You turned Elsie\u2019s prom into a setup because you wanted to fix things?\u201d<\/p>\n
He nodded.<\/p>\n
You disappeared for years,\u201d I said. \u201cNo support. No letters. No birthdays. Nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd now you choose her prom? Through him?\u201d I pointed at Mason, who looked like he wanted to vanish. \u201cDo you understand what you just did to her?\u201d<\/p>\n
Darren\u2019s face twisted with guilt.<\/p>\n
But in that moment, I saw the truth.<\/p>\n
He had not changed.<\/p>\n
He was still the same selfish boy who made promises, then ran when things got hard.<\/p>\n
Then an idea clicked into place.<\/p>\n
I stared at him for a long moment, then let my shoulders fall.<\/p>\n
His face changed instantly. Hope replaced shame.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe you\u2019re right,\u201d I said softly. \u201cMaybe this has already gone too far.\u201d<\/p>\n
He nodded quickly. \u201cExactly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf Elsie learns you planned all this before she hears you out, she\u2019ll run.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what I\u2019ve been trying to say.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo let me talk to her first.\u201d<\/p>\n
He stepped closer.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll help me?\u201d<\/p>\n
I lowered my eyes like I was thinking it over.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll bring her,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n
He exhaled in relief.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n
I smiled.<\/p>\n
It was the first lie I had told all night.<\/p>\n
When I returned to the gym, students were whispering near the bleachers. Parents stood with careful expressions. The principal was near the exit with Elsie. Mason\u2019s coach and parents were nearby too.<\/p>\n
Good, I thought.<\/p>\n
Let everyone hear this.<\/p>\n
Elsie looked devastated. When she saw me, pain flashed across her face.<\/p>\n
\u201cElsie,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want excuses.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou won\u2019t get any.\u201d I took her hands before she could pull away. \u201cListen carefully. Your father is here. He has been here all night. He arranged this. He contacted Mason.\u201d<\/p>\n
The principal\u2019s mouth tightened.<\/p>\n
Mason\u2019s mother gasped.<\/p>\n
The whispers grew sharper.<\/p>\n
Elsie stared at me like the floor had vanished beneath her.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d she whispered.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d I said. \u201cHe thought this was the only way to get a chance to speak to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her face crumpled.<\/p>\n
For a second, I thought she might fall apart.<\/p>\n
Instead, she lifted her chin. Her eyes were wet, but there was something steady in them now.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe wanted a chance to speak to me?\u201d she said. \u201cThen bring him out.\u201d<\/p>\n
I nodded. I walked back to the hallway and opened the closet door.<\/p>\n
Darren looked up fast, smiling.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou talked to her?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe wants to see you,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n
He followed me into the gym.<\/p>\n
Please, Rachel,\u201d he said. \u201cI want to fix things. I have money now. I can help you both.\u201d You turned Elsie\u2019s prom into a setup because you wanted to fix things?\u201d He nodded. You...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1063","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n