Fifteen Going on Grown Up (45 page)

She managed to look up at him.

“It’s like I still can’t believe you are with me. Clia said she gets like that about Rhys.”

Wes laughed and Hally thought he was laughing at her. She frowned and tried to pull out of his arms but he held on.

“Hey, I’m not laughing at you. It’s Rhys, he’s always worrying that Clia is going to break up with him, and Gregg, he’s even worse.”

Hally looked at him wide eyed.

“What about you?”

Wes looked at her lovingly.

“I try not to think about you breaking up with me. I feel lucky every day that you are my girlfriend but sometimes I get scared, I think as you get older you will start to go off me. Or when you go to college you will meet so many other guys that one might take your fancy.”

It was Hally’s turn to take his chin and turn it to her. She gave him a little kiss on the lips and said.

“What are we like? All of us seem to get insecure at times don’t we. Maybe that’s part of having a relationship.”

Wes smiled then picked up his plate and once again tucked into his food.

Later that evening after Wes had gone home, Hally sat with mum and dad on the deck enjoying the summer evening. It was still very hot and none of them wanted to go inside let alone go to bed. Hally had thought a lot about her conversations with Corrinne and Clia that afternoon and then with Wes that evening. She looked at her parents and decided to ask how they felt about insecurities. Mum glanced at her as though expecting her daughter to ask something.

“Mum.”

“What’s on your mind angel?”

Mum asked. Hally was taken by surprise a little, how did her mother always know something was bothering her.

“Nothing really. Well, when you and dad were going out, did you ever get scared that one of you would break up with the other?”

Her parents looked at each other and grinned. It was dad who answered.

“Me, I used to get all nervous when I saw her, for ages after we started going out, and thought your mum would think I was a right wimp and would want a bloke who was all tough.”

Mum giggled and took her husband’s hand.

“I didn’t know this for ages though. When he finally told me, about nine months after we starting seeing each other I was quite surprised. I’d only had one other boyfriend and that only lasted three months. Like you I was only fifteen when I started going out with your dad. So when I got your dad I was just over the moon, I wasn’t going to let him go.”

Hally felt relieved that it was not just her generation that found relationships difficult.

“Tink, it’s normal and part of getting to know someone to feel a bit insecure at times. I think it would be arrogant to think you could take for granted another person’s feelings. So long as you don’t let any insecurities get too intense and spoil what you have.”

Dad told her gently. She looked at her parents and then asked.

“So when do you stop feeling like that?”

Mum answered this time.

“Angel, there’s no set time so I can’t answer that. I suppose time is the only real answer and how a relationship develops. Honesty and communication are probably the key though.”

Hally nodded understanding what her mum was saying and knowing in her heart of hearts that she and Wes could be together for ever like her parents. It was a thought that brought warmth and comfort to her whole being.

The run up to the prom came with heavy rain. The temperature was still high which made the days muggy and storms impending. On the morning the day before the prom, the storm finally arrived, fierce, furious and full of power that threatened to shake the world apart. Hally sat looking through the window watching the rain pour onto the garden waiting for Corrinne and Clia. Today they were going to try on their makeup and experiment with hair styles. The boys had been barred from the house for the whole day and evening so their girlfriends could surprise them the next day.

Whilst she was waiting Hally went into a little daydream. Instead of trying on makeup and hairdos for the prom she and the girls were preparing for her wedding. It was not in a prom dress she would surprise Wes with, but as a bride in a beautiful floating gown of ivory silk and layers of net and lace. He would be nervously getting his own suit ready with his best men, Gregg and Rhys and Corrinne and Clia would be checking last minute details on their own bridesmaid dresses. A loud rumble of thunder and a quick succession of lightening flashes brought her out of the daydream at the same time the gate opened and Corrinne and Clia came trotting to the door.

“Phew, that is some storm out there.”

Clia exclaimed shaking rain drops from her jacket and stepping out of her sandals.

“I didn’t notice.”

Hally replied. Corrinne looked at her strangely but only said.

“Where shall I put my umbrolley?”

At first Hally didn’t react then she realised what her friend had said.

“Umbrolley?”

She asked with a grin, Clia looking amused too. Corrinne replied in a very serious tone.

“Mmm, my umbrolley.”

Both girls looked at her as though she had gone a little crazy. She looked at them as though they should know exactly what she meant and turning her eyes upward said.

“Well, it’s such a mini one you can’t really call it an umbrella so it’s my little umbrolley.”

Hally and Clia burst into giggles.

“What?”

Corrinne asked innocently but with a smile twitching at the corner of her mouth.

“Well just put your…umbrolley in the sink.”

Hally told her.

With the storm still raging outside the girls sat in the lounge with all of their makeup and accessories laid out on the coffee table. Mum had taken Nathan to the swimming pool as he had a day off school for a teacher training day; so he couldn’t get in their way and promised to keep him occupied when they got back. They all sat on the floor cross legged holding their hair this way and that to see which style suited best.

“So how come you didn’t notice the storm that was right over your head Hally?”

Corrinne asked. Hally grinned at her friends and went on to tell them about her daydream. For a while after, they all three indulged her fantasy, each adding to it until the imaginary wedding was as big as a celebrity’s nuptials and the honeymoon was on a Caribbean island. This led to planning Corrinne and Clia’s weddings to Gregg and Rhys and by the time they finished all three girls were having fairytale weddings with definite happy ever afters. Finally they got back to the task in hand. That of finalising the plans for the prom the next day.

Saturday morning arrived dry and with blazing sunshine, the storm pounding through the night and eventually dying down at about two in the morning. Hally climbed out of bed feeling fresh and excited. She had managed to sleep through most of the storm and so wasn’t at all tired. She showered and made her way downstairs to find mum already making tea and toast in the kitchen,

“Granddad is coming round this morning. Your dad and him are going to take Nathan out for a while so I can get a few things sorted around the house.”

Mum had already arranged with Wes, Corrinne, Clia, Rhys and Gregg’s parents to all come round and have photographs and champagne and so see them all off in the car for the prom. Hally was really looking forward to this, it made the event even more special and she was grateful to her mum for organising it.

Corrinne and Clia were dropped off by Clia’s brother Don at eleven. The girls came in carrying bags and boxes and Don followed holding long zippered dress protectors. Mum took them from him and hung them next to Hally’s. They all thanked Don, Clia standing on tip toes to peck her brother on the cheek.

“See you later sis.”

He told her.

“Are you coming round here too?”

She asked excitedly.

“Yep and I’m bringing Tillie with me.”

Clia’s eyebrows went through the roof.

“When did that happen?”

She asked. Don grinned widely.

“Last week.”

“About time too.”

She told her brother as though she was the elder sibling. Still smiling Don gave a little wave and headed out of the door. Before Hally or Corrinne could ask Clia announced.

“You remember the girl I called when we were trying to find out who Wes was? Well that was Tillie. At long last my big brother has finally seen sense and got together with her.”

Mum prepared sandwiches and salad for the girls at lunchtime and laid it out on the deck. Dad and Granddad were back with Nathan and dad had given him strict instructions to stay out of the lounge. Nathan sulkily agreed even though everyone, him included, knew he would be far happier out in the garden anyway. Nibbling on a sandwich Hally examined the polish on her nails.

“Do you think this colour is right?”

She asked. Corrinne and Clia examined the colour and both agreed it was perfect and would contrast beautifully with her dress. Mum, dad and Granddad joined them, mum bringing another tray of sandwiches and calling Nathan over for food too.

Corrinne and Clia’s parents arrived late afternoon and the three mothers discussed the most practical way for the three girls to get ready. It was decided that Hally’s mum would help the girls dress because of lack of room, then the other two could come up and see their daughter’s and help with finishing touches. So later in the day mum took Hally, Corrinne and Clia up to her bedroom to finish getting ready. She told the girls Hally’s room was too small and because she had an en-suite bathroom too, it would be much easier to check makeup and hair. None of the girls complained.

With mum’s help they put on hold up stockings, shoes and finally the dresses were removed from their covers. Hally and mum held Corrinne’s dress high and gently lowered it over her head and raised arms. It was emerald in colour, strapless and made from crushed taffeta. The bodice was gathered and beaded and the full long skirt looped and overlaid. Mum carefully zipped the dress up and Corrinne examined her reflection in mum’s full length mirror.

“You look stunning.”

Mum said. Next it was Clia’s turn and again Hally and her mum held the dress Clia had chosen. Her dress was lilac organza with a gathered crossover bodice, drop waist and full length pickup skirt. When she was zipped in and the dress smoothed down, Clia gave a little twirl in front of the mirror. Smiling mum said to her.

“You look stunning as well. Now Hally your turn.”

Corrinne helped mum with Hally’s dress. Hally stood still her arms raised anticipation bubbling inside. She had never worn a ball gown before and she was very excited. The dress was lowered over her head, smoothed and zipped. Hally stood looking down at herself. The dress was light blue and made from satin and tulle. The bodice was beaded and low cut and it had a satin cincher waist with a full length ball skirt. She swung the skirt from side to side feeling like a princess about to meet her prince in a fairytale. Mum brushed at a few tears that had escaped her eyes and took her daughter’s hand.

“You look beautiful my angel.”

Hally bit back her own tears, not wanting to spoil her flawless makeup and gave her mum a little smile.

“Thank you.”

She whispered.

Mum went out of the room and downstairs to fetch Corrinne and Clia’s mums. The girls stood checking their reflections, making sure no stray hairs had escaped and were out of place and that their makeup hadn’t run in the heat. Mum had opened the windows as wide as they could go but there wasn’t much breeze and Hally was very glad they were in mum’s room because they would have been sweating profusely in hers. Mum came back with the other two mothers and Hally and her own mum stepped back so they could fuss over their daughters. Finally each mother placed a tiara on her daughter’s head and announced they were definitely ready. As they made their way out of the room Hally turned to her mum holding a finger up.

“Just one moment.”

She said. Mum looked at her curiously.

“I just want to go into my room for a moment.”

Mum nodded and said.

“Ok, we’ll wait here, don’t be long.”

Hally swirled around and into her own room closing the door. She walked over to the picture on the wall and gave a little turn swishing the skirt of her dress. Looking up at the angels she whispered.

“What do you think Gran? Will I do?”

She smiled to herself as though acknowledging an answer and then left the room.

The mums led the way downstairs, the girls following careful not to tread on the hem of the girl in front. The rest of the families were still in the garden dad handing out drinks as the perfect host. As Hally stepped onto the deck, both dad and Granddad stopped talking and looked at her. They both came over and showered her with compliments. Corrinne’s father took her hand and told her she was very beautiful. Clia’s dad, her brother Don and Tillie crowded round her lavishing her with compliments. Hally’s dad then went and brought cold drinks for the mums and the girls.

Not long after, the group heard noises coming from behind the gate and it was obvious the boys and their parents had arrived. The girls ducked back into the kitchen wanting to make an entrance to their boyfriends. Looking through the window they all watched as Wes, Rhys and Gregg came into the garden. All three looked tall,
handsome and very grown up. All three were wearing black tuxedos,
with dazzling white dinner shirts, cummerbunds in silk and bow ties. The dads shook their hands and the mums kissed their cheeks and then they looked around for their girlfriends. The girls moved gracefully out onto the deck towards their man.