The Reluctant Prom Date

by Melanie Brown
Copyright © 2006

 

Part 10

"For the last time, I said no!" Diane folded her arms across her chest as she plopped down on her bed..

"Please?" I begged as I followed her into her room and sat down next to her on the bed.

"No!  Now leave me alone!"

"Oh, come on, Diane!"

"Chrissy, I realize that you're the kind of girl who can't say 'no', but I'm not.  Saying no is easy for me."

"At least tell me why not," I said, letting the insult slide.

"I've told you already!  I'm too old to be you. I haven't done cheerleading in years.  And I just don't want to!" 

I said, "You were going to be me for the physical!"

Diane frowned.  "That's different.  I don't have to do any jumping around for that!"

I stared at my hands and sighed.  "I guess Coach Renwick was right.  She didn't think you'd be up to the job anyway.  I wish I'd never gotten these boobs, now!"  I was on the verge of tears again.

Diane put her hand on my shoulder and said, "Coach Renwick said what?"

Trying to fight back tears I said, "She said she thought you were too old anyway.  She said you'd never be able to keep up with the seventeen year old girls there."

Diane bristled.  She said, "You're lying!  Coach wouldn't say that!  I'm her best cheerleader."

I shook my head and pointed at my chest.  "That would be me now.  I'm her best.  And I'm not lying.  You can ask her yourself.  That's what she said."

Diane's eyes flashed.  "That's just crazy!  I can blow the pom-poms off of any of cheerleader on the squad!  I'm serious!"

I laughed and said, "You?  You're practically on Social Security!  You couldn't cheer your way out of a wet paper bag!"

Diane gave me a shove that almost catapulted me off the bed.  She said, "I'm only twenty-three you little skank!  I can still out-cheer anyone on your squad!"  She pulled my hair.

I pulled her hand away from my hair, and whacked her in the head with a pillow.  I shouted, "Prove it!"

With her pillow she pounded me with a punishing body blow that caused me to slide off the bed.  She shouted back, "I don't have to prove anything!  I'm the best cheerleader that school ever saw!"

Giggling, with hair going in all directions, I sat up beside the bed and said, "Maybe back in the Stone Age!  But you don't hold a candle to Mandy or me!  I now hold that best Cheerleader title, oh ancient one!"

She pulled my hair again and pelted me with her pillow.  "Stone Age?! I could take your spot right now and everyone would say, 'Hey, when did Chrissy finally learn how to be a cheerleader?'"

Pulling the hair from my face I said, "Well, do it!  Prove me wrong!"

Throwing her pillow at me, catching me between the eyes, she said, "No, I'm just saying I'm better.  I don't want to be a high school cheerleader again."

I pulled her hair and shouted, "Chicken!  You just don't want to prove I'm right!  You don't want to look foolish in front of the squad while trying, and failing, to do a cheer!"

"What?  Are you deaf?"  Diane sat up straight.  "I already told you I can cheer circles around you and the other girls."

I shook my head and said, "I don't believe you.  I'd have to see it. In fact, I'd love to see you try to cheer while carrying a cane!"

Diane said through clenched teeth, "I can out-cheer all of you!  I'll show you!  When is the next practice?"

"Tomorrow, right after school." I said.

Angrily Diane said, "Fine!  I'll be there!"

Equally angrily, I said while leaning in towards her, "Fine!"  I got off the bed and quickly left the room.

I walked to my room with an ear-to-ear grin.  Diane is so predictable...

*   *   *

 

We'd all found a reason to leave class right after the start of third period and meet up in Coach Renwick's office.

Coach leaned back in her chair and said, "Okay, Chrissy.  We're all here.  What kind of news do you have for us?"

I looked first at Coach Renwick, and then I looked at each girl's expectant face as they all circled the small office.  I smiled slightly and said, "Okay guys, I think I have my sister hooked.  She's taken the bait and now all we have to do is reel her in."

Brandi asked, "Did you watch a fishing show last night?"

Ignoring her, I said, "I got her to want to prove she still has what it takes to be the best cheerleader.  She's coming to practice today as me.  She's even going to use a temporary dye to get her hair darker like mine.  Her ego just needs some egging on.  We just want to push her over the top, not over the edge."

Mandy asked, "Like, how?  What do you want us to do?"

"Just little irritating things, like saying 'I didn't know dinosaurs shaved their legs.'  Crap like that.  We want to tweak her ego, not piss her off.  If she gets really mad, she's more likely to just say screw you and walk off."

Coach Renwick said, "Got that girls?  Needle her; don't make her mad."  Pointing at me, Coach continued, "You're not going to be there, right?  You need to make sure you stay home then.  Okay girls, I think we have a plan.  See you this afternoon."

As we all started to leave, Coach Renwick said, "Oh, just one other thing.  Don't forget our last fundraiser this Saturday.  We're going to be doing the car wash right out there in the north parking lot.  Chrissy, I want you to help out on this, not your sister, okay?"

I said, "I'll be there, Coach."

*   *   *

 

"Wait, wait, wait." I said.  Diane was sitting next to me on the couch, trying to keep from laughing.  The rest of the squad had gathered at our house and were sitting around at various locations in the living room.  "Tell me what happened, but start at the beginning!"

Diane had been going to practice all week.  Coach Renwick and the whole squad had been pleasantly surprised that Diane was still every bit the cheerleader's cheerleader. 

This afternoon -- this Friday -- the squad was to go through a full dress rehearsal of the stunts we were going to be doing at Contest.  Well, not really a 'we', since I wasn't going.  Anyway, some local media and a lot of the students had gathered for a preview.

Gesturing with her hands, Diane said, "Okay, check this out.  We were all on the stage, right?  We had done a few of our routines when your favorite chick, Sandy runs up on stage."

My eyes went wide as I said, "Oh my God!  Really?  Why?  I bet Coach freaked!"

Mandy laughed and said, "Oh yeah!  She freaked all right."

Diane said, "None of us knew what was going on, right?  I remembered this bitch from the fashion show.  She runs up on stage and I'm thinking, 'what the hell?' 

"Anyway, that skank yells out, 'I'm putting an end to this circus right now!'  I looked at Mandy and she just shrugged.  And then one of Sandy's little bitch toadies popped a balloon behind us.  Made us all look, right?  We looked away from Sandy, right?"  Diane started laughing.

"Yeah?  Yeah?" I said, motioning for Diane to hurry up.  "So, what happened?"

Taking a gulp of air, Diane continued, "She took me totally by surprise.  You know what that little bitch did?"

"No!" I almost screamed.  "What!?"

"While we were looking the other way, she jumped at me, ripped my panties down to my ankles and then grabbed me around the waist, lifted my skirt up and shouted, 'Look everyone!  Look at what your favorite cheerleader really is!'

"Everyone in the gym was shocked.  The T.V. news camera was pointed straight at me. The girls sat there in stunned silence for a moment.  But when the boys all started cheering and yelling, Sandy looked around to my front and began to shout, 'No!  No!  It can't be!  You can't be a girl!  I know what I saw...'  Her face turned about three shades of red as she ran from the gym crying hysterically.  I quickly pulled my skirt down.  I was never so embarrassed!"

Laughing I said, "Horse puckey!  You know you loved it having all those guys lusting after you!  Oh snap!  I wish I could have been there! I would have loved to have seen Sandy’s face!"

After a good round of laughter at Sandy's expense, we settled in for a nice long session of girl talk.  Mom even passed out snacks for us. It was close to turning into a party.  Suddenly the doorbell rang.

Mandy peered through the little peephole and whispered, "It's Sandy!"

I jumped up and said, "I don't know why she's here, but Diane, you'd better become invisible quick!"

Diane nodded and scurried off to her room.  I opened the door to greet a wretchedly depressed looking Sandy.  She was holding a box and it looked like her dad was waiting in their car by the curb.  I waved at him and he waved back.

With exaggerated pleasantness, I said, "Well, hello Sandy.  Did you want another view?"

If looks could kill, I'd be a greasy spot on the floor.  Sandy said, "You're not funny.  I don't know what happened, but I can't deny what I saw this time."  She handed me the box and said, "I guess I owe this to you, and an apology.  At least that's what Dad said.  Here..."

I shook the package and then lifted it to my ear to listen for any ticking.  Sandy said disgustedly, "It's not a bomb you nit wit.  Anyway, it's yours. And...and I...I'm s-s-sorry."  Without another word, she turned on her heels and headed back to her dad’s car.

I took the package inside and placed it on the coffee table.  As Diane walked back into the room, a chorus of "Open it!" and "What is it?" filled the room.

I carefully opened the box, and to my surprise, lifted out the prom dress I'd hoped to win in the fashion show contest.

Mandy said while staring at the dress, "That is one gorgeous dress.  Hey, and like now you have boobs so you can actually wear it"

My prom dress!  I finally got my prom dress!  I held it up under my chin, trying to envision what I'll look like wearing it, when a thought dropped on me like a ton of bricks.   Jeff wasn't going to be taking me to the Prom.  I probably wouldn't be going at all. 

I started to cry.

*   *   *

 

Lying on my bed, Diane said, "You're going to your prom, okay?  So it won't be with Jeff.  I bet there're a hundred boys that would just love to take you.  We've been over this before!"

"I know.  I know.  Everyone knows by now that Jeff broke up with me, but so far, none of these hundreds of boys have asked me out," I said, absent-mindedly playing with the sheet on my bed.

Diane just smiled and said, "Give them time!  You're one of those intimidating girls, Chrissy.  You're beyond cute, you're a cheerleader, and you’re popular.  Some guys are put off by that at first."

Tears started to well up as I said, “Maybe.  Diane, I wanted to go to the prom with Jeff!  I’ve daydreamed about it for months!  And, with some other guy, I’ll have to worry about discovery.  I should probably just stay home.”

Diane sighed and said, “You’re not staying home!  If you don’t go to your prom, you’ll regret it. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life.  Don’t worry about discovery.  You’re not going to take your clothes off, unless you just decide you want to.  Don’t worry.  Just think about the cute guy you’re going to get to kiss.  Trust me, guys are going to start asking and don’t say yes to the first one that asks.  Hold out for a really cute one.”

I nodded and said, “I guess your right.  Prom is still several weeks away.  There’s time for some other guy to ask me.  But, I just wish I …”

Diane slapped the bed and yelled, “Stop that!  Forget about Jeff!  He’s over.  This week during cheerleader practice, I noticed a nice crop of really cute guys.  They’re there.  Give ‘em a chance!”

*   *   *

 

“Here’s a bucket and your sponge,” said Coach Renwick.  “The water hose and soap is over there.  Make sure you get the donation before you wash their car, okay?  Do you know how to use these?”

I just stared at her for a moment before saying, “Yes, I have washed a car before.”

It was a beautiful day for a car wash.  Mid-March, but already starting to get warm.  I looked at the others who were already washing cars.  Most were in bikinis.  I decided to just wear a t-shirt and shorts, with a bra under the t-shirt.  I thought wearing a bikini would be taking too big a risk of exposure.

“Hey guys!” I shouted as I ran up to where the washing was taking place.  I still hadn’t gotten completely used to way my breasts bounce around, even in the bra, when I run.

Mandy said, “Get some water and get washing girl!  At first we thought you weren’t going to show up.”

I turned around to go fill up my bucket.  Over my shoulder I said to Mandy, “I said I was going to be here, didn’t I?”

I hurried back, sloshing water everywhere.  I joined Mandy in washing the same car.  Most of the people lined up to get their car washed seemed to be high school and college guys.

It didn’t take long before we were splashing ourselves with more water than we were getting on the cars.  It also didn’t take long before my bra started chaffing me after it got really wet.  The door to the school was open and I darted into the girl’s restroom and removed my bra.

I returned and started washing the windshield of the next car.  I leaned across the windshield to get to bug spot that was a little stubborn.  After we finished washing the car, I watched it drive in a circle and get right back in line.  They must be nuts or something.

After washing several cars, several of them more than once, Coach Renwick came up to me and said, “Chrissy, come with me for a minute, please?”  We walked over to her car, parked a short distance from the car wash.

“What am I in trouble for now, Coach?”  I asked.

Coach Renwick laughed and said, “You’re guilty of giving our customers a little show along with their wash.”

Confused, I said, “I don’t know what you mean.”

Coach took out her cell phone.  It had a camera on it.  She then opened the door to her car and said, “Push your boobs against the glass.”  She then took a picture from the other side.  Smiling, she handed me the phone.

I squinted at the small screen and there, quite prominently, were my boobies in a very wet t-shirt, spread wide on the glass, the cold water making even my small nipples look larger. 

“Oh my!  I didn’t know!” I gasped.  I could feel my face getting red.

Coach Renwick laughed and said, “Well, you haven’t had them very long, so I guess you just didn’t think about it.”  She handed me a bikini top and said, “Here’s an extra top.  Why don’t you go change into this.  You can wear it with your shorts.”

"Thanks, Coach.  I honestly didn't know I was giving everyone a peep show."

I ran back to restroom and removed my wet t-shirt.  Before putting on the bikini top, I stood there a moment and looked at myself in the mirror.  I had to admit, I absolutely loved having breasts. I wished I had gotten them sooner, that's for sure.  And deeper down, I also had to admit that I got a little thrill that boys enjoyed my breasts too...

I looked at myself in the mirror with the bikini top on.  I loved the way it exposed the tops of my breasts and the way it pushed them together to make them look bigger.

When I arrived back at the car wash area in the bikini top, the guys in the cars waiting in line looked disappointed.  Their cars had already been washed at least once.  Even though it didn't have the same effect, I made sure I pressed my bikini into the wet windshield of the car I was washing.

As the car drove away, I said to Mandy, "Did you see how cute those guys were?"

Before going to the next car in line, Mandy said, "I thought that, except for Jeff, you weren't interested in guys."

Shrugging, I said, "That's been mostly true before, but now that Jeff is out of my life and now that I consider myself to be, at least inside, to be totally girl I've been noticing guys a lot."

Laughing, Mandy said, "That's all I need.  More competition."

*   *   *

 

I was on my way to work that afternoon, when I decided I’d better go to the grocery store to pick up some important items I was almost out of.  Items like foundation, mascara, and nail polish.

I paused for a moment in front of the shelves containing rows and rows of tampons.  I started to grow uneasy as the shelves practically shouted, “You’re not a real girl!”  In silly act of defiance, I plucked a box of pads from the shelf and put it in my basket and hurried away.

As I rounded the corner, I saw Jeff’s mom coming towards me.  I smiled and said, “Hi Mrs. K!  How ar…” 

Whack!

 

I reeled back a couple of steps, my face’s left cheek stinging.  Between the surprise and the pain, tears began to well up.  I cried, “Mrs. K! I…I…”

She walked up to me and I took a step back.  She bent down and whispered in a very stern voice, “That was for lying to me!  How dare you!  Not only did you lie, but you used your false feminine charms to confuse and seduce my son!  To think I welcomed you into our home!  To think that I thought Jeff might finally have found the girl.  We promised Jeff to keep your secret but you are never welcome in our home again!”

Wheels squeaking on her shopping cart, she quickly left the aisle and disappeared.

I just stood there and cried.

*   *   *

 

That evening, as I walked through the mall after my shift was done at the theater, I noticed a couple sitting on one of the benches across from the arcade.  It was almost embarrassing the way they were trying to suck each other’s tonsils out. 

I normally try to keep my nose out of other people’s business, but as I passed, I got a good look at the girl.  I was taken by surprise and said, “Dani!”

Dani looked up, trying to breathe.  “Chrissy…can we talk later?  I’m kinda busy here…”

I said, “Dani, well, we really do need to talk...” Before I could say anything else, they guy Dani was making out with turned to face me.  It was Jeff!

“Jeff!?”

“Chrissy…hey!” Jeff glanced over at Dani and then back to me.  He said, “Look, hey.  Mom told me about meeting you in the store.  Can we talk for a minute?”  He looked back over at Dani for a moment and said, “In private?”

Dani said, “I thought you said you were through with her?”

Trying to not look sheepish, Jeff said, “I am, babe, I am.  I just need to chat with her for a minute.  I’ll be right back.”

I folded my arms and frowned.  With a scowl I said, “What makes you think I’m interested in talking to you?”

Nodding his head in a 'come with me' gesture, Jeff said, "Please?"

"Okay.  Just one minute."

Dani said, "He's mine, Chrissy.  You gave him up."

After we got some distance between us and the crowd around the arcade, Jeff said, "I'm sorry that Mom was a little rough with you."

"A little?! Why did you have to tell them anything at all?"

Jeff looked down on the ground and said, "I had to tell my parents what was going on.  They couldn't believe I'd break up with you."

I folded my arms and said, "You could have told them anything but the truth about me.  You could have spared feelings all the way around."

"I know.  I know," said Jeff.  "I just wasn't thinking clearly after last Saturday when you saw me with the other girl.  I hated breaking up with you.  I really did.  I still love you.  I really do.  You have to understand though.  I hope to have my own family one day, so it's important that I start dating only real girls.  If you only had...ah...had..." He pointed at my crotch.  "You know...you'd be totally perfect."

Frowning, I said, "If you really did love me, that wouldn't matter." I looked around and we were hidden from view.  "Look what you're missing out on..."  I lifted my top enough to expose my breasts nestled in my bra.

"Are those you?" asked Jeff as he started to reach out from them.

I quickly snapped my top down and said, "Oh no.  These were going to be for you, but now you can't touch them."

Frowning, he pulled his hand back.  "Well, anyway, I wanted to apologize for Mom."  He hesitated a second, then said, "I also wanted to ask you how you pulled that off yesterday during practice.  I was watching and I couldn't believe what I saw."

I just smiled and said, "I guess you shouldn't have broken up with me."  I turned and walked away.  Jeff made no effort to follow.  He just stood there.

I stopped when I got next to where Dani was sitting.  Lowering my voice to avoid being overheard, I said, “Dani, you never fail to surprise me.  But you really need to be careful.  You’re going to do this with a guy that when he discovers you’ve fooled him, I’m afraid he might hurt you.”

Dani straightened up a little and said, “I’m being careful.  I don’t let them go too far.”

“Well, remember…there are some guys who take ‘no’ to really mean ‘yes’ or at least a challenge.”  I started to walk away.

“Chrissy, are you mad at me for dating Jeff?” Dani asked before I took more than a step.

I smiled at her and said, “No, girlfriend.  You can have him.  He deserves you.”

Puzzled, Dani asked, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

I didn’t reply.  I just walked away.

*   *   *

 

I didn’t get two steps inside JWB High before someone called to me.  I looked up to see Zach Terrel walking towards me.  “Chrissy!  Hold up!”

I stopped and let him walk to me.  I said, “Hi Zach.  What’s up?”  Zach was one of the hunkiest guys in school whose physique could be a close rival to Jeff’s.  And like Jeff, he was a big football star.  Just Zach standing there talking to me sent a tingle down through me.

“Hey,” he said.  “I know we haven’t talked much, but I was…I…well, would you like to go to the prom with me?”

I let out an embarrassed laugh and said, “Well…that’s a…a surprise!  Thank you so much for asking me!”  My mind raced.  I was tempted to say ‘yes’, but I heard Diane’s voice in the back of my head telling me again not to just say ‘yes’ to the first boy who asks.

I said, "Let me think about it, okay?"

Looking a little disappointed, Zach said, "Sure.  That's okay.  I'm sure I'm not the only guy to ask you."

I gave him a smile and started back down the hall.  As I turned a corner, I heard someone call out, "Hey Chrissy!  Wait up!" I turned toward the source of the voice and saw Tony Martinelli, the star of the track team, and another hunk, hurrying towards me.

I said, "Hi Tony."

Tony stepped close to me and said, "Hi Chrissy.  You know, I would just love to take the most beautiful girl in school to the prom.  Can I take you?"

Wow. Two invitations in less than two minutes.  I never would have thought these guys were interested.  But now that Jeff's gone...

I smiled at him and said, "Thank you for asking.  Let me think about it."  He was so cute, I wanted to say yes. But I think I detected a trend for the morning...

And I was right.  By the time the bell rang ending second period, I'd gotten asked to the prom by twelve different boys.  I could get used to this!

As I headed towards my third period class, I was floating on cloud nine.  My ego was about as pumped up as it had ever been in my whole life.  What a feeling to know I had my choice of just about every hunk at school. 

"I don't get a hello anymore?"

I snapped out of my reverie and tried to focus on where I thought the voice had come from.  "Oh!  Hi Joey!  Sorry, my mind was why out there someplace."

Joey smiled and said, "That's okay.  I've got a question.  How...how on Earth did you manage to pull that off Friday?  I was in the audience and to be honest, I just couldn't believe my eyes!"

I laughed and said, "It was actually pretty easy!"  Joey looked puzzled as I walked up to him.  "My sister Diane is taking my place at the cheerleading contest, so she's been going to practice lately."

"That was your sister?" asked Joey.  "Was she upset about that?"

"No, she thought it was funny."

"Why is she going in your place?"

Looking sheepish, I lifted my boobs up slightly and said, "These things.  I didn't know it, but apparently I can't go to the contest if I've had surgery recently.  Coach was afraid I'd get hurt."

"Ah man!  It's my fault you're not going!" said Joey sadly.  "I am so sorry, Chrissy!"

"Joey it's not your fault!" I exclaimed.  "I should have checked with Coach Renwick first!  Please don't blame yourself."

"If I hadn't offered you the surgery in the first place, you'd still be going to the contest."  Joey bumped his head against his locker door and said, "Am I a screw up or what?"

With a stern voice I said, "It's not your fault, Joey and I won't hear another word about it!"

Looking at the floor with an upset expression on his face, Joey muttered, "I guess there's no reason to ask you what I originally intended to ask you."

I softened my voice and expression and stepped closer to Joey.  I said, "Joey, I'm not mad at you, okay?  Just forget it.  What were you going to ask me?"

"It was going to be hard enough to ask in the first place, but now..."

"What?!"

Joey swallowed and hesitated a moment, still staring at the floor.  Finally he said, "I was wondering if you...if maybe you would...if you would, I don't know...maybe go to the prom with me?"

"You want to take me to the prom?" I asked in almost a whisper.

Joey said, "I know.  Stupid idea, huh?  I mean you've probably been asked by every jock in school by now.  I can't think of any reason why any girl would go with me, you know?  I shouldn't have asked."

I couldn't believe Joey ask me to the prom!  He's my oldest friend and he's the only one in school outside the squad and Jeff who knows who I really am.  And while there's lots of girls he could ask, he asked me!  And I know I'm not the only girl he could ask.  I've overheard quite a few girls talk about him.

"Yes."

Joey said, "Forget I said anything.  You'll want to go with some big handsome jock.  I'm just a geek and I messed things up for you..."

"I said 'Yes' Joey."

Joey said, "You'll want to be with someone who'll impress all your friends and..." He paused a moment and looked back up towards me.  "What?  Did you say..."

Interrupting I said, "Joey, I'd love to be your date to the prom!"

Joey's face lit up like a Christmas tree with a huge ear-to-ear grin.  "Honest?  You'll go with me?"

"I wouldn't want to go with any other guy." I said sincerely.

Joey suddenly hugged me. "Thank you, Chrissy!  Thanks for letting me take you to the prom!"

*   *   *

 

End of Part 10

 

  since 12/02/06