The Journal

"As most of you will know, next weekend is the school prom," Principal Trent announced into the microphone during assembly. A few girls squeaked excitedly around me, making me roll my eyes.

"The theme is Masquerade, and I expect all of you in masks when you arrive. Now, some basic rules to stick to. No alcohol or drugs of any sort. If you are found on the premise in possession of either, you will be banned from the event immediately, and your parents or caregivers will be called. Another big one is behaviour and image; We don't want to see any inappropriate clothing or dancing, this is a school dance, not a club. And lastly, just have fun," Everyone began cheering and clapping. They were all excited about the whole prom thing, as my year haven't been to one yet.

After being let out to head to class, Austin walked beside me, talking about the prom which surprised me.

"Do you think Stella would go with me if I asked her?"

"Well, probably... She is your girlfriend. Will she be back from New York next weekend?" I asked.

"Yeah, she'll be back on Thursday," he nodded. "Why aren't you excited?"

"I'm not into the whole 'dress up, be pretty and dance' thing," I shrugged. "Why are you so excited?"

"I wouldn't normally, but something about dressing up and being cute while dancing with the girl I love kind of sounds nice,"

"Ooh, you said the 'L' word?" I wiggled my eyebrows, lightly pushing him.

"No," Austin chuckled, shaking his head. "Prom is sounding like the perfect place to tell her, though,"

"I guess," I mumbled.

"Hey, cheer up, Bon. Why are you so down about the whole thing?"

"I just don't like dances,"

"What if Oli asked you to go?"

"I would tell him stop being idiotic and buy me pizza,"

"You're kidding, right?" Austin raised an eyebrow, opening our classroom door for us before sitting in our normal seats.

"Nope," I replied.

"Even if Oli asked really nicely and really wanted to go?"

"I'm not going to the prom, Aus,"

"Alright, I give up!" he raised his hands in mock surrender and turned to the board, looking over what we had to do today.



"What is the point on going to this dance thing if you can't get drunk?" Matt complained, sitting beside me at the lunch table.

"Because it's a school dance," Kellin rolled his eyes, taking a sip of his water.

"So? What's the point of it?"

"It's to have fun, Matt. It's supposed to be fun," Vic told him, meeting my eyes once before looking back down at the table top.

"You went last year," Oli said, removing his arm from my shoulder and leaned forward to speak to Vic. "How was it?"

"I don't really remember," he shrugged, although I could tell he was lying. "I went with my girlfriend at the time and I guess it was okay,"

Everyone went silent for a minute, before deciding to talk about something else. Vic's ex-girlfriend must be a touchy subject for him.

"So Warped is coming up in like a month..." Tony said, changing the subject.

"What's the lineup?" I asked.

"AFI, Avenged Sevenfold, Suicide Machines, Sum 41, The All-American Rejects, Bleed the Dream, Rancid... We should go. It'll be fun,"

"I've always wanted to go to Warped Tour," I nodded.

"Mike, Matt and I went last year. It was fucking sick!" Jaime grinned, his body beginning to get fidgety as he grew more excited.

"Why don't we go then? It can be a big group thing," Vic spoke up. We all looked at him.

"You want to go?" Alan asked in shock.

"Just because Bonnie is going doesn't mean I'm going to be stupid and stop hanging out with my friends," I shook my head in disbelief at how he said my name, like I was some kind of poisonous shit he couldn't speak of.

"Hey, chill out man," Austin pet his back, clearly not impressed at how he said my name either. "She hasn't done anything to you,"

"Of course not." he mumbled, but I think I was the only one who heard him.



"So you went to Warped last year?" I asked Jaime as we sat on my bed, watching Tony lying on the floor talking to AC like he was having a full conversation.

That kid talks turtle, I swear.

"Yeah! It was amazing. I even met the Madden brothers,"

"You met the Madden brothers?!" I practically yelled.

"Um, yes?"

"You are so lucky! Good Charlotte is probably my favourite band of all fucking time!" It was true. I've loved this band since I was about 7.

"Well duh, they're a great band!" Jaime said as if I was dumb.

"I know right!" We then started a full discussion on what our favourite songs were, and what brother was hottest. (Don't even ask how we got to that point).

"Hey guys," Oli greeted, sitting on Tony's back. He didn't seem to mind.

"Oliver! What Madden brother is hottest?" I asked.

"From Good Charlotte? Why?" he raised an eyebrow.

"I'm trying to tell her it's Benji but Bonnie thinks it's Joel! Talk some sense into her!"

"They're identical twins! They look the fucking same!"

"No they do not!" I gasped. I then turned to Jaime. "It's Joel,"

"It is Benji,"

"No it's not. It's Joel. Have you seen him? Like dang son let me bang you!"

"Hey! He's to old for you!" Oli frowned, but I wasn't going to lose this.

"He happens to be only 23," I rolled my eyes.

"What are you? A stalker?"

"Whatever. It's Joel,"

"It's Benji,"

"It's Joel," Tony spoke up, briefly looking at us before staring back at AC.

"See!" I poked my tongue out at Jaime, who didn't look to impressed.

"It's totally Benji," Oli said, looking at me like I was about to slap him.

"That's it. I'm going to have to date Tony now. You don't have good taste in men," I whispered sadly.

"Well I obviously have good taste in women," he smiled at me.

"Aww! Come here cutie!" I opened my arms and he sat on my lap and gave me a hug, while Jaime pretended to throw up.

"Go to prom with me," Oli said, sitting in between Jaime and I.

"Ew, no," It was my turn to pretend to throw up.

"I'll go with you, Oli," Jaime spoke in a girly voice, stroking Oli's face. He slapped Jaime's hand away and turned to me.

"C'mon please?"

"No,"

"Why not?"

"Because dancing and proms are gross,"

"They're not that bad,"

"Yes they are! Go with Jaime, he wants to go with you,"

"I don't want to go with Jaime!"

"Wow, thanks man!" Jaime rolled his eyes and pouted.

"You were mean to Hime. That's not nice of you Oliver,"

"Your face isn't nice!"

"Oh, I'm definitely not going with you now," I sung.

"Why do you hate proms so much?" Oli asked defeated, knowing he wouldn't get me to change my mind.

"They're just so cheesy and gross. Let's just say I would rather sit with my dad for hours than going to prom," I shrugged.

"Well, I won't be asking you again." Oli mumbled.



September 23, 7:00pm, 2003

I think I have finally gotten Oli to stop asking me to this stupid prom thing. He still wants to go with the guys, and I'm okay with that. They can have some guy time, plus Stella. She rang me the other day and told her Austin asked her to the prom, and she is super excited. She would take any excuse to dress up and make herself prettier than she already was. I was going to go help her get ready, and then Alan and I will chill at his place while the others are dancing. What an exciting weekend I have coming up.
----

"What if her flight was delayed again?!" Austin panicked, pacing in front of the airport chairs.

"She'll be here soon," Kellin assured him, removing his head from my lap.

We got here 3 hours ago to pick Stella up, as she was coming home from New York. We then got a call from her saying her flight was delayed, and it took us 45 minutes to drive us all here so there was no point on driving back.

I then seen a familiar head full of red curls, sneaking up on Austin and I was trying to hide my grin.

She tapped him on the shoulder, and he quickly turned around.

"Stella!" Austin smiled straight away, picking her up in a hug and spinning her around. I snapped a picture because of how damn cute they were.

"I missed you so much!" Stella grinned when he set her down. "All of you!"

"I missed you too," Austin mumbled, pulling her in for a kiss.

Well, this is awkward.

"Am I the only one feeling rather uncomfortable right now?" Alan asked, looking around at us.

We all shook our heads, trying to look anywhere but the couple making out in the middle of the airport.

Well, they have major PDA problems.

Notes