By senior prom, I had finally realized that formal dances were not for me. I actually wasn't going to go. I swear, I wasn't. Additionally, I was going to be secure in that decision, knowing that it would be better for everyone involved if I just didn't go. (Also, all the girls I would have wanted to ask were in relationships).
But there was one girl who decided to change that. I'll admit that she's attractive, and I had considered asking her to the prom (and initially decided against it). The thing is that she has a strong personality (I don't want to use the word abrasive. But now you might be thinking it. But I didn't say it. Okay). So, when she decided that she wanted to go to prom with me, there was really nothing I could do about it. You know, high school social pressure and all that stuff. So, I manned up, got a single white rose, and asked her out to her face, knowing that the asking was mostly a formality (which, incidentally, is a great confidence booster that I have not had occasion to experience since then). I left shortly afterward to finish eating lunch with other people.
So, the night of the prom, we decided to drive different cars - or rather, she didn't tell me where she lived or what time I could pick her up, so I assumed, correctly, that we would be using separate cars. Same group as the Homecomings. She was actually a part of that group, so all was well. We got another party bus (partially because the group had gotten to be ridiculously large over the last two years - it turned out to be just a bus). The air-conditioning in the bus didn't work, and it felt like it was approaching 90 degrees outside. I stayed in the bus while everyone else went into a 7-Eleven to get ice. She didn't sit next to me when they came back.
At dinner, we sat together, but I spent most of the time talking with the guy across from me about movies. She spent most of the time talking to the girl next to her about I-don't-remember.
At the dance, we went in together, but she went right into the big crowd of dancing people. I couldn't follow (I hate being touched by people in big dancing crowds - a fear and hatred that to this day I have only partially gotten over with the help of repeated exposure and alcohol). I went to my group of really close friends and spent the night dancing with them in a corner. I had fun. I never once danced with my date.
At the school-sponsored after party, I spent my time running around, bowling, playing laser-tag and video games, and just generally acting like a teenager. Without my date.
At my group's after-after party, I hung out with various people and talked about life, college, and the meaning of things. One of them was the girl I had actually wanted to ask to prom but couldn't because she had a boyfriend. None of them was my date. I'm not sure I've ever had a conversation like that with her. It's the type of conversation I wish I could have more often.
I finished out the night by watching Iron Man and the sunrise. Then I drove home and collapsed into bed.
In conclusion, I had some fun, but ruined yet another girl's night. I felt pretty guilty about that for a while, but now I think that she should have seen it coming when she used social influence to coerce me into asking her to the prom.
Luckily, I won't be expected to attend many more formal dances.
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