{46}✔️

Billie's POV

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"She wants to go, so I'm asking her Friday," I explained. "I just don't know how, though. I know it's supposed to be special, but I'm not good with that kind of stuff."

"Didn't you tell me you write music? You and your brother could write her a song." Bea suggested. I shook my head. "That's cliche as fuck."

"So, I'm guessing you don't wanna make her a poster either?"

"Absolutely not."

"I think you should just ask. Like, hey we're dating so...Maybe we should go to this together?" Finneas suggested. I narrowed my eyes at him. "What part of 'special' don't you get? I feel like she'd dump me on the spot if I just asked her like that...How does Claudia put up with you?" I rolled my eyes.

"I'm romantic!" He defended himself. "I just think it's pretty on brand for you to just come out and ask like it's no big deal...But if you don't wanna go that route, maybe you should consider hiring a mariachi band because I swear—"

"Next idea." I don't know what the fuck his obsession with mariachi bands is, but that's always what he suggests.

"Maybe you should ask her friends? I'm sure they'd know." Bea shrugged before popping another pickle into her mouth. I crinkled my nose in disgust. I don't know why she likes pickles and I don't know why she insisted on eating a whole jar of pickles rather than letting one of us make her something to eat, and I don't know why we even had a jar of pickles here in the first place. I'm disgusted.

"That's a nice idea...You know, when your dad asked me to prom, he did it by making me a short film." My mom interjected. I smirked at her. "Was it one of those old, silent, black and white films?"

"Haha, I'm so old." She grumbled sarcastically. "At least he knew how to ask me."

She's got me there.

"I'm gonna call Cadence." I sigh, excusing myself from the kitchen table. I hear Bea and Finneas start arguing about food once again and my mom and dad talking about some business deal they're working on as I leave.

Once I get to my room, I dial the number and wait for her to pick up. Hopefully, she isn't with Dahlia yet. I know they're hanging out today after Dahlia spends some time with Caden.

"What's up?"

I breathe a sigh of relief after hearing her voice. "Dahlia mentioned going dress shopping with you yesterday when I was driving her home and I know she wouldn't have mentioned that if she didn't wanna go to the dance, so now I'm trying to figure out how to ask her and I wanna make it special but not cliche and I have no idea what to do because what if I mess this up and she refuses to go with me because if I fuck up asking her imagine how bad I could fuck up at the actual dance. What if I mess this up and she dumps me? What if she doesn't even wanna go?" I rushed out.

She was silent for a moment before she laughed loudly. "Y'all two are some damn fools, you know that?"

"What?"

"Don't worry, she really wants to go and I know that because she's been talking to me about it for a few days. She saw a dress she really wants and that's mainly why she wants to go." She laughed. "She wants you to ask her."

"But how?"

"I don't know. Why don't you get her like a thousand roses or something?"

"Ew." I rolled my eyes. "God, I don't even know what I'm gonna wear." This is the first time I'm even thinking about this.

"That's good! When she buys her dress you can just find something that matches—"

"Wait!" I gasped. "I know how I could ask her! I can buy her dress for her and wrap it up all fancy and shit and give it to her as a gift and—"

"You know she's not gonna like that. I'm pretty sure the dress she wants is like $600 dollars or something. She's gonna have a whole breakdown if you spend that type of money on her."

"I'm not trying to be rude, but can she even afford a $600 dollar dress?"

"She's saved a lot of money over the past few months."

"She could use that money for something else instead. I'm gonna get her that dress."

"Billie—"

"I'll tell her that it was on sale or something? I'll tell her I only paid like $250 at the most for it."

Cadence was silent for a moment before she let out a small sigh. "Well, god damn I wish you were my damn date. My dress is fucking $700."

I chuckled and shook my head. "I could pay for yours too if you want?" I offered. I like Cadence. She's nice to Dahlia and she's nice to me.

"You're a sweetheart—"

"Don't tell anyone that."

"—But no thanks. I'm gonna sweet talk my dad into paying for it and then tell my mom he refused so she'll give me some money too."

"Finesse the plug, I guess." I smirked.

"Always. I'll text you a picture of her dress. It's in that little boutique in the mall—You know the one?"

"I do."

"Dope! I'll ask the lady who owns it if she'll make sure nobody else gets it. She likes me so she'll probably hold it for a while."

"Okay, thank you so much for this, Cadence! Seriously."

"It's no problem. Thanks for making my best friend so happy all the time. Bye, Bil."

After hanging up, I plopped down on my bed and let out a pleased sigh. I'm actually really excited for this.

***

I ended up going to the mall at 10 because I knew with it being late not many people would be here and I knew Dahlia and Cadence would be done shopping by now. I marched right into the boutique, phone in hand. Cadence had sent me the picture of the dress Dahlia wanted and I want to get it as soon as possible. It's beautiful, and I know she'll look beautiful in it.

"Slow down, it's hard running in heels!" Bea whined as she scurried along after me. I snorted and sped up until I finally got to the counter.

I showed the lady the dress and she went to get it for me while I started looking around.

"I already know which one I'm getting." Bea smirked as she went toward the back of the store. I was about to follow her when something caught my eye.

A dress that looked kinda similar to Dahlia's. I'm pretty sure nobody really expects me to wear a dress, seeing as I fucking hate them and nobody at school has ever seen me in anything that isn't at least three sizes too big, and that's exactly why I am going to wear a dress. I like to do shit nobody expects.

I grabbed the dress and placed it on the counter before looking around for shoes.

Once Bea and I had found everything, we each paid for our stuff before walking out of the store.

"We're all gonna look hot." She grinned. I nodded in agreement. I can't stop thinking about how good Dahlia's gonna look when she puts that dress on. I might just fuck around and lose my soul when I see her in it.

"Are you bringing that girl you were telling me about?" I asked curiously. Bea nodded and rested her cheek in the palm of her hand. I smirked, knowing she always does that when she's blushing.

"Somebody's got a crush! Somebody's got a crush!" I teased in a sing-song voice.