Since Casey and I got ready at her house for homecoming, we get ready for prom at my apartment. It doesn't feel real that senior year is coming to an end. It's been a whole journey from the beginning of the year to this moment where I'm looking at myself in the mirror, dressed up and finally feeling confident in myself. There is nothing to fake. I don't have to force myself to feel this way. I set a resolution for myself in the beginning and I've made it. Feeling completely content with myself and my life is all I wanted after my parent's accident. They wouldn't want me to wallow in my own self-pity for the rest of my life, and I know my mom always wants me to feel my best. My hair is in an elegant updo. I have on some dainty silver earrings that match perfectly with the necklace Dylan gave me. My black heels contrast with my red dress, pulling the look together. I take a deep breath as Casey walks back into my room from the kitchen. As soon as she walks in to check herself in the mirror the doorbell rings. My heart raced in my chest and I pick up the skirt of my dress so it won't drag as much. I quickly unplug the lights Dylan gave me for my birthday and I follow Casey into the living room, where Dylan and Anthony's voices carry from. Anthony, who has on a black suit, white shirt, and light pink bowtie and vest, whistles when he sees Casey. "You look great," he says, glancing over her. It's a different look from him. It seems like it's something more than just two friends going to prom with each other. I wonder if he likes her. My thoughts are interrupted by Dylan, who is dressed in an all-black ensemble besides his red tie. My mouth is watering and I feel utterly embarrassed for it. He smiles when he sees me. "You are stunning," he says. It's like there's a sheen of amazement over his eyes. My aunt holds her hand over her heart. "You all look so amazing and grown up." She scrambles to grab her phone from the kitchen. "Picture time!" She takes every photo combination possible before she says, "Okay, okay. That's enough from me. You kids go have fun." Anthony and Casey walk ahead of me and Dylan on the stairs outside of the front door. Dylan puts his hand on the small of my back and leans over to me. "I've told you I love red on you, right?" he whispers in my ear. "You might've mentioned it," I give him a smile. That didn't influence my decision to get the dress. It occurred to me after buying it that Dylan had mentioned he liked red on me. Anthony steers Casey towards his car, and I start to walk that way until I see Dylan's car next to it. "We're going separately?" I ask him. "If you're okay with that." I nod and wave to Casey before Dylan opens the passenger door for me to step into his car. Once I have my dress settled, he shuts the door. I have a feeling we're going on separate cars for a reason. Something is definitely up. "Anthony has a thing for Casey, doesn't he?" I ask Dylan as soon as he's buckled in. He smirks. "He's going to see where it goes tonight. I don't think Casey is into him, but I didn't tell him that." "You never know." I don't know for sure, but maybe we'll find out by the end of the night. "I really love that dress on you," he says to me, grabbing my hand and kissing it. I feel my stomach tingle and I prepare myself for what I'm about to say. "How would you feel about taking it off of me later?" I was never overtly sexual with Jacob. He always hinted at doing it again, but I always blew him off because the first and only time we had sex wasn't how I pictured my first time to go. It didn't feel right with him. With Dylan, since everything else is so natural, I figure sex will be too. I'm ready to try again. His eyebrows raise, clearly taken off guard by my comment. I bite my lip and wait for his response. I don't want to say anything else to ruin the mood. Dylan gapes at me like a fish for a few seconds before he smirks while letting out a little laugh. "Let's get this damn dance over with then," he says, backing out of the parking spot quickly. Prom is being held in a hotel ballroom. Dylan finds a parking next to Anthony and we all walk inside together. Everyone is wearing elegant gowns and fancy suits. We run into Lauren, who is wearing a sapphire number with a high slit. She greets me and Casey before disappearing with another guy. Sophie and Seth are also lingering around the entrance and I give them both a hug. The ballroom is decorated with black and white decorations. I can't remember what the theme is, but it looks really sophisticated. "I give decorations a ten out of ten," Casey says to me. "Better than homecoming." "Will the music be as good, is the real question," Anthony points out. "And remind me to stay away from the snack table." We all laugh at him before finding a table to claim as our own. People are still gathering in the room and meeting up with other friends. Reece finds our table and immediately sits down. "I feel like a fucking loser without a date," he grumbles. "You should've ask that blondie in your first period like I told you to," Dylan says, reclining in his seat while putting his arm around me. "In my defense, she's really intimidating," Reece says. "You won't ever find a date if you think every girl is intimidating," I laugh at him. "True," he taps his chin as he says it. He glances around the room before standing up again. "I'll be back." As he vanishes, Casey grabs my elbow and motions toward the drink table. Understanding she wants to get away for a moment I say, "We'll go get some drinks." Dylan sits upright. "Me and Anthony can." "No, we got it," I smile at him before taking Casey away from the table. We walk towards the drink table and Casey lets out a long sigh. "Anthony is being so weird tonight." "Why?" I ask. "He seems really nervous for some reason. I just feel kind of awkward."