I Hate Prom-posals: I Hate Prom, #2

By J. Leigh James

He prefers the spotlight. She stays behind the scenes.

Danna's mother is pressuring her to attend prom. But that's the last place the shy girl wants to go. She's more comfortable behind the lens of her camera than socializing with anyone outside her close-knit group of friends. She only agrees to go on a group date to prom to help out a friend and make her mother happy.

Everyone sees Aaron as the carefree class clown, but he has a very serious decision to make about his future. When a couple of popular girls try to fix him up on a blind date for prom, he agrees to scheme designed to get them off his back. He'll go to prom with a group of friends but tell everyone that Danna is his date.

Danna is forced into the spotlight, and now Aaron has more decisions to make.

Love is in the air, but can Danna and Aaron look beyond the surface to see the real people beneath and potentially discover a romance they didn't know they needed?

• Language: English
• Publisher: J. Leigh James
• Release date: May 28, 2023
• ISBN: 9781961656987

J. Leigh James

J. Leigh James lives in Texas with her amazing husband, "bad apple" daughter, and neurotic cat. She began writing in middle school when a beloved story had an unsatisfying ending. After rewriting the ending to the story, she became addicted to creating love stories with happily-ever-after endings. She loves connecting with her readers, so check out her website and sign up for her newsletter.

Book preview

I Hate Prom-Posals

J. Leigh James

Copyright © 2023 by J. Leigh James

ISBN Digital: 978-1-961656-98-7, Print: 978-1-961656-99-4

All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

Contents

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Epilogue

About Author

Also By

One

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Danna

O n three, I said as I lined up the couple in my viewfinder. One. Two. Three. I clicked the shutter and snapped off two pictures. Then I checked the preview screen. The lighting and angles were good. Carla Santori looked beautiful, with the exception of one small blemish on her nose. I could easily edit that out. You’re good, I told them. Thanks.

Next up is Class Clown, Barton Withers said, and I held in my groan.

Carla was in this shoot as well and remained in front of the Morgan High School backdrop.

What’s up, my people? a loud male voice boomed behind me. Aaron San Angelo draped his arm over my shoulder and said, Where do you want me?

My whole body tensed with his proximity. I wasn’t a touchy-feely kind of person. I didn’t hug my friends or drape myself over them. My friends knew how painfully shy I was and how I didn’t like any attention drawn to me. I enjoyed being in the shadows, or more accurately, hiding behind the lens of my camera.

Aaron was the exact opposite. And ever since his best friend had started dating my friend, he had acted like we were long-lost buddies.

Before I could speak, Carla said, Over here, you goof. In front of the camera. Not behind it.

I don’t know, he said without leaving my side. Wouldn’t it be funnier if we took pictures behind the camera?

Selfies? she said.

Barton snapped his fingers. That’s not a bad idea. What if we pose them to act like they’re taking funny pictures and use that for the yearbook?

Yeah, that’s great! Aaron said and reached for my camera.

No, I said. Not this one. The yearbook staff had a decent camera, but the 35mm mirrorless camera I was holding was my personal one. It cost three times more than theirs and had taken me saving for months of my part-time job income to purchase it.

Barton quickly set up the scene for Carla and Aaron, and they embraced their class clown roles. They took turns holding the camera while the other made funny poses. I snapped away while they played around, and the pictures were funny and perfect for the yearbook.

You’re laughing, Danna Banana, Aaron said. We must have done a great job.

I cringed at the awful nickname. See for yourself, I said and held out the screen for them to see. Aaron held my camera with one hand, covering where I was already holding it. I wanted to snatch my hand away, but I couldn’t risk him dropping my equipment. So I held my breath while he slowly scrolled through the shots.

We’re hysterical, he said, releasing the camera and draping his arm around Carla. Great job, DB. You captured us perfectly.

DB. Danna Banana. I gave him a half-hearted thanks and placed my camera back in its protective bag.

Aaron turned his attention to the others in the room, and I took the opportunity to slip out and scurry to my locker.

Hey Dani, Tabitha Nicols startled me as she stepped up to my locker. Headed to the student parking lot?

Yep, I said. Tabitha was one of the few people I could completely be myself with, which is probably why she was one of my best friends.

How did the photoshoot go? she asked as we left the building and headed toward the student parking lot.

Good, I said. I’m really proud of the shots.

Tabitha scoffed. You know what I mean. Your photos are always perfect.

I knew what she meant, but it was embarrassing that my best friends always checked on me after shooting the popular crowd. The populars had never really been mean to me, but I was still completely intimidated by them. Instead of addressing the real question, I deflected. My shots aren’t always perfect.

How were you? She refused to be distracted.

I was okay, I said. You don’t have to check after every shoot, you know.

Friends are there for each other. Speaking of friends, one corner of her mouth lifted into a half-grin. I heard Aaron got Senior Class Clown.

Again, I knew what she was asking. Another topic I wanted to avoid. How much Aaron annoyed me. Tabitha claimed it was because I was attracted to the guy.

He was tall, with dark wavy hair and green eyes that reminded me of new leaves in the spring. His chiseled jawline made shooting his picture a fun challenge. And I’d call him attractive, but repressed attraction wasn’t what made my nerves go haywire around him. He was too much. Of everything. Too loud, too energetic, too friendly. Wherever he went, I felt like an invisible spotlight shone on him. And on everyone who stood near him.

I didn’t like the spotlight. I didn’t like attention. Aaron seemed to draw it, and if I wanted to remain in the shadows, then he needed to stay away.

But he wouldn’t get the hint. I didn’t know if it was arrogance, stubbornness, or just the density of his skull, but whatever his issue was, the message wasn’t getting through. It meant I was constantly running from the guy.

The pictures turned out great, I said to her. Want to see?

She smiled at my change of topic. Maybe later. I just wanted to see how things went before I ran off to Pizza-rama. Tabitha scrunched her nose. She hated her part-time job and was constantly threatening to quit.

Have fun, I teased her. If she could harass me about Aaron San Angelo, then I could return the favor.

Whatever, she said as we left the school building and walked through the student parking lot. She jumped into her small SUV, and I unlocked the door of my trusty old sedan.

Danna! Aaron called from behind me.

Whatever he wanted could wait for tomorrow. I was ready to be rid of him. I pretended like I didn’t hear him, jumped into my car, and sped out of the parking lot.

Sweet peace and quiet, at last.

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Aaron

W ho are you taking to prom? Carla batted her eyes at me.

Don’t know. I’m not in a relationship like you and Kent, I said. Carla was funny, and I liked hanging out with her, but she was too much of a flirt. Kent stayed in a constant state of jealousy, and I didn’t blame him. I was all for having fun, but somewhere there was a line between friendly and flirty. And Carla danced all over that line all the time.

I could set you up, she said. We could share a limo and everything. I have the perfect girl in mind. You’ll love her.

We’ll see, I said. Though what I really meant was no way. I might be riding with Eli. Carla backed off at the mention of my best friend.

Just let me know, she smiled and stepped away.

I turned to Danna to get her reaction and wasn’t completely surprised to see she’d left. She was always sneaking away.

I didn’t know if she got bored with the conversations around her or if she was so busy she was constantly running from one place to another. She was forever taking pictures for the school newspaper, online blog, and yearbook. So, I assumed she was super busy.

I gathered my stuff and headed