John walked slowly through the hallway at school. He was nervous and almost chickened out when he reached Kelsey's locker.
"Um, Kelsey?" He said.
"Hi John, what's up?"
With wet palms, sweaty back, and a lack of oxygen from holding his breath he asked, "Would you go to the prom with me?"
She smiled and said, "It's about time. I thought I was going to have to ask you, you took so long."
"Uh, sorry. I was afraid you'd say no."
She was surprised because she had been giving him hints since the beginning of the year that she liked him. They were in the Jazz band together and had started spending a lot of time together.
"That's silly, John. I like you and thought I made it clear."
"Yeah, well I'm a little dense I guess. See you at Jazz."
"Bye. Oh and John, I'm wearing a blue dress?"
"You have it already?"
"Yeah. I told you I was about to ask you. One way or another we were going," she said closing her locker.
**********
"Well?" John's mom asked when he walked in the door.
"She said yes."
"Told you. You just need to have some courage sometimes," she said.
"Yeah, I guess. Mom, she told me her dress was blue. Am I supposed to color coordinate with her or something?"
"You could. But that's more for the flower corsage you'll be giving her to wear."
"Oh, okay."
"Don't worry, baby. I'll get it for you."
"Thanks, Mom. I need to go play."
"Do your homework first," she yelled at his back as he ran up the stairs.
John shut his door and picked up his Candy Apple Red Stratocaster. He turned on his amp and put on his headphones.
His guitar was almost an extension of his body, he played so much. He started playing when he was ten years old on his dad's old Taylor acoustic and showed natural ability very early.
He changed music teachers several times over the years as he improved. He was more technically proficient than some of them by the time he turned sixteen, but he learned different styles and techniques from them. He originally wanted to learn rock, but later began to like country more. Some of the techniques were more difficult and more satisfying to learn and perfect.
By the time he was sixteen, he could chicken pick as well as any guitarist he listened to. When he was seventeen, he and some friends started a rock cover band and after a while began to play at parties. John caught the bug and he had aspirations to make music his career.
**********
John walked into his grandparent's home and shouted out, "Hey Papa, Nana, you here?"
John was there to borrow his grandparent's car. He had a pickup truck that was on the older side and he didn't want to embarrass Kelsey by taking her to prom in it.
He and his grandfather had a very close relationship. John's dad always told him that they have the same warped sense of humor and they were always playing jokes on each other.
"In the back Johnny," Papa yelled out.
"Well look at you," Nana said. "You look so handsome, Johnny."
"Thanks, Nana."
"Johnny, I'm trusting you now. Don't crash and no drinking and driving," Papa said handing him the keys to his Cadillac.
"Of course not, Papa. We're just doing the dance and then taking a walk by the lake. We won't be drinking."
"Alright. You have a good time now."
"Thanks."
John opened the car and found a bag on the passenger seat. He laughed when he saw that his grandfather left him a box of condoms.
He texted him: "I'll make sure and put a blanket on the back seat, Papa."
John was actually scared stiff about whether Kelsey would have sex with him or not. Many of his friends were talking about prom night being the night girls like to lose their virginity. John resolved himself to not pressure Kelsey, but had no idea what her intentions were. It was their first date although they knew each other well from Jazz Band.
***********
John rang the doorbell and was greeted by an older, but just as hot, version of Kelsey.
"Hi, John," she said. "I'm Kelsey's mom Trisha."
"Hello Ma'am."
"She'll be down in a sec. Come into the back room. I want to get some pictures before you go."
"Sure. My mom asked if you could send the pictures to her?"
"Of course. Give me her email and I'll send them tonight."
As they were talking, John saw Kelsey walk in the room and his breath was taken away. The eighteen-year-old beauty wore a body-hugging Midnight Blue dress that went down to her ankles. It had a slit up to the middle of her left thigh and was fairly low cut, showing off her ample cleavage.
"You look amazing, Kelsey," he said.
"You clean up pretty good yourself there, Magic Hands."
"Magic Hands?" Her mother asked with a fiery look of disapproval.
"That's what we call him in Jazz Band, Mom. You've seen him play."
"Oh, well okay. Just make sure those magic hands stay on your guitar's body, hmm."
John started to panic and reassured her, "Of course, Ma'am."
"Oh, Mother. Can we just take the pictures? I don't want to be late," Kelsey complained.
When the pictures were all taken, John opened the car door for Kelsey and didn't notice that he forgot to put the condoms in the glove box. She picked up the bag and said, "What's this?"
He snatched it and said, "My grandfather's idea of a joke. Sorry."
"Mmm-hmm. Maybe someone is a little presumptuous about how the night is going to end up?" She said with a smile.
Completely uncomfortable, John said, "No, I swear, I didn't even think about that."
"Why? Don't you like me?" She teased.
"Um, of course, I do. It's just..."
"Relax Magic. I'm just messing with you. I don't screw on the first date; even if it's prom."
**********
After the dance, John took her to Lake Michigan to walk the shoreline. It was a warm, clear May night and the moonlight shone on the water making a lovely scene.
She held his hand as they walked and talked about their future.
"Where are you going to college John?"
"Berklee in Boston. it's a music school. I really want to see if I can make it in music."
"You're an amazing guitar player, John. I'm sure you'll be a huge star someday."
"Oh, I don't care about being a star. I'd like to be a session guitar player or even play in a backing band. I'm not a frontman. Heck, I can't sing anyway."
"Your talent is sure to get you there. Maybe you could even write a hit song."
"Maybe. The songs I've written aren't very good though. I think I'll just stick to playing the guitar," he said.
"What about you? What's your plan?"
"Local college. I'd like to be a nurse."
