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If there are any benefits to dating a girl five years younger than him, Annakiss is pretty sure that getting to repeat the senior prom is one of them.
His own senior prom went… badly. His long time girlfriend broke up with him a few weeks before, and when he saw her there at the prom with some other guy, he tried to take apart his face. He was lucky that the worst that happened was that they both got kicked outside: he was pissed off enough to do something he’d seriously regret, such as getting himself in jail. He’d regret that. Not so much whatever happened to that douchebag.
He’s getting pissed off about it again, when he should be focusing on how much better Irene’s prom is going to be. He’s already rented his tuxedo and bought her a corsage, though he hasn’t seen her dress yet so he couldn’t get it to compliment the colors. He’s sure whatever Irene wears, she’ll be absolutely stunning in. She always is.
Annakiss is reaching for the phone to rent a limousine when his special ringtone for Irene starts playing. He recognizes it within the first bar and hurries to answer. “Hello, Irene?”
“Hey.” Irene sounds casual and relaxed. She’s never been one to get nervous over the phone. “I was wondering if you’d come play roller derby with me next Friday night?”
“Of course! I’m always happy to spend time with you. Just let me check my schedule-” Annakiss glances over to the calendar on the wall and sees next Friday circled in red. “-Irene, that’s prom night.”
“Yeah, I was thinking I wouldn’t go to prom,” says Irene. “You weren’t getting worked up over it, were you?”
Annakiss stares at the phone in silence for a second. Finally, he croaks, “I… but, we...”
A sigh that manages to sound fond. At least, Annakiss assumes she means it fondly. “Did you forget that there’s an age limit to the people you can bring as your date? You couldn’t come anyway, even if I invited you.”
He did completely forget that. It’s been a while since he had a prom of his own.
“It’s not a big deal. I’d rather have fun than slow dance and eat catered food for a whole night, and roller derby is cheaper. So, are you still coming?” Irene asks.
“Roller derby isn’t as romantic as what I’d hoped for,” says Annakiss slowly. “Can I still give you a corsage?”
Irene replies, “It might fall off during the game, but sure, why not. I’m not wearing a dress, though.”
Annakiss smiles, picking up a marker and correcting the note on his calendar from ‘prom night’ to ‘date night’. “You’ll look stunning even in protective gear.”
Snort. “You’d think I looked stunning in a paper sack. Or covered with dirt. Or on fire.”
“Is that a problem? You’re always gorgeous to me. Don’t light yourself on fire,” Annakiss adds. “Not that you would to prove a point.”
“I wouldn’t light myself on fire for any reason, are you kidding? You’re weird, Annakiss.”