As I was walking towards the exit, Danielle blocked the door with her arms folded across her chest. The look she had on her face made me jump back for a second.
"Where have you been? We're supposed to be on a date."
"Last time I checked, this wasn't a date. In fact, this is a night from hell."
Danielle laughed. "I'm going to really make it feel like hell if you don't shape up and start acting like you're happy."
"Get out of my way Danielle," I said impatiently.
Danielle blocked the door even more with her body.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"I don't know, but it would be better than here."
"You're not going anywhere. Especially since the prom king and queen haven't been announced yet."
"I don't care about who's prom king or queen or who's with whom. In fact, I don't give a damn about this prom or this school. I just want to go."
"You'll being a real jerk Michael."
"Tell me something I don't know," I said as I pushed Danielle so hard, she nearly fell on the ground. As I went outside, I had to catch my breath. As tears were slowly forming inside me, I shook my head to clear my mind. I couldn't cry now, especially not over Charlie. She has hurt me so many times, and to be honest, I don't know if I can take another beating. I dug into my back pocket and took out my wallet. I looked inside and noticed my fake ID.
"At least I have this," I said as looked for the Hummer limo that Danielle and I rode in.
I noticed it sitting by the hotel entrance and I ran over to it. I turned around and saw Danielle and Charlie run outside.
I walked over to the driver's side and noticed the driver wasn't in the car. But he left the keys sitting in the ignition.
I didn't know where the limo driver was, but he was pretty stupid for leaving the keys sitting in an unlocked car.
As I got into the driver's seat, I started up the ignition and drove out of the parking lot. As I looked through the rearview mirror, I saw Charlie, Danielle, and the limo driver staring helplessly at me as I continued to drive off into the night.
Charlie
"Great!" I yelled as I ran into the ballroom. Chris and Ashley were standing by the door with angry looks on their faces.
"What happened, Charlie? We gave you a fool-proof plan to get you back with Michael."
"I know Ash, but something kind of interfered with that plan," I said as I tried to push past Ashley.
"No, you're not following him until you tell us what happened."
"I have to follow Michael so he won't do anything stupid."
"Chris can go after him. Besides, I think you've done enough damage for tonight," Ashley said.
I shook my head and sighed. I didn't have time for Ashley and her angry spats. I knew what I did was wrong, but I thought Michael would understand.
Who am I kidding? Michael had the same reaction as any guy would,
I thought as I put my hand over my eyes.
"Listen Charlie, maybe Mike went somewhere to release some stream. Just let him be for now."
"You're probably right Chris, but I'm worried. I know you saw Michael that night at the party. He was drunk and angry. How do you know he's not going to get that way later on tonight?"
"I'm concerned too, but Michael's a big boy. He can take care of himself. Now, what happened between you two?"
"I said something to Michael that I should have thought twice about before saying."
"Whatever it was, it couldn't been that bad."
"I told Michael that I was going to remain friends with Derrick."
"Okay, that was bad."
"Why would you tell Michael that? To be honest, why would you still be friends with Derrick? He's a jerk," said Ashley.
"You don't understand Ash. Derrick is a really nice person; you just have to get to know him to see it. It's not like I told Michael that I wanted to be with Derrick romantically. I just want us to be friends."
"It seems like you the one who doesn't understand. Now I see why Michael left."
"Thanks so much for your encouragement Ashley. It means a lot to me."
"Oh quit being the victim, Charlie. You basically put that boy through the ringer from the time you two have been together. The only person you were thinking about during that time was yourself."
"I couldn't have said that better myself," Danielle said as she walked over to Chris, Ashley, and me.
"Shut up Danielle."
"She's right Charlie. You can't have everything your way."
"What's going on? People are staring," Derrick said as he walked over to us.
I turned around and noticed that people were pointing and whispering. At this point, it didn't even matter if people were staring. This just put the icing on the cake to a wonderful evening.
"Do away Derrick. You've done enough," said Ashley.
"What is your problem with me? What have I done to you that made you hate me?"
"I don't hate you. I just dislike you."
While Ashley and Derrick were arguing, I slowly started to slip away and head toward the exit. I'll straighten out the beef Ashley has with me later, but now, I had to find Michael.
As I was heading out to the lobby, I noticed Danielle was already there.
"You think you're slick, don't you?"
"Get out of my way, Danielle."
"Or what Charlie? You'll beat the crap out me like you did that girl at Parker? That's the reason why you're at this prom, right? Why don't you do everyone a favor and disappear. That way Michael would forget you."
"Why do you like torturing people Danielle? Is your life that pathetic that you have to look at others for entertainment? Michael will not, and never will, want you, so why don't you have a relationship with a man that will love you for you. Why waste your time on someone who doesn't have feelings for you?"
Danielle looked taken back at what I said. She gave me a strange look as she went up to me.
"Why do you care who I want to be with?"
"Because you need to find someone that will appreciate you for the person you are. I'm not saying that because I'm in love with Michael, I'm saying it because you deserve better. Everyone, including you, needs someone to love them."
Danielle looked at me.
"I really don't care what you think I need. If I want to keep wishing that Michael and I can be together, then let me; because the last time I checked, he wasn't yours either."
So much for me being nice,
I thought as I pushed past Danielle and ran outside. As I went through the revolving doors, I almost tripped and fell on my dress. I went outside and saw Michael going towards a Hummer limo. He looked inside the driver's seat and opened the door. Danielle ran outside and looked over at Michael.
"What the hell is he doing? That's our limo!" she screamed.
As Michael was leaving the parking lot, Danielle was arguing with the limo driver that was supposed to been in the car.
"I have to follow him," I said.
"No you don't," someone said.
I turned around and saw Chris, Ashley, and Derrick behind.
"This is really getting annoying."
"During our argument, Ashley told me what happened. Michael is not your problem anymore; so let him be," Derrick said.
"No, I'm not going to let him roam around Houston in a stolen car. There's no telling what he might do."
"Stolen car. What's going on?" asked Chris.
"Danielle and I witnessed Michael take the limo that he and Danielle came to the prom in. Listen, I know I shouldn't be following him, but we have to."
"No, we don't. In fact, why doesn't Chris look for Michael, since that's his friend?" Derrick said while looking at Chris.
"You know what Derrick, I held my tongue all this time, but you really are an asshole."
"Stop it! You all can kill each other later for all I care. I'm going to look for him," I said as I started to walk towards the rental car.
"How are you going to do that if we all rode together?" Derrick asked. "Besides, we have to go to my prom."
"I don't have to do anything Derrick. Either you come with me, or you'll be walking to your prom."
Ashley and Chris sighed as they followed me to the rental car. I looked at Derrick as he stood there with a mean look on his face.
"Are you coming or not?"
Derrick rolled his eyes as he started to walk.
"Fine,"
As we all climbed into the back seat, I looked at the night sky as the driver started to pull out of the parking lot.
"Whatever Michael is doing, please keep him safe," I prayed as the car pulled into the street.
After looking for Michael for thirty minutes, we decided to give up. We'd looked everywhere; from Willis Park to Chester's. Chris even looked at some places that Michael and he hung out at, but he wasn't there either. As the car pulled into Crowne Plaza Hotel downtown, I took a deep breath and sighed. I know I should be a little happy because we're now at Parker's prom, but I'm not. I don't feel like putting on a glamorous face and pretending to be happy when I'm not. Derrick looked at me and smiled.
"I know you're upset because you didn't find Michael, but believe me, Michael is a strong dude. He'll be just fine."
I looked at Derrick and hopped out of the car.
Ashley grabbed my arm as I was about to walk past her.
"I don't want to hear it," I said.
"I'm not going to lecture you Char. I just want to apologize for what I said earlier. I didn't mean to get upset with you like that."
I looked at Ashley and nodded my head. "I know Ash."
Ashley could tell that I was still worried about Michael. She put an arm around me and gave me a quick hug.
"Michael will be okay. For all we know he could be at home watching TV and stuffing his face with Cheetos. So don't worry."
As Chris went up to Ashley and took her hand, Derrick came up to me and flashed his thousand watt smile. I rolled my eyes and turned to stare at the floral centerpiece in the grand lobby.
I don't know why I believed that Derrick changed. He was still the complete moron that I broke up with that day in September. The only person that would ever be in Derrick's life was Derrick.
As he tried to put his arm around me, I quickly pulled his arm away as if it was on fire. Derrick looked at me with a surprised look on his face.
"What's wrong?"
I shot him an evil look that made him rethink the question.
"How can you ask me that?""Because I'm concerned, that's why."
I started to laugh at Derrick's statement.
"Take a good look in the mirror, because frankly the only person you're concerned about is you."
"That's not true Charlie and you know it."
"Are you concerned for Michael who is basically AWOL? Were you concerned when you were all up in Theresa's stuff when you had her back against the lockers in the girls' locker room?"
Several people who were standing in the lobby started to look at us as my voice started to rise even more.
"Why are you bringing this up?"
"Because it need to be brought up!" I exclaimed.
Derrick grabbed my arm and pulled me over to a more secluded area in the back of the lobby.
"Get your hands off me!" I yelled as I jerked my arm from Derrick.
"Why are you so postal now? What did I do?"
"I can't do this anymore Derrick. I can't make you happy anymore."
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about us. I have tried over and over again to accept you back into my life, but it seems like every time I do, I still get kicked in the butt for doing it."
"What are you trying to say? That you made a mistake by us becoming friends again?"
"Maybe I have," I said softly.
Derrick nodded his head at the statement as he turned his back on me.
"I'm sorry Derrick," I said as I watched Derrick walked away from me.
A tear started to fall down my cheek as I leaned against the wall for support. I don't know how things got the way they were, but what was supposed to have been the greatest night of my life turned into a night I want to immediately forget.
Michael
Joyriding in a stretch Hummer limo is pretty exciting. I had some trouble steering the wheel as I made sharp turns, but overall, it was a comfortable ride. As I drove around Houston, I had to clear my mind from all the negativity that I've faced earlier tonight. After all that happened to me in these past few months, I decided to make a vow to myself that from now on, I would steer clear from any woman that graced my path. I would not, and I repeat, would not let another woman disrupt me from what's important in life; and that's graduating Belmont and moving out of Houston for good.
I couldn't believe I let myself get so deep into loving someone who's countlessly dumped on me over and over again. But tonight would be the last time she'll hurt me. As I quickly maneuvered the car from a deep pothole, I looked over at the passenger seat and noticed the bottle of scotch I had purchased at Al's Liquor Store. The guy working inside the store was too focused on the porn he was watching on the TV behind the counter to even ask for ID. So I decided to buy what I could before the fool even realized it. As I was about to guzzle down a bottle of scotch, I made a sharp turn into a parking lot that was unfamiliar to me. After driving for so long, a break was indeed in order.
I slowly climbed out of the limo, and could feel several eyes trained in my direction as I wobbled my way towards the building. To my surprise, I realized that I was at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, which was where Parker was having their prom. As I stepped closer to the gold revolving doors, I started to feel sick to my stomach. Of all places, I don't know why I picked here. Instead of listening to my mind and turning around, I decided to lose all dignity and walked inside the hotel.
"What's he doing here?" someone asked when I stumbled into the lobby.
I gave her a disturbed look as I walked past the hostess table.
"Sir, do you have a ticket?" asked the woman.
"Does it look like I go to this crummy school?" I asked in a slurred voice.
"Sir, if you don't have a ticket, you need to turn around now," a man said as he came up to the table.