Promtastic Read online

  She couldn’t understand why Grace was so jumpy. She looked stunning. Her blonde hair was swept up glamorously and her perfect complexion hardly needed make-up. With her cream and gold lace dress, she looked exactly like a Vogue cover. To be honest, she still looked like one in her sweats, which was what she was wearing to wash Alex’s hair. Typical Grace, fresh from the salon, not to mind getting out of her dress and potentially mucking up her make-up in order to help Alex.

  “If you change your mind about Oxford you can always be a saint, or a model,” Alex had told her when she turned up at her door, her hair still wrapped in a towel. “You look so lovely. Evan is going to be the happiest man at prom tonight.”

  To her surprise Grace had responded with nothing but a tight smile. It was as if Grace didn’t want to talk about prom. Which actually was just as well since she herself didn’t either, the Chris thing had sent her into such a whirlwind of self-doubt. He was so confident, so cool. What did he see in her? How could she ever keep a boy like that interested in someone like her?

  Grace finished Alex’s fifth hair wash, put another fresh towel round her head (that was another thing about Grace’s bathroom – endless clean white towels, all stacked up on white wooden shelves) and sat her back on the white chair in front of the mirror.

  “I can’t thank you enough for this,” Alex said with feeling. “You have saved my life.”

  “You don’t have to thank me. That’s what friends are for. Don’t worry.” Grace picked up a strand of hair. “Success! The oil is totally out and you’re good to go. Pass me the mousse and the big rollers.” Alex handed them to her and Grace curled up a long strand of her hair and tucked it neatly into place.

  “Anything on your mind, Grace?” Alex ventured.

  Grace managed a laugh. “No. Guess I’m nervous about tonight. My mum’s gone into overdrive; she’s threatened to turn up for the crowning of the Prom King and Queen. So as not to miss the moment…”

  “But parents aren’t invited.”

  “You try telling her that. She’s even mentioned wearing her old Prom Queen dress. I’ve asked her what’s going to happen if I’m not Prom Queen but she won’t listen.”

  Alex sympathized deeply with the thought of that horror – but she knew her friend and she knew she was hiding something else from her.

  It seemed this prom was full of secrets for both of them.

  “Guess what? Guess what Evan told me,” Grace said.

  OK, Miss Mysterious, I know you’re just trying to divert me from your jumpiness, Alex thought to herself. “Go on,” she said aloud.

  “Evan says he thinks Tom is really keen on someone at school.”

  If she had wanted to divert Alex’s attention she had succeeded. “What? Tom? No, that’s rubbish. I saw him this morning. He never said anything.”

  “That’s just it. He hasn’t said anything to anyone, but Evan knows him pretty well and says he’s just got this feeling from little bits that Tom’s let out that he had hoped he might get together with someone at prom but she’s not coming or something.”

  Alex handed Grace another strand of her hair.

  “Evan says he’s got a good idea who it is, too.”

  Alex was all ears now. “Who?”

  “Charlotte Lau. And I saw them together in the Coffee House today when I came out of the salon, chatting away and looking very cosy I must say.”

  “Charlotte!” Alex was confused. Why hadn’t Tom told her? Tom was supposed to be her friend, wasn’t he? One of her best friends. He hadn’t once mentioned being interested in Charlotte even when she had told him all about Chris. She felt a rush of anger. And what had he done when she told him Chris had shown serious interest at last? Been totally negative and tried to ruin the best thing that had ever happened to her. Maybe she had been kidding herself that she and Tom were such good mates.

  “What do you think about that?” Grace continued. “I think they’d make a really cool couple.”

  “But she’s totally anti-prom. She’s not even coming!”

  “I know. That’s why Evan thinks Tom’s a bit low about tonight. But it doesn’t mean it’s never going to happen, ever. Just because it doesn’t happen at prom.”

  “Suppose so.” In truth, Alex did think Tom and Charlotte would make a cool couple. She was certainly smart, funny and clever enough for him. Did that mean he’d be sharing stuff with her from now on? From what Grace said maybe that had started already.

  “They would be good together, wouldn’t they?”

  “Mmm…” Alex was still trying to overcome her bewilderment and irritation. Tom hadn’t said anything to her and she thought they talked about everything. Maybe he had someone else to share stuff with now. That hurt.

  “You OK, Alex?” Grace was getting out her make-up now.

  Alex nodded.

  “OK, close your eyes.”

  She obeyed.

  Half an hour later she was standing in front of the full-length mirror on Grace’s wardrobe, ready for prom.

  “You look gorgeous, Alex.”

  She looked at her reflection. Her hair was elegantly swept back from her face with a pink ribbon and silver clips and then fell down her back in shining soft waves. Her make-up was perfect, the soft pink lipstick and blusher matching her dress, the grey eyeshadow and eyeliner making the green of her eyes stand out. The pearl earrings dropped delicately from her ears and her nails were perfect pink ovals with a crystal on each one, matching those on her dress. She reached out and grasped Grace’s hand as she stood beside Alex in her cream-and-gold dress, her blonde hair, her make-up and nails immaculate. “Thank you, Grace. You’ve worked a miracle.”

  “Promise me I’m not going to have to tell you to stop putting yourself down tonight, then.”

  “Not tonight. I feel amazing.”

  “Good. Now, Cinderella, you must go to the ball.”

  The doorbell rang.

  Grace jumped. “That’ll be Evan in the limo. I’ll get it.” She dashed from the room.

  Alex took a deep breath. Tonight was going to be her night – and nothing, nothing was going to spoil it. This was her chance with Chris; that was all that mattered. This was going to be the start of the rest of her life. The real life, the confident life of going out with someone she had dreamed about for such a long time – five whole years.

  She blushed at her image in the mirror. Tonight, she hoped, she was going to have her first kiss.

  The doorbell rang again. She could hear Chris’s voice downstairs.

  Everything was going to be different from now on. No more putting herself down. After all, she was going to be Chris’s girlfriend after tonight. And everything would be like it was in the films she loved.

  “The limo’s leaving in ten minutes!” Evan yelled up the stairs. “It’s prom time!”

  Alex turned towards the stairs and gave herself one last glance in the mirror.

  She was ready.

  Kristyn

  6.10 p.m.

  Kristyn’s heart was pounding as she closed the door. Evan was actually in her house.

  Now she could make him see that she hadn’t taken that photo to hurt him. Make him understand.

  “Where do you want to talk?” he asked brusquely, looking around the hallway.

  She felt flustered. Not in her room – too personal. “Through here,” she said, opening the door to the kitchen and firmly closing the door to the sitting-room where the TV was murmuring.

  Evan sat down at the kitchen table. She could hardly believe this was happening. He looked so handsome; the ends of his dark blond hair were still damp from swimming and his tight-fitting white shirt showed off his broad shoulders. She tried to calm down – but Evan’s black Levi’s were sitting at her kitchen table. She thought of sitting next to him – too close, maybe; she changed her mind and sat down on the chair opposite.

  “Who’s there, Kristyn?” her mother called out.

  “Just a friend, Mum – won’t be long.”


  “Who?”

  “Just a friend, Mum.” Please, please don’t come in, she thought to herself. Please leave us alone.

  “Look, Kristyn—” Evan began.

  “No, let me say this first, Evan.” She wasn’t going to mess up this one and only chance. “I took the photo because … because I think you are a really nice person. I’ve always thought that about you. And when I saw Grace cheating on you I felt so angry, because … how could she?” She could see him staring at her now, but she couldn’t read his expression. “You deserve a girl who appreciates you. Not one who makes a fool of you behind your back. But a girl who would never, ever cheat on you…”

  “Like you, you mean?” Evan looked as though he was just starting to solve a puzzle.

  She blushed furiously and turned her eyes away from his gaze. “No, that’s not what I mean.”

  “So what is this all about? You wanted to break Grace and me up?”

  “No – I just thought nobody should be with someone who’s cheating on them. But now you say you knew about it. Surely you can’t want to carry on with Grace knowing that? She’s treated you so horribly badly. She’s a cheat, Evan.”

  Evan put his head in his hands. “No, she’s not. You don’t understand – she’s been the best, most loyal person to me in the world.”

  “You’re right, I don’t understand—”

  He groaned and took a deep breath, looking up at her. “Grace has been going out with Jason for six months. She’s only been pretending to go out with me – she’s never been my girlfriend.”

  Kristyn opened her mouth but shut it again.

  “It’s true she’s kept a secret from everyone else, but the real secret is that our relationship is fake. Her real relationship has always been with Jason. I am not, nor have ever been, Grace’s boyfriend,” he sighed, “nor ever will be.”

  Kristyn felt a flicker of hope.

  Evan sensed it and shook his head. “You don’t get it. I won’t be any girl’s boyfriend. Ever.”

  “I don’t understand…” Kristyn insisted. “Why…?”

  “Why do you think? Why would a boy pretend to have a girlfriend? And what reason would a boy have for saying he knows for sure he’s never going to go out with a girl? Come on, Kristyn, you’re smart. I’m sure I don’t have to spell it out for you.”

  “Hello, dear – aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?” Her mother appeared smiling at the door. “Are you going to prom together? Doesn’t Kristyn look lovely?”

  “No! Mum, please, could we have a minute?”

  Evan scraped his chair back. “I’m just going, actually. I’ve got to get dressed for prom – the limo’s picking me up soonish. Nice to meet you, Mrs O’Malley.”

  Kristyn, reeling, managed to stand up and follow him to the door.

  He turned to face her. “Yeah, I’m gay. Grace has been protecting me, helping me keep my secret. I was going to come out, tell everyone, but I bottled it. I didn’t want to let anyone know – not yet. I needed a bit longer.” His voice cracked. “I begged her to give me more time; Jason got upset with her but she stuck by me. I saw him in town today and he told me it’s over with her. He was pretty angry. I feel terrible, but I’m too much of a coward to call her.” He paused and composed himself. “You see, you got Grace so wrong, Kristyn. She comes out better than all of us in this story. She was the one trying to do the right thing and because of the rest of us she’s been the most hurt. I’m the one making all this mess.” He looked at her with a hollow expression on his face, then turned and left.

  She stood alone in the hall. All her fantasies about being Prom Queen with Evan her King fell like shattered glass at her feet. She looked at herself in the hall mirror. She stared at her Dior dress, the one Fallon had lent her when she heard about what had happened. She had thought she would be a princess; she had imagined dancing with Evan with this dress swirling around, everyone staring, everyone admiring. She would be his girlfriend, make new friends, be happy at last. Instead she had ruined everything.

  What had she been thinking? She’d been a jealous mess. She’d acted like a terrible person. She had never behaved like this before in her life. And now it was the only thing Grace and Evan would think about when they saw her. And she would have to give up the waitressing job too – and she had really enjoyed it. It was her fault: she had done an awful thing – but she hadn’t meant to ruin anyone’s life. She had just wanted to be at the centre of things for once. It just seemed so many things had gone wrong for her lately that she had lost her sense of reality.

  She knew that was no excuse. She had to do something to make things better.

  She looked at her watch. It wasn’t too late. She texted Grace, “I’m sorry, forget what I asked you to do. Enjoy being Prom Queen.”

  A text immediately pinged back: “Too late, it’s done.”

  She went up to her room and sat on her bed.

  Another ping on her phone. She grabbed it – maybe it wasn’t too late. But this one was from Lindsay: “Soz, know I said I’d go with you to prom but have managed to squeeze into Lexie’s ride. See you there.”

  Her mum appeared at her bedroom door. When she had first seen Kristyn all dressed up, her mum had looked so proud of her. Kristyn knew her mum would be devastated if she said she wasn’t going now. After all the effort everyone had made to help her get ready.

  “Are you ready? Is Lindsay nearly here? The minicab will be arriving in a while.”

  She was biting back the tears. All that expensive make-up – what a stupid waste! She shook her head. “She’s got a lift with someone else, Mum.”

  She picked up her silver evening bag.

  “It’s just me.”

  PART THREE

  Prom Night – 7.51 p.m.

  Alex

  7.51 p.m.

  Chris gave Alex the benefit of a brief megawatt smile and then looked down into his glass. “I need a refill – can I get you one?”

  She handed over her glass. “Coke, please.”

  “Now, girl…” He leaned in to within inches of her face. “Don’t go away, will you.”

  “Go away?” She was rooted to the spot. All the way here in the limo Chris had kept catching her eye. His meaning couldn’t have been clearer. She was his chosen one for the evening. He had just said she looked gorgeous. It was all going to happen. It would be just like a film. It all felt so right. Chris had realized at last that they were made for each other. A boy who would do a red-rose promposal for her: that had to be the right boy, didn’t it? She felt a wave of anxiety as she waited for him to come back with the drinks. The actual event was going to happen soon. Their lips would touch. She didn’t know whether she felt like screaming or fainting as she saw him working his way back through the crowd. She forced an anxious smile instead.

  This was her soulmate.

  “Forgot what you said, so I got Fanta – hope that’s OK.”

  She nodded. After all, he hadn’t forgotten that she liked roses and that was much more important.

  He took a big swig from his glass. “Great prom.”

  “Yes, yes it is. It’s a great theme, Hollywood Nights.” Great, she groaned inwardly. And the gold medal for conversation Olympics goes to … Alex Robertson.

  “Yeah. Good party. Love a good party, me. It’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?”

  “Um, yes, I suppose it is. But you like sports too, don’t you? The swim team.” Can’t I think of anything more interesting to say?

  “Right. Totally. Had a lot of fixtures this term.”

  Alex was realizing that she had never had an actual conversation with Chris before. They’d always been in a crowd or he was the object of desire on the other side of a classroom. They hadn’t been alone together before this moment – if you could call dancing in the midst of hundreds of people being “alone”.

  It felt like it now.

  She wondered if Taylor Lautner was so hard to talk to.

  “Which, uh, fixtures are th
e ones you remember best?” she asked – while to herself she wailed, It’s official. I am the most boring girl in the world.

  How wrong she was: he was off, with a fixture-by-fixture account of the past term’s swim meets, no details spared. She tried very hard to concentrate, but when he’d got on to the coach at Hayfield Park disallowing nose clips and something about 4.5-second differences and they were still six meets from the end of term, she found her eyes wandering around the room until they alighted on … Charlotte.

  Charlotte?! What was she doing here?

  And she was standing at the doorway talking to Tom. Their heads close together – obviously discussing something intense.

  “Alex? Alex?”

  She refocused. “Yes, Chris?”

  “I think you’re really pretty.”

  Oh God! She felt a wave of panic.

  Chris moved his head closer.

  “Like, I really like you.”

  She felt her heart beating at a hundred miles an hour. He did, he did really like her – there was no way he would have thought of the red roses if he didn’t. Perhaps it was always like this at the beginning; perhaps after the kiss things would be better, more relaxed.

  Alex weighed up her options. If she didn’t go through with it, she was going to leave tonight exactly the same as when she’d arrived. Never been kissed. It was a thought that after all the build-up to this prom night she simply couldn’t bear.

  Her eyes flicked up and over to Tom and Charlotte again.

  She closed her eyes. So the night didn’t feel the way she’d thought it would, the way it looked in the films. Maybe it had been immature of her to expect that. This must be what it was like for everyone – on their first kind of date, conversation was bound to be awkward. Chris was a romantic – he had proven it with the roses – and she was sure the chatting would improve. But it really hadn’t been like this in her fantasies. She was surprised it was quite so much of an effort. It never looked this hard in the films, did it? It just sort of flowed in a thrilling kind of a way.