“It looks like it was made for you,” one of the sales associates said coming up to us, smiling widely at me. “It comes in other colors if you prefer,” she added.
“What colors?” June asked thrilled.
“White, ivory, cream, blush, and peach.”
“Blush!” June and Mrs. Kirk exclaimed in unison. I laughed as the sales lady left to go find it for me. I tried on the dress in the pale pink colour and came out.
“This is the one.” June decided. I looked in the mirror and nodded in agreeance. The dress was now appropriate for prom and it was perfect. It was romantic and sweet with the V-neck and light pink but it was also sexy with the open back and being all silk.
“It is.” I smiled happily, excited to see James’s reaction.
“You got mail,” Alyssa said to me when I came home. Things had been more uncomfortable between us since her and dad had decided to divorce. She wasn’t any meaner to me but her indifference to me was even more clear than it ever had been.
“Thank you,” I said, taking the thick envelope from her. It was from the school in New York that I had applied to. It felt heavy in my hand, like it weighed a ton but I knew that was just my anxiety. I’d already been accepted to the school in Paris, which I was so ecstatic about. I still hadn’t told anyone though, that would make it even more real and I was waiting to get my letter from New York before I told anyone. Alyssa walked away and I fled up stairs to open it alone in my room. I carefully peeled open the thick paper and pulled out it’s contents.
“Congratulations! I am pleased to inform you that you have been accepted as a student…”
I sighed deeply, this just made everything more difficult. Deep down I was hoping I wouldn’t be accepted and wouldn’t have to make the choice. It had always been Paris, but now it could be New York. New York would be easier for my relationship with James, but it wasn’t what I’d always dreamed of and it would mean I would hardly get to see dad and I missed him so much already. I had a tough decision to make and I was going to have to decide soon.
“How are you doing, honey?” dad asked over the phone, he called me at least once a week to check in.
“I’m okay, Liz and June took me dress shopping for prom and I found one, I really like it,” I told him, I was actually feeling excited for prom now and couldn’t wait to see what James thought of my dress.
“That’s great honey, I’m happy to hear,” he said, sounding relieved. “Have you heard back from any of the schools you applied to?” he asked casually, but I knew he was dying to know.
“Yeah, actually I have,” I started, “I’ve been accepted to both. Now I just have to choose; New York or Paris,” I gulped.
“Excellent! That’s fantastic, sugar!” he exclaimed. “I’m so proud of you no matter which you choose.”
“Thanks dad.” I smiled into the phone. It was nice to hear.
“Just remember make this decision for you, it’s a big one,” he reminded me before getting off the phone. He didn’t need to tell me twice, I knew how big it was and I knew how hard it was to make it. First, I still needed to tell James.
I went to the Kirk house for dinner which had become part of my daily routine. I felt a little anxious all dinner, knowing I had to talk to James about my acceptances to both programs and the choice I now had to make. We’d both been pretending this day wasn’t coming but it was here and I had to bring us back to reality. In a few short weeks we’d be graduating and I’d be leaving. How it would go from there I had no clue.
“Babe,” I began, when we were alone in his room, “I need to talk to you about something,” I told him, getting his attention off the TV screen in front of us. He held me tighter and looked at my face with a serious expression, his carefree attitude gone. “I got my acceptance letters to both schools,” I told him. His serious face vanished and he broke into a giant grin.
“That’s amazing! I told you, you had nothing to worry about!” He beamed at me. It was nice to have his enthusiasm but I knew I was going to be losing it soon.
“Yeah, thanks,” I smiled before I continued, “I’ve decided I want to go to Paris.”
James
I felt like a bucket of ice water had been thrown on me. Paris. She was leaving me and going to Paris. I knew it was a large possibility but a big part of me hoped that she would pick New York or somewhere closer. This was what I had feared most. We only had a few weeks before graduation and then she’d be leaving, to Paris! I didn’t know how to react and process this information, I was feeling too much.
“Paris,” I repeated feeling numb and then tried to smile.
“I know you were hoping I’d choose New York but it’s always been Paris for me,” she said softly. I knew it had always been her dream and now I was literally the one thing getting in the way of it.
“I know,” I mumbled, feeling at a loss already.
“I’m sorry,” she said, looking close to tears now. Shit! I didn’t want to be what was upsetting her, when she should be overjoyed and celebrating. This was her dream and she was going for it, I wished I had a dream and determination like her.
“Don’t be sorry!” I said fast and gave her shoulder a squeeze, “This is great!
