Senior Year

One month before prom

Prom. That last hurrah with your graduating class. A fancy party at some fancy place no normal person can actually afford. Hundreds of dollars spent on dresses, tuxes, shoes, hair, makeup, limos, etc. It's all anyone has been talking about the last few weeks. Everyone is excited about who they're going with and what they are wearing.

Me? I've decided that if I don't have a date, I'm not going. So far, no date. Looks like it'll be a movie night at home for me then.

"You have to go! It's our last prom ever! You can't miss it!" my friend Mack exclaims.

"I told you, no date means no prom for me. You all have dates and I'm not about to be the only one showing up solo."

"We still have a month. We'll find someone for you."

I roll my eyes but stay silent as we walk through the school courtyard. Sitting down at one of the tables, I watch the people around me excitedly talk about what they'll be wearing to prom. I sigh internally, wishing I had a date because I honestly would love to be going.

Just then a loud boom across the courtyard shakes away my thoughts. Jonah's on-again, off-again girlfriend Grace throws her books on one of the tables hard. She's yelling and flailing her arms as Jonah just stands there taking the verbal abuse.

Grace. Oh, how I loathe her. She's somewhat pretty, I guess. Clearly, to Jonah, she is but love is blind, so I've heard. She's one of the smartest in our class and she never lets anyone forget it. She also thinks she's this great basketball player but I don't see anything special about her.

Grace Telman is a grade-A bitch. She is the most conceded, obnoxious, all around wench. She also can't stand me. Why? Because she knows I like Jonah. I honestly don't care because the feeling is definitely mutual.

I can't really understand what Grace is yelling at Jonah about but I watch intently along with everyone else in the vicinity. After a couple of minutes, the yelling stops followed by a loud slap.

I suck in a breath as I watch as Grace's hand meets Jonah's cheek. She huffs as she gathers her things and walks away leaving Jonah standing there. After a moment, Jonah rubs his face and looks over at the ongoing onlookers. His eyes briefly meet mine and I can see the hurt in them. I force myself to stay seated and not go over and ask if he's okay.

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"Well, that was intense," Mack says.

"Y-yeah," I stutter as I watch Jonah walk back inside the school.

A few days later, rumors are still swirling about their breakup. I honestly couldn't go anywhere without hearing at least one person mention either Jonah or Grace. It. Was. Nauseating.

By Friday, things seemed to have calmed. Too bad it wouldn't last long.

At lunch, my friends and I are at Kelly's house enjoying our hour-long freedom. Out of nowhere, Mack gets an idea that I really wish she hadn't.

"Jazz, you should ask Jonah to prom!" she says excitedly.

"Dude, yes! I agree!" Kelly says with just as much enthusiasm.

"I don't know. I mean Grace just broke up with him a few days ago and who's to say he even wants to go prom anyways?" I say with uncertainty.

"It doesn't hurt to ask."

"Yeah, the worst thing that could happen is he says no," Tessa says encouragingly.

Oh, how I wish that were true.

I think about nothing the rest of the day except for asking Jonah to prom. I daydream about what it would be like to go with him and finally find the courage to ask him after school.

I leave right at the final bell and rush to the parking lot. I stand by my car as I wait for Jonah to approach his. My palms are sweaty and I'm a nervous wreck but I tell myself that I would hate myself for not even trying.

As Jonah draws nearer, I take a deep breath to calm myself. I notice him before he sees me and I walk up to him as he approaches his truck.

"Hey, Jonah?" I say almost too quietly.

He turns around quizzically.

"Oh, hey Jasmine. What's up?"

I take another deep breath and quickly rush out my question.

"IKnowThatGraceJustBrokeUpWithYouButIWasWonderingIfYouWouldWantToGoToPromWithMe?"

Before Jonah could answer, we're loudly interrupted by Grace.

"Hey, babe. Ready to go?" she asks as she takes his hand.

Jonah looks at her then looks at me then avoids my eyes as he says "Uh, yeah. Ready. Sorry, Jasmine, maybe another time."

Grace looks between the both of us. "What's going on here?"

I look down at the ground. Crap. This is not going to end well.

I slowly turn to walk away but Grace stops me. "I said, what is going on here? Why are you bothering my boyfriend?"

Boyfriend. Of course, they're back together. I should've known that breakup wouldn't last long.

"Nothing," I say and roll my eyes.

"Didn't look like nothing to me."

"Grace, just drop it," Jonah says pleadingly.

"No. I want to know what she wanted. You said "maybe another time". What did that mean? Did she just ask you out?" she demands.

Jonah and I look at each other then quickly look away hoping Grace didn't notice. But she does.

"Oh my god. She did ask you out?!" she screams.

Then looking right at me and even louder she continues, "How pathetic can you be? Everyone knows you like him but guess what? He doesn't nor will he ever like you!"

My hands ball into fists wanting to just shut her up but I'm saved from doing so when Jonah grabs her and pulls her away.

I watch as they argue then shake my head and turn to walk away. Before I can get too far I hear the gut-wrenching statement from the boy I've liked for so long.

"Baby, calm down. She means nothing to me. She never has and never will. I mean just look at her, do you honestly think I'd ever want that?"

That. Not her. That. He just called me a thing.