September 21st, 2021

"Hey, so, here's what I'm thinking." Hailey sat down in front of me. Currently, the two of us were on a coffee date...So she can scold me. "You ask London to the Prom."

I scoffed. "As if they'll say yes..." I was broken. I refused to tell them. Hailey claims that they told her that they liked me. I never believed her. "I'm not doing it."

She frowned. "Don't make me tell Jacob."

My eyes widened as I shook my head. "Please don't-"

"Imagine all the double dates!"

"Hailey, please-"

"I won't stop until you at least make it more obvious."

I sighed and hit my head on the café table. I heard her chuckle, and I could hear that stupid smirk that spread across her face. I looked up at her without picking my head up. "Stop it."

"Promise me that you will tell them eventually."

I looked at her, picking my head off the table. She looked genuinely concerned. "Why? What's the point?"

She groaned loudly, earning a few stares from people around us. "The point? Rich, the point is that you two need to stop dancing around your feelings and actually do something about it!"

I tensed up because I realized she was right. I let out a sigh. "How about this. I'll ask them to prom. Will that be good enough for you?"

She smiled. "I can help you."

I sighed, a small smile escaping my lips. "Yeah, alright."

She squealed and slammed a $20 on the table. She grabbed my arm and rushed me out of the room. "We're on a mission to make Rondon real!"

I raised an eyebrow and she opened the door. "Rondon?"

She hummed and nodded her head. "Your name."

I chuckled. "Okay." We got into her car. "You're sure that this will work?"

She hesitated, but nodded her head. "I'm not sure, but I'm always willing to attempt."

This response scared me. London maybe didn't like me the way I liked them, but Hailey had a small point. Perhaps we can always try. She knew that I liked them for a bit. I'm guessing she was really trying to help me out here.

We drove away from the small café and to my house. She opened the door and Estral lit up. I looked around the room and saw my dad, Jacob, and Estral with flour and batter on their hands and face. I chuckled. "What were you two doing?"

Estral smiled widely. "We made brownies. Also, London came over. They said they wanted to talk to you, so they're upstairs waiting for you."

I shot Hailey a look. She winked at me and walked away, sitting beside Jacob. I made my way upstairs and pushed open my door. London was looking at a picture of the 4 of us. "I think we need Hailey's Polaroid and take a picture of Estral. I think he'll like it."

They looked at me with a small smile. I returned it and walked towards them. "Hailey said you wanted to talk?"

They froze, but nodded their head. "Uh, yeah. I had a question."

I sat on my bed. London continued to stand. I patted the bed. "London, sit down." They sighed and sat down. I could see that they were nervous. So, I did the one thing that calmed me down.

I reached over and grabbed London's hand. They relaxed their shoulders a bit and looked at me. "I was wondering if," They paused. "Um-"

"You sound so nervous," I laughed lightly, causing them to smile. "Calm down. I promise I won't kill you."

They let out a sigh. "I was wondering if you wanted to go to the prom with me?"

I felt my throat well up. There was no way this was happening. I smiled. "A-Are you serious?" I couldn't even form words at the moment.

They frowned. "Just forget it. It was stu-"

I gripped London's hand tighter, shutting them up immediately. "I never said I wouldn't go."

Neither of us said anything for a few minutes. Then, they looked at me. "Wait, so that means..."

I smiled and nodded my head. "Yes, I will go to prom with you."

"You're going to prom with them?!" Hailey asked through the phone. It's been a few hours since everyone left. Estral was on the foot of my bed, ranting about a book. I let him read it only because I wanted to see his reaction when he realizes it's a horror book.

Okay, I may or may not have made him read IT, but it'll be okay!

"Rich, this is huge! You said yes, right?"

I scoffed. "Of course I said yes. Why would I say no?"

I felt he move around a bit on her bed. "Well, you have until October 24th. So, tomorrow, you, me, and Estral are going shopping."

Estral's head poked up at his name. "We are?" He asked.

I nodded my head. "Of course. You are our friend now, after all."

He smiled and looked back down at his book. "Thanks, Richie. I really appreciate that."

I muttered a small 'no problem' before looking back at my phone. "We have school tomorrow."

"Your point? You and I are going right after school. Jacob and London can go somewhere else."

I sighed. "I'll talk to you tomorrow. It's 9:30 and I need sleep." I hung up the phone and looked at Estral. "How do you like the book?"

He looked up. "I don't know," He flipped a page. "I mean, I know I'd feel horrible if my brother passed away."

I sighed. "You need sleep, okay?" He nodded and stood up, taking the book with him.

As I heard my door shut, I pulled the blanket over my shoulders and turned over to my side. I smiled, thinking about London.

I thought about what we would wear. I wondered if I could find Estral someone to go with. That would be nice, wouldn't it? I think that he deserves this at the very least.

The last things on my mind were my friends, and how they made everything so much more easier.