Chapter Text
Prom. It was all that people talked about in St. Matthew’s Academy. That and Illi. Illi was a weird girl. She liked DND, Audrey Hepburn, Fangoria, and croquet. In fact she was captain of the croquet team. Now she was seen as an outcast by some of the students at that damned school. Why you may ask? She’s trans. And to put it simple the school was a Catholic school. Illi was used to it. The deadnaming, transphobia, being in the office to try to convince them to wear the girl’s uniforms. But no matter how many people tried to bring her down she didn’t let them…Until prom.
Illi had been out with her friends to pick out a dress. Frank, Ray, her brother Mikey, and a girl named Mary. Mary was like the sister Illi never had. They met while secretly smoking under the bleachers and Illi shared with Mary the struggles she went through and how desperately she wanted to wear the girls uniform. So the next day Mary showed up in the boys uniform in protest. Her older brother used to go to St. Matthew’s so that’s how she got the uniform. Mary did get in trouble and was sent home to change but she didn’t care. Plus her parents were proud of her so she didn’t care about getting in trouble at school.
“You think light pink would look good on me?” Illi asks while holding up a light pink dress. Ray chuckled and asked, “Since when have you ever worn pink?” “Just a thought! I’m allowed to dress preppy once in a while!” Illi exclaimed. Frank was trying to find a dress he thought would be perfect for Illi. To him Illi was a goddess. She was “as pretty as a flower in bloom” so he told Mary. Illi went to go and try on the pink dress while the boys and Mary were looking for picks. She soon stepped out confidently posing for them and doing little hair flips. “What do you guys think?” She asked. Mikey gave his sister a thumbs up, Ray said, “You look nice Illi!” Mary clapped her hands together, “So cute!” And Frank was left speechless. She was so breathtaking. “Uh…Nice. A flower would look nice in your hair.” Illi went over to the closest mirror and said, “You’re right!”
After dress shopping the group was walking around the mall while sipping on boba tea they had gotten. Something caught Illi’s eyes. A Fangoria magazine. It was the House Of 1000 Corpses special addition. “Yoooo!” Illi said while practically pressing her face on the glass. “Dammit! I’m a dollar short.” She said. Ray replied, “Eh guess it wasn’t meant to be.” Illi quickly joined back the group and they started heading out the mall. Frank on the other hand stopped and told them he would just get his mom to pick him up. They said their goodbyes to him and left.
Frank headed into the store and bought the magazine for Illi.
The next day at school Frank had the magazine in his backpack. He had a plan. Illi was excited for prom but didn’t have a date yet. He would ask her out with the magazine. Frank decided on doing it after school though. Him and the group always walked home together. That’s when he would make his move.
Frank was with Ray walking to their chemistry class. Illi soon joined them but something was off about her. Her makeup was smudged and her vibe didn’t seem like her. If Frank and Ray knew one thing about Illi McMillin it was that she always made herself look perfect. “You good Ills?” Ray asked. She sighed trying to put up a facade. “Yeah! Just ready for chemistry!” The boys knew she had recently taken that class more seriously so she could be eligible for prom. But she already got it up pretty high and there were no major grades that were going to be put in. “That’s unlike you.” Frank said. Illi shrugged and said, “Eh didn’t know my love for it until I actually paid attention to the class.” She then walked ahead of them. Huh. Weird.
It was now later after school. Frank and Illi walked in front of Mikey, Ray, and Mary. Ray and Mary huddled up with Mikey watching him play his Nintendo DS. Illi was sipping on an apple juice while listening to the ‘Foo Fighters’ on her iPod as she walked. This was his moment. Frank was going to ask the girl he liked out. He cleared his throat.
“Hey…Illi.” She took one earbud out while raising an eyebrow. The two stopped walking. Frank started to rummage through his backpack till finally he was able to grab the Fangoria magazine. He then handed it to her. Boy did her eyes lite up. “Oh my gosh?! No way! Haha! Thank you so much, Frankie!” Illi said while spinning around. She started looking through it and said, “Aw look! It’s Sherri Moon when she was chasing Jennifer Jostyn! Oh and Bill Moseley in his face paint! Ugh so cool! Thank you so much Frankie!” Illi giggled.
To that Frank took in a breath. It was now or never. “You’re really cool Illi…You know that?” Illi tilted her head and giggled. “Where is this coming from?” In the back the game Mikey was playing was completely forgotten as him, Mary, and Ray looked up at Frank and Illi. “Just…” Frank continued, “You’re fun to hang around. There is no dull moment with you and call me crazy but I look forward everyday to go to school. That’s because I know I get to see you and…Illi will you go to prom with me?” Illi’s eyes got wide and she was left speechless. She then broke the silence and said, “Oh Frankie…No.” “WHAT?!” Ray, Mikey, and Mary all collectively said.
“Oh…” Frank said. “Oh it has nothing to do with you!” Illi said. “Then why’d you say no?” Her face got somber and she replied, “Because I can’t go. They won’t let me go unless I wear a suit.”
Fuck. Frank should’ve known.