Page 12 of Irons

“What do you mean?” I looked up at him and he flashed me that handsome smile.

“Let’s be fashionably late for our first date. I just text my brother and he’s on his way to pick us up.”

“Are you serious?” I asked as I placed my hand in his. I was still a mess and tremendously hurt by Travis.

“Starting right now, you’re my girl, at least for tonight.” He gave me a wink and I smiled through my heartache.

I was actually surprised he showed up without a date. I thought for sure he would have asked Tia to the dance, but she ended up going with Kyle. Tia said Matt never asked like most of us predicted. None of us would have guessed he didn’t ask her. She had a crush on him, and we thought he would like her too.

That was exactly what happened. My dad was fine with me going in the car for one night with his brother who was a senior, and we were fashionably late. We had our picture taken together by the photographer the school hired, and I sat with all my friends. It did ease my pain a little, and I plastered a smile on my face and tried to have fun. Matt was tall, muscular like Travis, with dark hair and really pretty hazel eyes. He was the most popular boy in our freshman class. He was also funny, kind, and really smart. He got really good grades and had a lot of friends. He wasn’t a judgmental prick like a lot of guys. He also never said an unkind word about Travis. He was known for being extra good at football, but he was also known as the most adorable guy in the school. He had a sister a year older than us with down syndrome and he was really protective of her. He even helped out with her special Olympics meets. He walked her to class every morning, and whenever she got upset during school, she cried for Matt, and they would pull him out of class. He took her everywhere with him. To the movies, the mall, the skating rink, and even some of his practices if his parents didn’t get off work on time to pick her up from school.

There I was, sitting with one of the best guys in our class. I had a broken heart because the boy I loved didn’t love me in return. Then my knight in shining armor saved the day and took me to the dance.

Matt asked me to dance our first slow dance, and I accepted. Being close to him didn’t feel as wrong as I thought, but it still didn’t feel like it did with Travis.

“You’re the prettiest, smartest and best female athlete in the school, Wrenly.” Matt smiled as he looked down at me.

“Thank you for doing this tonight, Matt. You could be hanging out with all your friends instead of trying to make me feel better.”

He lowered his head and whispered in my ear. “Can I tell you a secret?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

“I knew you were coming with Travis, and I didn’t want a date unless it was with you. That’s why I was going stag. Travis is a nice guy, so I wouldn’t have asked unless he wasn’t bringing you. All my friends said you were coming with him, so I didn’t ask you or anyone else.”

I blushed and didn’t know what to say. So, it took me a minute to reply. “I can’t say I mind at all. You’re so nice to me and I really needed it tonight.”

As we slow danced, I saw a blond with curly hair dancing with a boy that was facing away from me. It was Stacy, and she blew me a kiss before she smiled and waved at me. My heart once again crumbled because that boy was Travis.

She whispered something to him, and he went to look at me, but I turned my head away from them. I was hurt and couldn’t even cry because I was surrounded by people. I bit back my tears, because that was the moment it finally set in. Travis didn’t love me the same way I loved him. It was time to give up all my hopes and dreams and focus on my own life.

When the song ended, my friends pulled me away from Matt and got me out to fast dance. I may have acted like I was having fun, but I was dying on the inside. I didn’t see Travis anywhere, but Matt was sitting with his friends watching me with a smile on his face.

As I smiled back at Matt, a familiar feeling hit me, and I could feel the goosebumps before a set of arms wrapped around me from behind. I shivered when I felt a hot breath against my ear. “I knew you’d find someone better. I’m glad it’s Matt and not some prick. I still love you, but this is what’s best for you.”

Travis was gone as fast as he came, and I didn’t see him again that night.

Present Day

The dress brought back bittersweet memories, because I may have gotten my heart broken that night, but it was also one of the best nights of my life.

Matt and I started out as friends. He took me to his sisters Special Olympics events, we went for burgers after school a lot, and he was responsible for all my prom dresses. Since prom was for Juniors and Seniors, neither one of us planned to go until a few upper classmen asked us for dates. I went with Brian my freshman year and Joey my Sophomore year. Matt went with Tabby our freshman year and then Alexis his sophomore year. They were both juniors that didn’t have dates, but they did have disabilities and participated in Special Olympics. Matt and I had so much fun, but then started dating our sophomore year. Matt might not have been the first boy I loved, but he was a guy I did eventually love very deeply. He was my first everything. My first date, my first kiss, and my first lover. He was also the father of the baby I lost the summer after graduation.

We were set to go to college together, but after I had the miscarriage I lost a part of myself. He went to college, and I ran away to the Marines.

I put the dress away and wiped away a tear. When I was over in the sandbox, Matt graduated college and was drafted to the Kansas City Chiefs. I was so proud of him, but ever seeing him again would be incredibly painful. I loved our baby more than anything and that loss was the greatest pain I ever felt.

I put the dresses away then picked out an outfit for the evening. I chose jeans, a sweater, and cowgirl boots. My hair was left down in messy waves, and I did my makeup so my eyes would pop.

Heather let me borrow her car, and I arrived just in time at the bar. In the parking lot, a group of familiar faces were waiting for me. I was excited and quickly jumped out of the car to hug my old friends. It was Jill, Tia, Amberley, Brianna, and Sloan. Of course, all eyes were on us as we squealed and hugged all over each other. We then paid the cover charge and ordered our first round of beer.

Amberley married Steve and they had two kids, Sloan married Derrick, and they just had their first child over the summer. Jill married a man she met in college, and they didn’t have kids yet. Brianna and Tia were still just as single as me.

Cotton Eye Joe came on and of course we had to run out to the dance floor. We danced and laughed then danced some more. Yes, we were approached by a few cowboys, but our night wasn’t about any men. It was about catching up and having fun.

That was until I was walking toward the bathroom and my eyes met a familiar pair of hazel ones looking back at me. Eyes I dreamed about when I wondered if our baby would have the same color.

Panic Attack

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