Broken // Michael Clifford (book 1)

Chapter 12

I still can't believe he asked me. We are currently talking about grades in Social Studies, but my mind is elsewhere. I imagine prom, the shimmering lights, the slow dances. My mom will be so happy that I am going instead of saying at home. Penny smiles at me and I remember that we were going to get dresses this weekend.

Cal joins us at the table, and we devour the huge pizza in minutes.
"Where did you get this big ass pizza anyway?" Calum pipes up.
"Jerome's. Special order of course."
"Ohhhh." We all say, knowing that Jerome's actually specializes in large pizzas. When lunch ends, Michael takes me by my hand and walks us outside.
"Are you sure about this? I'm not trying to rush into things, I just don't want another guy to take you to prom, considering it's the night every 17 year old dreams of." He says, ending the sentence with a sarcastic tone. I nod and smile.
"Who else would I want to go with?" Michael grins and pulls me into another hug. We walk back to class, and I put my head on his shoulder, finally not caring if people see us.

I hear the doorbell ring as I am getting ready for the mall. Penny steps in, happier than usual.
"Are you ready?"
"Yeah, I guess."
"Why are you so sad? Your going to fucking prom Kate." She seems pissed.
"I don't know, I guess I'm just not a girly girl, so I don't enjoy proms or dresses as much."
"Well Kate, you will learn to enjoy them. Especially if you are with the one you love."
"I don't love him, Penny. I am strongly fond of him. There is a difference."
"That's bullshit Kate." She laughs. "I see the way you look at him. Your smile has changed from a fake one into a real one. Don't think I don't notice this stuff Kate."
I never even knew that I looked at him in a special way. I never knew that I had a true smile. Maybe Michael isn't hurting me anymore. Maybe he is healing me instead.
We hop in her old truck and head to Pines Mall, prepared for our huge shopping trip.

Penny holds open the door for me as I step into Maureen's, and smell of fabric and lilacs fill my nostrils. The shop is clean cut and chic.
"Hello! Are you looking for anything in particular?" A perky lady asks us at the counter. Her name tag reads Lucy Greendale, sales assistant.
"Yes actually. We were wondering where your prom dresses were?" Penny speaks in a polite tone. Lucy walks out from the counter and leads us to the dresses, her high heels clicking the whole way. She shows us to the racks, and me and Penny browse the isles.
"Did a chicken throw up on this one?" Penny laughs while holding up a white feathered dress. I laugh and continue to flip through the dresses. I come across a pink chiffon dress with little flowers around a pink belt and place it in my pile. After half an hour of looking, my eyes find the perfect one. It is a beautiful lace prom dress with a sweetheart neckline and a flowing bottom skirt that is shorter in the front and longer in the back. I smile at my find.
"Ready to try them on?" Penny asks with a handful of dresses in her hand. I nod and we head over to the changing area.
Penny goes first, and she either hates it or loves it, nothing in between. Her first choice is a blue chiffon dress that cuts off at the knees with black ruffles. I scrunch my nose at it, and she heads back into the dressing room. After endless ruffles and prints, she walks out with a huge smile on her face.
"I... I really like this." She says, looking down at her dress. The fabric is a deep purple with slight ruffling at the bottom and jewels around the neckline.
"I do too Penny." She looks so beautiful in this dress, and I can't help but feel happy for her that she has finally found someone to go to prom. This is all she has dreamed about since she was five.
It is my turn in the dressing room, and I go in, locking the door behind me. I choose the pink one to try on first, and it doesn't look half bad. My hand slowly wraps around the handle, pulling the door open.
"It's nice Kate, but it's just not you."
"Yeah I agree. Not to mention this belt is cutting off my circulation." She laughs and I head back inside the room. After more dresses and sequins, I put on the last one - the lace dress. The material slowly slips down over my face, eventually settling on my body. The material hugs my figure perfectly, showing off every hidden curve. The lace makes me look more delicate, more beautiful. I have never looked at myself as pretty, let alone beautiful before. Ever since Michael, I have thought better of myself. I continue to look into the mirror, my scars still showing, but they continue to fade. My hair falls in small strands, falling on my bare neck. I tuck a curl behind my ear and stand tall. I feel happy in this. With this dress, I am no longer a girl who is broken. I am now a strong girl who holds her head high. My feet slowly walk out of the dressing room, and as soon as Penny sees me, she gasps.
"Oh my god Kate. You look... So beautiful. Michael will love it."
"Yeah. I really like this one. You think he will?" I blush.
"Fuck yeah Kate. I'm sure he would rather see it off of you but.." Before she can finish, I hit her in the arm.
"Ow!"
"Shut up!" I say laughing. "Michael isn't going to see anything under this dress. EVER."
"Ever?" Penny smirks. I smack her once more and go back into the room to change my clothes. We buy the dresses along with some black pumps for Penny, and some white stilettos for me.
When we arrive at my house, my mom is home. Oh no.
"Kate! Where have you..." She stops as soon as she sees Penny.
"Oh okay. Why do you have that Maureen's bag?" Silence fills the entryway we stand in.
"You got asked to prom didn't you Kate? Why didn't you tell me?" Mom seems hurt as soon as she realizes why we have the bags.
"Yeah, I did mom. I don't know why I didn't tell you. I'm sorry."
"It's okay dear. As long as my baby girl is happy. Anyway, who's taking you?" Her tone is happy now.
"Well... You remember I told you about that kid Michael I had to do that stupid science project with?"
"Yes..." Her voice goes from excited to worried.
"He's taking me. Michael is actually really sweet mom. He has made me feel happy and he has cared for me. If you need to, you can meet him sometime mom. It's just... I never thought I could love anyone again... But then I met Michael." My words stun me as I speak them. I never admitted that I loved him before.
"Okay, I believe you." She sighs, and sits down on the couch.
"Hey Kate, I would love to stay, but Cal's waiting for me at the bowling alley." I roll my eyes.
"Okay." I sigh, and Penny lets herself out though the front door. My mom continues to sit on the couch watching some reality T.V show, so I decide to go and join her. She looks at me and scoots over, leaving me a place on the sofa. I rest my head on her shoulder and she strokes my hair, kind of like how Michael does it. She supprises me by talking.
"You really do love this boy, don't you?"
"Yeah." I breathe. "I really do." She kisses me on my head and I slowly fall asleep, dreaming of prom.