43: Franny-2

Taking a step back, I grab the side of the door, pushing it closed when the pizza man walks away and someone else steps up from behind him. A sheepish Tyler, dressed in a tux, steps forward, glancing at the pizza guy as he passes. "Um, hi," he says. "That was meant to go a lot smoother, but the pizza guy beat me to the door." "Oh," I say. I glance down and suddenly feel complete mortification when I remember that I am wearing baggy sweatpants and an oversized shirt that currently has a bit of ice-cream down the front of it. "Um . . . " "You look great." Tyler gives me a grin and I can't help but smile back. "You're such a two-faced liar," I say softly. "Look Franny," he starts. "I know that the last few weeks have been hell and I know that the last few days have been just as bad, perhaps even worse though there isn't much that can be worse than being shot, sorry I'm rambling . . . " I bite my lip to stop from laughing and his cheeks heat up a little. "I . . . " he says, then notices his blush. "Jesus, when did I become this bashful?" "You were saying?" I smile. "Right," he says. "Well, the thing is, Franny, I don't really want to spend tonight alone. And I don't really want to spend senior prom without you. And if I don't get to spend the rest of college with you by my side, then I want to at least have tonight with you. So, Francesca Howard, will you go to prom with me? For one last night." My eyes sting with tears and I nod with a small smile on my face. "Yes, I'll go to prom with you, for one last night." Tyler grins. "Tally told me you already bought a dress. So why don't we get your money's worth?" *** As I get out of Tyler's truck, Tally is leaning against the pillar closest to the entrance of the venue, smiling. She's wearing the golden dress. Tyler holds my hand as we walk over to her and she grins, stepping forward and hugging me. "I'm glad you're here," she whispers into my ear. "Me too," I murmur back and smile as we pull away. Ethan comes outside and over to us in his own tux, his tie matching the color of Tally's dress. He winks at me and I smile at him. Here we are, the four of us, all together again. "Come on, let's head inside. They're serving dessert," Ethan says, draping an arm over Tally's shoulder. They walk ahead of us as we slowly walk in after them. "I thought Tally was a lesbian." Tyler frowns and I laugh. "Bisexual, babe," I say and tense after the term of endearment leaves my lips. But Tyler doesn't correct it. Instead, he takes my hand and presses his shoulder to mine. "Let's go in, babe," he says with a smile and I shove his shoulder gently. Inside, the lights are dimmed and colorful strobe lights are flashing around the room. There is a DJ off to the side and half the tables in the room have been shoved to the side to create a dance floor. The music is so loud that it is beating against my eardrums. A large crowd of people is dancing and I take the time to catch up with other friends while Tyler steals two plates of cheesecake and finds us a table in the back. We eat, and can't help laughing at Tally and Ethan dancing aggressively in front of the DJ. I push my plate away and turn to Tyler, reaching a hand up and stroking his cheek gently. "Thank you," I say. He looks down at me and grabs my hand, kissing the back of it. "Thank you," he repeats and I smile, pressing my forehead to his. During the evening, the light disappears and darkness falls. We stumble to the dance floor and I turn to Tyler and he grins, putting his hands on my waist and yanking me to him. He wraps his arms around me and I put my hands on his shoulders. Leaning forward, he presses his head to mine, swaying us from side to side as a slower song comes on. I stare into his eyes and wonder how long it will be until I see them again. How long will it be until I touch him again? "Stop it," he murmurs. "I can practically see the gears in your head moving. Stop thinking about what's going to happen after this and just think about what's happening now. Just think about me, right here in front of you. Stop looking at the future and start seeing what's right in front of you." I smile slightly and nod against his head, closing my eyes as he rocks us gently. I lean forward and rest my head on his shoulder as the music settles me down, sending me into a state of calm, a calmness that can only come from Tyler's arms. His hands stroke my back gently as we sway and I tighten my grip on his neck. I don't want to let him go. "Franny . . . " Tyler starts to say as we pull away and I can see the look on his face. It's the sad look he has when he is about to say something he doesn't want to. "Don't say goodbye," I say. "What else am I meant to say?" he asks sadly. "Just . . . just don't say goodbye," I tell him, eyes filling with tears before I can stop them. "Tell me that you'll see me later. That after graduation, you'll see me later." Tyler smiles, eyes welling up with tears and the sight is heartbreaking yet reassuring at the same time. He is just as sad about this as me and that is enough to give me some sort of hope for the future. "Okay then." He breathes shakily. "I'll see you later." I nod softly, blinking away the tears that want to fall. "I'll see you later." He wraps his arms around me, pressing my body to his and I clutch him tighter. Tally and Ethan are dancing right beside us. I take in a deep breath and smile at her. She smiles back softly. 'Love you,' she mouths. 'Love you, too,' I mouth back. And in this moment—everything is perfect. Sure, there are tears running down my face, but this is a moment I may not get again for a long time. The four of us together. And I don't know when we will next be here, all of us at the same time. So, I treasure this moment and clutch it as close to my heart as I can. Bad things happened—yes—but good things happened too. And now, it is time . . . not to move on . . . but to have another adventure. And even if the next adventure isn't with these people, it doesn't matter. Because I have this one moment here—right now. And it is time that I start living in the present instead of reliving the past and trying to predict the future. I look at Tyler and lean over, giving him a long, soft kiss. This will always be my memory of us. Where for one second, we have no problems and no more obstacles to make our way through. Questions haven't been completely answered and the future is still unknown. But that is the beauty of it. Anything and everything can happen. "I love you," I whisper for the last time and close my eyes, pressing my cheek to his shoulder and letting the music carry the night away. The End.