When Summer Ends (66 page)

“Well dang, Foxy by name, Foxy by nature,” he whistled.
“Don’t you scrub up nice.”

I laughed and stole his drink, taking a sip and settling
against his side. “You don’t look too bad yourself,” I replied, looking down at
him in his black tux.

Amy and Ryan fell in the door behind me, laughing to
themselves. Ryan shook his head and punched Sam in the arm. “No freaking wonder
you sent Nick in to collect her, her dad’s a fucking psycho!” he ranted, before
turning to me and smiling apologetically. “No offense.”

I smiled and waved my hand dismissively. “Sam’s too scared
to meet him yet,” I lied. Ryan of course didn’t know about Will, so obviously
they’d told him that Sam was too scared to come to the door and had sent Nick
to fetch me instead.

“Not surprised. Jeez,” Ryan muttered, blowing out a big
breath before he turned to smile at Amy sweetly. “I guess I got off lucky with
your parents, huh?” She grinned at him and nodded, moving up and kissing him
gently, ending the conversation.

Nick climbed in too, and then we headed off to Jasmine’s
house so he could pick her up too.

An hour and a half later we’d eaten and were about to leave
the restaurant to go to prom. We were already fashionably late, but Sam still
insisted that he needed to go and ‘perfect’ his look in the bathroom before we
could leave. I took the opportunity to go and check my make-up before we went
to the school gym where they were holding the dance tonight. I wanted to look
my best for when Will saw me. The other guys all said they would wait in the
limo, so I followed Sam towards the bathrooms, frowning when I saw the out of
order sign on the ladies restrooms.

Sam smiled and grabbed my hand. “Come in the guys’, no one
will know,” he insisted, dragging me in there behind him before I could protest.
I squealed and squeezed my eyes shut, thinking I was going to see a load of
guys all standing at the urinals or something. Sam chuckled wickedly. “It’s
empty, you’re safe.”

I cracked my eyes open, risking a glance around only to see
he was right, it was empty. I slapped him with my little blue clutch purse and
frowned before stalking over to the only mirror in the room. “You could have at
least checked it was empty first!” I whined, shaking my head in disbelief.

He made a scoffing noise. “Like you’ve never seen a guy’s
thing before,” he commented. I closed my eyes and shook my head, deciding not
to answer, which just made Sam chuckle wickedly behind me. When I heard the
sound of a zipper being unfastened, I cringed and whistled a little tune to try
and block out the sound of Sam taking a leak behind me.
Gross boy!
When
he was done, he walked to my side. “You know, Will’s jealous he couldn’t bring
you to your prom,” Sam he said casually as he washed his hands.

I frowned and looked at his reflection in the mirror. “He’s
jealous? Like proper jealous?” I winced.
Maybe I shouldn’t go. Maybe I
should just stay home and pretend I’m sick if he doesn’t want me to go.

Sam shook his head quickly. “Not like that kind of jealous,
just that he wants to be the one to take you. He didn’t say in so many words,
but I think he feels a little left out. Make sure you make it up to him another
night,” he suggested, waggling his eyebrows at me.

I slapped his arm for being crude. “Shut up,” I muttered,
applying another coat of lipstick before blotting it.

“Okay, want to know something that’ll make you go aww?” He
bumped me with his hip to get me out of the way of the mirror as he started
messing with his hair. I nodded, waiting for him to say it. “I told him I’d make
sure you have the night of your life, and you know what he said to me?” Sam
asked, still fussing with his hair.

“Stop playing with your hair, you girl?” I guessed, smirking
at him.

He rolled his eyes and blew out a dramatic breath. “You’re
not even half as funny as you think you are,” he commented. “No, anyway, he
said, ‘I don’t want you to give her the night of her life, that’s my job’.
Thought you’d appreciate knowing that.”

My heart melted, and all I wanted to do was call up Will and
tell him that he always gave me the night of my life. “Aww,” I mused.

Sam grinned cockily. “Told ya you’d say that.”

I sighed dreamily, just wishing I could see him right now,
throw my arms around him and just breathe in his smell that was like nothing
else in the world.

By the time we got to the school I was ridiculously eager to
see Will. I’d seen him dressed up once before, at his sister’s wedding, and I
couldn’t wait to see him all suited and booted again. My guess is that he’d
look amazing. I let Sam lead me towards the gym. The thump of music was already
reverberating form the walls as the live band covered a Maroon 5 song. People
were chatting animatedly as we waited in a messy line in the hallway so that we
could enter the gym. Girls everywhere looked elegant and beautiful in their
prom dresses of various colours, hair done, make-up applied. The scent of
various perfumes all mixed into something that was almost heady as we stood
there in line waiting to have our photo taken as we arrived. The guys all
essentially looked the same, black tux, white shirt, but they all had different
coloured ties on.

The line moved fairly quickly, and before long Sam and I
were at the front. His arm snaked around my waist, pulling me to him as the
photographer snapped a couple of pictures before waving us off so he could take
the next couple’s portrait. Nick and Jasmine were laughing and talking off to
one side so Sam led me over to them, his arm still around my waist. I cast an
excited glance around the room, noticing all the gold and silver balloons and
banners that decorated the place. Little round tables with white and silver
table cloths had been set up around the gym. The lights had been dulled, and a
little candle sat at each table along with a pretty flower arrangement. It
looked lovely - but it couldn’t hold my attention. My eyes raked over the sea
of people, seeking out one face in particular.

When my gaze finally found him, I felt myself mentally
swoon. He was leaning against the wall opposite me, one leg crossed casually
over the other, looking the picture of ease. His hair was styled but messy the
same as usual, and the suit… ‘wow’ was all I could think. He was watching me; a
little smile graced his full lips as his eyes raked over me slowly as if he
didn’t want to miss an inch.

Before I knew what I was doing, I’d left my friends and was
making my way across the room to him. My feet had a mind of their own as I wove
past people dancing, drinking, and eating. I needed to get to him and say hi.

As I walked to him his eyes seemed to darken, his posture
changed as he stood up straighter. The look was like he was marvelling over me.
I knew then and there that he approved of my choice of dress. Miss Teller was
standing and talking to a student not too far away from Will so I knew we
needed to be careful.

As I stopped in front of him, he smiled his heartbreaking
smile. My breath caught in my throat as his hand twitched and raised, heading
towards my face. Heat filled my cheeks because of how intimately he was gazing
at me. I could practically see his love for me shining from his eyes. He seemed
to catch himself quickly; dropping is hand back down to his side. I couldn’t
help but be disappointed because all I wanted to do was crush myself to him and
spend the night dancing in his arms. The way he was looking at me made my heart
soar in my chest. I loved the way he looked at me, the look that he gave me
showed me that my feelings for him were reciprocated, that everything I felt,
he felt too. At least I hoped that was what that look was otherwise I was in
some serious trouble.

“Good evening, Miss Henderson. You look beautiful tonight.
My brother sure is a lucky guy to be able to dance with you all night,” he
complimented.

I smiled at his sweet words. Obviously he knew to be careful
too. “Thank you, Mr Morris. Did you see the flowers that Sam bought for me?
They’re beautiful, I was really grateful,” I replied, discreetly thanking him
for my tulips.

He nodded in acknowledgement, a smile tugging at the corner
of his lips. “I saw them. Glad you liked them,” he confirmed, playing along.

A heavy arm slung around my shoulder and I quickly looked to
see it belonged to Sam. “Well, let’s not stand here all night talking to the
teachers, Foxy. Let’s get some punch. I’m not sure if it’s been spiked or not
already so I brought some vodka just in case,” he bragged, patting his pocket.

I chuckled as Will groaned, shaking his head in disapproval.
“Seriously? I’m chaperoning, Sam. I can’t let you do that, give me the bottle,”
Will ordered, holding out his hand for it.

Sam gasped and frowned. “What? No way!” he complained.

Will shook his hand impatiently. “There are a few juniors
here too. Come on, no alcohol,” he said sternly.

Sam groaned and pulled out a bottle of vodka, slapping it
into Will’s outstretched hand with a growl of frustration. His other arm
tightened on me as he turned and pulled me away. I giggled at his hurt and
annoyed expression on his face. Flicking my eyes back to Will I cast him a
little wave.
I hope I get to speak to him some more later.

“Aww man, he sucks ass!” Sam whined. “He was totally wasted
on his prom night but yet he won’t allow other people to have a nice time?” He
sighed dramatically. “Well, if we can’t spike the punch then let’s dance, Foxy,
and then we can check out the buffet,” Sam suggested, leading us over to the
packed dance floor.

The night passed quickly. Despite not being able to speak to
Will at all during the night, I still had a nice time. Sam, as usual, was on
top form and was entertaining everyone. I danced, I ate, I laughed and just
generally enjoyed myself. Throughout the night my eyes kept seeking out my
boyfriend. He was doing his job perfectly; wandering around the gym, making
sure everything was in order, talking to people. A few times he caught my eye
and in those few seconds, when our gazes would meet, it was like we were alone,
like we were the only two in the room because I just didn’t see anyone else.

At about ten thirty I looked around the crowded gym, trying
to see his brown hair, but I couldn’t see him anywhere. I hadn’t seen him for
ages now, not since I’d heard him tell Principal Sherman he was going to check
the hallways and make sure everything was all in order.
Where’s he gotten
to?
I silently wished this night were over with already so I could talk to
him on the phone or something. I hated being so close to him and yet so far
away. Sam pulled me tighter against his chest as we continued to dance to the
slow song. The night was winding up now; the band had just announced that there
were only two dances left. I sighed sadly. I still hadn’t gotten to speak to
Will in private and thank him properly for the limo and the flowers. He’d gone
to so much effort tonight and I hadn’t even been able to tell him how handsome
he looked in his tux.

I ground my teeth in frustration.
I can’t wait for
graduation. Everything will be fine once that’s over with.
Once I was
graduated I would be able to walk up to him and talk to him whenever I wanted
without people being suspicious. I would be able to link my fingers through his
as we walked down the street. I would be able to take him home to my parents
and introduce him to them as the love of my life. I just couldn’t wait for
those things. Just a couple more weeks to go.

“Sam, where did Will go? I haven’t seen him for ages,” I
whispered, scanning the room discreetly for him.

He shrugged in response. “No idea. Want to get another
drink?” he offered, nodding off to the side table where the refreshments were.

I sighed and nodded in agreement, allowing him to lead me
over there. I spotted Nick dancing with Jasmine; he had an enormous smile on
his face as they spoke and laughed at the same time as twirling around the
dance floor. I felt the grin slip onto my face that he looked so happy. He
hadn’t wanted to come to prom at all, but judging by the look on his face now
though, he was probably glad that he did. He looked like he was having a nice
time and they actually made a really cute couple.

When we got to the drinks table, I noticed that Sam kept
glancing at his watch, and looking over his shoulder a lot. “What’s up, Sam-bo?
You spiked it or something? Why so jumpy?” I asked, taking the cup he was
offering to me.

He sighed and shook his head. “I’m just waiting for
something,” he answered, still glancing around.

I laughed.
He is so freaking weird sometimes!
What
you waiting for?” I inquired, taking a bite of a cheese sandwich and chewing
distastefully because they’d gone slightly stale where they’d been left open
all night.

His cell phone rang and he pulled it out of his pocket with
a smile. He looked at the caller ID but didn’t answer it, just rejected the
call and put it back in his pocket, still grinning. “I need the bathroom. Come
on, you can show me where it is,” he stated, taking my cup back off of me and
putting it on the table before I even got to take a sip.

“Sam, what on earth? You know where the bathrooms are,
you’ve already been!” I protested, laughing as he dragged me to the door and
into the hallway.

He nodded. “Yeah but those ones are always full. Show me the
way to some other ones,” he suggested, nodding down the hallway.

“Sam, what?” I moaned as he took my hand and started walking
off, tugging gently.

“Come on, Foxy, I’m desperate,” he whined, pouting at me. I
rolled my eyes and followed him up the hallway, leading him to the next set of
bathrooms on this side of the building. He smiled and cocked his head to the
side. “Isn’t that Will’s classroom up there?” he asked, motioning up the
hallway with his chin.