I promise

It's been five months.

Five months since Lane and i started dating. Five months of absolute bliss. I've loved every moment of it. He treats me like a queen and i love him for it.

Oh yeah, we dropped the L bomb about a month in. He said it first, of course, and i almost cried.

We spent christmas day with our friends at a diner for breakfast, exchanging gifts and everything, before going to another one to have christmas dinner with Lane's family and my dad. They get along well, which is very fortunate.

New years was spent in the dorm, the whole countdown and kiss thing happened which was quite cute; i've never really done anything like that before. Romantic.

I turned 18 last month! March 2nd. Yep, your girl is a responsible adult now. We kinda just hung around in the dorm on my birthday since i absolutely hate celebrating it, but it was still fun.

I've played in a couple volleyball matches and i'm now a regular, my position being a libero. We've won almost every practice match we've played, and we have the national preliminary in a couple weeks, which i'm so excited for.

And that brings us to current time, April 27th, the day of our senior prom.

Our school holds it earlier in the year because once exam season is over, students are free to leave, or stay until summer to resit exams or complete extra curricular activities. Not many actually stick around though, so prom is before all of that happens.

Emmy and i went dress shopping last week, which took a lot of convincing since i hate social gatherings and was planning on skipping out in the first place. Lane said he wouldn't go if i didn't, which only made me feel bad because i knew how much he was looking forward to it.

So here i am, stood in front of the mirror staring at my reflection. I'm wearing this super long black slit dress that i thought was really cute and quite convenient for when i decide to change into my trainers after we take pictures.

My hair is straight, as usual, long flowing down my back styled, in a middle part and i'm wearing a full face of makeup.

I look like a princess. Kinda fun.

"Come on, the boys have probably been waiting for like twenty minutes." Emmy says as she rushes out the bathroom, adding a millionth hair grip to her updo.

She looks beautiful. Shes's wearing a tight fitted long emerald green dress, the exact same colour as her eyes. Red heads own the colour green, no arguments.

"Um miss, you're the one that i've been waiting on-" I protest as she takes my wrist and pulls me out the door.

Our school holds prom here since this place is fucking massive and we have a ball room. Don't ask what for, because i have no clue.

As the elevator doors open, i lift my dress off the ground and step forward, my hair falling over my face. I look up to see Lane.

His mouth is slightly open, his eyes sparkling. He looks amazing; an all black tux to match my dress, his hair in its usual messy style. How does one manage to look so effortlessly beautiful?

He holds out a transparent acrylic box which holds a white rose corsage. I grin as i walk towards him and hold out my wrist. He slips it on my wrist before pressing a delicate kiss on myforehead.

"You look gorgeous babe." Lane whispers in my ear as he leans back, hovering in front of my face.

I place my hands on his shoulders and shift on to my tip toes, kissing him on the cheek. "As do you, handsome."

"Okay are the married couple ready to go yet?" Emmy rolls her eyes, but shes smiling from ear to ear.

When we walk into the ball room, it's more than i ever imagined.

It's already pretty packed since we were late, courtesy of none other than Emiliana.

The room is buzzing. Students are laughing, dancing, making out (for some unknown reason) and enjoying themselves. Some of the kids are sipping out of little whine glasses filled with a tinted rosé coloured liquid; i'm pretty sure it's just juice.

There are two throwns on the stage at the far end of the hall; i thought prom royalty was only a thing in books and movies?

"I'm gonna go say hi to the guys over there, you coming Lane?" Ozzy says, tapping his arm and nodding in the direction of a group of boys in our year.

Lane looks at me and i smile, rolling my eyes and giving him a nod. I've told him so many times he's a free person, but he always seems to check things with me. It's kinda adorable.

"Looks like it's just me and you, bestie." Emmy smirks to herself, linking her arm through mine.

"We should totally go raid the snack table." I lean over, whispering in her ear.

"You read my mind."

♡♡♡

Emmy and i are currently sat at a table in the far corner, stuffing our faces with party food and laughing at some of the people dancing in front of us. It's actually super entertaining.

"I see you didn't get anything for me."

Ozz frowns as he sits down at the table with us, Lane not far behind him.

"You snooze you lose." I shrug, spitting cake crumbs everywhere as i talk.

Lane chuckles to himself, watching me.

I raise a brow and he leans forward, swiping his thumb across my bottom lip. Oh, that's embarrassing. He takes his thumb and licks it, holding eye contact with me.

I stop chewing for a second as i watch him and he notices, a wide grin on his face.

"Get a room!" Emmy squeals, dramatically covering her eyes and shaking her head.

"Come on babe, lets get away from these amorous teenagers." Ozzy mockingly spits, standing up and hold out his hand to her.

Emmy tuts and takes his hand, her nose turned up as they walk away. A couple seconds later they dissapear into the crowd.

"So dramatic." I laugh. "I feel like i just watched a scene from Eastenders."

"They're acting like they don't make out in front of us every chance they get." Lane sighs, rubbing his temple.

"Hey guys!"

I look up to see Mia standing behind Lane, a poll box gripped in her hands. She's part of the student council committee, so she's kinda in charge of prom.

We're not exactly friends, but we've been on good terms for the past couple months. She's not actually as bad as she made out to be when we first met.

"Hey." I smile and her and Lane rolls his eyes. He's still not over the scar she gave me under my left eye. but i literally broke her nose; i'd say it's pretty fair.

"I'm gonna need you two to make your votes for prom royalty. You can vote twice, but not for yourself. Write it on these slips and put into the correct slots." She recites, and i can tell she's had to say it way too many times tonight.

I scrawl down Ozzy's name on one slip and Emmy's on the other before slipping them both in to the box. There isn't two separate boxes since it's not a boy girl thing, it's open to everybody which i think is super cool.

Lane does the same and Mia thanks us, before moving on to the next table.

"You better not have voted me." I look at him from the side of my eye and he grins sheepishly.

"Lane!" I whine, throwing my head in my hands. "You know i despise this whole prom thing."

"Yeah, but you deserve to be on one of those thrones." he sits back, crossing his arms. Thats his 'not backing down and will stop at nothing to prove he's right' pose, and usually i'd challenge it, but not right now.

Well i doubt i'll get picked anyway, it's like a one out of two hundred chance, which is reassuring.

"So, schools almost over." Lane leans forward now, resting his chin on his hand.

"Yep, time flies." I mirror his actions so we're face to face.

"Are you gonna go back home?" he asks, and i can see he wants the answer to be no so badly.

"I don't know, i'd love to study here, but i feel terrible leaving my dad on his own for another couple years."

Lane nods in understanding and takes my hand, placing a gentle kiss on my palm.

"Well, i'll go wherever you go Carter." he says softly.

My eyebrows raise in shock.

"What?" he's prepared to move back to Blackpool with me?

My eyes well up slightly and he chuckles, planting another kiss on my palm, then another on my wrist.

Lane reaches back into his back pocket and pulls out a little black square box.

How did that even fit in there.

As he opens it up in front of me, my breath hitches.

The most beautiful silver bracelet lies in it, glistening as the lights of the party dance on it. There's no holding me back now.

I quickly bring my hands to my face as the tears escape my ducts, crying silently, but my shoulders jolting hard.

The coolness of the bracelet tickles my skin as he swiftly manages to clip it around my wrist, my hands still on my face.

Lane laughs to himself as i feel him get up, his presence beside me soon after. He wraps his arms around my shoulders from the back, pulling me into his chest.

Tucking my hair behind my ear, he plants a kiss on my neck.

"I love you." he breathes into my ear.

"I love you." I turn around and run my hand down the side of his face, stopping at his jaw and pulling him in for a kiss.

"Bathroom." I announce as i stand up, aware that i look a mess.

A couple girls that were already in there look at me in concern as i enter the toilets and i try to give them what i think is a reassuring smile in return.

I clean the mascara from beneath my eyes and look at myself in the mirror.

This past year has probably been one of the best, most chaotic and eye opening years of my life. Right here, with my friends, in London.

I'd love nothing more than to go back to my home town, but in all honesty, nothing is really there for me other than my dad. I've built a life here. I've recieved uni scholarships, i have the best friends and boyfriend i could ever ask for.

I'm not ready to go back, not yet.

I'm gonna complete my final years of education here, then maybe move back home, or maybe not. Only time will tell.

"We shall now be announcing the prom royalties!" A voice booms through the loud speakers, making me jump.

I fix myself up before rushing back out into the audience to find my friends.

♡♡♡