The day of the Prom dawned and I woke up in one of the best moods I had been in since Brian left. I would be seeing Brian again, I would be able to hold him tight and kiss him.
Jac came over in the morning and the two of us went out to have our hair done. I didn't want a whole lot done with mine, maybe some light curls around my face and the rest of it slightly wavy. I loved what was done with it and hoped it made Brian see what he was missing. The only doubt in my mind was that he didn't love me anymore, that he had changed.
Jac stayed at my place till it was time for her to leave and get dressed, She was meeting with the others, but wanted to spend the day with me, knowing how restless I would be. Brian and I were having dinner alone, something he had insisted on. At least he had thought of that.
Time went by and it was getting late. I could see Jac watching the time, and I knew she had to be going to get ready. "Go Jac. You go and get ready. I can wait for Brian."
"He's late. Why is he late? I'll tear shreds off him."
I laughed ironically. "After me Jac. Now you go and get ready. No point in both of us being late."
Jac nodded and left reluctantly. "I'll ring you before I leave."
So Jac left and I sat wondering what was keeping Brian. I felt all dressed up and nowhere to go, with my blue satin dress on, matching shoes and a hairdo to go with it to knock his socks off. But no Brian.
As the time ticked by, my heart grew heavier. I was not going to turn up at the Prom without him, so it looked like I wasn't going at all. I couldn't cry, I would spoil the makeup Jac had put on me. But then what would it matter, if I wasn't going. A huge tear spilled over onto my cheek and I blinked to hold others at bay. Had Brian disregarded me so much now, that he would break his promise. He knew I was looking forward to the Prom.
The phone rang and it was Jac. When she heard he wasn't there she exploded. "Well I'll come and get you and you can come with us."
"No Jac, I won't go without him."
"You are not going to let him spoil this special day for you."
"If he doesn't turn up it is spoiled anyway. Jac, I am not going without him," I told her and she finally surrendered and let me go.
It was so late already, I decided to go upstairs and get out of this outfit. My heart was heavy, but I had stopped the urge to cry. Then the doorbell rang, and then a second time, as if the person on the other side didn't think anyone would be there. I was the only one who was, because the rest of the family had already gone out for the evening.
I walked to the door, by heart pounding. Could it be Brian? He was over an hour late. My breathing came in gasps as I walked and as my hand rested on the doorknob the doorbell chimed again, making me jump. I slowly opened the door, and there in front of me stood Brian.
I couldn't explain the emotions going through me at that moment. Brian was standing there in front of me, his mouth ajar, wanting to say something. I drank in his features but it all became too much for me, I turned and ran to my room, slamming the door shut, throwing myself on my bed and cried.
I don't know what came over me, or why I acted like I had, but seeing Brian there in front of me was much too overwhelming and I had to flee. Two months I hadn't seen him, two months of abject misery and now he stood there I was scared. Scared to get close knowing he was going to leave me again. I sobbed into my pillow, uncaring of the fact that I was crying my make up all over it.
A soft knock came on my door. "Sue? Sue, are you okay?" came Brian's voice.
"Go away Brian. I don't want to see you."
"Why don't you want to see me? I'm sorry I was late. My flight was delayed."
"Because it hurts too much Brian."
He opened the door and walked over to me. He sat on the edge of my bed and reached out to me, softly running the back of his fingers down my cheek. "Why does it hurt Sue? Sweetheart tell me please."
"Because I have missed you so much and if we go out as if nothing was wrong, it's going to hurt twice as much when you leave tomorrow. I don't know if I can live through that again. It's too hard"
"Oh Baby, I'm so sorry you feel like this. It tears me up to know you are feeling so sad."
"You have no idea Brian. Do you? Tell me honestly."
"Tell you what?"
"That you have no idea how much I have been hurting. You never even ring me anymore and when you do all you ever talk about is what you are doing. The fun you are having. You don't even realise I am missing you like crazy. That I am not having a good time here without you."
He pulled me into his arms and held me tight. "Oh God Baby. You're right. I had no idea."
"You had no idea? Seriously?" I shook my head sadly. "Brian has our life up till now meant nothing to you. How could you possibly dismiss us as easily as you have?"
"I didn't mean it, honestly. I don't dismiss our lives easily. God if you knew how often I think of you, how much I look at the photo you gave me, it goes with me everywhere."
"You took the photo?" I asked sniffing.
"Of course I took the photo. Sue, my life has been hectic. In between rehearsing, schooling and everything else that we have to do, I barely have enough time to sleep. I haven't not rung you on purpose. I wouldn't do that to you." He looked down at my now blotchy face. "I love you Sue. Don't you know that?"
I shrugged. "I haven't felt it in a while. We went from one day being with each other every second we had spare, to the next day nothing. My best friend was gone, my boyfriend was gone. Just like that." I snapped my fingers.
"I'm Sorry beautiful. I had no idea you felt like this. I should have I guess I was being selfish and I am sorry. Let me try and make it up to you just a little bit, by taking you to the Prom. It's too late to go to dinner now, but we can always go after to have something to eat."
"I can't go now. Look at me."
"You look beautiful. Just go and fix that makeup and we will go and dance the night away."
I smiled at him and held out his hand to help me stand up. I took a shuddering breath and nodded. "Okay."
"But first. Come here."
He pulled me into his arms and I felt I was finally back where I belonged. I felt a peacefulness wash over me and I melted into his arms. His lips came down on mine and I moaned aloud, meeting his lips eagerly with my own. He tasted so good and the past two months faded away. I was back where I should be, where I was destined to be.
I don't know how long we were like this for, kissing and hugging, I couldn't get enough of him. I was taking everything I could from him. "We are really late Brian, we better get going. Jac will think you didn't turn up and she will be out for your blood."
"Jac? Why?" he asked confused.
"Lets just say she has been my pillar of strength since you have been gone."
"She's been there for you?" I nodded. "Remind me to thank her."
"I think she will remind you," I chuckled.
I went to get my makeup fixed as best as I could and smiled at myself in the mirror. When I came out he took my hand and led me down the stairs. He bent over and picked something up off the floor. "I dropped this in my haste to get to you," he said putting a corsage on me. I sniffed the flower and smiled at him. "Are you ready Sue? Our chariot awaits."
We walked outside and my eyes nearly popped out of my head when I saw a limousine waiting by the curb. Brian, has this been here the whole time we were upstairs?"
"Yes. It is ours for the evening. Come on, I want the driver to take our photo." He said and pulled me over to stand in front of the white limo. The driver got out of the car and snapped a few photos. Then we got in and were driven to the Prom.