It's a Prom Thing



"Christie, Christie, wake up," said Mrs. Montiero in her ever soft and calming voice. "Its already 7:30!"

Christie rubbed her eyes. "What?!" she exclaimed. "Omigosh, I only have 30 minutes more to prepare for school."

She then made her bed as quick as she could and ignored her mother 's usual morning sermons, "You know you should stop that bad habit of yours; sleeping late at night watching late night soaps, and end up being forced to wake up early in the morning. Christie make up your mind. For graciousness' sake you're 15 you're no longer 12. Christie? CHRISTIE DO YOU HEAR?"

"Yes mommy dearest." She said annoyingly. "Now you can go out of my room, please?"

Mrs. Montiero then kissed her daughter on the forehead and said, "(sighs) as you say so sweetie, but please if you have any problems just consult me and I'll be there for you, okay?" Christie nodded her head. "Okay, then I'll be out now."

Then she heard the door slam. "Finally, (sigh) mothers...what would be the world without them? Hmmm...probably be much simpler." Then she headed for the bathroom.

30 minutes later Christie went down downstairs combing her damp hair and arranging herself in a mirror near the main door then suddenly her big brother, Chrisanto snatched her comb out of her hand and Christie helplessly reached for her most prized possession. She despised being treated this way, being teased for she is the only daughter in the family. Especially by one person, the person in the name of...

"Chrisanto Cesar Almedo Montiero Jr., give it back before I..." Christie said turning red while facing her brother.

"Before you what?" Her brother then grinned devilishly at her, a grin so evil that you might think his handsome face was going to eat you. "Remember sis, you still have to loan me back my mobile phone you borrowed and well...sad to say...you lost it."

"Yeah right, it wasn't me, your dimwit best friend, Leo was the one who borrowed it last at the party." Christie answered him.

"Well, I checked it out on him and said that he didn't even touch it." Chrisanto said. "And by the way, Leo said that he thinks you're kinda cute."

"Ugh, I'm out of here." Christie said and opened the front door, but before she took a step outside she took a good chance on snatching her comb away from her brother's hands and said teasingly, "See ya, bro and tell Leo to keep his distance from me." Then she went outside and headed for school.

When Christie arrived in school, she was greeted by a sarcastic good morning from their teacher Ms. Nina Williams.

"Well, are we off to a bad start in the morning aren't we Ms. Montiero?" Asked Ms. Williams who was discussing something in Advanced Physics when Christie came in.

Miss Williams then walked over to Christie's seat and handed her a piece of paper. It was another hand-out for their lesson. "What happened Christie?" A brown-haired girl, in the name of Julia, who was wearing red- framed glasses beside Christie asked. " Why are you so late, you totally missed almost half of the discussion."

"Well, I just ran into some problems with my ever-destructive brother, or maybe I shouldn't call him brother anymore." Christie whispered back while curling her upper lip with fury.

"I'm beginning to worry about you already." Julia whispered backed again.

"Don't worry Jules, I'm completely A-ok!" Christie said while patting her friend's shoulder.

When their morning session classes had ended, however, the Mishima Polytechnic High School Student Council declared that next month the Annual Junior-Senior Prom will be held at the Mishima Zaibatsu. This made Christie's blood stir of excitement. It will be her first time on the prom.

"Oh, I can't wait for that." Christie said enthusiastically while she and Julia were stuffing their things in her locker.

"Well, its just a party, what can you get from that anyways?" Julia said and Christie shook her head and let out a loud sigh, loud enough for Julia to hear.

Well, that's typically the Julia that I know ever since. Christie thought. So, anti-social. Christie tried to remember that ever since there are social gatherings being held in school or out school, expect Julia to be out of it. She always thinks that parties are so immature and all she ever thought about are their lessons or generally education. Hey speaking of immaturity, where's Pamela? Christie thought.

"Hey where's Pamela?" Christie asked Julia while they simultaneously closed their lockers." I haven't seen her all morning, is she absent, she haven't called last night?

* "Well, she did call me this morning and told me she got soar throat", Julia said with a shrug. "Probably she ate too much candy again."

Poor Pamela, Christie thought. Or should I say Xiao because Pamela was just Xiao's adopted Westernised name. She is such a baby, she tries to act mature, but her immaturity can still be obvious in the way she handles herself.

"Did she say when she'll be coming back?" Christie asked Julia.

"Well she did say she might come back this afternoon for our afternoon session." Julia answered "You know how she hates to miss Arts & Crafts class."

"Yeah, she might blow up!" Christie laughed. Then they headed towards the cafeteria to have other lunch.

While they were having their lunch, Pamela arrived. She was still looking pale and weak.

"Nice to see you Pam!" Christie greeted. "Are you feeling fine already, it seems that you look...well...tired.

"Hi Chris, Hi Jules." Pamela greeted back and said, "Well, it's a Wednesday and I hate to miss Arts & Crafts.

Pam then took a seat across Julia and began to talk anxiously fast, "So, what happened this morning, did you have new discussions, was Ms. Williams informed of my absence in her class?

"Whoa, slow down girl!" Christie hollered. "You talk to Julia, after all she's Miss-know-it-all."

Julia then gave Christie a sour expression and began to talk to Pamela, who was now childishly twisting her pigtails, "Well, we did have a new discussion regarding our new lesson in Advanced Physics. And yes, Ms. Williams was aware of your absence cuz I told her. Satisfied?"

"I guess so." Pam answered depressingly. "(sighs) I hate candies. If only they can't make my tonsils hurt. Hmmph!" She crossed her arms across her chest and slouched on her seat.

"Take it easy, Pam!" Julia tried to console her.

"Yeah. Julia's right." Christie said. "And besides, the MPHSSC declared a while ago that we'll be having our JS Prom next month. Won't that be great?"

"JS Prom?" Pam said confused. "What's that?"

"Pam, (sighs) your too impossible." Christie said exasperatingly. "Okay, a Prom is a party held annually in schools, specifically for high school students. I can't believe you don't actually know that. Oh, grow up Pam!"

"Oh, a party?" Pam exclaimed. "Will there be games, food and lot-o- fun?"

"Pam, a prom is no kiddie party," Christie said. "It's a party for teenagers, like us and instead of games and other kiddie stuff there'll be dancing, dinner and most of all there'll be a Prom Queen and King!"

"That's too boring, I won't attend any of those and besides I hate dancing." Pam said.

"I'm not attending either." Julia said while taking a bite out of her sandwich.

"Why not?" Pam asked.

"Well, one thing is that I'm not interested in any social gatherings where we will only get involved in alcohol and stuff." Julia said with a tone of maturity in her voice.

"(sighs) Well, if you guys aren't attending," said Christie. "then who's gonna be with me?"

"I guess you're going all alone." Said Julia while stuffing the last bite of her sandwich in her mouth.

"I thought you guys are my friends." Said Christie sadly. "And I thought friends should be with one another whatever happens." Then she left her seat and went away without warning leaving her friends puzzled.

"Was it something I said?" asked Julia confused.

"Hey, Chrissie wait!" shouted Pam from the table. "We didn't mean to-" But unfortunately, she was too late. Christie had already disappeared. Then Pam turned to Julia. "Julia, you mustn't have been so hard on her."

"No I wasn't." said Julia. "Don't worry, she'll call later tonight and apologize, you know how she is."

"I guess so..." said Pam with a tone relief.

Later that night...

"Umm...Hello, Julia?" Christie said as someone at the end of the line answered the phone.

"Oh, hello Christie, what is it?" Julia answered.

"Well, I would like to apologize for my harsh behaviour during lunch this noon time." Said Christie sorrowfully.

"Sure, apology accepted." Said Julia. "No problem."

"Thanks Jules you're a real friend." Said Christie with a sign of enlightenment in her voice.

"Duh! Don't be so paranoid." Julia said with a laugh. "We've been through this already, many times. And sorry, I can't really go to the prom, you know that its not my thing. Hope you understand. Anyway, have you called Pam yet?"

"Yeah." Christie replied. "And funny though, you two said exactly the same thing."

"Well, one thing's for sure, and that is were friends, Christie, I mean what are friends for?" said Julia. And this made Christie smile. "Anyway, I had to go now, I still had to do my homework. Bye."

"Yeah, bye, g'night." Said Christie as she put down the receiver.

Christie then lied down on her bed with the phone on her lap and began to think. I guess I'll really be going alone to the prom, she thought. Nah, what am I thinking, the prom is not until five weeks. Then she put the phone away and proceeded to her slumber.

Next day at lunch time Christie, Julia, and Pamela were falling in line in the cafeteria counter to buy their lunch. They were standing there for ages already.

"Great, this time I'm gonna starve." Said Christie while nodding her head.

"Don't worry, Christie, be patient we'll get our turns." Said Pam sweetly.

Meanwhile, from a distant table located in the corner of the cafeteria, Jin Kazama and his so-called group of friends were sitting there as usual during lunch period and usual planning something on how to create chaos around the school campus. And for Jin, he was no ordinary student in the school, for he was the school's president's grandson. And he was one of the popular students in the school. But unfortunately for him, he had no loyal friends.

"Hey, its getting boring around here. How's about we dare little grandpa's boy here to do something for fun, huh?" said one of Jin's friends, Nick, as he grinned evilly at Jin.

"Dare me to what?" Jin said harshly. "To take of my trousers in front of the whole school and make the girlies drool."

"Close, Jinny boy." Said a guy beside Jin with orange-red, shoulder length hair with goggles. "But you already make them drool without even taking off your trousers."

"Hwoarang, just say it if your jealous." Asked Jin to the guy beside him with orange-red hair.

"And why in the world am I going to get jealous." Answered Hwoarang.

"Say, I have a good one." Said a guy across Jin. "How about if Jin pulls up the skirt of that girl in pigtails," he said as he pointed at Pam. "Right over there by the counter, I heard that she wears cute baby bunny underwear."

"Good one Charles," said Hwoarang while nudging Jin's elbow. "And surely, that would make the whole school shake with laughter."

"Now, what d'ya say, Jin?" asked a girl, who was now holding Hwoarang's arm. "Are you gonna dare, or are you chicken?"

"Hazel's right dude, are you gonna dare or what?" Hwoarang asked while patting the shoulder of his friend.

Jin smiled evilly and said, "Alright, I'll do it." Then Jin locked his eyes on the girl with pigtails, Pam, and saw that she was only about two meters away from them. And said, "But first hand me a couple of straws."

This made the guys puzzle but then Charles took several plastic straws at the counter and handed them to Jin. Then Jin started to assemble the straws. He assembled them until they were long enough to reach the girl's skirt.

As soon as Jin finished putting the straws altogether, he carefully stretched his arm with the long assembled straws in his hand and as the straws reached Pam's above the knee plaited Mishima High uniform skirt, Jin carefully lifted it up and hilarious as it may seem, the girl really was wearing a pink, panty with cute baby bunnies all over it. And unfortunately for the girl she hardly even noticed that her skirt was lifted up!

The guys at the table roared with laughter and later on as the students noticed what was the commotion all about, the whole school cafeteria was shaking with laughter from all the students.

What is so funny, Pam thought. And why are those people looking at me and laughing?

Pam felt a cold breeze hitting gently her thighs. She looked back and saw that a guy, two meters away from her, was stretching out his hand and holding out some straws and was lifting up her skirt showing off to the whole cafeteria her underwear. And she hardly even felt it! Then seeing it, Christie and Julia didn't even know at first that she was the matter of laughter until then. Pam then got a grip of her skirt and closed it down and went to Christie crying of embarrassment. Christie got hold of Pam and got out of the cafeteria where students were still pointing at Pam laughing.

Julia then looked for the person who created the chaos. And then she saw, a guy sitting at the table in the corner of the cafeteria, holding some straws in his hand and was now laughing his head off together with his group. Julia came over to him.

"HEY YOU," Julia shouted. "DON'T YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ON WHAT YOU DID TO MY FRIEND. SHAME ON YOU!"

Jin lifted his eyebrow and looked at Julia as if she was saying something ridiculous. And Julia continued to shout, "JUST PUT YOURSELF INTO HER POSITION, HOW WOULD YOU FEEL, HOW WOULD YOU REACT TO THIS KIND SITUATION? I KNOW THIS IS A COMMON THING TO SAY BUT THINK ABOUT IT."

Hwoarang stood up in front of Julia and said, "Yo, nerdy. Don't you know who you shouting at to right here? 'coz if you don't you might as well as expel yourself from this school. 'coz, who you're shouting at is the school's president's grandson, do you hear?"

"So what if he is? I don't care. It doesn't mean that he is the grandson of the school's president, he has to act superior among us." Julia replied harshly and turned to Jin, who was just acting cool as if nothing is happening around him and she shouted at him again, "I DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE, BUT ALL I NEED FROM YOU IS A LITTLE CONSIDERATION AND MAY YOUR CONSCIENCE BOTHER YOU 'BOUT THIS!"

Julia then turned away and went out of the school cafeteria ignoring all the eyes which are glued on her for all she thinks about now is her friend, Pam.

As Julia went outside the school cafeteria she saw that Pam and Christie were standing by the lockers. Then she headed towards them.

"I'm sorry Pam," started Julia. "But don't worry, I'll report this to this principal and I took care of that guy."

Pam then looked at Julia with swollen eyes and said, "Thanks Julia...but(sniff)...what he did to me can...can change people's thoughts about...about me." She, again, buried her head to Christie's shoulder.

"C'mon Pam, that's enough." Christie consoled her friend while rubbing her hands at Pam's back. "Julia and I are here for you, we're your friends, don't worry, we will always be there for you."

"Christie's right, Pam." Said Julia while patting her friend's head. "And we'll make sure that, that contemptible guy will never bother you again, okay?"

Pam slowly lifted her head wiped her tears and said, "Thanks, you guys are the greatest!" Then she hugged her two friends tightly and they hugged her back.

"Hey, lets return to class now," Christie said. "And later this afternoon, lets visit the library."

"Sure!" said Pam enthusiastically. And together they headed to class.

Three o'clock struck and it was dismissal time and Jin and his friend were walking down the hallway and Jin can't stop thinking about what that girl said to him at lunch time. Her words somehow hit him.

"PUT YOURSELF IN TO HER POSITION, HOW WOULD YOU FEEL, HOW WOULD YOU REACT TO THIS KIND OF SITUATION.." Her words are echoing in his mind.

"Do you think, I should apologize?" said Jin to his red-headed friend, Hwoarang.

"Apologize?!" said Hwoarang as if his friend had said something ridiculous. "Dude, are you outta your mind?"

Jin halted his doubting friend and pushed him against the wall and said, "No, I'm not outta my mind, I mean..." then Jin released his grip and shook his head. "I mean... I can't stop thinking about the girl who shouted at me at lunch time."

"DUDE? ARE YOU SERIOUS?" bellowed Hwoarang. "DON'T TELL ME YOU HAVE A CRUSH ON HER?! WHAT ABOUT SUZY?"

"No, I don't have a crush on her," Jin said as they started to walk into the hallway again. "And you should have known that I have already broke up with Suzy."

"Poor girl." Hwoarang said as he shook his head slowly.

"Nah, she was just another girl on the block." Said Jin as they turned left and suddenly he caught a glimpse of the library and remembered that he had to visit the librarian Ms. Anna Williams regarding his library card which was already expired. "Hey, you go on, I had to visit the library first."

"Cool bro!" said Hwoarang as he gave Jin the thumbs up and they headed towards opposite directions.

Hmm...now to find Ms. Anna, Jin thought as he passed the enormous doors of the library. He took out his expired library card, and headed towards the librarian's desk. And as he walked over to his destination something caught widely of his attention. In a table near towering columns of shelves, Jin saw again the girl in pigtails whom he humiliated at lunch time and this time she was accompanied by the girl who shouted at him and another girl, probably another friend. They were reading and studying.

Jin thought of apologizing. But he hesitated for it would make him sound stupid. He thought that maybe he could just come over them and say sorry, but it was an awkward thing to do. He should think of a different approach.

But first, I'll have to know their names, Jin thought. But how? And as Jin reached the librarian's desk, he saw that Ms. Anna wasn't there yet then Jin suddenly saw the wooden box in which where all the library cards are placed.

Jin checked if the coast is clear. This would be the perfect way to know their names. Then Jin searched through the whole pile of library cards in the wooden box. And after a few seconds of searching he caught a glimpse of a card with a picture of a pretty girl with chinky-eyes and hair in pigtails. Jin looked for her name in the card which says:

NAME: Ling, Pamela S. GRADE: 3rd Year H.S. TEACHER ADVISER: Prof. Nina Williams SECTION: Sec. A

She's Chinese? Jin thought. And pretty cute too. Jin was really fascinated on how beautiful this girl called Pamela is. Then he proceeded to find the other girl's name, the one who shouted at him. He continued to look and finally he saw a card with a picture of a girl with light brown hair and brown eyes. She looked lovely but a bit too serious, although she was smiling at the picture and Jin looked for her name in the card which also says:

NAME: Chang, Julia T. GRADE: 3rd Year H.S. TEACHER ADVISER: Prof. Nina Williams SECTION: Sec. A An American looking girl with a Chinese family name? Jin thought. And now to find the one that look like Jennifer Lopez. Jin then went through another search but fortunately her card was just under Julia's. Then Jin read on:

NAME: Montiero, Christie A. GRADE: 3rd Year H.S. TEACHER ADVISER: Prof. Nina Williams SECTION: Sec. A

As Jin was reading Christie's card a woman's voice startled him. "Can I help you Mr. Kazama?" It was Ms. Anna.

"Umm...yeah, I was just looking for you, Ms. Anna," Jin said nervously. "Anyway, I need to umm...renew my library card, its expired as you can see."

Jin handed his library card to Ms. Anna and she said as she reached for another card from her drawer, "Well, I just need you to fill this up and sign and when you're finish give it to me and I'll do the finishing touches, okay?"

"Sure," Jin said as he took a pen from his pocket and began to scribble. And as soon as he finished he gave the card to Ms. Anna and she said, "Umm... I guess you have to wait for a moment Jin, the process might take a while."

"Sure, I'll just take a walk around while waiting." Said Jin. Then he went to the shelf where Pam's table was near. He hid himself as he peeked through the girls who were reading and studying. Then for a moment, Pam rose from her seat. Jin, seeing her heading towards his direction at the bookshelf where he was hiding, he took a book, opened it and buried his face to hide.

She returned a book and was looking for another one in the rows of numerous books. Jin thought she was way cuter in personal. She looks so sweet and innocent. He then, without hesitation, returned the book from which he used to hide his face and approached the girl and said, "Umm...hi, Pamela?" It was more of a question than a greeting.

Pam gasped and stood still, and held a book close to her chest. She was looking at Jin wide eyed and innocently, and said in a soft voice, "(gasps) Jin Kazama, what are you doing here?"

"That's not important," replied Jin also in a soft voice. "Umm...anyway, I would just apologize on what I did to you, I know it was really mean, but, the guys they were the one who talked me into it, honest. Will you forgive me?"

Pam bowed down her head and said nervously, "Well...I dunno".

"Pam, please, I didn't mean to do it, I'm really sorry, if there was some way I could make it up to you." Pleaded Jin as he placed his hands on Pam's shoulders and Pam looked up at him and said, "Umm."

Unknown to them, Julia was heading towards them and saw them talking to each other and she seeing this, she seized her friend and brought her closer to her without any hesitation and whispered harshly to Jin, "What do you think you're doing, trying to pull another joke on my friend? Well, sorry mister, think again. Go away, leave us alone."

Pam let go from Julia's grip and said softly, "Julia, he was just trying to apologize."

"Yeah, Julia, could you reconsider?" Jin said.

"Ha, you people are all hypocrite in nature, now be gone." Julia shooed Jin away.

"(sighs) Well, guess, your friend Julia here is against me, Pam, see you around." Jin said sadly and took off.

When Jin was away, Julia told Pam, "You know, you should never trust people like them, be careful, Pam. They might pull another trick on you." Pam nodded slowly and went back to their seats.

As Jin went back to Ms. Anna's desk, his library card was already, ready. He thanked her and headed to the exit but when he passed the table where Pam was seated he took another glimpse of her but fortunately, Pam must've notice him pass by, so, she also looked at him and this time she smiled at him, with a sweet, pretty smile. Jin's feeling was softened. She must've forgiven me already! He thought. And he went out the library thinking of Pam. And crazy as it may seem, she was her new found dream girl.

*{The Queen says: So, how was it? Please send me reviews. You'd probably been wondering why my story seemed, well, unfinished, you see, I submitted my first chapter by accident. Guess, I wasn't reading the instructions carefully, heehee. Any, way I had to replace it and the one you just read is the complete Chapter One. So, stay tuned for Chapter two which will be coming up soon!}