A/N: Hello, so this is my new story which I will hopefully be updating more regularly than the others which have slipped by the wayside. Apologies, further chapters are still in the making, but it's hard to keep up motivation when fresh thoughts are squiggling round my brain.
This is inspired by Chris Brown's Forever and from personal experience of the ending of good times and wanting to hold onto something special.
As usual, I do not own Hannah Montana or any of the rights to the single which I love.
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Saving The Last Dance For Her – Chapter 1
Posters lined the school hallways, the static faces of class presidents passed and present grinned winningly out at the students who bustled through the corridors heading for lessons. A great banner, which took no less than ten attempts to mount, hung across the middle of the walkway, just before the main stairs so that no one could miss it. Bold letters were printed, spelling out the very event that had the whole of the senior year on edge; The Last Dance. Throughout the week in which the great canvas had held its station in the liveliest sector of student life, anticipation and excitement had grown and buzzed through the senior population like wildfire. Girls giggled and practically clung to each other in infectious groups, contaminating one another with their thoughts and emotions with promises and vows linked to their ropey friendships that had built throughout high school. The male population behaved in a different manner. Suddenly macho and domineering, the boys would strike a pose when their preferred female candidates strutted by, crowing and heckling them into the possibility of pairing for the prom. The corridor was rich with laughter and banter, yet rippled with an undercurrent of despair for those who had not been so fortunate with their presumed conquests. Mating dances and courting was rife between the opposite sexes; the female of the species tossed their hair, made coy expressions and fluttered long eyelashes whilst the boys thrust their chests forward and strode confidently through the masses. It was understandable that certain individuals stood on edge and fussed and fretted as their peers preened and posed.
One girl, with dark blonde hair was feeling the worst for all the excitement that the dance was imposing. She found the atmosphere suffocating and the male attention degrading. They had often passed over her in favour of the more feminine girls, but now she was being eyed by the jocks as well as those with squeaky voices. She had certainly become more "girly" over the last couple of years of high school, although she could not pretend that she felt comfortable underneath their gazes.
"Lilly! Lilly, over here."
Lilly blinked and glanced over in the direction of the voice. A brunette was forcing her way through a threesome of girls who had all stopped to vie over a pair of tall boys, holding basketballs and squaring up their shoulders, victorious in gaining the attention of the three young women.
"Jees, when do ya reckon we're gonna be able to get to our lockers without all this hoo-ha again?" The girl muttered breathlessly beside her, whilst gesturing wildly over her shoulder. Lilly shrugged and turned her back to the group in front of her, it wasn't the kind of display that she wished to witness. "I mean really – is this necessary? Sure, people want to ask people to the dance, but does it have to be done in between classes? What do you reckon the canteen's for…Are you okay Lilly?" The brunette's tone was gentler now, once she had noticed her friend was not replying. Her voice deep and soothing, causing Lilly to smile into her locker. A hand on the top of her arm and another sincere, "Lilly", was enough to draw the blonde away from her introspective solitude.
"Sorry Miles, I guess I'm in my own little world today." Lilly apologised and cast her gaze towards the dispersing crowds.
"Did something happen with you?" Miley asked her best friend, suspecting the worst since the peppy demeanour which normally pulsed through the other girl, leaving her unavoidably vibrant, was depleted and missing.
Lilly sighed and rolled her eyes, "I don't know if this is something I want to be talking over right now." She turned aside to fiddle with the combination on her locker.
Miley's bright eyes focused into Lilly's at once, "We have a bit of time. Do you just want to give me the gist of it and we'll go from there?"
Lilly sighed once more and chewed her lip fretfully, "Matt asked me to prom."
Miley looked confused, "Matt…?"
"As in the Matt I used to date all those years ago." Lilly prompted.
"Him?" Miley caught up and her brow immediately furrowed into a scowl. "Please don't tell me you said yes."
Now it was Lilly's turn to frown, "God no, do you think if I had said yes I would be feeling like this?"
"What do you mean?" Miley asked, "Don't you want to go to prom with him?"
"No! Of course I don't Miles." Lilly snapped back, "and neither do you, judging from your reaction.
"It doesn't matter what I think." Miley said with a defiant shrug as she analysed her friend closely.
"Yes it does." Lilly muttered. Miley looked baffled and raised an eyebrow. "You're my best friend Miles," Lilly continued, in a gentler tone, "your opinion is important to me."
Miley's features warmed, "So how come you've got all worked up about this? You guys are history, ancient history."
"I don't know. He's just not the one I want to go to our last high school dance with." Lilly shrugged, resuming a more casual exterior as she returned to rummage through her locker in search of books for their next lesson.
"Oh. Well, ya know, anyone could have told you that." Miley chortled and nudged Lilly playfully. "So, is there someone you particularly want to go with?"
Lilly paused and her head emerged once more, this time she was clutching a textbook, she looked thoughtful, "You know what Miles, I can't think of any guy that I want to go to the dance with."
Miley nodded, "I know what you mean." She sympathised, "I don't know what to do really. I keep getting asked by bozos."
Lilly giggled, "Well at least you've had more offers than me. I've had my ex, and that guy whose voice still hasn't broken."
"What's a girl to do?" Miley asked, half to herself as she resumed her scanning of the corridors, which were gradually becoming emptier as people scuttled off.
The blonde watched her friend closely, crinkling her nose, apparently deep in thought, "Why don't we just go together? We've done it before." Lilly stated matter-of-factly. "That is, if we don't get decent dates." She blurted, hastening to smooth over her suggestion..
Miley's expression became suddenly unreadable and her eyes misted over while her gaze traced a lopsided poster on the opposite wall. If Lilly didn't know her best friend any better, she would have said Miley hadn't been listening, but she knew that Miley's head was buzzing at the suggestion. It was a big ask to make of her best friend, to turn up to the final prom, where boys and girls were meant to pair off, with her same-sex equivalent. Yet it would be worth it if they could spend the night together, Lilly inwardly reasoned.
"Okay." Miley agreed and Lilly turned to her with an incredulous look, "If I don't find a guy who seems date-worthy, and if Prince Charming doesn't ride up and carry you away into the sunset, then we should go together. I think it's a good idea." Miley nodded and returned a light smile in the direction of her best friend.
Lilly laughed openly, "It's kinda crazy though. I mean, what will people think?"
Miley made a dismissive noise, "Let them think what they want Lilly. Heck, let 'em call us lesbians or lovers for all I care. I think it would be awesome to get to spend the night with my best friend, rather than in the arms of some guy I barely know, who could be a total disaster."
Lilly grinned, "And this is why you're my best friend."
"Because I love you unconditionally." Miley stated seriously. Lilly's jaw clenched and her cheeks darkened, an expression she failed to let go unnoticed. After a moment's silence Miley laughed brightly and grabbed her friend's hand, "C'mon Lilster, let's get you to class…" before dragging her down the corridor behind her.
It's you, and me. Moving at the speed of light into eternity…