As soon as she got dressed, she was sorry that she let the woman at the store talk her into the dress. It was long, which she knew wasn't the current style, and the neckline was terrifying outside the safety of the store. Her discomfort was evidenced by the woolen coat she wore over it during the entire limo ride, and her claim that she was cold sounded weak, even to her.
In the limo, she had two cups of champagne, just enough to feel less like she was going to shatter, even if it made her stomach do flips. Nerves and the persistent feeling that she should have stayed home made her fingers twist in the protective coat. But it was loud, and Peter, Flash and Harry cutting up made things easier and less awkward. Mary Jane looked beautiful, just like she always did, and Gwen wished she had the kind of confidence the other girl did. But she didn't, and if she could just get through the night without any huge scenes, she would be okay. Things were bad at school lately, and she only hoped the prom venue was really dark; dark enough so that no one recognized her. She wasn't even scared of being a wallflower. She was scared of being noticed; she blamed the dress.
Once they got there, she excused herself and ducked into the bathroom to avoid her coat being taken away for a little bit longer. The girls there were freshening up their makeup, but they went quiet when she entered, and she left a few seconds later, the awkwardness chasing her out the door of the haven.
She didn't head toward the dance floor. Instead, she took the stairs to the upstairs hall, where she leaned on the railing and looked down, coat still on and her fingers tight on the cool metal. She'd be out of this state in less than a month, she reminded herself. Everyone she knew down there would be out of reach, and it made her want to cry. She refused to be sappy, though. Not yet, and it wasn't like she'd never be home again. She knew the probability of them all returning to New York was high. It was just where they all belonged, wasn't it?