Time Cursed

  * * *

  Arlana stood in front of her full length mirror admiring her dress and her sister's miraculous makeover. Clarissa had spent hours curling and styling both her and Karyn's hair. They did facials, got their nails and makeup done.

  “Just don't touch anything, or move. At least until I get the pictures of you girls with your dates!” Clarissa called out from downstairs.

  Karyn laughed, “Your sister is crazy, but amazing. You're so lucky to live with someone so young and fun.”

  Arlana smiled a slight smile. She knew she was lucky to have her sister, but deep inside she wished her parents were here to see her this night, she wished they would be the ones to take the pictures and fawn over her and her date. She let those thoughts slip away and turned to look at Karyn. Tonight wouldn't be about regrets. It would be about her having fun with her two best friends and her super hot date.

  “Karyn, you look so beautiful.”

  Karyn smiled back at her wearing her pink mermaid fitting dress with the huge puff sleeves.

  “You do too! You look amazing I didn't think it was possible that your eyes could stand out even more vividly, but they do. Just wait until Derek sees you!”

  “You really think so?”

  “Yes, of course I do.”

  Arlana's hair was pulled up with bobby pins but ringlets were let loose framing her face and a few towards the back of her neck.

  “You know Aria, I never really noticed these marks on the side of your neck. It looks just like a moon on one side and a star on the other. Is it some sort of tattoo? It looks lighter than your skin shade though.” Karyn let out in practically one breath.

  “Oh, those. Those are my birthmarks.” Arlana felt suddenly self conscience; she started to grab at her hair a little and pulled a couple of ringlets down across her neck. Her finger grazed across the star on her neck and an image abruptly popped into her head filling her thoughts. She pictured a girl with dark auburn hair and green hazel eyes; she was dancing across a beautiful ballroom encased in a tall, dark, and handsome young man’s arms. “Avalynn,” Arlana spoke aloud.

  “Stop, touching your hair!” Karyn shouted pulling Arlana out of her thoughts. “Your sister is going to kill you after all that time she spent taming your tresses, and then she will kill me for letting you destroy them.”

  Arlana was quiet.

  “Hey Aria, are you ok? You look about a million miles away, and who's Avalynn, that's a beautiful name but I've never heard of her.”

  “I don't know, I was just thinking about something and then I...”

  The doorbell rang downstairs.

  “They're here, they’re here!” Karyn shouted jumping up and down.

  “Girls, Derek's here and Luke just pulled up!” Clarissa called out.

  Arlana shook off the strange feeling she was having and smiled at Karyn, “Let's go,” she grabbed Karyn's hand and headed down the stairs.

  Derek looked up at them smiling. He was wearing a black suit with a baby blue bow tie to match Arlana's dress. As she got closer to him he whispered in her ear, “You look so beautiful tonight, I'm not going to be able to take my eyes off of you.” He slid a corsage onto her wrist. It was the Gerber daisies she loved surrounded by baby’s breath. “Thank you,” she whispered back to Derek, “you're not so shabby yourself.” She smiled up at him and he kissed her cheek, it left a warm spot where his lips touched her skin and she shivered inside.

  During their exchange Luke had come in the house, he was glaring furiously at Derek. Derek met his glare and Arlana felt very awkward. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to all hang out together tonight she thought to herself. Karyn didn't seem to notice thankfully. Luke was holding a pink carnation corsage in his hand for Karyn and he wore a light gray suit with a light pink bow tie to match Karyn's dress.

  “Is that for me?” Karyn smiled up at Luke sheepishly. That broke Luke out of his death glare.

  “Oh yeah, I'm sorry Karyn. You look great by the way.” He smiled warmly at Karyn. “You do too! Thank you, it's beautiful!” Karyn wrapped her arms around Luke and pulled him close. The hug seemed to last a little too long and Arlana wondered what that was about.

  “Umm... we better go,” Arlana interrupted.

  “Oh no you don't, not until I get my pictures!” Clarissa grabbed onto Arlana's arm. Arlana had no chance of escape.

  Fifty poses and about one hundred pictures later they were finally headed out to the limo. Karyn seemed so excited she was practically bouncing and Arlana was flushed in embarrassment from all of the picture taking.

  “I'm sorry about that; I hope your friends didn't mind waiting.”

  “Are you kidding? For one thing, they're hanging out with their dates, in a limousine. And for another thing, this night isn't about them for me, it's about you and me, and tonight your wish is my desire.”

  “Thanks, I'm still sorry though.”

  Luke caught up with Arlana and Derek, dragging Karyn along with him. “Arlana, hi. I just wanted to tell you that you look beautiful tonight.”

  That comment earned him a glare from Derek, “I know, I'm so lucky that she is all mine tonight.”

  The blush in Arlana's cheeks rose, “Thanks Luke.” she stated simply and followed Derek into the limo, hand in hand.

  Prom was being held at the Bonaventure hotel in downtown LA. Arlana loved that building. The views from the cocktail lounge on the 34th floor were amazing! They arrived and headed towards the ballroom. When they entered the Atrium Derek grabbed Arlana’s hand and slowed their pace. She looked up at him curiously.

  “You really are beautiful. I am glad you said yes. I only ever like the best and you truly are the best Monrovia High School has.” Derek leaned in to kiss Arlana. She turned her head so that he kissed her cheek.

  Arlana felt overly creepy after hearing what Derek said. She was a trophy and nothing more it sounded like. She took in a deep breath and pasted on a smile. “Derek you are so weird sometimes. Let’s go inside.” She said forcing a light hearted laugh.

  Derek’s smile faltered but he took her hand and walked in to the ballroom.

  The night went by in a blur Derek had been sweet and thankfully that earlier weirdness hadn’t come out again. Of course Arlana made sure to always be a part of the group so that she didn’t have too much alone time with him but then the Prom Queen and King announcements came. Arlana knew that Jillian had been campaigning for the title and she honestly hoped that she would get it.

  “Hello everyone! Like you all look to die for! Ok Ok so like it is time for the Prom King and Queen announcement!” Announced Cassandra Miliken, the prom committee president. “The Monrovia High School 1986 Prom King is …. Derek O’Rouke!! Come on up Derek!”

  Derek looked at Arlana and grimaced, then shrugged. “I’m sure I’ll see you in a second babe” he said then gave her a quick kiss on the lips. People were clapping and hollering out congratulations as he walked toward the stage. They placed the crown on his head and Arlana thought he really did wear royalty well.

  “Ok everyone, like the moment you all have been waiting for! The MHS 1986 Prom Queen is …” Cassandra gasped as she pulled the slip out of the envelope, she looked at Jillian and turned a little pale. “Um, sorry…Um the MHS 1986 Prom Queen is Aria Dokels!”

  Several people gasped including Arlana. She was stunned. She didn’t realize that she hadn’t moved until Karyn bumped her and said “Go get your crown and be with your hunny!” Arlana blushed, smiled and walked towards the stage. Everyone was congratulating her and clapping and smiling….Everyone but Jillian who Arlana could feel giving her dagger like stare across the room. Arlana made it to the stage and they put a beautiful tiara on her head. She only had a quick glimpse at it but she gasped as she saw that the design was similar to her ring. The Luckenbooth ring that she has had since she can remember and never took off. The tiara had a very similar design made out of small diamond like stones but at its apex there was a tear drop creamy stone dangling. Arla
na smiled and realized that there was no way that they knew she won when the tiara was bought and figured she imagined it. She smiled at the silliness of it all and then felt a hand slide into her hand and she looked up to see Derek smiling at her. “Shall we dance my Queen?” he asked as he led her to the dance floor.

  As they glided across the floor Derek smiled and then said “I’m sorry about making you uncomfortable earlier. You really are a beautiful girl. It overwhelms me. You are kind, warm and truly special. I always get so nervous around you and say stupid jerk like things. I am a jerk and that is my fall back. Thank you for agreeing to come with me tonight. Hopefully my ‘weirdness’ earlier won’t make you avoid me after tonight.”

  Arlana smiled. “Thank you. I think you just redeemed yourself.”

  They danced several more songs and finally took a break so Arlana could run to the rest room. She looked in the mirror to apply more lipstick and gasped. The tiara really did have the Luckenbooth design and the teardrop stone. Arlana looked at her necklace and her ring and was dumbstruck. This couldn’t be a coincidence. Karyn walked in and saw Arlana standing perfectly still with her lipstick tube halfway to her lips. “Earth to Aria, come in Aria.” Arlana blinked and looked at Karyn. “Ok so like this is really weird but my tiara like matches my ring and necklace. How is that possible?” Arlana asked.

  Karyn smiled, “You noticed? Luke will be happy. You know he is on the Prom Committee with me. Yes I suckered him into it, don’t ask how, big story. Anyway, so, like we um,” Karyn looked around the room and then grabbed Arlana’s arm and pulled her out to a quiet area in the atrium outside the ballroom. “Ok, so like, after what Jillian did to you and Derek, like we decided she shouldn’t be queen. So like we decided you should be queen, well Luke thought of it and then when like I thought yikes to having to dance in front of everyone I totally agreed. We did a silent campaign and like everyone said they would def choose you so then Luke was given tiara/crown duty with me and like he said he would take care of it and then came out with what you are wearing. He said it would be our little inside joke that we rigged the election, wink wink.” Karyn whispered breathlessly to Arlana.

  “Luke came up with this design? You helped me be queen? You guys are the best!” Arlana said stunned by Karyn’s confession. Arlana realized tonight that Karyn’s big crush was Luke and although it was weird to accept she was very happy that Clarissa talked her into going with Derek. Yet now, with this tiara, why would Luke go to the trouble? Arlana felt confused. “Ladies, there you are. I thought I had lost my queen. What a terrible King I would be if I couldn’t even hold on to my lovely queen.” Derek said with a wink. “Right, so maybe like your good looks kept me from realizing what a big dork you are Derek. I need some chill time with my BFF and like you were monopolizing her time so I stepped in the moment I could.” Karyn said with a grin.

  “There you guys are. What’s up with hiding in the bushes?” Luke said innocently as he walked up.

  “Um, I was showing Karyn my amazing tiara. I never thought about being Prom Queen but this tiara makes it a special moment.” Arlana said trying to convey how much it meant to her without letting on to Derek any of what Karyn or Luke had done.

  “Hey it matches your jewelry, rad! Wait! What did you two do?” Derek asked as he looked at Karyn and Luke.

  “Whatever dude, let’s go back inside. Aria you owe me a dance.”

  “Um, Derek? Do you mind?” Arlana asked Derek hoping he didn’t.

  “Of course he doesn’t because he gets to dance with me!” Karyn said as she grabbed Derek’s hand and pulled him to the ballroom.

  Arlana laughed as they disappeared. “Shall we head in?” She said as she turned and looked at Luke. Luke was staring at her intensely.

  “Do you really like it? It isn’t exactly like I wanted but I think it looks similar.” He said earnestly.

  Arlana smiled. “It is amazing. I love it. Thank you!” She said and hugged him. His arms went around her waist and her heart began to beat faster. No she thought. Karyn likes him I can’t. She pulled back but he didn’t let her go. “I am glad you like it. I wanted you to have something special. I need to tell you something.” Arlana panicked. “Well let’s go into the dance and you can tell me while we’re dancing. I have to keep an eye on Karyn; I don’t want her molesting my date.” She said with a false laugh. She felt so conflicted.

  “Your date, right, um yeah, let’s dance.”

  Luke didn’t say a word to her while they danced and she didn’t see him for the rest of the night. Arlana felt frustrated that he would shut her out but she knew it was for the best.

  At the end of the night she and Derek had the limo to themselves. “I hope you don’t mind that I didn’t get us a room. I mean the thought had crossed my mind but I knew from the moment I asked you a second time that you wouldn’t sleep with me at prom.” Arlana was stunned. “Um you are right. Sorry I am not that kind of girl. Besides this is technically our first date. I am still not sure if you even get a good night kiss.” She said with a wink.

  “Seriously?” Derek said sounding surprised.

  “You know Karyn is right you are a big dork.” She said laughing. “How about you buy me a shake from Inn n Out and I’ll think about it.”

  When they got to Arlana’s house Derek walked her to the door and before she let herself in she turned to say goodnight and he leaned in and she kissed him. There were no fireworks.

  As Arlana prepared for bed she thought about Derek’s kiss. It was nothing like what she had dreamt of. Albeit in her dreams she was kissing a different man. Those kisses were passionate and intense. She always woke from those dreams feeling breathless and other things she’d rather not think about.

  Maybe first kisses weren’t supposed to be so overwhelming. Maybe she had an overactive imagination.

  Oh well, she thought. At least I have my dream man. She closed her eyes and went to sleep.