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Austin glances at me sideways. “It’s going to be weird getting used to your new popularity,” he teases.
“Oh stop,” I say, nudging his shoulder.
We begin dancing again to a faster song. I do my best to shake and wiggle, and I’m grateful to find that Austin is just as awkward as I am. We laugh together several times as we try and mimic the moves being executed around us. I think I’m a lost cause when it comes to dancing skills, but at least we’re having fun.
I see my parents making their way toward us and we stop moving. Mom pulls me into a tight hug and Dad hugs from the other side, making an Emma sandwich. Austin steps back, giving us some space.
“We are so proud of you,” she says.
Dad puts a hand on my shoulder and nods.
“But I didn’t win,” I say.
Mom shakes her head. “Winning isn’t everything,” she says. “But I’ve watched you grow from a shy little girl into a beautiful young woman.”
“I know we’ve given you a hard time,” Dad says. “And we’ve tried to push you. Maybe a bit too much at times. But we really just wanted you to reach your full potential.”
“By being prom queen?” I ask.
“No,” Mom says. “Well, not exactly. We wanted to push you out of your shell a little. We wanted you to know you could do hard things. Scary things. New things. Think of all you’ve accomplished these last few weeks.”
She’s right. I don’t like being pushed, but because of my parents, I’ve overcome obstacles, come out of my shell a little bit, and tried a slew of things I never thought I’d do. Maybe my parents aren’t as bad as I thought they were.
“I promise I’ll do better at letting you be you,” Mom says. “And I’ll stop trying to make you be more like me. I don’t wantyou to be me. The way you’ve handled the obstacles that have been thrown at you has proven you’re beautiful and smart and perfect the way you are. In fact, I’ve learned this year that I need to be more like you. I’ve watched the way you help your classmates when they need it. Even the ones who aren’t the nicest to you. I need to be more like that.”
I’m completely speechless. My eyes feel moistened by their words. “Thank you,” I finally whisper.
Mom squeezes my hand and Dad begins pulling her away. “We won’t cramp your style anymore,” he says. “You guys have fun.”
“We love you, honey,” Mom calls.
I take in a deep breath. “That was…weird,” I say.
Austin wraps his strong arms around me and I basically crumble. “I know how much you’ve wanted to hear those words from your parents,” he says. “How are you holding up?”
I sniffle and pat the wet away from beneath my eyes. “I never thought I’d hear those words from them,” I say, shaking my head. “Never, ever.”
Austin continues to hold me. I feel safe and warm in his embrace.
I see Jaron dancing with another girl and try to wave. He quickly turns the other way and disappears again into the crowd. My stomach drops.
“I feel awful. I didn’t mean to hurt him,” I say.
Ethan’s gaze follows in the direction Jaron disappeared. “Do you need to go talk to him?” Austin asks.
Part of me wants to follow Jaron to apologize. But I realize the guy who needs my whole attention right now is right in front of me.
“I’ll give it some time,” I say. “Hopefully someday we can be friends.”
Austin nods. “I think that’s smart.”
We dance until my feet are tired. Everyone around us seems to still be going full force. My brain may have the stamina required for an Academic Decathlon, but my body doesn’t have the stamina for an all-night dance party. “How late does this go?” I ask.
Austin looks as worn out as I feel. “Are you ready to leave?” he asks.
“Yes and no,” I say. “I’m done dancing, but I’m not ready for this night to end.”
He smiles at me. “Hang tight, I’ve got an idea.”
