Harper
I groaned and hit my head on the table.
"That's the thousandth time you've made a sound like the walking dead," Will said.
"I am hungover, and my head hurts like a motherfucker, so yes excuse me if I sound like the walking dead," I snapped, before groaning in pain again.
Will took out a flask from his bag and handed it to me.
"Drink this."
"What is it?"
"Something that will help."
I opened the flask and gulped down its contents before gagging.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!"
"A few raw eggs, some lemon juice and-I'm not telling you more," he said.
"That is beyond disgusting," I said, shoving the flask back to him.
"Do you remember anything from last night?" He asked.
"Absolutely nothing, zilch. Nada. It's like a gap in my memory," I massaged my temples.
"Well, if it makes you feel better, you asked Mason why he's so hot and confessed your undying love for him," Will stated, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye, "It was so wholesome",
I felt like my insides were churning and I would soon throw up.
"Oh shit. Bloody shit," I stand up and close my bag.
"Where are you going?" Will asks.
"Home. Make yourself useful and make up an excuse for me. Like I'm sick or having period cramps or maybe tell everyone I died," I said, already running as fast as I could.
I rushed through the hallways. I needed to get out of here now, otherwise I will definitely have to wear a bag over my head for the rest of my school life.
I see the exit and rejoice internally. Yes! A few more exits and I'm out. I start running towards the exit.
Suddenly I hit something, something that does not seem to be a wall.
"Hi Harper," he said and I wished I was dead right about now.
"Hey uh-Mason," I mumbled nervously.
Mason Stone stands before me in all his glory, looking down at me. His green eyes sparkling, and I may just start drooling now.
"Where are you running off to?" He asks.
"Oh nowhere really, just jogging," I chuckle nervously.
"In the hallways?"
"Y-Yeah, need to get in that exercise."
"But you're still supposed to be hungover."
"H-how do you know?" I asked the dumbest question.
"Let's see, because you were dancing on the table last night," he replied.
"Oh, heh, that, uh-yeah," I said, my cheeks on fire from the embarrassment.
"And you said something about me being hot."
"I think we-uh shouldn't continue this conversation, kay?" I said, trying to back up and maybe make a run for it, because I knew where this was going.
"Oh yeah, and something about having a crush on me," he said.
I froze right on the spot.
"Oh shittake mushrooms," I blurted.
"What?" Mason chuckled
"Spy kids reference, but listen, Mason I di-"
"Before you say something, can you please open your locker?" He asks, pointing to my locker opposite to where we were standing.
"Sure," my throat becoming dry as I start walking towards my locker.
What horror awaits me in my locker? I am never drinking again. EVER.
I enter my combination and open my locker, and a pink envelope greeted me. I took it in my trembling hands and open it. Inside it is a paper that has 'PROM?' written on it in bold waters.
My heart stopped beating for a second. Oh. My. God.
This is happening, this is really happening.
I turned around to see Mason with a smile on his face, and I smiled back at him.
"Yes," I whispered, and ran to him as he scooped me up into his arms, twirling me around. He engulfed me in a hug and everyone behind him cheered.
This is the happiest moment of my life.
â¦â¦â¦
The phone rings for the third time before Kenzie picks up.
"Kenzie, I need help," I said.
"Okay."
"I need you to come prom dress shopping with me."
"I'm so sorry Harper, Mom's taking me to visit Nana," she replied, sadly.
"Is she okay?"
"Has the woman ever been?"
I giggled at that. Kenzie's Nana was a really sweet old lady, but sometimes the old age kicks in and she's pretty insane then.
"Okay, I'll see you later then," I said.
"See ya."
Great, Kenzie can't go, now who should I take?
It rang a few times before someone picked up.
"Harp."
"Heyyy bro!"
"Um-hey?"
Okay here goes nothing.
"So listen, prom's in a week and since Mason asked me, I'm going so."
"No."
"What do you mean by no?"
"I mean I'm not doing whatever you're trying to make me do."
"But I-"
"Bye, Bro."
He hung up on me. What is up with this guy? He got me into this. Now he won't even help me.
Time to play the trump card, I thought smirking to myself.
Will
I heard a knock on my door and my Mom walked in with the laundry basket. The moment she saw me, she scrutinized my expression.
She placed the basket down by the edge of the bed.
"What's wrong, Will?"
"Nothing's wrong."
"William Jameson Green, I gave birth to you, what makes you think you can lie to me?"
"I'm not lying."
"It's something related to a girl, isn't it?"
"What? NO! It's not."
"Well okay," she held her hands up in surrender.
"Just know that no matter how hard you try you can't lie to me," she said.
"I-", I began but was interrupted by the doorbell.
"I'll go get that and then we'll get back to this conversation," my Mom said as she turned on her heels and left.
How does she read me so well?
Harper
I rang the doorbell and stood there. A few minutes later, it was opened by a middle-aged woman with brown hair, blended with a few strands of grey, tied up in a bun with scrutinizing green eyes that seemed to observe every movement of mine.
"Hi, Mrs. Green," I greeted her.
"Hello."
"Is Will home?"
"He is, and you are?"
"I'm Harper. Harper Jones."
"Oh my God, Harper! It's been such a long time.
"You've met me before?"
"Oh yes, of course. I met you all the time when your Mom came for her check-ups when she was expecting your younger sister."
"Oh, I was really young," I smiled.
"Yes you were. Will and you used to play together around the hospital whenever you came," she smiled back.
"Will, and me?!" My mouth dropped open in surprise. When in my lifetime were Will and me all buddy buddy with each other?
"Well yes, I have pictures of the both of you. Cuties both of you, I say," she gushed.
"Uh-not that cute anymore."
"You've turned out to be absolutely beautiful, Harper,"
"Oh no, I'm still cute. I was talking about Will."
"That's so true, my baby's all grown up and now he brings all these girls home. I wish he would go back to when he thought girls had cooties," she sighed.
We both laughed at that.
"Come on in, Will's upstairs in his room, just by the stairs," she said.
"Thank you, Mrs. Green."
"Please call me Callie, dear," she said.
"Sure thing, Callie," I smiled.
I hopped up the stairs to the door of Will's room. Opening it revealed a sight I shall never forget.
Will was lying on his bed. Shirtless, might I add. His tan body was defined with muscles, a set of perfect abs lining all the way to his abdomen which ended in a very defined V. Unconsciously, I may have drooled a bit.
"You got a bit of drool there, Harp," Will smirked, tapping the corner of his lips.
"Shut up. Put on a shirt for the love of God," I averted my eyes from him.
"My house, my room, my rules," he stood up.
"Technically this is your parent's house," I stated, feeling smart.
"Technically, I have a right to know why you're here," he said.
"Oh right. The thing is, I need someone to go prom dress shopping with me," I blurted out, and his expression became one of mortification.
"What exactly do you think I am? Your gay best friend?"
"Are you gay?"
"NO."
"Okay then, you're just my best friend then," I grinned nervously.
"Since when, exactly?"
"Since you both were kids," Callie called out from the doorway.
She stood there with a few photos in her hand, her expression contagiously happy.
"I have proof, you both used to be joined at the hip."
She showed me the pictures in her hand. There I was, five or six years old, in jeans and a baggy tee, my frizzy brown hair in a ponytail, grinning with two of my front teeth missing. Beside me is Will, with an arm around my shoulder, towering over me like he still does, with messy hair and a cute smile.
"Wait," I said, taking the picture from Callie's hand and held it beside Will's face, who stood beside me now.
"Callie are you sure that's him?"
"What do you mean, Harp?" Will rolled his eyes at me.
"The kid in the picture is adorable, which you are definitely not," I said.
"Very funny, look at this one. It's definitely a keeper," he said, taking another picture from Callie. Will and I were sitting on a staircase with ice cream cones in our hands. Will was holding his one up like a trophy and my ice cream was melting all over my hand and smothered over my face. Well I guess looking horrible was a trait of mine.
"Oh, I remember this day," Callie looked at the picture adoringly.
"You both used to race around the hospital, and one day Harper fell down and scraped her knee. Will cried more than you and you asked your Mom to get ice cream for him so he would stop crying."
I looked at Will as if he was the most adorable thing ever.
"Stop looking at me like that Harp."
"You cried for me? Aww you little cutie," I reached up and pinched his cheeks, and he tried to swat my hand away.
"Mom, please leave. I feel emasculated right now," he shot a glare at me.
"Okay sure, I'll let you kids get back to your conversation," Callie happily skipped out of the room with the pictures in her hand.
"Why can't you just go dress shopping with Kenzie?" He asked.
"Kenzie went to meet her senile grandmother. Please Will, I don't want to go dress shopping alone," I pleaded.
"No Harp."
"Please."
"No."
"Please Will?"
"No."
"Please, please ,please Will?"
"No."
"Pretty ple-"
"NO."
This bitch.
"Fine, I'm going back home now, while everyone goes dress shopping and then when I finally get a chance to go, all the pretty dresses will be gone and I'll have a horrible prom experience," I snapped.
"Thanks to you," I mumbled and left his room, rushing down the stairs as I bumped into Callie.
"Harper, why are you leaving so soon?" She asked.
"It's nothing, I just have to get home," I gave her a small smile and just as I was about to leave, I heard footsteps behind me.
"Let's go before I change my mind," Will said, smoothly skipping down the steps.
"Where are you two going?" Callie asked.
A smile spread over my face in utter happiness.
"Dress shopping."