SAVANNAH
A MONTH LATER
Prom night came a little earlier than I had expected. The excitement had been building up for weeks, and now it was finally here.
We had all agreed to have it before our exams, so we could focus on our studies afterward without all the distractions.
As I heard the horn sound outside, I stood up and rushed to clear the makeup tools off the vanity. My hands trembled a little as I shoved the brushes and palettes into my bag.
I stepped into the hallway just as my mom was coming from the kitchen. She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw me. The look on her face was a mix of disbelief and pride. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and I felt my own emotions start to rise.
"Mom," I said, trying to smile through the sudden lump in my throat.
She gasped, stepping forward to wrap her arms around me in a tight embrace. "My darling," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "You look... you look incredible."
I chuckled, feeling a little awkward. "Thanks, Mom."
She pulled back and pushed me gently toward the door. "Go on. He’s waiting for you."
I turned and walked out, where Blake was standing by the car, looking absolutely perfect. His jaw dropped when he saw me, and his eyes roamed over me from head to toe.
Before I could react, he stepped forward and pulled me into his arms, kissing me on the lips with an intensity that caught me completely off guard.
My mom squealed from inside the house, making me pull away from Blake and glance over my shoulder. "Go have fun, you two," she called out, her voice light and full of joy.
Blake didn’t hesitate. He smiled, then gently took my hand and opened the car door for me like the gentleman he was. I slid into the seat, and he walked around to the driver’s side, glancing at me a few times as he got in.
His eyes were full of something I couldn’t quite place, but it made me feel like I was the only person in the world to him.
The ride to the school was mostly quiet. I could feel the tension between us, but it wasn’t the uncomfortable kind. It was the kind of tension that you could cut with a knife, the kind that made your heart race just a little faster, your mind spinning with possibilities.
Blake hadn’t said much in the past couple of weeks. He’d been different—more affectionate, more caring. No more teasing, no more jokes. Just quiet compliments and soft smiles.
It was all new, and I liked it, but I couldn’t help but feel a little confused about what it all meant. I wasn’t sure what he wanted, and honestly, I didn’t know what I wanted either.
My mom had warned me not to assume anything. She told me to enjoy the moment, to take things one step at a time. And that’s exactly what I was trying to do.
Blake’s silence was broken when we finally pulled up to the school. He parked the car and, before I even had a chance to open the door, he was already at my side, his lips crashing into mine again, this time with a fierceness that took me completely by surprise. It was as if he couldn’t wait any longer.
His hands were on my thighs, and I could feel the heat in his touch as he caressed my skin. A moan escaped him, and I couldn’t help but chuckle into his mouth.
"What’s funny?" Blake asked, pulling back slightly, looking down at himself, as if he thought I was laughing at him.
I shook my head. "Nothing," I said quickly, though I was still fighting back my smile. He had this effect on me, this intensity that left me breathless and giddy at the same time.
"You’re beautiful," he whispered, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "Inside and out."
His words made my heart flutter, and for a second, I was lost in his gaze. But before I could say anything, he opened the car door for me.
"Ladies first," he said, his voice light but full of something deeper.
I smiled at him. "This is my era, my prime," I joked, stepping out of the car. Blake laughed, following me to the school entrance, his hand finding mine as we walked together toward the hall.
As we entered the multipurpose hall, the crowd turned toward us, and the spotlight hit us just right. It was as if everything around us faded away, and for a moment, it was just the two of us. I could feel the eyes of everyone on us as we made our way to the podium.
And then, someone at the podium announced, "And now, the Prom King and Prom Queen have arrived!"
The crowd erupted into cheers, and I couldn’t help but feel like I was floating. Blake’s hand was warm in mine, and I squeezed it, feeling a rush of emotions.
In the crowd, I caught sight of Brenda, waving at me with Aaron by her side. I mouthed, "I love you," and she did the same, sending me a wink.
As we made our way to the head of the podium, the lights suddenly flickered and went out. My heart skipped a beat. Was this part of the show?
"Blake?" I whispered, when his hands left mine and I couldn't see him. My voice was barely audible over the sudden quiet.
And then, just as suddenly, the lights came back on, and the entire hall burst into an excited cheer.
I looked down, only to find Blake on one knee, a small box in his hand.
The room seemed to disappear, and all I could focus on was him. My heart raced as Blake spoke, his voice steady but full of emotion.
"Savannah Williams," he began, his words slow and deliberate. "I know I don’t deserve you, but I want to be selfish and have you to myself. I love you. I’ve always loved you from the very first day I saw you step foot in our classroom. Bullying you was my way of avoiding what I felt. Forgive me, my Muffin, and be my girlfriend."
He opened the box, revealing a beautiful diamond necklace. My breath caught in my throat.
How could I say no?
The crowd was chanting now, urging me to say yes. I looked around and saw Brenda dabbing at her eyes, tears streaming down her face. A tear slipped down my cheek as well, and I nodded, unable to hold it in any longer.
"Yes," I whispered, my voice shaking with emotion.
The room erupted into cheers, and Blake smiled wide, his eyes shining with happiness as he stood up and gently placed the necklace around my neck.
He kissed me then, a kiss full of promises, full of everything we had shared and everything we would share. The air around us felt electric, alive with the energy of the night.
The noise of the crowd seemed distant as Blake pulled away, his eyes never leaving mine. "I love you, Savannah Williams," he said softly, his voice full of sincerity.
"I love you too," I whispered back, my heart swelling with emotions I didn’t know I was capable of feeling.
And just like that, everything was perfect.