This is the big boy, so stick with me here for a second. It'll be long, trust me.
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His eyes brighten, just for a second. “Then get a dress, and call me and I’ll get a suit that matches. Go for pink for all I care. I’ll wear it. Just for you.” His excitement rose within the minute.
“I’ll try, but don’t get too excited. For me?” She added at the last minute.
“Anything for you, Aisly.” And that’s when he kissed her. Passionately, deep, and loving. Her heart hadn’t fluttered in so long, she almost fainted. It was overbearing, in a good way. The kiss deepened, and somehow they both ending up on his bed. She pulled away slowly.
“Aiden?” One word, with so much meaning, spilled from her in a gasp.
“Yeah?” Slowly, he traced the outline of her face just smiling. Looking like he did when he was eight and got in trouble for running away- or at least trying to. The memory breezed through her mind as if it were wind on a warm day.
“Why’d you do that?” She asked, curious still in the rush of the kiss.
“Because I love you,” he blushed deep red. She could tell that he didn’t want to say it, but it was the truth and she had to know. “Remember in sixth grade where I tried to kiss you? But I led you off as if we’re playing?” She looked deep into his eyes. “I wasn’t playing.”
“Seriously? I thought you just had an attention disorder.” She laughed, a real laugh. For of snorts, which made her laugh enough harder. She was actually happy, and it’s been a long time since she really has. “I’m sorry,” she said still gasping for breath from her giggle fest.
“No, I missed your laugh.” He said sternly. “And me? Nah, I just loved you. I’m great at hiding secrets.” He winked.
“Should I be worried?”
“No. Think of me as your…” he pondered. “Prince.”His grin turned lope side, his head slanted slightly. That’s it. We’ll go as Cinderella and her Prince.” He sat up, his attention full on about prom. She rolled her eyes for probably the tenth time today.
“You’re delusional.”
“Yeah, I might be, but not right now. Get a blue dress okay?” He stopped talking for a millisecond then started to blab again. “And I got everything down from there.”
“Got it,” was all she could say. Grabbing his angular face, she kissed him. “I have to be home by nine, and it’s…” she looked at her watch. “Eight thirty. So can we please go?"
He gave a sullen nod, the happiness washed away from him. “I don’t like that idea, but you have to. And I will not let him hurt you.” He grabbed her arm, and pulled her to the open door. And with that he took her to hell, in five minutes.
“Goodnight, Aisly. Remember, ask about prom again. Please?” He pulled her close in a hug, placing a stray blonde hair out of the way and kissed her forehead.
“Anything for you. I deserve a happy ending sometime,” she said. For a moment, Aislynn thought it was silly to say, but the afterthought made sense. She did deserve her own happy ending. And one day, no matter how long it takes, she would have it.
He only smiled at her then turned to leave. Aislynn sighed a sigh of affection and watched as Aiden’s form got tinier and tinier. When he was finally out of site, she opened the door. It was awful quiet, only the hum of Dakota’s guitar could be heard, the mellow tone flooded her ears. Which led her to Dakota’s room. She knocked gently.
“Is it you, Aislynn?” She opened the door slightly to show her face. “Oh, come on in. Please shut the door, if you don’t mind.” She patted the floor next to her and Aislynn took a seat.
“So still working on that song?” She asked, pulling her knees to her chest, slowly rocking back and forth. A measure of clam she learned.
“Of course. And oh,” She stopped everything. “I talked to David. He’ll let you go to prom, but you have- and I mean have- to be home by twelve.”
“B-b-but how?”
“Let’s just say Madison, Aiden’s mother, and I had something to do with it.” She winked at him, and smiled. “Come here sis-tah.” Her arms were wide open and Aislynn felt the need to fall into them and just thank her a million times.
“Thank you!” But in her head, she kept repeating it over and over. She calmed down and faced Dakota. “So looks like we need to find you a dress.”
“A blue one, I love blue.”
“Then go to bed, or something. I’ll wake you up bright and early.”
“I’m off,” she got up and went to the door slowly shutting it behind her. I can’t believe they did this for me, even Madison! I’m so excited. The room was warmer than it was last night, and she fell on her bed. Her eyes felt heavy, and slowly they closed and she fell asleep in a wonderful dream she wouldn’t remember.
*
“Aisly.” Her eyes quickly opened, as if she was on impulse. “Hey there sleeping beauty.”
“Good morning to you too.” Rubbing her eyes groggily, she squinted at the brightness of the morning light that slid into her room sneakily.
“Get dressed, we’re leaving in ten.” Then she left, for good reason. Aislynn, after all, couldn’t do to the mall in a long tee-shirt.
She simply threw on pants, and changed her shirt to a sweater. She met Dakota, not Madison, at the car and waiting patiently. They were taking too long, she fiddled with her hair. Twisting and untwisting, over and over.
“Get in the car, Asslynn.” Madison shoved her into the car and she fell against the cool metal of the car.
“Madison, her name is Aislynn.” She looked deep into her sister’s eyes, which was just a mirror image. “Say it with me, Ais-lynn.”
“Shut up, I’m not slow.”
I wouldn’t be too sure of that, Aislynn said in her head. She didn’t dare add it verbally, her mind was just fine.
“Get on the passenger side, Aislynn. Madison in the back.”
After a view groans, they were at the mall within fifteen minutes. You could tell prom was on the verge of days. There were teenage girls with their mothers everywhere you turned. This was going to be a busy day for them all.
“So, what’s first girls?”
“Debs!” Madison and she turned to each other wide eyed.
“You like that store too?” Her eyes remained wide.
“Duh, it’s the best store.” She looked at Madison, and for some reasons her arms were wide open. Willing to take a hug. Reluctantly, she stepped into them and Madison squeezed tightly. Then jumped out of her arms.
“That. Did. Not. Happen.” She pointed out, and then grabbed her twin’s arm and they skittered off ahead, making her run to catch up.
The day went on and on, and neither of them found a dress. We went to every store possible in the mall, the one that held dresses anyways. That is until they stepped into a store called Meg’s Boutique, which had more dresses then all the stores combined.
Aislynn’s eyes set upon a light blue dress, that caught in the middle with ribbon and flowed down to above her knees. She fell in love with it from looking at it. She walked towards the last one they had and hoped it was her size. Looking at the tag, it was a six, her size right on.
“Hey, I’m going to see what I look like in this one.” She held up the blue dress and nodded towards the dressing rooms.
“I’ll help you,” Madison ran up to her step sister, and they walked towards the dressing rooms together.
“Wait right there,” she pointed at the chair that was over stuffed. “I’ll call if I need help. Which I know I will.”
Aislynn closed the sheet that stopped the world from seeing her half naked, and removed her clothes. The cloth of the dress was soft against her skin as she slipped it over her head.
“Kota!” She yelled and peeked out the door, holding the dress to her chest. “Help me zip this,” she waved a hand to let Kota know to follow her.
The zipper flowed up smoothly. Closing her eyes once more, she faced the mirror and slowly opened them and gasped. She was beautiful. Blonde hair tumbled over her shoulders, and her blue eyes sparkled. The dress fit like it was made for her. It covered her in all the right angles, and came at a perfect length.
“It’s perfect,” Dakota said, her own eyes wide with amazement. “We’re so getting this one. And you’re going to wear it Saturday.”
“Help us find our dresses. But first get dressed.”
“Duh.” She closed the sheet over her and pulled jeans under the dress and carefully folded the dress over her hand. This was going better than she took for granted.
*
After what seemed like an hour, they finally had their dresses and shoes. Which had cost quite a pretty penny. Dakota ended up with a long, flowing yellow dress that reminded her of yellow roses. Beautiful and unique. Madison, being the skanky one, found the shortest one she could find. Which happened to be a bright, red short one that reached barely above her shoulders. This, to Aislynn, just reminded her of whores. To be quite honest.
The car ride home took longer, and she kept dozing off to the sound of a silent engine humming. The sound a door slamming woke her up, and she tensed and jolted up.
“About time,” Dakota asked, popping the trunk.
She had been sleeping more and more, and when she awoke, she’s still tired. She guessed it was normal, being a teenager. She opened the door, and silently made her way to her room with dress in hand. Setting the hanger on the door, she closed it gently and went to grab her phone. She took a picture of it to send to Aiden. She waited his reply. Bing, her phone buzzed.
‘I love it’ was what he wrote.
“Silly boy,” Aislynn said to herself and then she fell asleep. IN her clothes and all, when she woke up, it was mid afternoon.
Since it was only Friday, school was out for a teacher’s meeting and Friday’s were David’s sober days, he was better when he was that way. Sober. She fell back asleep, but not for long. A soft knock came from her door.
“Come in,” she groaned.
It was Madison. She was surprised by all costs. “Hey girl.”
“What do you want? Kill me or something?” For some reason, Madison flinched. Flinched. There was something wrong, she knew it.
“I’m trying to be nice, bitch.” Some attempt, Aislynn thought.
“Go on,” she urged.
“I want to say I’m sorry. You know, for making your life a hell. I didn’t know that my dad did that to you. Hurt you like that.” She frowned.
“Forget about it. Thanks though. You’re alright, in a way.” Aislynn grinned.
“Same with you Aislynn.” Then that was it.
“Be good,” she added quickly.
This was getting weirder and weirder. She braced herself in her wrinkly clothes and went to the kitchen. The sight made her blink severely times and checked twice. David, David, was making breakfast. He had an apron and everything, he caught her staring.
“Just go on and sit at the dining table, alrgiht?” He said, with no slurring. Which meant he was sober. There was a chance he’d be nice today.
She obeyed and found her sisters –something changed within the three girls, they all good feel it- sitting at the table. Dakota pulled a chair and starting blabbing about prom again. Aislynn zoned out, and before she snapped her attention back to reality she heard Madison state she was excited.
Breakfast went normal, they ate, the girls washed dishes and David went to work. For the first time in what seemed like years, it’s amazing that they’re surviving just fine.
The rest of the day was a buzz of excitement, makeovers, and more shopping. It went on all day long and by the end of the day, Aislynn had a new do, and great shoes to go with her dress. Overall, the day went really, really good. Everyone got along for once, and it amazed all of us. Holding onto stuffed animals they claimed earlier, they laughed as if they were in middle school, and gossiped about everything in the universe. Finally, they all crowded into Dakota’s bed and fell asleep like little girls.
Aislynn woke up to Madison’s feet in her face, and a stuffed bear under her stomach. She laughed a gentle laugh, to make sure she didn’t wake them up. But it was too late, Dakota was up and getting out of bed, careful not to smoosh her sister in the mean time.
“Let’s go,” she whispered.
And they went off to gather everything they needed for tonight and loaded it into the living room. Their own little makeover-for-prom room. You should have seen the look on David’s face, it was a mixture of shock and surprise.
“What have you done?” The four words made both of them crack up laughing. And with a shock to all, he laughed too. “I’m out of here before I turn into a girl.”
He only made it to his room, sulking about watching television. He left us girls to what we were going to do in silence.
“You’re up first. Let’s get your hair done.” She ran a comb through Aislynn’s hair and it snagged a few times, making her head fall back. It ended up being curled and placed on her head in an elaborate up do, a few strands enchanting her face.
“I love it,” which really she did, but it took over two hours to do. And by the time Madison came down, she fell back asleep. That is until Dakota jumped on her strangling her playfully. Madison was next, and all Dakota did was pull it into a side pony tail with a diamond hair band, it looked perfect with her dress. Aislynn just knew.
After Dakota did our hair, we had a mere two hours before prom. We curled Dakota’s hair into thick, chestnut curls and put half up into a small bow. She loved it.
Within the last hour, they had all helped each other with their dresses, gave each other compliments and took down the stairs. We were surprised to find, cliché like, David at the door with a camera. It was a sweet gesture. As each girl climbed down the steps, he snapped pictures. When he was happy with what he had, she kissed each one of them on the cheek. When he met with Aislynn, he smiled. And with a shock, kissed her cheek also.
“You’re beautiful, just like your mother.” He whispered, and closed his eyes tightly. “I’m sorry for anything I did that hurt you.” He turned away into the living room after wishing away his girls, even Aislynn.
There were three raps at the door, each different from the other. When they opened the door, three handsome guys smiled back at them. The other guys gave their date’s their corsages, all beautiful and went to the limo. Aiden kneeled, actually kneeled, on the floor and carefully placed the corsage over her hand. It was a white rose, with light blue ones surrounding it. She would keep it forever.
He curtseyed and extended his hand. “Shall we?”
“We shall,” and they were off to the ball of their lifetimes.
The hotel they were at was magical. White lights were strung throughout the ceiling, surrounding a large, glass chandelier. The lights were dimmed, and the light flicked back and forth like a flickering candle. It was romantic.
“Let’s dance,” Aiden pulled her into the mass of people slow dancing to a melodic song. Slowly, even carefully, he pulled her close, resting his chin on the top of her head. They swayed back and forth to the music, in the same position for a long time. Eventually, they got tired though and went for refreshments.
“Do you like your punch with or without alcohol?” Aiden asked, clearing asking her if she still wanted punch that was spiked. It was really typical at proms. She shook her head.
“You shouldn’t see me when I get drunk,” she teased. “You don’t know just what I’ll do.” She winked and he waggled his eyebrows.
“I’ve got to see that,” he winked back at her.
They danced to every dance since then, and never stopped for anyone. And even though Aislynn’s feet were sore, she didn’t mind. She loved dancing with him, even with her horrible dancing. People started slowly leaving, and by the time eleven forty five it, they were the only ones. Madison and Dakota didn’t leave her, they ere sitting at a table with their dates. Just smiling each other, well for Madison anyway. Dakota was making out with her date, and she didn’t even want to know where her hands were. She sighed and said a silent ew.
“I have to go, before twelve.” She whispered.
He only nodded, and Aislynn nodded to the four other people who followed us before and nodded to the door. “I’ll take you. I think they’re drunk anyway.”
“You know they are,” she smiled.
They all walked towards the exit, with their shoes in hand. Sore feet were not cool after prom. They helped each other into the car and were home within ten minutes. Just in five minutes before her curfew. Dakota and Madison stumbled up the stairs without notice.
Looking at her hands, Aislynn found she only had one shoe. She sighed. “I lost a shoe, and those were adorable.” She whined at Aiden who stood mere inches from her.
“I’ll buy you new ones,” he told her. She closed her eyes and breathed in his cologne, a scent she would never forget.
He pulled her into the hallway, and hugged her tight. And didn’t let go for five minutes almost. She clinged to him, and he didn’t mind. They didn’t mind.
“So, Cinderella.” He laughed gently, a lopsided grin at his lips. “Did you have your happy ending?” He still held her close tightly, but gently.
“In your arms…” She placed her lips on his, and shivers ran through her electrifying their connection even more. “I suddenly believe in fairy tales.”
mwahahaha