NOTE: This series chronicles the wishes Tina writes in the Wish Journal she received from her aunt when she turned 13. To better understand Tina's character, be sure to read her other wishes in chronological order. Standing in front of the full length mirror, Tina smiled. She was wearing the dress again. The knee-length red dress that made it look like she had curves--the one Aunt Gemma bought her. Prom was approaching quickly and Aunt Gemma had taken Tina out to the mall in Aberdeen--a whole two hours away!--and they spent the day shopping for the perfect dress, and brand new shoes, and a necklace that made Tina feel like she was a movie star. It was all working out! Tina tried not to try on the dress every night, but when she got out of the shower and stood in her towel looking for pajamas, the dress begged to be worn. Each time Tina slipped into the dress, she readied herself to be disappointed by her reflection... that maybe the dress wasn't all that wonderful. Each time, though, she was wrong. For once in her life she looked and felt beautiful. She radiated with confidence. She was going to prom and people would finally notice her. Now if only she could get Quinn to notice her enough to take her. Quinn, the boy across the street. The boy she played with--was best friends with--until sixth grade, when he found out about girls, especially Katie Brown. He would wave hello and sometimes, if Tina left the house the same time he did, and if it was pouring rain or frigidly cold outside, he would offer her a ride to school. Quinn was the date she wanted to take to prom. Still wearing the red dress, she bit her lip and picked up the Wish Journal. Sometimes parts of her wishes came true, but she really wanted this one. She believed in the power of the red dress. Biting her lip, she picked up the pen that sat on top of her college applications and began to write. Wish #5: to go to prom with QuinnI wish that tomorrow morning I would wake up and feel like life was on my side--that I was light and happy. I'd walk out of the house with a smile on my face and see Quinn walking down his driveway. "Hey, Tina!" he'd say, waving me down as he crossed the street. I'd stop and wait for him to catch up and he'll ask me if I want a ride to school. Of course I'll say yes... but very passively. Very cool.
We'd drive up to school and he'd park the car, but not hop out right away and walk off without another word. He'd hesitate and his hair would fall in front of his face so that he'd run his hands through it. I'd sit patiently and ask, "You okay, Quinn?" and he'd avoid looking me in the eye and nod, nervous about how I'd react to him. Just as I am about to open the door and walk away with all the confidence in the world, Quinn would grab my hand and kiss me. "I've been wanting to do that since we were little," he'd say after we pulled away. "Do you want to go to prom with me, Tina?" and I would smile and say yes. And at prom he would show me off and everybody would say, "Is that Tina?" and "Who is that?" and "Who is that beautiful girl with Quinn?" and we would spend the night dancing and laughing and smiling. I wish for that dream to come true.
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