Still, I had been friends with quite a few of last year's Juniors (now

Seniors) and many of them were really happy to see me now. These were some of the same guys that made fun of E-Beth back when I was still in school, but now they were indeed jealous of me and kicking themselves for not seeing how beautiful she had become. She wasn't about to win

Prom Queen or even compete with the most gorgeous girls at the school.

But E-Beth had definitely graduated up to "I'd want to fuck her" status.

We'd been having a fantastic evening. The food was... ok. But we danced and we danced and we were never apart for more than a couple of minutes. There was the occasional conversation with old buddies of mine or her school friends. But E-Beth spent the vast majority of the Prom with her hands on my arms as we danced the night away.

I would have been floating happily away on the romantic evening if it weren't for my own constant reminders that E-Beth was just a friend, and I shouldn't make any unwarranted assumptions.

There was just one minor hiccup when we were leaving. Mark, an old football friend caught me as we were walking out to the car. I already had the keys in my hand.

“Hey, Dave!”

I stopped and turned, and the guy produced a six-pack of beer.

“Want one for the road?" he asked.

My arms tightened and I swear that ice flowed into my veins as a cold rage took over my body. He was half-drunk himself already and yet he still caught my intense expression, blanching visibly in momentary fear response.

I held up the car keys and jingled them for emphasis.

“Oh... okay... guess not..." He backed off and started to turn away.

“Hold it," I stopped him.

“Hey Mark, you got a date?"

He shrugged.

“Yeah.”

“You driving or you get a limo?"

“Driving, why?" The poor guy looked quite confused.

“Gimme the beer." My voice was deadly quiet and my words were a command. The guy was already handing me a bottle.

“No, the whole pack.”

In the corner of my eye, I saw Jerry, another old friend and one who I knew for certain was taking a limo.

“Hey Jerry!" I yelled.

“Dave! Man, what's up!" With his date on his arm, Jerry started over towards me. I grabbed the pack away from Mark and handed the entire thing to Jerry.

“What's up?"