“And you’re incredibly handsome.” Even with the setting sun, she could see him blush. She stepped forward and he showed her the box. Inside, was a rose corsage nestled in baby’s breath.
“I know it’s probably stupid, but given that we never had our prom, I figured I have a lot to make up for.” He opened the box and slipped the wristlet into place. “Perfect.” Yes, it was, she thought. She already knew she’d save it when the night was over. She’d hang it from the mirror on her dresser, just like high school.
She slipped her arm into his and followed him to the street. She expected to find his van, but instead there was a white sedan. “Mom’s car?” she asked. He nodded and ducked his head.
“I thought it’d be more comfortable.”
“We could’ve taken mine.” She pointed to the Wrangler he parked in front of.
“That’s yours? How did I not know this?” She shrugged and opened her clutch, handing him the key.
“What about the top and your hair?”
“I’m not worried.” She winked at him and made her way to the passenger side. He rushed over and opened the door for her, waiting to close it until she had settled in the seat.
“I love this car.” She giggled at his enthusiasm. Unfortunately, the drive to the school took a few minutes, and when he turned the key to shut off the ignition, he sighed. “I need one.”
“You can use it anytime.”
He glanced in her direction. “I’m taking you up on that offer.” Once out, he opened her door and helped her climb down. He held her hand all the way into the school, gripping it tighter when they approached the check-in desk.
“Danny!”
She groaned when she saw Cecilia Johnson behind the desk. She made eye contact with the woman, who smirked. Kelly wanted to crawl into a hole but figured Danny wouldn’t let her.
“And you are?”
She knew exactly who Kelly was. Still, she squared her shoulders. “Kelly Taft. Surely you remember.” She doesn’t know what got into her, but the bit of power she exhibited felt good. Danny squeezed her hand in what she took as a vote of confidence.
“Oh, right.” The woman half laughed as she handed Kelly her badge. Sure enough, it read Kellie Franklin, which irked her. She promised herself she’d grin and bear it, so she did. It probably didn’t hurt that Danny was with her.
“I’m not coming to the next one,” she said as they walked into the gym, which was decorated in early two-thousands motif. “I was born in the wrong generation,” she muttered.
“Me too,” he said in agreement.
They mingled, talked to classmates who came home for the reunion, and listened to stories about self-discovery, divorces, children and someone’s bunion problem, which was preventing them from “getting their groove on.” They danced to music that should’ve never been produced and drank at the open bar, which had to be the best part of the night.
“I’ll be right back,” Danny said after he kissed her on the cheek. He disappeared into the crowd before she could ask him what he was doing.
“Look!” Melody pointed to the stage, where Danny was now front and center.
“Oh my, what’s he doing?” Her question was about to be answered when he tapped on the microphone.
“Good evening. Most of you know who I am, and for those who don’t, I’m Danny Weatherly. Yes, after all these years, I still go by Danny and have no intentions of changing it.” Their classmates gathered near the stage, except for Kelly, Melody and Chad, who hung back, away from the crowd. Danny cleared his throat. “Years ago, I made a mistake. I thought I was being funny when I… well there’s no reason to remind everyone. You see, her favorite show was Friends, and I wanted to impress her. Instead, I caused her immeasurable harm. Not only physically, and socially, but so did all of you. What should’ve been taken as a joke, turned into the worst case of hazing I have ever witnessed and forced my girl to retreat, to run from me. To cause me to ignore her on one of our most important nights. It’s all my fault, I know, and I’m sorry, Taffy.” Everyone turned and looked at Kelly. As much as she wanted to hide, she couldn’t.
“I’m up here to ask for a second chance, to beg for one. I know there are things going on, and all I’m asking is if you can find it in your heart to forgive me?” He didn’t wait for an answer before he jumped off the stage. Like the parting of the seas, everyone moved aside for him as he made his way back to her.
The back of his hand caressed her cheek, and she leaned into him. When their lips touched, their classmates went crazy, and all they heard was, “he’s her lobster.” They both laughed and finally pulled apart.
“I don’t need much,” he said. “Just a chance to be in your life, and Kori’s. Do you think I can?”
She couldn’t nod fast enough. “I mean as long as Rambo comes too.”
Danny laughed and pulled her in for another kiss. “It’s
always about the dog.”
“And now it can be about us.”