Chapter 18: What Are You Doing Here?

Prom Night

Jason

5:04 P.M.

Tonight was the night. The night I had been waiting for ever since I asked Tamia to be my prom date. Prom night was here! Unfortunately, my brothers and I had an TV interview scheduled for 6 P.M., but luckily we were still going to be able to make it to prom. Our mother made sure that we'd be able to go since we all had dates (Raymond was able to go because Morrissa was able to get him a ticket).

The only downside to having an interview before prom night was that we weren't going to be able to pick up the girls--- we'd have to meet them at the school. We were also going to have to wear our prom tuxes to the interview. Luckily it was a formal interview, so our wardrobe was perfect for the occasion.



Tamia

5:13 P.M

Prom night was finally here, and I couldn't have been more excited! I was going to prom with Jason Draper. It's hard to believe that I didn't even know him a couple of months ago, and then I meet a sweet young man in the mall, who wanted nothing more than to be my friend— until now. Now he wanted to be more! I couldn't believe it.

We were all over at Morrissa's house getting ready, because she had a better selection of makeup.

"So tell me again why you and Jason aren't together!" Morrissa demanded. I had told them everything that had happened after they left.

"Because of Onise," I replied.

"What about Onise?" Morrissa asked. "It's been six months since she's contacted Jason. If she cared anything about him, she would have returned his calls."

"Yeah," agreed Vie, "If she really liked him, she'd make the effort. No one is that busy— unless they don't want to be bothered with something!"

"I guess y'all are right," I said, "but y'all know Jason. He's the sweetest guy I've ever met. He wants Onise to know exactly where they stand."

"So he is definitely going to break... whatever off with her," Vie confirmed.

"Yes," I assured.

"I say you two should just get together, post a few pictures, and let Onise find out that way!" exclaimed Morrissa. "She needs to know what's she's missing, and that she can't treat Jason like that! You snooze, you lose honey!"

Vie and I laughed. "Yeah, I bet if she saw pictures of you and Jason together, she'd coming running back to him!" Vie said.

"Come on, y'all," I said. "I wouldn't do that. Jason and I both want to keep things low-key. Even when we do make it official, he wants to keep me out of the public eye."

"Like keep you a secret?" Morrissa asked.

"No, he'll definitely make it known that he's off the market, but he doesn't want people to know exactly who it is he's dating. He says people will target me, and he doesn't want that."

"That's what Caiden said too," Vie said.

"Well it's a good thing Raymond and I are just friends," said Morrissa, "because I don't need him protecting me; I know how to handle those bloodsuckers!"

"Oh, you guys are 'just friends' now?" laughed Vie.

We laughed again, "Okay if you and Raymond are just friends, then why are you two so cozy every time you're together?" I asked.

"Just friends!" Morrissa insisted, and we laughed again.



8:29 P.M.

The guys let us know that their interview was running a little long, but that they'd be here as soon as they could. Honestly, I started to feel a little uneasy. Is this what it's going to be like dating a superstar? I know that Jason and his brothers have certain responsibilities because of their music, but still...

My girls and I still decided to rent a limo--- it was prom after all. We we arrived at the school, the first person I noticed was Lanna, but she wasn't with Larry. She was all over some other guy in our class. Then I spotted Larry--- with Starr!

"What is Larry doing with Starr?" I couldn't help but ask out loud.

"It's obvious that Lanna moved on from him, so he went back to Starr," Morrissa said rolling her eyes.

Seconds later, my heart dropped. Not because Larry was with Starr, but because Starr was wearing the exact same gown as me.

"Wait a minute, is she--" Vie asked.

I couldn't believe it. The black chiffon dress that I'd saved up for was also being worn by another girl. But not just any girl--- Larry's first crush. The girl that I was always weary of him leaving me for (until Lanna came along), and the girl that he hung out with more than me while we were dating (again, until Lanna came along). His tux even matched our dress perfectly because it had chiffon trim. Not too long ago, this was exactly what I had wanted--- but not now. I had to get out of there.


Jason

8:43 P.M.

My heart started racing when our limo pulled up to the school. I wondered if my brothers felt as nervous as I did, because this was the first time any of had been to a prom. My nerves were put at ease when I saw Morrissa, Vie, and Tamia standing outside of the building... but something didn't seem right. Were they mad at us for taking so long?

We got out of the limo as quick as we could.

"Hey girls, what's wrong?" asked Raymond.

I got a closer look at Tamia and she had tears in her eyes.

"Larry is what's wrong," said Morrissa. "Starr is wearing the exact same dress as Tamia."

"And I bet Larry told her to buy that dress to try and upstage Tamia and Jason," Vie chimed in.

"Guys, I never told Larry what I was wearing, remember?" Tamia said. "I guess this night wasn't meant to be so special."

I felt really bad about what happened, but I couldn't help but smile at the same time.

"Jason, why are you smiling?" asked Morrissa. "I know you're going to say that Tamia looks great no matter what, but you don't understand what it means when another girl is wearing the same prom dress as you.

"He's smiling because we just might have the solution to your problem," said Raymond.



Tamia

8:45 P.M.

I truly didn't understand why all three Draper brothers were smiling at each other when Vie and Morrissa told them that Starr and I were wearing the same dress. I know it's not the end of the world, and I maybe even would have been okay if it were another girl wearing the same dress as me--- but Starr? At least it wasn't Lanna...

"What do you mean?" aksed Morrissa.

"Our interview was actually a press conference for Loren Ives," said Caiden.

"Isn't that a famous designer?" asked Vie.

"Yes," said Raymond. "They want us to be spokespersons, and we agreed."

"And they gave us a bunch of clothes for free as a thank you--- including dresses," said Jason.

"So what are you saying?" I asked, still confused.

"Tamia, they have designer dresses in their limo," said Morrissa, "and they're gonna let you wear one for prom!"

"Not just Tamia," said Jason, "all of you."

Morrissa and Vie squealed, and I just smiled at Jason.