~Flattered, truly~

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My weekend took a dreary turn after the night of the gig. Jaxons words kept bouncing around my mind. They had a huge effect on me, and I didn't know why I was letting them.

"Bay, I need you to do those dishes now," my mom called from the living room as she flipped through a magazine while the T.V. was on low in the background.

"I'm going to! Just please, stop asking me every second," I retaliated, shoveling all my laundry into a clean white basket. She looked up from her magazine, surprised at my behavior. I was about to glare when I realized that I was doing it again. These fits of anger have got to stop. My mother has nothing to do with Jaxon's jerkiness. I sighed, lifting the basket off the floor and heading to my room.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you. I'll do it in a second, I promise," I told her sincerely. Disappearing in my room, it hurt a little to know my mom doesn't have a clue about Saturday night. She doesn't really know about anything that's going in my life, and unlike other moms, I'm not sure I can even bring up the concept of crushes to her. She used to be my best friend; what caused us to drift apart?

I made a goal to work on our relationship somehow. My phone buzzed from underneath my bed covers. I dumped all my clothes out onto the floor, snatched my phone off my bed, and sat in the pile of laundry, claiming it as my lemon-scented throne. Riley's face was gleaming back at me on the call screen.

"Greetings," I muttered after I answered the call, making an effort to sound upbeat. She replied in an ecstatic yet concerned tone.

"Bay, what's bothering you? I can't tell you my news until you tell me what's up."

"Oh its nothing.... you know, just the other night still has me down a little. But please, tell me your news. It'll cheer me up," I said pointedly, not wanting to be a killjoy. RIley squealed, and I immediately knew this was big.

"Cameron asked me to prom!" I wanted to scream with her, but the name didn't ring any bells whatsoever, and I saw that as a slight problem.

"Cameron...?" I pried.

"The guy I met at the bonfire. We have been talking ever since, and I forgot to tell you! We went on a date Friday when you were babysitting. It was very last minute, or else I would've called you." She sounded guilty, and I couldn't help but chuckle at that.

"That's great, Rice. What did you do?" I could already feel her happiness rubbing off on me.

"Dinner and a movie. It was so fun! He's really easy going and funny, we were laughing the whole night. And he didn't mind one bit when I grabbed onto his arm during the movie. Gosh it was freaky," Riley remarked. That reminded me of Halloween night when we watched one of the paranormal activities, and I swear she left bruises on my arm. Her constant shrieking just freaked us both out even more than the movie itself.

"Was it that Ouija Board movie? The commercial for that was enough to give me a decent nightmare. Good thing your guy was there to hold on to for comfort." We continued to chat, and said our goodbyes when hunger struck Riley to a near death experience. I decided to crash early since my hobbies were drained of their usual gusto.

I went through the motions- lazily meandered from my bedroom to the bathroom, took a warm shower, slipped on sweats and a hoodie to sleep in, and allowed my hair frizzily frame my face. As I ascended the stairs to my room one by one, there was a light knock on the door.

Its past visiting hours, dude. I rounded the archway and crept towards the front door. With caution, I opened it, prepared to slam it in case of a murderer on the prowl. However, there was no silhouette of some mysterious stranger at our doorway. All that greeted me was the black stillness of the night. I was about to retreat back inside when something caught my eye.

A faint flame flickered around in the darkness a little ways off. Squinting, I left the safety of my home and walked out towards it. The thought crossed my mind that someone was trying to light our house on fire. But no, nothing that extreme. Up close, I could now see it was a little white candle sentenced to the inside of a jar.

I picked it up, examining it. Who would leave this on my lawn? Is this some sort of extraterrestrial sign? But looking out past the lawn, there were more candles, littered across the grass like stars in the night sky. Well ain't that pretty... and pretty freaking weird.

I followed the path of the candles, panicking and investigating and marveling all at the same time. They wrapped around my house to my unfenced backyard, leading to our patio circled by a little grassy field 20 or so meters across, with our little garden area in the distance. In big, bold letters strung across our patio, it read:

P R O M ?

I stared wide-eyed at the brilliant set up before me. Well.. this couldn't be for me. I don't know anybody that would ask me, Bailey Davis, to prom. Then, it occurred to me that whoever delivered this romantic statement could still be loitering about. I was about to call out "Wrong House" when I saw who it was from.

They left a little note with scrawly handing writing that said, '(It's Austen, if you were wondering)'. Well, thanks for the hint. You know me better than I thought.

"Whaaahuuuhmmmokay," was the first thing that came out of the my mouth. Real intelligent, I know. Becoming overwhelmed at such a gesture, I collapsed onto the grass, laying down and groaning. This is too much to deal with at the moment.

I just laid there like a dead man for quite some time till it hit me. I got asked to prom. Me.

I have to tell Riley! With a jolt of excitement, I got up and rushed inside the house, taking the note with me.

I called her and told her my juicy news, then dragged my mom outside to see for herself. She giggled like she was seventeen again, and we made plans to go dress shopping and have him come over and meet her, etc. Looks as if Jaxon didn't ruin my weekend after all.

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The last two weeks were spent shopping and having sleepovers and discussing prom plans. As much as we tried, we never could squeeze out just what the guys had planned for the date. Austen had asked pretty late, and even though our prom was already over, Rivertons always had theirs closer to the summer months. SInce Cameron and Austen are friends, we worked it out that we would both be going in one giant group.

Though I've never been much of a mall devotee, I didn't mind all the trips we took all across California looking for prom dresses. It was so normal, and lately my life's been not so normal. I actually enjoyed throwing on all those itchy neon things and posing in the mirror with Riley, and laughing at the ridiculousness of them. I had all but forgotten the night of the gig.

Riley bought this gorgeous white lace dress that was mid length and strapless. The fabric was a bunch of little printed flowers that sparkled when the light hit it. Cameron is going to be mouthwatering over her all night, that's for sure.

I finally found mine only two days before the dance. Riley and my mother were about ready to kill me. I had tried on probably 50 different dresses, but none of them felt right. Too short, too long, too puffy, too bright, make it sequin-less, my no pink policy, that dress is tight enough to suffocate.... Who knows what excuses I offered up to turn down a dress. But it was worth the wait.

I eventually found one in this little boutique in this rather sketchy part of California. The store was a hidden gem among the other ones, selling one of a kind dresses at one of a kind prices. I saw it on the rack and was instantly drawn to it. The dress was the shade of blue that reminded me of Hawaiian ocean water, made of some silky soft fabric that made me resist cuddling up with it at night. The top had a band of glittery gems that wrapped around in two loops to create a heart-shaped cut, and laced around the back of the dress. It was strapless, which was against my original quota, but once I put it on I felt... sort of beautiful. That's a first, let me tell you.

Now that the night has finally arrived, pain began exploding in my head.

"We have to start getting ready. The boys will be here in less than two hours!" Riley complained, plugging in the curling iron. I popped in some medicine and fell onto my bed. The once innocent headache was transforming into a monstrous migraine, and I needed to keep this thing under control.

"Gosh, I've never been more nervous in my life. Aren't you nervous at all?" I gulped, sitting up on my bed and crossing my arms uncomfortably. Riley giggled, coming over to join me on the mattress.

"Duh. I'm just a little better at hiding it," she punched my shoulder playfully, "You worry too much. As long as you look good and smile a lot, Austens going to have the night of his life. He'll fall in love with you, I'm sure of it." Her words were reassuring, yet didn't completely rid the anxiety I was feeling. Nevertheless, I took her advice and started getting ready.

By the time the doorbell rang, we were all set to go. Riley descended the staircase in her fancy dress, wearing silver hoops and sparkly high heels. Her hair was pinned up in an elegant bun, while leaving out curly hairs to frame her face.

I came out behind her, unable to see the stairs because of the length of my gown. Riley had curled my hair and sprayed it to a crisp, sweeping some of the curls back with a sparkly pin. As for makeup, she outlined my eyes and did many coats of brown and burgundy over my eyelids that made the green seem unnaturally vivid.

Austen stepped forward to where I could see him. He looked adorable in a jet black tuxedo with his blonde hair quaffed up and a smile etched into his face. I tripped over the fabric of this dang dress and stumbled down the last three stairs, luckily catching myself before I face planted. He cracked up, and I laughed nervously, gaining my balance with the help of the stairwell.

My mom came into the room and chatted with the boys for a bit, telling them to bring us home by midnight (Jeesh mom, this isn't Cinderella) and secretly doing a background check to make sure they were nice guys. Then we had to go pose and take pictures by the fireplace for future reference, one of the conditions I agreed to, although that didn't make it any less awkward. Austen wrapped an arm around my shoulder and pulled me closer to him, and I slipped mine around his waist, unsure really where to put it. We were out the door soon enough, with all of our body parts intact, amazingly enough. Riley and Cameron walked hand in hand to the car.

Me and Austen trailed behind, while I left a trail of petals putting the corsage on.

"Don't you look sharp," I commented, smiling up at him. He looked me up and down.

"You look beautiful." I blushed and looked back down at my wrist, adjusting the corsage.

"I almost fainted when you came down those stairs. Honestly," Austen continued, just making my face go redder.

"Suuure. The part where I tripped must have just completed the overall beauty of the look," I told him dubiously. He laughed, brushing his hand with mine. I thought he was going to take it, and I quickly clasped my hands in front of me, avoiding it all together. Not that I don't want to, it's just, so... risky. Means a lot.

"Nuh uh. You guys got a, a... limo?" I gawked at the sleek celebrity status engine running in front of my little home.

"Only the best! That's nothing though. Just wait," Austen replied, making me groan. Wow, never rode in a limo.

"Hurry up love birds, you're gonna make us late," An annoying voice shouted from the cracked tinted window. I know who that voice belongs to.

How stupid am I?

It never occurred to me that he would be here. With another one of his female suitors.

Austen opened the door, and I climbed in, only to be squished next to yours truly. I kept my eyes glued ahead, although I knew Jaxon was staring straight at me. My date was last in the limo, and took a seat on the creme colored leather cushion next to me, his arm coming over my head automatically. I was caught in the middle of someone I loathe and someone I like, and I wasn't enjoying it.

Please check out the dress on the side!!! They are both so freaking pretty, you gotta see to get an accurate image of how they look (I only put Riley's on for this chapter. Next one will be Bailey's, my personal favorite). Also, this chapter was definitely B O R I N G, but that usually means the next one's gonna be good, so hold in there. I'll update soon since it's spring break, HALLELUJAH. Weeelll hope you all have a wonderful week!

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