Page 116 of Glad You Exist

It’s what Aunt Cat wanted. Liz will regret it if she doesn’t come.

When I went over to her place yesterday after school, Dan said she was spending the weekend with Uncle Will. She never told him we broke up. When he realized what happened, it took a bit of convincing but eventually he caved after I told him what I had planned. He agreed to help and even enlisted Olivia’s help. Under the pretense of wanting to go out, she sent Liz home to get more “appropriate” clothes.

Hopefully Summer and Kyle were able to intercept Liz and Mom got there in time.

I spent all night making the graphics in the video, but the words came easy. Liz is everything to me and more. The thought of losing her guts me. This has to work.

I tap my foot impatiently. I wanted to go get her myself, but Kim insisted this would be better. I didn’t want to argue with her seeing as I had to nearly beg for her and Kyle’s help when I chased after her at lunch yesterday.

I look around the ballroom our school rented out for prom. Most of our class is already here and prom started a little over an hour ago. They must be as excited as I am just to get this ritual over with. I try to distract myself by focusing on crossing off my mental checklist.

Perks of being class president. I have to remind myself again that it looked great on college applications. I got into my target school because of this.

Photographer, check. Photo ops, check. Appetizer table, still full, check. Punchbowl, check.

Already spiked by the looks of it. Band setting up, check. DJ in the corner, check.

Liz standing at the top of the staircase…

“Check.” I whisper, just as Kim says, “She’s here.”

A lump forms in my throat.

My girl is beautiful.

I hear Kim whisper, “Oh my god. She looks like a princess.”

I rise from my seat as I take her in. Her hair is pinned in a low bun with pearls strategically placed on the top of it. Short curls frame her face.

And that dress…Shit.

I’ve seen the dress before and even went with her when she got it altered again. I never actually saw it on her. The sight of her steals my breath.

I watch as Kyle whispers something in her ear and she smiles down at him as he moves ahead of her. He catches my eye and gives me a thumbs up before meeting Kim halfway.

I see them make their way to the dance floor out of the corner of my eye.

I cross the room to her.

She’s scanning the room as she makes her way down the stairs.

I’m only half aware of the group of hockey players watching her walk down with interest.

Mine.

I reach the bottom of the stairs just as her gaze lands on me. Her eyes soften when she sees me, and she stills with one hand on the railing.

“You look…beautiful.”

“So do you.”

“Seriously, you look like a princess.”

Her eyes brighten with a mixture of hope and amusement. She looks down at herself.

“I’d pass along the message to my fairy godmother, but I have a feeling you knew about it.”

I smile at that. I hadn’t needed to ask my mom twice. She was more than eager to help. I don’t know how she did it, but she managed to book a hair and makeup team within a few hours.

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