Chapter 4 - Fire Prom

In the mirror, I saw a man who had grown out of the boy shell. It was the right time to finally call myself a grown up. It was prom night, the night everyone in senior year was looking forward to. The night everyone would get to experience all sorts of things. Good times with good people and good music. I was so excited to finally go out and have some fun with my friends.

The guys and I booked a suite at a hotel by the school, to keep our valuables, alcohol and have an after-party. I was not drinking that night. I got over the drinking phase, since it was just something people do to have them lose control. I hated losing control, and I hated something trying to control my mind.

The suite had four bedrooms. Three couples were staying at three rooms, and I was staying at the fourth alone. Sam and Kim were in the room by mine. Zack, Veronica, Emma and Nathan were in the room down the hall. I had no idea why Nathan was around since we do not hang with him usually. Sam invited him and Emma to join us, because we had extra room. The guys decided I should get the master bedroom, since I did not have anyone, and it did not matter who got what room to them. My room was so organized. I had my suit and tie hung in the closet, my wallet in the safety box, my toothbrush and comb in the bathroom, and for some reason I had condoms in my suitcase just in case. You never know how these nights could get; I thought maybe there would be a girl who had no date just like me.

Drinking games in the living room is how we started our night. However, I was just drinking soda. Everyone was hugging each other saying “I love you” and the music in the background was playing loud. I realized that means the alcohol is kicking in, since they were speaking loudly and showing true feelings. I also got the feeling that Emma was flirting with me. Asking me if I needed anything, sitting really close to me, and having her arm around my neck most of the time. It felt strange, but I did not complain.

It was almost time to go to school, and we had booked for a limousine to pick us up. We all got in the elevator, just then, I remembered that I forgot my wallet in the safety box and ran back to get it. I got in my room and noticed the master bedroom’s door was open, and my clothes were thrown everywhere. The safety box was closed, and my wallet was still there. What happened? Who did this? I heard voices at the end of the hallway. I walked towards the sound. Somebody was in the room Nathan and Emma were staying. The door was slightly open.

I opened the door and saw Emma standing in front of the mirror, wearing one of shirts and looking at herself. What is she doing wearing my clothes? I knocked at the door, and she jumped screaming. “You scared me,” she said as she was laughing. I looked at her with a puzzled face. “Oh this?” as she pointed to my shirt, “I am so sorry to just take one of your shirts, but I spilled my drink on my dress, also Nathan and I had a fight. So I thought it would be okay to wear one your shirts and go to prom since I do not have a date anymore and it does not matter how I look.”

I walked slowly to her, and gave her a hug while rubbing on her head. I wanted to know why her and Nathan fought, but that did not come to mind. She asked me, “Why did I just not go with you? You’re way better than him and I see the way you look at me.” I took a step back, shrugged my shoulders, held her hand and pointed at the door. “You are so cute,” she said giggling. “Yes, I will go with you to prom.” My heart skipped a beat just then, I came back to get my wallet, and instead I got a date with Emma. Could this be destiny?

I walked back with Emma to the elevator and went down to the lobby. The whole time we held hands and I did not even notice. It felt really good. We got in the limousine and the rest of the guys asked where was Nathan and what was Emma wearing. Emma told them what happened, they all laughed. I did not understand why though, but I guess they were happy for me.

We got to school, and made our way to the gym. The school was different. I have never been to it, when it was dark like this. The principal was standing by the gym’s door with his secretary greeting students and telling them to behave. Miss Joy, the secretary, complimented Emma’s outfit for the event and told her she has never seen anyone wear a buttoned shirt for prom in her life. It made me smile, seeing Emma laugh, as she said that. I realized every time she laughed she grew prettier and prettier. Thank God they did notice that the guys have been drinking, or else we would have been in trouble.

As we entered, we noticed the craziness. Everyone was in the middle of the dance floor just dancing and having fun. Zack and Veronica ran to join them. Sam and Kim went to take pictures at the booth. Emma stood and saw Nathan flirting with another girl, who was supposedly one her close friends in middle school. It made her upset. I could not just stand there and watch. I walked towards him and pushed him. He asked what my problem was, and I pointed to where Emma was standing, but no one was there. He called crazy, and told me to go away. I did not care for it; I just went searching for Emma. I looked around the dance floor, but she was not there. Texted Sam asking him if he saw her, he replied saying “The last time I saw her she was with you.”

Miss Joy later came to me, and told me to go find Emma. She said saw her leaving the gym a few minutes ago. I rushed outside, and looked around the school’s playground. I heard somebody crying where the slides were. I ran thinking it was Emma, but no one was there. Strange, I thought to myself, I clearly heard someone here. As I turned to walk back, I felt a sudden breeze go right through me. That breeze somehow reminded me of Mary. Only then did I remember that that area was were Mary and I used to hang out all the time when we were young.

I sat on the swings thinking about Mary, and wondering what she would have wore if she was here tonight. Also reminded by the times I used to get called names by older people when I would play here. They used to call me four eyes because I wore glasses, and pull my pants down so everyone would laugh at me. I never really did anything; until one day Mary ran around behind them while screaming, “Stay away. I will kill you!” I guess calling her psycho made sense. I laughed to myself, as I stood up, and walked towards the gym thinking maybe Emma was back. All of a sudden, I heard someone screaming.

It sounded like a girl, and the voice came from the girls’ bathroom by the gym. I got there, and just as I was about to go in I heard someone say, “Stop it, get off me.” I barged in and saw Nathan with Emma’s friend; it looked like he was trying to rape her. I pushed him away from her, and she ran out. He then pushed me and asked aggressively “What is your problem? What do you want mute? Oh you can’t talk? That’s right. Move.” He hit his shoulder on mine, and walked out. I rushed out behind him, and saw him just standing there looking at something. It looked as though, he had seen a dead person. I had to see what it was he was looking at.  It was the girl he was just with, and there were lockers on top of her. Blood everywhere, I ran towards her and looked at Nathan trying to tell him that we need to help her. It took him time to get a grip, but he finally came to his senses and decided to help. We pulled her out. She was in tears, and seemed to be very oily. Nathan carried her, and walked towards the exit when all of a sudden lockers fell on them both. I had no strength to get it off them, so I rushed to get help.

I got to the gym and looked for the principal to try to tell him. Everyone saw me panicking. Sam came up to me and asked me what’s wrong. I was out of breath. I dragged him with me, to get him to help. Miss Joy ran behind us asking, “What’s wrong boys? What’s wrong?” The building that had the changing rooms was on fire. Miss Joy ran back inside, to call for help. I tried running towards the bathroom, but Sam stopped me. I typed a message saying Nathan is in there with someone.

Firefighters and police officers soon after arrived. Evacuating the buildings, and said to have found two people in the building. One male and one female. They could not identify who it was, so I rushed to tell them, and Sam stopped me. He told me that if I said anything, then I would be a suspect. It made sense, I was the one there with them, and I could have gotten in trouble if they knew. Everyone was asked to go home, prom was ruined and the night was officially over.

We got to the room, and found Emma in pajama’s watching a movie. We told her what happened, she began crying. She said she was in the bathroom, and it could have been her who died. I gave her a hug, and typed a text saying, “I am glad you are safe and I am sorry I was not there for you.” One thing lead to another, and we began walking together to the room.

Kissing her by the neck, as she took off my shirt. We moved slowly to the bed, and began “making love”. It felt so different experiencing such a thing with the one you had feelings for, everything that was going on felt right. The kisses, while her hands were around me. The sounds she was making as I performed. The silent laugh she would do every time I slid my fingers down her back.

Finally, we were done and out of breath. We cuddled and, next thing you know, fell asleep. I woke up the next day with the biggest smile on my face. I had forgot the events that took place the night before. All I could think of was Emma. She was not around the room. So I decided to freshen up, and get in the shower. I got out of the bathroom, just as Sam walked in the room. He told me that they were going to check out, and go for lunch at Kim’s, asked if I wanted to join. I took out my white board from my suitcase and wrote, “I think I am just going to go home. Where is Emma?” He told me she left, and say's she's sorry she had something to do.

As I got dressed, I noticed my shirt in the mirror, the shirt that Emma was wearing. I turned around to pack it in my bag. Before I did, I placed my face on it to smell. I know I am weird, but I was also in love. I began coughing from the smell of the shirt. It was moist and smelled like oil.