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CREED TURNED DOWN the U-shaped driveway at the front of their old high school. The good memories Aspen had shared with Clark and Tess flittered in her head.
She glanced at Creed as he slowed the car, pulling beside the sidewalk at the front door. They’d shared good memories here too. She hadn’t been the high school cheerleader he’d always had his arm draped over, but Aspen had been the girl who, when he’d spotted her, would stop whatever he’d been doing to say hi. Sometimes even tease her—but in a good, fun way. Thinking back to the shy, sort of geeky nobody she had been then, she realized his presence had likely kept the bullies away. Without even realizing, he’d paved an easy path through high school for her. Even after he’d graduated, students hadn’t bothered her, Tess, or Clark. Clark would’ve still kicked their asses had they tried.
Creed cut the engine and opened his phone to check his messages. Aspen’s eyes ran over the long building with rows of dark windows.
Who would want to go in there at almost midnight on a cold, dark night? She didn’t blame Mrs. Nigh for sending them.
“Don’t you think your mom could drop these off in the morning?” she asked.
He shrugged. “We’re here now.”
“It’s creepy dark.”
He smirked at her and when he touched her hand, she didn’t pull away. She liked the feeling of not needing to distance herself from him and letting herself enjoy his presence.
“Do you have a fear of the dark I don’t know about?”
“I think you know all my fears.”
He brought her hand to his lips and kissed the top. “I don’t, but I’d like to spend the rest of my life learning everything about you.”
“You’re a brave man.”
“You’re a brave woman.” He nodded to the back seat. “We have a mission to win. Will you help me with these boxes?”
The boxes in the back seat were small enough Creed could’ve carried them both in one hand, but Aspen humored him and took one of the small packages. They were sealed up tight.
He unlocked the front door of the school and the smell of hormonal teenagers and disinfectant reminded her of her time here. Dim lights lit the long hallways and their footsteps echoed off the walls around them.
“I broke in here more than once,” Creed whispered to her.
She shook her head, checking the glass display of trophies and spotting a few of Creed’s. “Why am I not surprised.”
“Once we ransacked the teachers’ lounge.”
“And I bet we all paid the price that day with an angry staff.”
Creed laughed. “They were ticked.”
Aspen stopped and grabbed his sleeve with her free hand. “I’m not ransacking the teachers’ lounge with you.”
He laughed again and wrapped his arm around her as they approached the gym. “Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t do crazy stuff like that anymore. I’m an adult now, not some silly young teen who makes grand gestures.”
“Leaving them some cookies or lunch would’ve been a grand gesture. You left them a disaster.”
Aspen saw light coming from under the closed double doors of the gym. She stopped walking and the thought of hiding crossed her mind. “Is there someone here?”
Creed tugged at her sleeve. “We’re not doing anything wrong. The principal, aka my mom, asked us to drop off some boxes. Relax.”
Relax. Right. Easier said than done after the cops busted them making out at the love tree.
Creed’s hand covered the metal bar on the door, and he paused. “I always regretted taking off on your prom night.”
“We can discuss this later when we’re not in a dark creepy school.” She was getting the heebie-jeebies.
“I had still been living on a high of life. But I never forgot the way you looked when Tess bragged about her night.”
“I’m pretty sure I looked like I was dying because that’s how I felt. You know the peanut butter was all grease ... long story short, it didn’t settle well in my stomach.”
“You’re making the night sound worse than I thought.”
“It wasn’t exactly my dream prom.”
“I know.” He bent down and kissed Aspen, making her momentarily forget she was waiting for a janitor to jump out at them and chase them off the premises.
He pulled away as he pushed the door open and stepped to her side.
Aspen’s mouth parted as she blinked at the enchanted gym. For a second she didn’t recognize the room. The draped white material and sparkle lights covered the ceiling and basketball hoops. The erected sparkling white columns with blue lights and fake icicles had transformed the room into a magical wonderland.
“What is this?” she asked.
“Your prom.”
She looked up at him. “You did this?”
“Yes.”
A slow tune started to play, and she looked back into the room. She spotted not only her group of friends but other classmates stepping onto the dance floor together.
She looked back at Creed. “How? Why? When?”
“To make up for the prom you missed.”
“That’s ... crazy.”
“Crazy was letting you go.” He took her hand and they walked through the doors. “Tess, Clark, and my mom helped me make this happen.”
The blue hues of the room glistened around them and reflected off Tess and Clark as they ran up to her. They couldn’t keep their smiles at bay and practically knocked her over as they hugged her.
“Happy prom!” Tess shouted.
Aspen laughed. “You two are insane.” She looked at Creed. “You’re all insane.”
Tess wrapped an arm around her brother’s waist. “He’s worth going a little crazy for.” She winked at her friend. “But don’t worry, after he told us what happened between you two, Clark, Mom, and I totally kicked his ass. But this idea redeemed him.” She leaned forward. “I’ll warn you, though, he can sometimes be a selfish ass, but most of the time he’s thoughtful and caring.”
“And he’s rich,” Clark added. “With a soccer player body so he has that going to him. Even if you just take him for a ride.”
“I’m right here,” Creed said.
They all laughed.
Clark sobered and stepped close to Creed. “If you hurt her again, I will hunt you down.”
“Alright ...” Tell pulled Clark. “Our dates are waiting for us.”
They watched them leave and Creed said, “I believe she could hurt me.”
Aspen laughed. “You’re likely right.”
Creed held his hand out to her. “Can I have this dance?”
She slipped her hand in his, still shocked by what he’d done for her.
“Happy Valentine’s Day,” he whispered against the side of her head.
She tilted her head to look at him, not wanting to take her eyes off him. “Not a grand gesture sort of guy, huh?”
He shrugged as they slowly swayed together in perfect harmony, meant for one another. “I might like a grand gesture here or there.”
“I wonder what next year’s Valentine’s Day will bring,” she teased.
“You’ll have to stick around and see.”
“What about you?” she asked him. “Are you sticking around?”
He glanced above her head and her eyes followed, unsure what he was looking at. “It’s ten after midnight.”
“What does that mean?”
“That when I tell you, yes, I’m sticking around, it’s not because I can’t say no.”
He captured her smile in a kiss. She couldn’t have imagined a better prom than this.
THE END