Saturday, May 7, 2005
(Mike)
Prom day.
The day of fancy clothes, awkward dancing, questionable hairstyles, and teenagers pretending we're way more mature than we actually are. And here I was, standing in front of my mirror, wrestling with a tie like it was a venomous snake.
Attempt number ten ended with me strangling myself slightly and muttering, "Nope. I'm done. I give up."
I sagged in defeat.
"Mom?" I called loudly, already loosening the mess around my neck. "Emergency. Tie-related emergency."
Karen came upstairs, took one look at me, and burst out laughing.
"Oh, Mike," she said, shaking her head as she walked over. "So big and still so helpless. Still needs his mommy to save him from the terrifying necktie."
"Hey," I said, grinning as she took the ends of the tie and started fixing it like she'd done it a thousand times. "Don't worry, Mom. I'll always need you."
She softened at that, full mom mode activated, and tightened the knot with a proud little flourish.
"There you go," she said, patting my chest. Then she cupped my face with both hands. "Now lower your head, sweetheart. I need to kiss your cheek before you go."
I obeyed, because nobody disobeys Karen Newton when she wants to be affectionate. She kissed my cheek, then stepped back to look at me like I'd just won a Nobel Prize instead of figuring out how to wear clothes.
We headed downstairs, with me smoothing my jacket out of habit. Dad was waiting in the living room, arms crossed, wearing the "my son is becoming a man" look he'd probably been practicing all morning.
He nodded once. "You look good, kid."
"Thanks, Dad."
He stepped closer and straightened the lapels on my jacket, even though they didn't need straightening. "You better treat your date like a queen. You understand?"
I nodded. "Of course."
"That's my boy."
And then, just like that, I was officially released into the world.
I grabbed the corsage off the counter, double-checked that I didn't drop it, because that would be exactly my luck, and headed for the door.
Time to go pick up Bella Swan for Prom.
(And hopefully not make Charlie want to shoot me by saying something stupid.)
…
The Swan house looked even more intimidating than usual, maybe because I knew I'd be facing Chief Swan: Prom Night Edition.
I took a breath, adjusted my tie (the one Mom saved my life with), and knocked gently.
The door swung open almost immediately.
"Evening, Mike," Charlie said, stepping aside. "She's just finishing the last few touches. Come on in. Take a seat."
"Thank you, Mr. Swan," I said, stepping inside.
I sat on the couch, and Charlie parked himself in the armchair across from me like he was settling in to interrogate a suspect. Honestly… it was kind of cute. The guy had absolutely no idea how to be a traditional dad, but he cared. He cared so much it was basically leaking out of him in awkward, stern dad energy.
He cleared his throat. "Listen, kid."
Here we go.
"You're gonna treat my girl with all the respect she deserves. Hands where they can be seen. Not a single millimeter below the waist. And she better have a good time."
I nodded immediately. "Of course, Charlie. You don't have to worry. Bella and I are just friends."
Charlie visibly relaxed, like a whole five percent, but he still tried to keep the tough cop expression on his face.
"Good," he said. "And don't forget I have a weapon and know how to use it."
The way he added that last part awkwardly, like it was a line he'd practiced in the mirror, almost broke me. I had to fight the smile threatening to escape.
Before I could respond, light footsteps came down the stairs.
"Mike!" Alice practically sang as she appeared on the landing. "Perfect timing!"
Behind her came her masterpiece.
Bella stepped into view wearing a sleeveless blue dress, her usually straight hair done in soft curls that framed her face. She looked… honestly? Stunning.
I turned to Alice. "You seriously outdid yourself."
Alice beamed like I'd handed her an Oscar.
Bella reached the bottom step, cheeks already pink. "So…?" she asked, then did a little twirl.
Which nearly made her topple over.
I lunged forward and caught her before she face-planted into the carpet.
Once she was steady, I stepped back and gave her a proper look.
"You look beautiful," I said honestly. "I didn't know you had that in you, Bella. I'm definitely gonna be the envy of the dance… at least until you start stepping on my toes. Then all that envy is gonna turn into sympathy."
Bella let out a mortified groan.
Alice giggled.
And even Charlie, stoic, silent, perpetually-tired Charlie, let out a surprised bark of laughter.
Not a bad start to prom night, all things considered.
"Oh, right." I reached into the small box I'd nearly forgotten in my pocket. "Before I forget again."
I opened it and took out the corsage. Bella watched nervously, her hands hovering like she wasn't sure where to put them.
"Relax," I told her with a grin. "I'm not gonna stab you with it."
Her eyes narrowed like she wasn't entirely convinced, but she held still while I gently slipped it onto her wrist. It fit perfectly, thanks to Alice, who'd helped me choose it, because I definitely didn't know Bella's wrist size.
"It's beautiful," Bella said quietly, turning her hand and watching the little flowers shift.
"You make it look good," I said.
Alice cleared her throat behind us. "Okay, lovebirds, well, friend-birds, I better get going. I need to get ready too."
I turned to look at her… and frowned.
She was already in a sleek black dress, her hair perfect, makeup flawless, everything sparkly in that weirdly-Alice way where she somehow managed to look both expensive and deadly.
"Wait," I said, squinting. "You're not ready? If that's not ready, what are you going for? A royal coronation?"
Alice laughed. "This? This is just a casual dress, Mike."
I stared at her.
Bella stared at her.
Even Charlie, who had never once commented on women's fashion outside of saying "nice jacket," blinked in disbelief.
"A casual dress," I repeated. "Alice, people wear that to weddings. Or award shows. Or… I don't know, funerals if they're the dramatic type."
Alice winked. "And that's why I'm going to look even better once I actually get ready."
She breezed past us toward the door, heels clicking like a countdown to fashionable devastation.
Once she was gone, Charlie stood up and walked toward Bella, pulling the classic dad move: straightening a strand of her hair that didn't even need straightening.
"You look great, Bells," he said, voice a little rough.
Bella relaxed into a soft smile. "Thank you, Dad."
Charlie then turned to me, squinting like I was sunlight he didn't trust. "Have fun. Drive safe."
"We will," I said. "I promise."
Bella waved at him one more time, and we headed out.
I opened the passenger door for her, because Mom raised me right, and because Charlie was definitely watching through the window. Bella climbed in carefully, making sure not to wrinkle the dress Alice almost certainly would've murdered me over.
I walked around, slid into the driver's seat, turned the key, and the engine hummed awake.
"Ready?" I asked.
Bella took a breath, smiling nervously. "As I'll ever be."
I pulled out of the driveway and began the drive toward the school, the sky dimming to that perfect pre-evening glow.
Prom Night had officially begun.
…
(Shortish chapter, we are about to finish the Twilight part and my OCD wouldn't let me end it with an odd chapter number, so tomorrow it is. Support with power stones or comments or whatever, 🐢🎶)