Prom was never Jessica's thing.
Too loud. Too glittery. Too fake.
But this?
This wasn't prom. This was their night.
Molly arrived at the bookstore two hours early.
Jessica was still upstairs, hair in rollers, dress in a garment bag. She shouted down for Molly to wait in the kitchen.
Instead, Molly crept up the stairs.
And stood in the doorway, watching Jess put on eyeliner in the mirror. Her hands trembled just slightly.
Jessica caught her reflection behind her.
"You're early."
Molly grinned. "You're beautiful."
Jessica rolled her eyes, cheeks pink. "Stop being cheesy."
"You love it."
"I do."
Molly stepped forward and gently zipped up Jessica's dress - a deep burgundy, satin, with a plunging neckline and open back that made Molly forget how to speak for a second.
Jessica turned and fixed Molly's bowtie, pulling her a little too close.
"You clean up dangerously well," Jess murmured.
"You're going to ruin me."
"That's the plan."
When they walked in, hand in hand, the room actually paused.
Molly wore a black velvet tux, sleek and sharp, her blonde curls pinned with tiny rhinestone clips. Jessica had gone all-out - the kind of effort that said: I'm not hiding anymore.
People stared.
And then they smiled.
Ben ran up and hugged them both. "You're the hottest couple I've ever seen, and I watch reality TV."
Amy gave them each corsages. "Handmade. Be grateful. I bled for these."
Samantha screamed from across the room, "SLAYYYYY."
They danced. God, they danced.
Slow songs. Fast songs. That one awkward group circle where everyone jumps in time to "Mr. Brightside." Molly kissed Jess in the middle of it, unapologetically.
They danced until their feet hurt, until their faces were flushed, until the DJ played "Yellow" and Jessica pulled Molly into her arms like it was the last dance of the world.
Molly whispered, "I love you."
Jessica whispered back, "I know."
Then added, softly, "I love you too."
They snuck out early, shoes in hand, walking barefoot across the school lawn.
Molly's car was parked behind the gym. They slid in and just breathed.
Jessica turned to her. "Let's not go home yet."
"Where do you want to go?"
Jessica's fingers curled around Molly's. "Anywhere. As long as it's with you."
They drove to Molly's house. Empty. Silent. Her parents were in Italy for some gala thing.
They went inside. Still wearing their prom clothes, they kissed in the hallway, the kitchen, all
the way up the stairs.
Molly's hands on Jessica's waist. Jessica's fingers in Molly's hair.
She pushed Molly onto her bed, climbed into her lap.
Soft. Slow. Serious.
Molly looked up at her. "Are you sure?"
Jessica smiled, that wild, defiant smile. "Yeah. Are you?"
Molly nodded.
"More than anything."
It wasn't rushed. It wasn't frantic.
It was reverent.
Every button undone felt like a question. Every kiss was an answer.
Jessica kissed Molly's neck, her collarbone, down her chest. Molly shivered under her touch, the slow burn of it grounding her.
Molly whispered Jessica's name like a prayer - over and over - as they explored each other like they were writing a new language.
Lips, hands, hips moving in rhythm.
Breathless laughter between soft gasps. Quiet I-love-you and trembling I-need-yous.
It wasn't perfect - someone's elbow hit the headboard, and they both burst out laughing - but it was real.
And when it was over, when Jessica curled into Molly's chest and kissed the space just under her jaw, they lay in silence, heartbeats syncing.
"Worth the wait," Molly whispered.
Jessica grinned into her skin. "You have no idea."