Finally, spring: a time for renewal, birth, love and…prom? The year had been so hectic – the Toronto Icehounds commanding attention at Degrassi, the sabotage of the pep rally for said team, relationship drama everywhere, the clash of cliques, and the worst of it all, a suicide on school grounds. After the tears, screaming, fighting and revenge, everyone finally settled their minds to think more optimistically, put their differences aside and wanted to end on a positive note. Everyone agreed that prom would be the best place to do just that.
Prom was right around the corner and more than succeeded being thrown into everyone's face. The posters, the promotion on the live announcements, and the abundance of prom proposals all over school (which most people did to outdo each other publically rather than for the sake of just doing it in a meaningful fashion) were less than subtle and even more so less than original. It seemed as if anyone could take one of the proposals and fit it to their own situation. Asking someone to prom was right below asking someone for their hand in marriage in significance, and for it to be meaningful people had to actually put some thought and uniqueness behind it.
Connor DeLaurier asked Jenna Middleton in the most blunt way possible. Face-to-face at her locker, single rose in hand and not much else.
Drew Torres was at a bit of a disadvantage. After his performance in Las Vegas of declaring his love to Bianca DeSousa by performing "Can't Help Falling In Love" while dressed in a gold sequin jumpsuit, there wasn't much else he could plan to outdo that. Instead, Drew decided to deck out Bianca's car with pink and baby blue streamers, blue and gold balloons, blow up an adorable picture of the two of them and prop it up on the hood of her car with "Prom?" written below. But of course, to top it all off, he couldn't resist but have "Can't Help Falling In Love" play from within her car.
Despite their separation, Eli Goldsworthy asked Clare Edwards in his own creative way. He wrote up a script as a short-story based play depicting their relationship ups and downs. He of course twisted it by changing the character's names to something less obvious, adding lots of metaphors and over dramatizing it – but unlike Love Roulette, he stuck with the truth of the matter and put in extra effort to make Clare "ooh" and "awe" over it. He put the script in their still-shared locker with "Clare – read and let me know what you think" across it in red ink. By the time she got to the end of the script, it boldly said "To be continued…" with "Prom with me?" written under that.
Jake Martin asked Katie Matlin in their garden at the school. He set his treehugging ways aside for the occasion, went out and picked flowers. They were the kind that grew often and in mass amounts everywhere so he didn't feel as horrible about taking the lives of the innocent flowers. He plucked the petals and spelled out "Prom" with them and beside it had a little picnic set up with the large red and white checkered cloth to sit on and everything.
Mike Dallas had a free weekend and desperately wanted to spend prom with Alli Bandhari. Even though him having a son halted their relationship, he and his baby mama agreed that it wouldn't hurt for Dallas to have the night out with a good girl. So Alli came over for another study date at the Torres residence and Dallas utilized Rocky's Lego-like blocks, connecting them and stacking them to spell out PROM. His invention was ultimately about three feet high so in the end Rocky actually ended up with double the amount of blocks he had before.
Adam Torres got the closest to any sort of romantic and impressive way to ask someone to prom. Adam asked Becky Baker at a WhisperHug show: right after the second to last song finished, Adam dedicated a specially written song for Becky to her over the microphone, performed with the band, then brought out the roses and giant teddy bear, asking her on one knee off the stage.
Okay so maybe everyone wasn't quite unoriginal. And yeah some of them did have their intimate ways of asking. But the prom proposal meant a lot more to Fiona Coyne and Imogen Moreno than either of them was willing to admit. It was obvious that Fiona would do the asking, especially since she felt like she owed it to Imogen for dealing with her crazy antics and nonsense all year. She felt even more obligated to do it as she kept replaying in her head the moment the pair was at their lockers and Fiona rambled about having such a wonderful girlfriend but followed up with "I love...my condo." How dim could she have been to create such a huge lead up and end with such a huge disappointment for Imogen. Fiona hoped Imogen didn't even notice what she had accidentally done in that moment, but she couldn't help but feel like that moment had been the elephant in the room for a while now.
Fiona was more determined than ever to ask Imogen to prom, and end their high school career with some of the most memorable moments yet.
X
It was two and a half weeks before prom and Fiona still had yet to ask Imogen. Now she was panicking because one, she didn't want Imogen to feel pressured to ask her. Two, she continuously second guessed her plans to ask Imogen since she felt like her girlfriend would expect something grand due to the procrastination and she wouldn't be able to measure up. Or three, worst of all, she didn't want Imogen to think she didn't want to go with her and was passive aggressively showing her.
It also didn't help the next day when the couple was in class together, and talk of tuxedo renting and dress buying dominated the whole last half hour of class.
"Imogen, did you get your dress yet?" A random classmate questioned.
"Not yet." Imogen chirped, yet, Fiona sense the discomfort in her girlfriend's response. "But prom isn't too big a deal. If I go, I'm sure any random dress would do. You know me, I'm crazy in style but easily pleased with everything." She managed to crack a smile at the end of her answer. But she wasn't fooling anybody.
Fiona's heart nearly stopped, dropped and exploded within her. How could Imogen actually think Fiona would ruin prom for the both of them? Fiona was concerned this would happen, but it was even worse hearing it in her girlfriend's voice.
Lunch eventually rolled around and the duo sat in their usual spot but this time Imogen sat in silence. She typically spent lunch on a sugar high, rambling nonstop and causing Fiona to forcefully listen and giggle at the younger girl's pep. Fiona was now full of worry and guilt, and she felt like she would ruin "when" element of surprise of asking Imogen because of it, and because of being so close to the unofficial deadline.
"So…" Fiona started. "Going to come by the loft tonight?" She asked rhetorically.
Imogen shook her head and Fiona made a disappointed face.
"Sorry." Imogen responded simply.
"Why not?"
"Things to do."
"Like what?" Fiona pressed, cocking a brow.
"Just things, okay?" Imogen hissed.
"Immy…" Fiona pleaded, her eyes saddening as she stared at her significant other.
"Fiona just stop, please."
With that, Imogen stood and left Fiona in the deafening silence with a light peck on her older girlfriend's cheek burning into her skin before walking away.
Fiona knew she screwed up bad waiting so long and questioning each detail of asking Imogen. She got the hint that she might have been up for the Worst Girlfriend Ever Award when later that night she got a text from Imogen.
If you don't want to go to prom it's fine, we don't have to go – or I can go alone. Or if you expected me to ask you I'm sorry I haven't I just...this confuses me sometimes. Or if you want us both to go but solo, that's okay too. I know stuff has been…complicated since we're nearing the end of the year and graduation is coming up and all. I just want to know what's going on.
Fiona wanted to cry, she felt so awful. In that moment she wanted to tell Imogen she had been intricately planning to ask her to prom in the best and most memorable way possible, but Fiona didn't want to spoil everything and she felt like it'd make the situation more awkward to ask over the phone after Imogen's plea. Fiona herself was still so unsure about how she wanted to go about asking, it was eating her up inside.
Fiona had to make a decision. Take the pressure off Imogen, or let her stress a little longer, but make it up to her as best as she could. Miss Coyne decided for once to take a chance, ride out this misunderstanding between her girlfriend and herself and ask Imogen in a cute way that fit their relationship.
X
Two days passed and Imogen was on the verge of breaking up with Fiona. After her plea, Fiona had the audacity to not reply and leave her hanging. Imogen was crushed and felt like her girlfriend was stringing her along for her own sick amusement.
Things only worsened for Imogen after getting a text. We need to talk. The standard breakup one liner. It followed by Meet me at the loft at 5.
All Imogen could do then was cloud her head with curse words so vile that Charlie Sheen would get offended. Instead of crying, Imogen grabbed a bag and stuffed all of Fiona's belongings left at Imogen's mom's house into them along with their pictures and any gifts Fiona had given her.
X
5 o'clock came around and Imogen was fuming. She was right on time and banged her fist into the wooden door. Fiona almost immediately answered and spoke as quickly as possible.
"I know you're mad but…wait, what is that?"
Imogen threw the bag into the loft, stomping her way inside. "Your things. Thought you might like them back."
Fiona made a face, but shook it off. She actually packed up all of my shit. "Immy come on."
"Who do you think you are to dump me over text?"
"You've got this all wrong."
"Does 'we need to talk' not ring a bell?" Imogen nearly yelled.
Fiona took in a slow, deep breath, finding every inch of patience in her being to get through this moment. She knew she had caused it, but was slightly insulted at the assumptions Imogen was making about her and their relationship because of this lapse in judgement.
Fiona grabbed Imogen's arm and yanked her into the bedroom. Imogen tried to free herself but Fiona's grip wouldn't budge.
"Fiona!"
"Imogen! Shut up for just one second! Please."
Imogen finally quit fighting and remained silent. Fiona went behind her and pushed her into the bedroom so Imogen could get a clear view. Once Imogen caught sight of the dim bedroom, her muscles relaxed and her breath was taken away entirely.
Fiona had taken every piece of large, cozy fabric she could find and built a giant, fluffy, white fort paradise out of it - one they could comfortably fit in and still have an insane amount of moving space. She grabbed Imogen's hand and led her inside, instantly releasing her hand upon entrance, which was more than necessary since Imogen's hands settled over her own mouth as her jaw dropped seeing the details of Fiona's planning.
The groundwork of the fort was made entirely out of cushions; pillows, along with the ones specifically for couches and bundled up blankets. The fort was lined with all junk food; their favorite soft drinks, candies and snacks. Fiona made sure to have the softest and warmest blankets for them to cuddle underneath, but her surprise wasn't over yet.
Fiona pulled back one of the blankets that made the fort itself, revealing her vanity dresser. From the initial glance into the bedroom, the vanity had not been the slightest visible. On it, a bunch of candles were lined up in straight rows – 5 rows, 10 mini candles. It more than illuminated that side of the room, but what stood out to Imogen was the writing on the mirror.
In red lipstick and neat cursive read: "I love you Immy . . . prom?"
Fiona inhaled deeply, nervous, as she let Imogen bask in the beauty of the moment, only to be terrified when Imogen turned, her eyes bright red, tears spewing down her cheeks.
"Oh no…" Fiona whispered, shaking her head. "Too soon…Imogen…I'm sorry, I'm such a screw up. I…I…" Fiona bit her lip, deciding to it was best for her to just not speak anymore.
Without warning, Imogen threw herself at Fiona, her arms sliding around the older girl's neck as she knocked her down onto the cushions. Her embrace was so tight Fiona was nearly turning purple at the lack of oxygen, but she definitely didn't care once she felt Imogen planting endless kisses all over her face.
"I…love…you…too…you…beautiful…woman…" Imogen managed to get out between kisses. She eventually pulled back some, staring into Fiona's eyes with a smile, but with a few tears still spilling out. "And of course I'll go to prom with you."
Fiona reached up, resting her hands on Imogen's face and gave her a long, passionate kiss which Imogen happily returned. Fiona pulled back for a moment, her smile wider than ever and wiped the last tears of the tears off of Imogen's face. "Sorry it took so long, I just wanted it to be special."
"You did a perfect job Fions. This is beyond anything even I could have imagined."
"I love you, Imogen."
"And I fancy you." Imogen laughed for a second, scrunching her nose. "Doesn't fit the moment. I love you too, Fiona."