The Art of Life (92 page)

               
“You
will be beautiful,” Jeremy reassures me, “And you will have a lot of fun.”

               
“I
know,” I murmur, nodding my head.
 
“Have
fun on your date okay?”

               
Jeremy
nods.
 
“I will.”

               
“Can
I ask where you even met this girl?” I ask.
 
“You haven’t said anything.”

               
“The
last night the guys and I went out,” Jeremy replies.
 
“I didn’t tell you because it really wasn’t
anything.”

               
My
chest tightens and I want to puke.
 
“Well, it will be nice.
 
You
haven’t been on a date in a while.
 
Maybe
you can fill that kissing quota.”

               
There
is an almost sad look in Jeremy’s eyes.
 
“Yeah, maybe.”

               
Suddenly,
there is a knock on the door.
 
We stand
there for a second and then I move to go and answer it.
 
Cassandra is on the other side.
 
“Are you all set?
 
I am probably more excited about this than
you!”

               
That
makes me laugh, “Probably.”

               
“Isabelle,”
Jeremy says, “I have something for you.”

               
I
turn around, “What’s that.”

               
“Hold
on a second,” he requests.
 
We watch him
go into his room.
 
Cassandra raises her
eyebrows at me.
 
I shrug.
 
Jeremy comes walking back a few seconds
later, with a garment bag.
 
“This is for
you.
 
It’s going to be cool tonight.”

               
I
furrow my eyebrows.
 
“What is it?”

               
“Open
it later,” Jeremy answers.
 
“Promise me,
you won’t open it until later.”

               
“Okay,
I promise,” I say.

               
Cassandra
points to the doorway.
 
“We should go
Isabelle.
 
Your hair appointment is at
1:30.”

               
“Alright,”
I sigh.
 
Turning back to Jeremy, I
smirk.
 
“See you later.
 
Stay out of trouble.”

               
He
smiles back, “Never.”
 
I go on my toes
and kiss him lightly on the cheek.
 
Jeremy quickly grabs me into his arms and hugs me fiercely.
 
I return the affection.
 
When I pull away, he whispers, “Have fun.”

               
I
nod.
 
With that, Cassandra and I
leave.
 
We go to Debbie to get my hair
done.
 
As, she is fussing with my hair,
Cassandra claps her hands.
 
“I have a
surprise for you.”

               
“What’s
that?” I ask.

               
She
grabs her purse and reaches inside.
 
I
watch in confusion.
 
Suddenly, she pulls
out a beautiful flower clip.
 
“This goes
great with your dress.
 
I checked
already.”

               
“That
will be perfect,” Debbie says.
 
“I will
put it on the side, right here.”

               
“Thank
you Cassandra,” I gleefully giggle.
  
“It
is perfect!”

               
An
hour and a half later, my hair and make-up are done.
 
When I look in the mirror, I tear up.
 
“I can’t believe that’s me.”

               
“Don’t
you dare start crying,” Debbie commands.
 
“You can’t have your make-up running.”

               
Quickly,
I take a deep breath and nod.
 
“Thank you
so much Debbie.”

               
“Not
a problem,” she replies.
 
“Have lots of
fun.”

               
“I
will,
thanks!” I exclaim, as we leave.

               
It
is a little nerve racking getting my dress on.
 
Cassandra laces up the corset in back.
 
I feel as though I may vomit from being so nervous.
 
Finally, I am completely dressed and I look
in the mirror.
 
I can’t help but
gasp.
 
“I look so pretty.”

               
“You
are gorgeous,” Cassandra chirps behind me.
 
“We need to take a picture and send it to Jeremy.”

               
“I
don’t want to bother him,” I say.
 
“He
can see the pictures later.”

               
Cassandra
just stares at me.
 
“Are you serious?”

               
“He
is going on a date.
 
Maybe he is already
on it,” I reply.
 
“I don’t want to
interrupt him.”

               
Giving
me a quizzical look, Cassandra inquires, “Jeremy has a date tonight?
 
That is where he is?”

               
I
have to look away.
 
“Yeah, it’s okay.
This would all be boring for him.”

               
“Are
you sure you are okay with that?”

               
“Yeah,”
I insist.
 
“We should get
downstairs.
 
Jack will be here any
minute.”

               
And
a few minutes later, he does appear at the door.
 
“
Awww
,” I
laugh.
 
“You look so handsome in your
tux.”

               
Jack
pulls at the collar.
 
“These things are
so uncomfortable, but you looking amazing Isabelle.
 
You really do.
 
Oh,” he chirps, “This is for you.”
 
He thrusts forth a box.

               
Inside
is a corsage.
 
I look back up at
him.
 
“What’s this for?”

               
“My
mom thought it was a good idea.
 
She knew
we weren’t technically going together, but she thought you should still have a
corsage.
 
I thought it was a sweet
gesture,” he replies.

               
“Thanks,”
I say.
 
Cassandra takes it out of the box
and places it on my wrist.
 
“Well, are
you ready?” I ask Jack.

               
He
nods, “Yup.”

               
“Wait Isabelle!”
Cassandra yells.
 
“Jeremy’s present.”

               
“Oh
yeah,” I say, turning to the garment bag.
 
“I nearly forgot.”
 
I walk over to
it and slide the zipper open.
 
“Oh
my gosh
,” I gasp.
 
Inside is a gorgeous pea coat.

               
Cassandra
pulls it out of the bag.
 
“This is part
cashmere.
 
Wow, it’s beautiful.”

               
My
hand goes to my chest.
 
“I can’t believe
he remembered I wanted one.”

               
“Well,
you better put it on and get going.
 
Your
dinner is starting soon,” Cassandra urges.
 
I put it on and it is feels like heaven.
 
“Okay, you two stay out of trouble.”

               
“What’s
the fun in that?” Jack chuckles.
 
Cassandra just rolls her eyes and ushers us out the door.

               
Jack
has a little too much fun driving my car.
 
When we get to the hotel, he is a gentleman and opens my door.
 
“Thank you,” I giggle.

               
He
just smiles and gives me his arm.
 
“Let’s
go milady.”
 
We laugh and walk into the
hotel.
 
It is very extravagant and Jack
and I just look around for a minute.
 
The
coat check is right when we walk in and we hand over our stuff.
 
A few minutes later, we find our classmates waiting
in the grand hallway.
 
It takes us a
while, as we say hi to everyone.
 
Of
course, I keep looking for Eric.
 
Finally, we come up to the little group.
 
I see Eric and smile.
 
His eyes
seem to brighten and it makes me blush.
 

               
I
walk over to him.
 
“You look very
handsome,” I say, smiling.

               
“You
look dazzling,” he replies.

               
Suddenly,
I see an arm weave through his.
 
“Yes, I
see you dress up nicely.”
 
In an instant
my world comes crashing down.
 
Sonya is
standing there.
 
“Where’s Jeremy?”

               
“Not
here,” I whisper in shock.

               
Sonya
puts her hand on Eric.
 
“My date fell
through and Eric was nice enough to bring me.”

               
“Well,
I….” he starts, looking at me.

               
“That’s
nice of you,” I choke out.

               
“He
is sweet, isn’t he?” Sonya sighs, staring right at me.

               
My
heart is in my stomach and I feel like I want to die.

               
Eric
looks at me and says, “I just brought her…..”

               
“I
know, you are so sweet,” Sonya giggles.

               
I
can’t breathe.
 
I can’t breathe.
 
I am going to hurl and I can’t breathe.
 
Suddenly, I hear, “Sorry, I am late.”
 
With my chest swelling, my world starts to
spin again.
 
I turn to find Jeremy
standing next to me.
  
My heart bursts
and I jump into his arms.
 
He pulls me
into the tightest hug he has ever given me.

               
Finally,
I pull away and whisper, “You are here.
 
What about….?”

               
“I
am where I am supposed to be,” he replies, stroking my face with his
fingers.
 
Tears start to well up in my
eyes, and Jeremy murmurs, “No, no, no, no crying.”

               
“Happy
tears,” I whisper ever so quietly.

               
He
bends over and kisses me gently, and then breathes, “Those, too.”

               
“We
didn’t think you were coming,” Jack says.

               
“Well,
actually, I am late,” Jeremy chirps back.
 
“I had to run back and get Isabelle’s present.”

               
Looking
at him curiously, I say, “My present?
 
You gave it to me already.”

               
“No,
not that present, this present.”
 
He
reaches into his inside pocket, and pulls out a necklace.
 
“The jewelry box wouldn’t fit into my jacket,
so sorry it’s missing that.”

               
It’s
a VERY sparkly necklace.
 
“It’s
beautiful.”

               
Jeremy
reaches around and puts it on my neck.
 
“It’s an heirloom.”

               
That
makes my heart drop.
 
“Jeremy, you
shouldn’t.”

               
“It’s
where it should be,” Jeremy declares in my ear.

               
“It’s
pretty for cubic zirconia,” Sonya snidely retorts.

               
Sighing,
Jeremy says, “Nope, sorry, it’s real.”

               
“What!?”
We all gasp at once.

               
Sonya
starts to stutter.
 
“If that’s real, it’s
worth….”

               
“Around
35,000 dollars, yeah I know,” Jeremy states, with a huge grin.
 
“I have it insured.”

               
There
is just stunned silence as we all stare at Jeremy.
 
Finally, I murmur, “Umm, I think you have
lost your mind.”

               
“I
have never had it more
clear
,” he replies.
 
“She would want you to have it.”
 

               
“Dude,
that is awesome,” Jack says.
 
“I need a
girlfriend like you.”
 
That makes me
laugh.
 
“Personally, I want to know where
you rented your tux from.”

               
It’s
then that I actually look at Jeremy.
 
Oh
my, dear lord have mercy on me.
 
He is
dressed in a black tux.
 
It’s all black
on black, and form fitted…..to his perfect body.
 
Okay, I need to check if I am drooling.
 
I look up at him and he notices my facial
expression, which causes him to grin broadly.
 
“I didn’t rent it.
 
I own it.”

               
“You
own a tux?” Eric asks.

               
“Yes,”
Jeremy replies.
 
“I have gone to balls
before and was tired of renting.
 
Every
man should own a tux.”
 
He nods and says,
“If you don’t mind I am going to steal Isabelle away for a minute.
 
Maybe find a little corner to appreciate her
in.”

               
My
jaw drops, “Jeremy!”

               
“Kidding,”
he draws out, “Or am I?” With that he takes my hand and pulls me away.

               
When
we do get down a hallway, I gasp, “What are you doing here?”

               
“I
decided I needed to be with you.
 
I have
never been to a school dance.
 
Do you not
want me here?”

               
“No,
no, no, thank you, thank you!
 
Eric
brought Sonya!” I cry.

               
Jeremy
gets an appalled look on his face.
 
“He
did what!?”

               
“It’s
horrible, but none of that matters,” I say.
 
“You are here.
 
I am so happy!”

               
“I
wanted to bring a smile to your face,” Jeremy retorts.
 
“I wasn’t sure if you wanted me here.”

               
I
jump and wrap my arms around him.
 
“No, I
love
you,
of course I want you here.”
 
And as the words slip out
of my mouth, my whole body tenses.
 
I pull away and look at him.
 
He
has the most thoughtful look on his face.
 
I barely whisper, “I mean, I love you….as in, you’re my….best
friend.”
 
My mouth suddenly stops
working.
 
“I mean……”

               
Bringing
his finger up, Jeremy puts it on my lips.
 
“
Shhh
, I love you, too.”

               
“As
your best friend,” I whisper, “Like I love you as my best friend.”

               
There
is that thoughtful look again.
 
“Yes, I
love you because you are my best friend.”

               
With
a wave of relief, I sigh, “Okay, I have never said I love you to anyone.
 
My mom when I was little, but that stopped
soon after I realized she didn’t care.”

               
“You
can say I love you whenever you want,” Jeremy replies.
 
“It is good to hear.”

               
“The
same goes for you,” I retort.

               
He
smiles and bends down to kiss my forehead.
 
“I love you.”

               
“Thank
you for coming,” I say.
 
“This means a
lot.”

               
Pulling
away, Jeremy smirks.
 
“You know you look
exquisite this evening, beyond beautiful.”

               
I
spin around, “Do you like the dress?”

               
“Yes,
it is very pretty,” Jeremy laughs.
 
“Totally worth the money.
 
You didn’t send me a picture, which I am actually mad about.”

               
That
makes me stop.
 
“Speaking of which, I
thought you were on a date tonight.”

               
Jeremy
frowns, “Okay, maybe I lied about that.”

               
My
hand comes back and I punch him in the arm.
 
“We were never supposed to lie to each other!”

               
“It
was a little white lie, but I promise, I will never lie again, after this
point.”

               
“You
better not,” I snap playfully, poking his chest with my finger.
 
“I do have to say, you are probably the
hottest boy here tonight.”

               
With
a glint in his eye, Jeremy jests, “Yes, I know.”

               
 
“Come on stud,” I laugh, pulling on his
hand.
 
“Dinner is starting soon.
 
Wait, you don’t have a ticket.”

               
“You
would be surprised what you can bribe people with these days.
 
Trust me; it was not hard to get a seat at
your table.”

               
“Then
let’s go find my friends,” I say.
 
“Maybe
Sonya will have been hit by a truck.”

               
Laughing,
Jeremy remarks, “A truck in the middle of the expensive hotel or did someone
push her off the curb?”

               
“Whichever
one you like,” I reply.
 
“Come on, we
don’t want to be the last ones in there.”

               
Jeremy
wraps his arm around my waist, as we walk.
 
“Why?
 
We would be the hottest
couple walking through those doors.”

               
“
Aww
,” I sigh.
 
“That’s sweet.”
 
He pulls me close
and we walk back to the dining room.
 
Everyone has already started to go in.
 
Jeremy and I waltz in the door and I stop to look at the tables.
 
I finally spot Jack and Eric.
 
Grabbing Jeremy’s hand, I pull him through
the tables.
 
“Hey guys,” I finally say
when we get there.

               
Jack
yells, “Hey, there you are.”

               
I
watch as Jeremy pulls out a chair for me, I smile and sit down.
 
He gracefully pushes my chair in as I
do.
 
That makes me want to giggle.
 
Taking the seat next to me, Jeremy
winks.
 
We share a smile and then I look
back at my friends.
 
Eric is staring at
me, and I meet his eyes.
 
He looks like
he is going to say something, when I see my arch enemy walk up behind him.
 

               
Sonya
sits down in the chair next to Eric.
 
“Good news, I can sit here.”

               
“That’s
good news?” Jeremy whispers to me under his breath.
 
I snort and cover my mouth, so no one sees me
smiling.
 
He leans over and kisses me on
the neck.
 
“You smell good.”

               
“Thanks,”
I murmur.
 
He reaches over and takes my
hand under the table, and pulls it onto his lap.
 
We squeeze our fingers together.
 

               
My
eyes drift up and I see Sonya looking at our arms.
 
“What?” I ask.

               
“Nothing,
just watching your hand placement,” she retorts.

               
That
makes me burst out into hysterics.
 
“Yes
Sonya, I am showing Jeremy just how happy I am that he came under the
table.
 
Maybe you do that, but I don’t.”

               
The
whole table starts to laugh.
 
Jeremy
leans over by me.
 
“I am game if you
are.”

               
“Pervert,”
I snap, trying not to smile.
 
I lean in
closer by him and whisper, “Remember, I know how to embarrass you.”

               
He
meets my gaze.
 
“Oh, I double dog dare
you.”

               
“I
bet you would,” I tease glaring playfully at him.
 
We start laughing and have to look away from
everyone.

               
“What’s
so funny?” Sonya snaps.

               
I
shake my head and sigh, “Nothing.
 
Inside joke.”

               
As
everyone sits down, it’s Eric, then Satan, Holly, her date Greg, Jack, Jeremy,
me, and Ashley.
 
I like that I am sitting
next to Ashley.
 
We giggle and talk about
the dresses that people are wearing.
 
Jack and Jeremy sit there and talk about cars.
 

               
A
few minutes before dinner is served, I lean over to Jeremy, “I am going to go
wash my hands before we eat.”