I sat in the living room with mom. Nervous as all hell. Wearing the tuxedo Jill picked out for me months ago. I glanced up at the clock. Almost 6. Didn't prom start at 6:45?
Suddenly the doorbell rang and as I got up to answer it, mom beat me to the door first.
"I got this," she said.
Mom then looks through the peephole and suddenly tenses up. Then without so much as a word, opens the front door and steps outside quickly. Slamming the door behind her in the process. Whoever it was, mom sounded like she was upset that they were there. I could hear her raised muffled voice. I wonder who it was?
I went back into the living room and decided to have a look at who it was mom talking to. I then looked through the living room window. From what I could tell, the person appeared male and youngish? Maybe around late teens to early twenties? Hard to say for certain, due to the poor lighting from our porch light.
As I secretly watched, he appeared to be asking her something. I heard her say sure afterwards.
I wonder what it was he asked her?
Then both mom and the unknown man walked to his car and got in. He then sped off down the street.
I stood there dumbfounded for a second. Wasn't mom supposed to be a chaperone at the school dance? It wasn't like her to get into a unknown male stranger's car. Yet she did. Maybe it was a work friend of hers from the high school?
The possibilities were endless in my mind. I was just glad it wasn't Collin.
I then took a deep breath and sat back down.
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Jill arrived close to 6:15. Wearing a form fitting black dress, that hugged her figure beautifully. Her brown hair tied up neatly into a sideways bun. Her makeup light and yet also dark at the same time. I exited the house when she knocked. Then locked the door behind me and then got into the passenger seat, as Jill got into the driver's seat and started the car.
We sat in silence as she pulled out of her driveway and drove down the street.
"Well aren't you going to say something?" asked Jill.
I looked at her.
"Aren't you supposed to be complimenting me on my appearance right now or something along those lines?" she stated.
"Oh sorry about that." I said, "I was just rendered speechless by how beautiful you look right now."
"Nice save," Jill said and chuckled.
"I have my moments," I said.
"So did Ms. Swithsen already leave?" Jill asked a bit later, "I saw her car still parked in the driveway."
I then told Jill about how mom stepped outside to talk to a unknown man and then got into his car with him afterwards.
Jill took what I said quietly and then shrugged her shoulders.
"Eh maybe it was a fellow teacher she knew?" Jill suggests, "After all Ms. Swithsen is pretty popular at the school."
It became quiet again between us. Should I bring up the subject I was wanting to ask her? About us...sharing our first time together after prom? Despite everything that went on, I still hoped we were.
I decided to ask Jill.
"Are we still going to-," I began to say.
"Depends on how you act all evening," Jill stated cutting me off.
She then sighs.
"Sex," she said quietly, "it's always about sex with you."
I chose to ignore what she said. But she was right. I did have sex on the brain. The reason was because Collin stated to me many times how he was going to fuck Jill after prom.
"You know I love you...right Jill?" I asked.
"I do and I love you too," she said
She then glances over at me.
"What brought all this up?" Jill then asked.
"Just...wanted you to know that I do," I said, "Despite...everything that happened."
She stops at a red light and grabs my hand. Then squeezes it gently.
"It'll be alright Jack." Jill said smiling, "Even if we don't tonight. There will be plenty of other chances for us later on."
She then grazes her lips against mine and strokes my cheek affectionately.
"Just something to think about," she said afterwards.
We then continued driving to the school.
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By the time we arrived, prom had already started and the line to get in was long. While in line, Jill fishes out the two tickets from her purse and hands me one. She then held my hand as we waited. Once we got to the head of the line and showed our tickets, we walked into the gymnasium. Loud music was playing alongside the talking of excited teenage couples. A few teachers sat at the tables and manned the refreshment stands. Because...it isn't prom until some idiot senior decides to spike the punch.
As I glanced around, Jill taps my shoulder. She then points towards one of the tables.
"I found Ms. Swithsen!" she said loudly over all the noise, "Back table towards the locker rooms."
I blew a sigh of relief. So it WAS a fellow teacher that came by our house. But as we got closer, she appeared to be in a deep conversation with someone who looked familiar. Someone I hated.
Collin.
He sat next to her. Jill could tell I was getting irritated and squeezed my arm tightly. As if trying to calm me down. It appeared to be working, until I saw that fucker lay his hand over hers. Mom looked bashful by it and then removed his hand afterwards. Then proceeded to interlock his fingers in hers and smiled at him warmly.
Was he smirking?
I stormed over to their table and slammed my palm against the surface. Mom looked startled at first, then quickly composed herself. Her hand still interlocked with his on the table.
"You guys just get here?" mom asked Jill who stood next to me.
"Just a bit ago," Jill said.
"Why did you get into HIS car?" I asked mom pointing at Collin.
"Is that really any of your business Jack?" Mom said flatly.
"Actually I think it is!" I said.
"Actually it fucking isn't and you better watch your damn tone young man!" Mom said.
I slammed my palm against the table.
"Answer my question!" I said in a loud voice.
Jill looked at me in shock. Mom just narrows her eyes and stares at me hard. I could tell she was getting pissed now. At the last moment, she sighs and composes herself.
"If you must know," mom said, "I'm his date for tonight."
"His...date?" Jill asked.
"You heard her right Jillian." Collin stated, "Judy is MY date for tonight."
I could tell Jill was now the one getting more upset. Collin after seeing that what he said struck a nerve, held up his hands in defense.
"Your mom didn't want to come." he said, "So I asked Judy here instead, since she was originally going to supervise the dance tonight."
He then looks at me.
"Oh but don't you worry Jackie boy." he added, "I'll make damn sure your mom has a REALLY good time tonight."
I grit my teeth. He then waves me away and looks back at my mom, who giggles at what he just said to me. Was he implying that they were going to have sex? Not just Jill, but my mom too?
I wanted so badly to punch him, but Jill pulls me away from their table. My last image was of Collin gently stroking my mom's cheek. Her face a deep red from intense blushing.
What the fuck is going on?
"Let them be Jack!" Jill said, "Your mom doesn't need you defending her."
"But you saw how he-" I started.
"ENOUGH JACK!" Jill then said, "I don't want to hear any more talk about him tonight!"
I was rendered speechless from her raised voice.
"Tonight is OUR night!" she continued, "OUR special moment that WE both dreamed and TALKED about!"
Tears were welling up in her eyes now. She wipes them away angrily and turns from me. She then walks away. I followed a few seconds later.
"I'm sorry," I said and sat across from her.