That gave Billy the confidence he needed, and he pointed to one to make the final decision.
The florist placed some baby's breath around it and began to prepare it for a corsage.
"How much longer?" Billy asked. I could tell he'd rather have been home playing Warcraft.
"This will all be worth it," I said, "when you see the look on her face."
That night Billy descended the staircase in his suit. I was already waiting in my new corset dress, so excited to have something new to wear in front of Alexander.
I hated to admit that my pesky brother did look handsome when he came down the stairs in his navy suit.
"Whose brother are you?" I teased.
"Not yours," he quipped.
"You look terrific," my dad said proudly.
"You look gorgeous," my mom gushed. Billy tensed up as my mom straightened his collar.
"Get off," he snarled.
"I just need to adjust this," she said. Then she took his chin and squeezed it. "You look so grown up."
"Mom - " he said.
"We have to go," I said, helping him out of the parental trap.
"Wait - let me get a picture of you both," she said.
"No, Mom," he whined. "We have to go."
"I need memories!" she exclaimed. "For my scrapbook."
My mom grabbed her camera. "Get together," she said, gesturing for us to stand next to each other. We both moved like slugs.
"C'mon. It won't kill you to take one picture," my dad commanded.
Reluctantly, we stood side by side. I hadn't noticed that Billy was nearly as tall as I was. In no time he'd be towering over me.
"Smile," she said.
Billy and I grimaced.
"Smile, already!" she repeated.
"Okay," we both said through grinning, gritted teeth.
"Okay," we both said through grinning, gritted teeth.
The flash burst, and we were both momentarily blinded.
"One more," she directed.
"You said only one." Billy was itching to go.
"But what if that doesn't turn out?" she asked.
"Then you'll know that one of us is a vampire," I said.