thought I’d die thinking you might imagine I’d bailed on our date.”

  “Date?”

  Mrs Keane had given permission for the DJ to play another song.

  “Come and dance?”

  She let him lead her on to the dance floor and put his arms round her. Nothing had ever felt so right before.

  “Can I see you again?”

  She looked up into his green eyes. “You live in California.”

  “Ah, but guess where we record?” Her heart jumped as he rested his cheek against hers and whispered into her ear, “New York.” She couldn’t speak, and he drew his face back from hers. “Hey, I don’t want to come on too strong, I know we only just met, but for me, well it wasn’t like just meeting any girl. I meet loads of girls but I have never, never wanted to talk to a girl like I wanted to talk to you.”

  “It’s true.” The dark-haired boy who was dancing nearby with a swooning girl grinned. “He’s been impossible ever since he met you. If you hadn’t still been here I think it would have broken the band up.”

  “I’d like to see you in New York, Jackson River,” she murmured.

  “Hey, you know my name, Beret Girl – or should I say Charlotte Lau?”

  “Of course I do. I knew everything about you. Except what you looked like.”

  He looked round the room at the dancers as people began to clear up around them. “Don’t you love prom? This one looks as if it’s been fantastic. Everyone so happy. Best one I’ve ever been to by a mile,” he said gently, kissing her softly on the mouth and pulling her close to his chest.

  After what seemed like a long time, she pulled away and looked around her. She was surrounded by all her friends – all looking the happiest she’d ever seen them. “Maybe prom’s not so bad after all,” she smiled, before feeling his lips on hers again.

  Alex

  8.59 p.m.

  The DJ was playing a slow number. Chris held out his hand. “So how about that dance you promised me?” He winked at her.

  She put her glass down and allowed him to pull her into his arms.

  “Nice dress,” he said.

  “Thanks.” She was trying to concentrate on not treading on his toes. “The band was amazing,” she sighed, staring into Chris’s face. “I mean, it was, wasn’t it – don’t you think?”

  “Yeah. I mean who doesn’t like the Human Animals? Pretty awesome having them here on prom night.”

  “And Charlotte winning the competition – that was just incredible, wasn’t it?”

  “Yeah, but it did interrupt—”

  “And Evan, too – that was so brave.” Alex knew she should shut up but her mouth appeared to be determined to keep going.

  Chris shrugged. “Weird. He’s probably fancied me all this time. Hope he doesn’t make a move…” He looked at her. “And talking of making a move…” He leaned in.

  Alex knew no surprise Starlight Records announcement was going to stop her first kiss now. She closed her eyes again and tried to get her mouth into what she thought would be a good position – but instead, her mouth said, “I just wanted to say thank you for the roses.” What was the matter with her, for goodness’ sake?

  Chris drew back. ”What?”

  “The roses. You know. I said I liked them in the art room.”

  “Huh?”

  Alex pulled back a step. “Um, yeah, and that promposal you sent me … red roses saying ‘PROM’ with a question mark.”

  Chris threw back his head and guffawed. “Seriously? How lame is that? Sure it wasn’t Evan? Sounds more like something his kind would do.”

  Alex’s wrenched herself out of Chris’s grasp as she realized what he had said. “What do you mean? Do you mean ‘care enough about someone to think about what they might like’? Oh my god – Tom was right: you are a complete and total jerk.”

  “Hey!” Chris grabbed her arm. “I thought this is what you wanted. I’ll buy you a bunch of stupid daffodils if that’s what you want – now, come on…” He tried to catch hold of her arm.

  She was too quick for him. “Roses, you idiot!” she cried.

  Suddenly she felt two warm arms around her and a voice in her ear saying, “Red roses, weren’t they? That’s what I heard were your favourites.”

  She looked up into Tom’s deep brown eyes. “You!” she gasped.

  “Hey!” Chris yelled again. “What are you doing? She’s with me.”

  “Not any more,” Tom answered and pulled her closer.

  Chris glared at him – but Tom was taller and fitter than him by a long way and he backed off.

  “And I asked for a Coke,” she called after him.

  “Coke?” Tom asked, as she rested her head on his chest.

  “Doesn’t matter,” she smiled, before daring to ask, “So why did you do it?”

  “Why do you think, Sherlock?”

  She buried her head in his shoulder. “I don’t want to say. I’ve got everything so totally wrong. I am the dimmest girl in Dim Town. I’m scared of getting it wrong again.”

  “You won’t get it wrong.”

  “OK. So how long have I been too stupid to know about this?”

  Tom scratched his head. “Oh not long, like about FOR EVER. I was beginning to think we’d never get here. I really thought the roses would work.”

  “But it didn’t put you off – seeing me in my Paddington onesie and with oil dripping down my nose?”

  “But it’s such a pretty nose,” he said, kissing the tip of it.

  Alex felt she was truly dreaming – dreaming the most astonishing dream of her life. “I thought … I thought maybe you liked Charlotte.” She looked over at Charlotte, deep in the arms of Jackson.

  “What? Not like that. She wanted me to help her out with Ben and Zoe. Which appears to have been a good plan, as it looks as if they’ve both found their soulmate at last.”

  “Why didn’t you just tell me that the flowers were from you?”

  “What? To add to the humiliation? Not only did it not occur to you that they might be from me, but then you were convinced they were from someone else. Someone I can�
�t even stand.”

  “He is an idiot, isn’t he?” she grinned.

  Tom nodded. “Total.”

  “And I’ve been a bigger one. It was awful, Tom, I couldn’t think of a thing to say and he was so … it was so awkward.” She sighed and felt Tom’s arms go tighter around her. “Every time he moved in closer I found myself saying something to stop him kissing me. And I kept thinking about you with Charlotte.” She flushed bright red. “Oh my god! I can’t believe I said that.”

  ‘Why?” Tom asked, gently stroking her hair. “What do you think I’m going to do?”

  She blushed an even deeper shade, her heart pounding so hard she was sure he could feel it through her dress. “I … I don’t know…”

  “It’s always been you, Alex.”

  “It’s funny … I always assumed you’d be there and then I had to think again, imagining you with someone else. I just couldn’t let my stupid side let the dumb Chris thing go – and I thought I’d lost you. Now it seems so right, I wonder what I was thinking. Look at us all. It’s been the best prom ever.’

  “Alex.”

  “Yes?”

  “You’re going to stop talking now and I am going to kiss you. OK?”

  Alex pressed her lips together and closed her eyes. “OK.”

  Nothing happened.

  “Swear you won’t start talking again?”

  She kept her eyes shut.

  “Swear.”

  “I mean really, really swear.”

  “Really, really swear.”

  “Because I don’t want you to start jabbering on just as I move in. You know, like you do.”

  He put his finger on her lips to stifle her giggle and she felt the room disappear around her until it was just Tom and her, and she could feel his lips on hers and it wasn’t like her fantasies – it was so, so much better.

  And it really was the best prom ever.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  To my wonderful family and friends for all their support, patience and encouragement, particularly Frances Toynbee and Anna and Lucy Kell who shared so much invaluable information about their own experience of Proms with me.

  To my agent Stephanie Thwaites at Curtis Brown and to Helen Thomas and Lena McCauley at Scholastic who made all the enjoyment of writing this book possible.