The Perfect Prom Date (2 page)

     
“This is Brennan Fisher,” Mrs. Perkins said, introducing him to the class. “He’s from Buffalo, NY. Please be sure to show him what real southern hospitality is like.”
 

     
“I’d be happy to show him,” Tracy cooed, while waving her hand in the air as if she was riding on a float in a parade. I rolled my eyes. Tracy was always flirting with one guy or another.
 

     
“She sure can,” some guy shouted. The class laughed and cheered at her not so subtle innuendo. Personally, I found it disgusting. Brennan shifted his weight from one foot to the other.
 

     
“That’s enough.” Mrs. Perkins shot everyone a stern look. The class grew quiet once again. “Mr. Fisher, please take the empty seat in the back row there, next to Miss McCall.”
 

     
Mrs. Perkins pointed at me. My face flushed as he headed my way. I worried I would make a fool of myself like I usually did when I was around cute boys. I became clumsy and said the most idiotic things. My heart beat louder and faster with each step he took. I really didn’t want to mess this up.

     
“Miss McCall, please be a dear and move your desk over, so that Brennan can look on with you. I’ll search down another copy of ‘Frankenstein’ for him tomorrow.”

     
I smiled nervously, but before I got the chance to embarrass myself, Tracy did it for me. “Ah, Mrs. Perkins that’s not fair,” she whined. “You can’t expect our very own Frankenstein to show Brennan any southern hospitality.” She turned around and looked at me with disdain, “She’ll frighten him to death. I mean, just look at her freakishly bright red hair.” She laughed and the rest of the class joined her.
 

      
My face flushed an even deeper shade of red and my eyes filled with tears. It wasn’t my fault that I had red hair – my family was Irish. Tracy was one of those girls who got off on being mean. Last year on November 20
^th,
she sent a text around to everyone at school telling them that it was “National Kick a Ginger Day,” so whenever I walked down the hall, everyone kicked me. By the end of the day, my shins were covered in bruises. Today her malice was verbal instead of physical, but it still hurt.
 
I kept my eyes down and didn’t even glance at Brennan as he settled into the desk next to mine. I didn’t want him to know I was about to cry.

     
Mrs. Perkins shouted in order to be heard over the laughter, “That’s enough Miss Berry. I don’t want to hear another word from you, or you’ll end up in the main office.”
 

     
The class settled down. Brennan slid his desk over when I didn’t make any attempt to move. I was temporarily frozen to the spot. I wanted to pull my hood over my red hair and disappear, but students weren’t allowed to wear hoods or hats in school. Instead I kept my face down, staring at the book without really seeing any of the words. I sat in awkward silence for the remainder of the class, counting down the minutes until it was over.
 

     
I let out a sigh of relief when the bell finally rang, jumping out my seat to avoid another scene. Before I could get more than two steps, Brennan caught my arm and said, “Thanks for letting me look on with you.” He nodded in Tracy’s direction, she was lingering in the doorway, no doubt waiting to personally offer him her services, “You know, not all guys like girls like that.”
 

     
His comment surprised me. I looked right into his bright blue eyes, momentarily forgetting how to breathe. I could barely tear my eyes away. It was at that moment I knew I had it bad. “Thanks,” I mumbled, smiling shyly. I turned and quickly made my way out of the classroom, before I said or did something stupid.
 

     
So four months later, when I came up with the 10 easy steps to getting the perfect prom date, I didn’t hesitate. I picked BRENNAN to be my guy. Not only was he the hottest boy I had ever seen, he was also one of the nicest. He was different from all the other boys I knew.
 

     
So what are you waiting for? Name YOUR GUY!

Comments:

prettyinpink: The first step is complete, I named my guy. I’m ready for Step Two.

countrygirl: I love the idea of your 10 step plan. I hope each step is as easy as the first.
 

1hipcheerleader: Too many hot guys to choose from. I’ll have to think it over carefully before I do anything rash.

BLOG #2

Step Two: Get His Attention

     
Seems obvious, right? I mean how can a guy ask you to the prom if he doesn’t even know you exist? Or maybe he does, but he’s never thought about you in the potential-girlfriend kind of way. Well, you are about to change all of that.
 

     
There are many ways to get his attention. Let’s start small and work our way to bigger details. PLEASE don’t overlook the small stuff, it is just as important, and it does make a difference.
 

     
“Like what?” you ask. Take perfume for example. The right scent can go a long way. A guy can’t help being attracted to a girl who smells good. When he breathes in your new sweet scent as you walk by him in the hall, vibes will shoot down his body.
 
Suddenly you’re on his radar. Next time you’re at the mall with your BFF be sure to pass by the perfume counter and spend some time searching for the scent that works best for you. Trust me – it won’t be a waste of your time as long as you remember to use it before heading out the door.
 

     
My mom had given me a bottle of Princess by Vera Wang for my birthday and it had been sitting on my dresser unopened for months. Ellie was always spritzing herself with perfume before heading off to school, so on a whim one morning I decided what the hell. I dabbed some behind my ears and on my wrists. It had been over a week since I had picked Brennan as my guy, and time was ticking. The prom was getting closer by the day.
 

     
Since English was my first block class, my perfume hadn’t had time to wear off. I chatted with Rachel in the hall until I was sure Brennan was seated, and then I entered, passing close by his desk. I thought I saw the corners of his mouth turn up slightly. However, he often smiled at me when I sat down. It didn’t really mean anything.
 

     
Moments later he leaned over and asked to borrow a pen. I purposefully handed him one wrist side up.

     
“Thanks,” he replied, taking it out of my outstretched hand. I swore I saw him take in a deep breath and smile. I couldn’t be sure though. Either way, I’d take it. It was a small start.

     
One of the first things a guy notices about you is your smile. Ellie was always going on and on about how great her smile was. Of course, part of that was due to the thousands of dollars our parents spent on her orthodontic procedures, but this is not the time or place to get into all of that. I believed she was on to something when she said having a great smile was important. A smile can say many different things about you – shy, happy, fun, flirty, or sexy. I suggest practicing in front of a mirror to master the different emotions you are trying to convey. Do you know the cliché – a picture is worth a thousand words? I say, a SMILE is worth a thousand words. Once you’re ready, flash him one of yours, and see for yourself.

     
One night after washing my face and brushing my teeth, I decided it was time to practice my own smile. My teeth were straight, although I did have a small gap between my two front teeth, which the dentist said would fill in once all of my permanent teeth came in, but it never did. I sighed as I stared at it in the mirror. Oh well, there was nothing I could do about it now. Luckily, I did have one really good thing going for me – dimples. I barely had to smile and my dimples would show. I know Ellie was jealous of them. I spent several minutes trying to appear flirty and then I moved on to trying to look sexy.

     
“What the - ” I shouted as Ellie came barging into the bathroom that we shared.

     
“What is taking you so long in here?” Ellie asked, eyeing me critically.

     
“Don’t you ever knock?” I snapped back at her. I tried to act like I had just finished brushing my teeth, but Ellie was too smart to believe that.

     
“OMG – are you practicing ugly faces in the mirror? I’m surprised it didn’t crack,” she said, making a big deal out of carefully inspecting the mirror.

     
“Do you always have to be such a bitch?”

     
Ellie laughed and gave me a look that said she thought I was the biggest loser ever. “I swear you must’ve been switched at the hospital.”

     
“Fuck you.” I spun on my heel and returned to my room. I wasn’t in the mood to stand around and get into it with Ellie. I heard her laughing as I slammed my bedroom door. Perfume and a great smile were a good start, but it wasn’t enough. I climbed into bed and tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. Prom was getting closer every day and nothing really had changed. A smile here and there didn’t equal a date to the prom. I needed something bigger to get Brennan to notice me.
 

     
Attacking my wardrobe had to be the next big task. Ellie was right; it was time to ditch the hoodies. I read every fashion magazine that Ellie had left lying around the house, getting ideas and tips from the experts. Then I called Rachel and we went to the mall. Spending half of all the money I’d saved from my birthday, I bought several new outfits.
 

     
I learned a lot during my quest for the perfect wardrobe. I thought buying “the right clothes” was going to be complicated and expensive, but it turned out to be much simpler than I thought. There are just a few basic guidelines to follow, which I have highlighted in this blog entry.
 

     
Let’s start with jeans - a quintessential component of any teenager’s wardrobe. I always thought that guys cared about labels, WRONG. Most don’t know the difference between Abercrombie, Lucky Brand, or Hudson. All they notice is how your butt looks in them. Make sure you turn around and look in the mirror when trying on jeans. If your butt looks great, you’re all set. Easy, right?

     
If you have really great legs, then grab a short skirt off the rack. Maybe he’s never seen what great legs you have hiding underneath your jeans, and it’s about time you showed him. He deserves to know the truth about your sexy legs.
 

     
The same principals apply to picking out what tops to buy, you’ll want a style that shows off your best features. Do you have great shoulders from the countless laps in the pool? Then wear a cute flirty tank top. Do you have sculpted arms from playing tennis, or big boobs that you inherited from your Aunt Sally? Try wearing a short sleeved fitted t-shirt. Whichever style is right for you, pick a color that brings out your eyes and coloring. Patterns should be simple, not busy.

     
Now that you have put together a rockin’ outfit, don’t ruin it by wearing your smelly gym shoes – been there, done that. I would also avoid wearing heels. They look good, but they can be impractical for high school. Pairing jeans with a killer pair of cowboy boots or flip-flops is always fashionable. One of my favorite looks is a jean skirt with converse sneakers, which come in an array of colors, or you can design your own you if you visit their website.

     
Once you have your kick-ass outfit, it’s time to focus on your hair and makeup. As you already know, my red hair is the bane of my existence. I hate it. I would give anything to change it, but I can’t. Sigh. You on the other hand, have potential. Smile. My best advice is to match your hairstyle with the look you’re trying to achieve. For example, if you want a schoolgirl look (plaid skirt, white blouse), try braiding a small section of your would-be bangs, and then pull it into a big ponytail in the back. If you’re wearing jeans and a trendy t-shirt, then wear your hair down. If you are wearing a short jean skirt, and you’re in a hurry, choose the messy-bun-look. You get the idea.
 

     
Makeup is the final touch before heading out the door. Personally, I’m not really all that into makeup, but it is a necessity, and a little can go a long way in producing big results. Let’s begin with drawing attention to your eyes. Applying eyeliner on the top of your eyelid and just below will make your eyes stand out. You can add a little color to your eyelid for further definition, and mascara to lengthen your eyelashes. Put it all together, and he’ll lose himself while gazing into your beautiful eyes. Moving on to the rest of your face, you’ll want to highlight your cheeks with blush to give you color. Adding a thin layer of lip-gloss to your lips will make him realize that your mouth is irresistible, and he’ll dream about kissing it. My favorite cosmetic, although not essential, is nail polish. I want my hands to look pretty, so that he’ll want to hold them while we walk down the hall or when we’re at the movies. Don’t be put off by the cost. Manicures and pedicures don’t have to be expensive. I love treating myself to at-home manicures and pedicures. Even the creative names of OPI nail polishes, like “you’re a Pisa work,” “red my fortune cookie,” and “who the Shrek are you,” put me in a good mood.
 

     
It will be impossible for him not to notice your new look. He won’t be able to get you out of his mind. As always, please leave a comment. I love hearing from my followers.