I hated the mall. Why was I here? Ugh. People were gross! If I was not reincarnated in my next life as a crow, allowing me to finally take part in a murder, I shall sue the afterlife and everyone involved.

Today, my mom joined me. We were getting my dress for the graduation and the afterparty, which she seemed to be much more excited about than I was… but what else is new?

“So, are you going with anyone to prom?” My mom whispered at me, smiling.

I rolled my eyes as she checked the tag on a purple skirt.

“Not sure how many times I have to say no.”

She peered over a shelf at me. “Fine, grumpy.”

I was grumpy. I didn’t need to be reminded that Theo wasn’t graduating with me.

I received my scholarship acceptance forms in the mail this morning, having chosen an art scholarship. It all felt more like a sad reminder than anything else, although my family did seem very happy about it, which was nice.

I needed to prepare for college now. The first semester started in January, which meant I had about three more months to get my shit together. Should be a blast (she said with anxious sarcasm).

Mom held up a silver dress with sequins and some strange shoulder pads…

“Hmm?” She raised her eyebrows at me.

I shrugged. “Not my color, as you know.”

“Oh right, my bad.” She said. “Let me find you something that compliments your whole emo rocker vibe.”

I snorted. “You know me so well.”

She laughed and turned away.

I wandered around the store for a few more minutes before we decided to check out the one next door. I was hoping to find something that I could wear again, not just for graduation. Something simple, and preferably black like my soul…

I was getting lost in a sea of denim by the time Mom found me again.

“Ravina, come look at this!” She beckoned me over to where she’s standing.

There was a manikin at the edge of the dress section wearing a black, long sleeve velvet dress that would probably come just above my knees.

I smiled at her and she knew she’d done well…

I looked around for the dress on any of the hangers, but only found ones in sizes way too big for me. Ain’t that always the story.

“Well, it would have been perfect-”

Suddenly, Mom was taking the manikin off its pedestal.

“Mom!” I hissed, looking around quickly to see if anyone was watching.

No one’s here…

“What? This one’s your size honey, here help me with her leg.” She set the doll on the floor and started trying to unzip the dress.

Oh. My. God.

My mom was a psycho!

I took a few large steps away and hid myself in a clothing rack, waiting for someone who worked here to see my mom defiling a manikin and arrest her or something.

She had a bit of trouble getting the thing back up, but when she did she ran over to my hiding spot with the dress.

“Phew, that was difficult.” Mom shook her head at me wedged inside a cubby full of shirts.

“You’re insane.”

“Um, yeah.” She held out the dress. “Gonna try it on?”

Okay, perhaps my mom was crazy, but god damn was she fun…

Dress fit beautifully, and I decided I was actually sorta excited for prom! My last chance to party for a while, and yeah it sucked I’d be going without Theo or Julie, but I knew how to have a good time. Loneliness wasn’t always a bad thing.

That being said, on the way out of the mall later we walked past the arcade.

My stomach knotted as I remembered my first date with Theo. The rules we set up for The Game. The way I hated him at first but went along with it all, my heart set on winning.

When he “tested” out one of the rules and just ended up giving me a heart attack by putting his arms around me. Never let it be said that Theo couldn’t flirt, in fact he was damn good at it. Somewhat surprising given how cheesy he could be at times, and inexperienced when it came to dating. But hey, everyone was talented at something right?

As soon as we got out into the parking lot, the rain began and Mom sighed in annoyance. She couldn’t remember where we parked again…

All I could picture was Theo and his wet hair all pushed back against his forehead. The time I made him listen to Something Just Like This and he grinned at me.

Mom and I made it back to the house with minimal rain-coverage, and then Charlie was on us like cheese on nachos.

“Did you get outfits? Ooh! Let me see!” He said. “Wow, Ravina that dress is awesome!”

And again, all I could think of was how I wished more than anything, Theo was the one saying these things to me.

I missed that little fucker.

Fuck.