Sweet Dandelion

Staring at my reflection in the mirror, I brush an errant hair back into its ‘do. Sage insisted I get my hair and make up done. I drew the line at

my nails, which I painted myself a nude color.

My hair, which is normally always down or tossed up in a messy bun, has two braids on the left side of my head with the rest of my hair pulled back and fixed low on my neck. A few stray pieces frame my face artfully to soften the look. My makeup, which took a surprisingly long time considering how simple it looks, gives my skin a warm, dewy glow. My eyes are shadowed in different shades of pink, and my lips are a nude-pink color with a bronze gloss on top. I feel beautiful—not that I think I’m an ugly duckling—but when I look in the mirror, I look grown up, more like a woman than the girl I feel like I’m stuck as.

Grabbing my glittery clutch off my dresser I stuff my phone, lip-gloss, and the cash Sage gave me for tonight.

Before I can slip my feet into my heels, Sage yells, “Ansel is here!”

Fixing the shoes, I stand, giving myself one last once over.

I removed the necklace from Sasha, but the dandelion from Lachlan hangs above my breasts.

I can’t go to prom with him, but at least he’ll be with me in some way.

Not wanting to give my brother a moment longer to contemplate changing his mind about letting me go with Ansel, I meet them by the front door.

“Wow,” Ansel blurts, looking me up and down.

Sage smiles. “You look beautiful, D.” His eyes narrow at my exposed chest. “I don’t remember agreeing to that,” he grumbles.

I walk up to Ansel and he extends the corsage he got me. It’s a beautiful array of what looks like wildflowers. I offer him my wrist and he slips it on. Grabbing his simple white orchid boutonniere I do the same.

He looks strikingly handsome in his deep green, so green it’s nearly black, tux. His dark hair is more tamed than usual and those eerie light blue eyes of his are otherworldly.

“You look good,” I tell him, finally finding my voice.

“Not as good as you.”

“Stop flirting with my sister and let me get some pictures.”

I want to tell Sage if he calls that flirting no wonder he’s single, but I don’t feel in the mood to tease him and possibly make him mad. I want nothing to ruin tonight.

I step into Ansel’s side and he wraps an arm around me carefully, not wanting to touch me in any place Sage might lose his shit over.

Once Sage has his fill of photos, he’s seriously a mother hen, we’re free to go after a lecture about being safe, and when to be home by, which is thankfully much later than normal since he agreed I could go to the after party.

Ansel blows out a breath as we wait for the elevator. “Your brother still scares me,” he whispers under his breath, like Sage is suddenly going to appear behind us.

“He’s a softy. I swear.”

“Trust me, I think he’s hidden a few bodies in his time.”

The doors open as I start to laugh.

Ansel takes my hand for us to go inside, my breath catching when I finally look and see Lachlan leaning against the side of the elevator. He’s in a pair of jeans, a dark gray t-shirt clinging to him like a second skin.

My throat closes up as I stand beside Ansel, with Lachlan only inches away as the doors close.

“Oh, hey Mr. Taylor,” Ansel says with a smile.

Lachlan’s eyes are on me, taking in every inch of me in my dress, my skin sparkling with the glittery lotion I rubbed on. He looks pained, like something is lodged in his esophagus.

Clearing his throat he says, “Uh, yes. Hello. You two look … nice.” That word sounds forced and when his eyes meet mine, they say something different.

Beautiful.

The doors slide open for the lobby and he motions for us to go out first.