“This is Todd, my fiancé.” He sized me up and thought better of whatever the hell he was up to before making his excuses and walking away. She was getting a whole lot of attention and I guessed it was because her peers had never seen her dressed up before.
We’d both pretty much refrained from parties and stuff while we were apart and it showed. I was already bored out of my skull. Not with her, but with being here, I would’ve much rather have been alone with her.
I guess part of that stemmed from the fact that she didn’t seem to be having a good time either. “What’s wrong baby, you don’t like it here?” She took a sip of the bottled water I’d ordered for us and looked around the room.
“It’s not what I expected, it feels…strange. Maybe because I don’t really hang out with anyone here. And I kinda feel over dressed. Some of the girls were asking about my necklace.” She touched the pendant and looked down at the necklace.
“Is this really expensive?”
“Caitlin!”
“Sorry!” I guess she doesn’t know how much that watch and the bracelet she’s worn since she was a baby are worth. Though I’m sure the bracelet cost way more.
“Are you embarrassed?”
“Of course not, I love it, it’s just… the way they talked, kind of reminded me of why I only have acquaintances and no real friends, except you.” I was surprised when she leaned over and kissed me right there at the table.
“Plus they seem to think that I’m stuck up or something, well not the girls that I talk to at school, but those other two who came with them today.” She discretely pointed out two of the girls who’d ridden in the limo, who now that I looked at them hadn’t been among the girls at the BBQ.
“And what’s their deal?”
“Well, first they commented about our house, one of them asked me what my dad does for a living that we can afford such a large ‘expensive’ house as she puts it. And then after you said we weren’t going to the party they seemed annoyed. One of them murmured something about us thinking we’re too good or something like that.”
That fucking party again. I guess I should’ve been paying more attention to them earlier because I missed all this. I didn’t think much of it though since girls are known for being catty about every damn thing, some guys too come to think of it. I kissed her temple and left my hand around the back of her chair as I looked around the room.
Pretty soon it was time for the dance to begin and the horde moved towards the ballroom where the dance was being held. “Am I the one who’s keeping you from having a good time?” It was obvious that she wasn’t as excited as I’d expected her to be.
“No, I just can’t get into it. Maybe I was too excited to be here and now that I am…” She shrugged her shoulders and we went back to dancing to the slow tune that was playing. I knew what she meant though; it sure wasn’t what I’d expected it to be. Others were enjoying themselves, but somehow it felt like we’d outgrown the prom.
“You wanna leave?” I was being facetious of course, I figured if I put that question to her she’d perk up and want to spend the time with her friends for what might be the last time. But she picked her head up off my chest with a hiss of excitement. “Yes!”
“Okay I’ll call your dad and let him know I’m taking you to dinner somewhere.” It was still relatively early, only about eight and I’d promised him to have her back by eleven thirty. “I’m not hungry!” She was pulling me along behind her back to the car.
We were halfway there in the parking lot when we both came across a strange scene. Some guy seemed to be dragging a girl with him. She wasn’t screaming or anything so I didn’t think much of it, but the way the guy reacted when he saw us gave me pause. That, and the way my girl tensed up beside me.
“Hey, you need some help?” I kept my voice as nonthreatening as I could as I stood where we were, a few feet away. “Oh, ha-ha, no thanks, my daughter had a little too much to drink at the prom so I’m here to pick her up.” Just then the girl’s head flopped around on her shoulders giving credence to his words.
Still for some reason I asked for her name. “Her name is Susan, sorry pal I gotta get her outta here.” He then half carried half dragged her away. I turned and started to walk to the car, still with that odd feeling in the pit of my gut, but Caitlin kept looking back over her shoulder at the two.