Again (Brandy Jeffus)

you so much! This time I’ll write more okay?”
    She just nods and wipes her hand over her eyes. She grabs her bags and with one last kiss turns around and leaves.
    My sister is a woman, and a damn great one at that.
    ***
    Eli was nervous. Most of the time he had nerves of steel, so he didn't know what was wrong with him. They had been to countless dances throughout middle and high school. There were at least a dozen pictures of the two dressed up in front of some lame decoration to prove it. But then again this was Prom. It was the dance that every girl dreamed of the entire four years of their high school career. He had heard girls in his freshman class planning for the future event. Ridiculous, he always thought.
    He knew Bonnie was excited about it. It was the last dance they would go to. She wasn't over the top with her excitement, but Eli knew that she was still a little anxious.
    He didn’t know what her dress looked like, only that it was teal. He picked a tux to match and had his mom help him with the corsage.
    He rang the doorbell at Bonnie's house. His parents were already over here, waiting to take pictures and see the couple off. Ms. Cindy opened the door and swooned over how handsome he was. He walked in the living room and hugged his mom who looked near tears.
    "Bonnie, he's heeerrre," Tatum said in a sing song voice. She winked at Eli and he smiled back. The room got quiet and Eli swore he could hear his heart thud in his chest. He took a deep breath as he heard Bonnie's heels on the floor getting closer.
    She turned the corner and time froze. Everyone else disappeared and it was just the two of them in the room. Her dress was the most amazing blue in the world. Like the oceans in some far away paradise. It was spaghetti strapped and although it wasn’t bejeweled in any way, but it still looked like the most exotic thing Eli had ever seen on Bonnie. Her beautiful blond hair was curled and had a silver dolphin barrette in it.
    Eli finally heard the noises in the room, his mom and Bonnie's mom oohing and aahing. He saw his mom dab her eyes with a tissue.
    "So beautiful!" Ms. Cindy said.
    "Gorgeous!" his own mother chimed in.
    Bonnie blushed and walked over to Eli. She shrugged as if saying, well….
    "You're Heaven," Eli whispered and felt his throat close up. He lightly kissed her cheek then offered her the corsage he was holding. It was a white lilac with an assortment of blue flowers. His mom had helped him pick it out.
    Bonnie's smile was so big and bright as she took the corsage and slid on her wrist. Being so close, Eli could see the glitter on her eyelids and on her shoulders. His chest tightened as he caught the smell of his favorite perfume of hers. They hurried and took the obligatory pictures, posing a dozen different ways for all the parents. Eli could tell Bonnie was having fun. She had always been the type who was most comfortable in jeans and a T-shirt, but she did occasionally like to dress up.
    They were in the limo before too long and stopped at Bonnie's Dad's house. Things were still tense between Bonnie's parents and it would be too uncomfortable for them to be in the same house, so Bonnie had asked to make a special detour. Eli, of course, obliged. If she had asked for the moon he would gladly do it.
    On the way to Prom, Eli's head was a fuzzy mess. Every time he looked at Bonnie it felt like he was watching a movie. It didn't feel real, this night, this limo ride with her.
    I am the luckiest guy on earth, he thought.
    Bonnie looked at him and smiled, "This is already the best night ever, Eli. Thank you. I love you so much." They kissed slow and sweet. Everything was perfect. Tonight would be perfect no matter what.
    Prom turned out to be a flurry of strobe lights, lots of love songs and pure happiness all around. Bonnie and Eli danced most the time, but also hung out with their mutual friends. Bonnie was so relaxed and carefree, Eli's worry about her having a good time melted away. They took pictures and greeted the teacher chaperones. The night was fun; pure, unadulterated and easy fun.
    Their last dance was to "Yellow" by Coldplay, a song that Eli loved. Bonnie's curls had turned straight and her glitter had worn off, but she still looked gorgeous.
    "Happiness suits you, Miss Jinks," Eli whispered.
    "As it does you Mister Stone," she smiled and rested her head on his chest. "Tonight's been perfect. Even this song, it's perfect for us."
    "I came along. I wrote a song for you."