I went to my junior homecoming with a guy I'd only been dating for a couple of months, so I felt a lot of pressure to make things perfect and really wow him with my composure, confidence and dashing beauty. Weeks before prom, I ordered a beautiful, classy boutonniere of white roses tipped in a soft cornflower blue to match my dress.

On the day of prom, I ran around like a marathoner getting my hair, nails and make-up done. My boyfriend showed up promptly at 5:30 looking like Brad Pitt's younger brother and I looked like a liberated Cinderella. My date proudly presented me with a gorgeous wrist corsage of blue Gerber daisies and wispy baby's breath and I presented him with...a horrified stare.