Formal Festivity
Author's Note: To those of you wondering, I'd mentioned the story gets questionably explicit closer to the end. This may be the last X T rated chapter of the story. So after this one read on at your own risk. But for now have fun :)
Maurecia's POV
The day went by fairly smoothly. It was nice to have a little company on top of just me and Todd. Myron spent most of the day playing video games with Todd while Dana and I got a little deeper into our own lives. Closer to the six o clock hour, they're still doing their thing while we talk. I'm making a special jambalaya recipe my mom taught me how to make in the meantime.
"What is that you're making?" Dana asks. "It smells delicious." I smile proudly.
"Well thank you Dana. My mom makes it for me on special occasions. It's really tasty." She smiles curiously.
"What is it made of?" I roll my eyes and think of the ingredients.
"Some squash, zucchini, onions, tomato sauce, black beans, chicken, white rice, shrimp, and a couple chicken sausages." It's a pretty tasty combination overall. Dana licks her lips.
"I can't wait to feast on that dish. You're quite the chef Maurecia." I blush slightly.
"Awe. Thanks Dana. You're such a polite person." I say as I stir the items.
"So Maurecia, how long have you been at this house?" I pause for a second.
"Uh, since Monday morning."
"Ooh. It sounds like you couldn't leave Todd alone." I chuckle twice.
"No I really couldn't." Fluffy jumps onto the counter. "I couldn't leave Fluffy alone either."
"Awe, come here Fluffy." Fluffy rolls over and she begins stroking his stomach. "When did he get so mature?" I roll my eyes.
"Since I learned that porcupines don't hibernate." She frowns in a confused manner.
"You didn't already know that?" I shake my head.
"I do now and that's all that matters." I put on a pair of oven mitts and remove the giant pot of meat and vegetables from the stove. "Could you call Todd and Myron for me please?" She nods and steps out.
"Boys, dinner's ready!" She calls out.
"Can we finish the game first?" Myron answers.
"No need, I'm already way ahead of you." Todd says in a hearty voice. I just roll my eyes and set the table. About three minutes later we're all sitting down on four opposite sides of a rectangular table.
"So, who won?" I ask them curiously. Todd points a thumb at himself.
"I was running circles around Myron." Myron frowns.
"It's only in Call of Duty. Not like you'd beat me in a sports game." Todd laughs.
"In reality I would. You don't do sports." Myron raises an eyebrow.
"But in reality would you become a mercenary?" Todd shrugs.
"I don't want to kill anyone. But I bet I'd be good at it if I wanted to." Dana picks up her fork.
"Okay, video games are over now, let's get back into reality." I nod in satisfaction as Myron scoops up some rice and beans.
"So what kind of meal is this?" He asks curiously.
"It's one of the best meals my mom makes for me." I respond proudly. "Try it." Todd takes a bite.
"Mm! That is an outstanding flavor!" I blush slightly. Todd has divine manners and always knows how to make my day.
"Thank you Todd. I really appreciate the compliment." He winks at me.
"It is a pretty delicious dish." Dana says before taking a bite of chicken. "Who taught you how to cook?"
"My mom. She makes dinner for us every night before working the night shift." Myron takes a small bite and reflexively frowns.
"It's too hot." He says disinterested. Todd chuckles.
"So were you when you had that sticky bomb attached to you." Dana laughs.
"That's a good one Todd!" She exclaims. "But you really should eat it Myron." Myron shrugs.
"I don't like squash." I roll my eyes.
"Then take the squash out."
"I don't like zucchini either." Dana glares at him.
"Myron. Don't be a poor guest. Try a bit with meat and vegetables!" She shouts as he timidly picks up his fork and shoves a bite filled with rice into his mouth.
"Mm." He hums slowly. My smile enlightens.
"Did you like it Myron?" He smiles meekly and nods.
"It's not bad. It is a little hot though." I can't disagree with him. I cooked it at four hundred degrees and it's only been off the stove for five minutes.
"That's fair. I'm just glad you like it." I take a bite of my own and feel at home again. I feel like I'm enjoying a quality dinner with my family members. I see no difference in a loving sibling and my closest friends. Luckily I think Todd is thinking the same thing.
"Do you guys think we'll have night's like this again in the future?" Everyone pauses and stares at Todd. Myron grins.
"If the food is this good, then we better do it every night." I smile at him. "It's a true masterpiece." He takes a bite of squash and somehow enjoys it.
"Thanks Myron." I turn to Dana. "How about you?" She smiles and looks around the table at me, then Myron, and then Todd.
"I hope when we're all adults we're still friends. I can't imagine any future's left at this point where you two aren't together." Todd and I face each other. They he speaks up.
"I actually can't either." He says. "I've dreamt beautiful dreams the past couple of nights with you involved." I give him a dainty smile as he continues. "Having you in my arms has given me a new level of consciousness while I sleep. And… I've had a lot of fond memories with you Maurecia." Dana and Myron's jaws lower in an awe-like manner. "And, I really love you."
"Awe!" Dana says in a high pitched voice. "The intensity of your heart cannot be overpowered by anything!" Myron shrugs.
"I didn't know that level of love was reachable." He says. "What do you think Maurecia?" I stare into Todd's beautiful eyes for a few seconds.
"I think I love you just as much Todd." Myron and Dana smile in unison. "And I'm so proud to have gotten to spend time with you this week."
"I'm happy to hear that." He says. Dana finishes her meal first.
"That was very good Maurecia. I'd give it fifteen out of ten." I smile.
"Thanks a lot." I say happily. "I really appreciate that." Todd finishes second.
"I wish we got together a little sooner. You really know what you're doing with food." I chuckle.
"Thank you Todd." A couple minutes later Myron finishes.
"They're not wrong Maurecia. You have a real future in cooking." I shrug.
"Come on, I'm not that good now am I?" Myron nods.
"You should be Wayside's chef. Mrs. Mush could use an apprentice like you in the kitchen with her."
"Seconded." Todd agrees.
"Agreed." Dana adds. I finish my own meal then Todd does the dishes.
"What can I say?" I ask. "It was a pleasure cooking for you guys."
"And it was a privilege getting to eat your meal." Dana says. Myron nods in agreement. A minute later Todd finishes the plates and pot and rejoins us.
"I sure hope in five years when we're all in college or wherever we are, we can still enjoy a quality meal with one another every once in a while." All three of us smile and face Todd.
"That's a great idea!" Myron exclaims. "We should do this at least once every week in the future yet to come."
"I'm in." Todd says. Dana closes her eyes for a second.
"I love you guys." She says. "You three are the best friends anyone could ask for and I hope we still spend time together in forty years." I shrug.
"Why not? I don't want us to drift apart after graduation either." I say as Myron holds his arms out.
"Group hug!" He shouts. Dana and I hug him. Todd wraps his arms around all three of us.
"To friendship." He says.
"TO FRIENDSHIP!" We all shout at once.
About thirty minutes later Goon picks us up and we're at the school. None of us followed any kind of dress code and the main reason is because I left all my fancy items at home and Todd didn't want to be the only one wearing a fancy vest or something.
"Thanks for the ride Goon." Dana says with gratitude.
"No problem Yodana. Have fun." He says as he rolls his windows up and drives away.
"So, what floor is the party on?" Todd asks.
"Twenty five." Dana responds. It's going to be a long walk for some people but I brought my skates with me.
We spend the next ten minutes getting to the twenty fifth floor and on the way in we see Louis outside of the door.
"Todd, Maurecia, Dana, and Myron, welcome to the party!" He holds his hand out.
"Oh yeah!" Todd high fives him. I just wave politely.
"So, what brings you here?" He asks.
"We're here for a night of pure excitement and festivity." Dana says. Myron shrugs.
"I'm mostly here for the free snacks." We all stare at him. "But I'm also here to dance!"
"That's the spirit!" Louis exclaims as he holds his arms inward of the room. "Please come inside." Todd, Dana, and Myron enter and then Louis taps me on the shoulder. I turn around.
"What is it?" He smiles.
"Are you and Todd going to do some slow dancing tonight?" I nod.
"Hopefully as long as my wheels don't screw it up." He laughs.
"Okay Maurecia. Have fun."
"Thanks Louis." I enter the dance floor and it's filled with many high schoolers. Though, no freshman other than me and Todd, and Dana and Myron are together. It looks like most of the juniors and seniors have dates.
"Hey Maurecia." Todd says abruptly as he points at a couple. "Look who's here!" It's my brother Parker and a girl from our church choir. I'm pretty surprised because he never told me he had a girlfriend. They spot us and walk over.
"What's up sis?" Parker asks while the girl waves.
"Not much." I say.
"Hey, you're Todd right?" His date asks. Todd nods.
"Yes I am, I didn't know you were Parker's date." He says.
"And I didn't know you were his sister's date." She turns to me. "I'm Ellie." She introduces herself and holds out her right hand.
"I'm Maurecia." I say as I shake her hand. "Parker never mentioned a girlfriend." He chuckles.
"We just got together a couple of nights ago. I told Todd about this." I turn to Todd.
"So you knew?" He nods. "But you didn't tell me?" He holds his hands up defensively.
"Parker wanted me to keep it a secret." Parker pounds me playfully on the shoulder.
"Look at us, I'm dating the smartest girl in school and you're dating the smartest boy." Ellie giggles and Todd gives a humble smile.
"I know. It sounds like we're the successful ones."
"No doubt." Todd says.
"Not false." Ellie agrees. Parker chuckles a couple of times.
"Are you two participating in the Mistletoe event?" A confused look appears on both of our faces.
"The Mistletoe event?" I ask. They both nod.
"What's that?" Todd asks. Ellie speaks up.
"Mrs. Jewls is hiding in certain spots of the gym under cover and she's getting snapshots of couple's kissing." My eyes widen. "At the end of the night, whatever couple does the best kiss gets their photo taken for the yearbook as 'cutest couple'." Todd and I stare at each other for a second.
"They're taking snapshots of students kissing?" He asks. "That sounds kind of awkward."
"I agree." I say. Parker shrugs.
"It could be aimed more for the seniors but anyone is eligible. Freshman can do it to you know?" Todd pauses for a second.
"What do you say?" Ellie asks.
"I think I'd like to speak to Mr. Kidswatter first." I nod.
"I think that's a good idea." I agree. They both shrug.
"Suit yourself." Parker says. "Come here you!" They kiss each other powerfully. Todd's jaw drops open.
"What?" I ask him. Todd snaps out of it.
"Let's go." He grabs my arm and pulls me with him.
"Did you see something?" I ask curiously. He gives me a disturbed look.
"How many girls has Parker kissed in his lifetime?" My eyebrows lower.
"Zero." Todd face palms. "Ellie's his first girl."
"Have you noticed how good he is at it?" I shrug.
"Unless it's a result of drinking a can of soda every day that allowed his lips to dilate and contract that well, then I don't really have any clue." Todd lets go of me.
"Well, I'm going to find Mr. Kidswatter." He says as he leaves the room.
"Okay, good luck." I tell him as I turn around to a bright flash of light in my face. "Ah!" I react.
"Nice pose Maurecia." It's Mrs. Jewls. Why am I not surprised?
"What are you doing Mrs. Jewls?" She smiles.
"I'm the photographer of the night. And I hope to get a snapshot of you and Todd by the end." I frown and blush slightly.
"Mrs. Jewls, you have to admit it's a little creepy to take a photo of two people kissing." She shrugs.
"I'm not the judge of that. I just take the photos. But if you don't want to be nominated then I won't take any of you and Todd." I give her a thumbs up.
"Okay thank you." Her smile enlarges a little.
"Just know that if you do win, you and Todd take the title of 'cutest couple' for this year's yearbook. And I think you two are the cutest students I've ever had." I guess I never knew that.
"I thought you said you loved and adored all your students equally." She nods.
"Yes Maurecia, but you and Todd are the only ones who are actually a couple. I'd love to see you two in the yearbook with the cutest couple title." I smile shyly.
"Okay, let me talk to Todd first." I walk away and bump into someone dressed as Santa. "Oh!" I react upon crashing. The man turns around and chuckles.
"Ho, ho, ho!" It's Mr. Kidswatter. "Merry Christmas Maurecia!" He pats me on the helmet. "Have you been a good girl this year?" I raise an eyebrow and shrug.
"Maybe?" I say slowly. "I mean I didn't punch Todd a single time this year." He lights up.
"Ho, ho, ho! That's good to hear. I never thought of how close you two might be this time of year." I roll my eyes. "Are you two still together?"
"Yes." I say slightly annoyed.
"That's great news! Now's the time to be together!" I grunt quietly until he picks it up. "Is something the matter Maurecia?" I fold my arms.
"Yeah, I'd like to know why a couple's kiss is something that needs to be documented for the whole school to see." He chuckles.
"Okay, it's that time of year again with mistletoe everywhere. This is a night everyone should remember and so that kiss that the cutest couple shares, may be a symbol of the future reflecting their eternal love." My eyes widen.
"Is that the expectation?" He shakes his head.
"No Maurecia, it isn't. But who knows? If Todd were to ever break up with you, wouldn't you want something to remember him by?" I shake my head.
"I think if Todd broke up with me, looking back to him would only hurt me even further." He nods.
"Fair enough, but what if you had a forbidden love?" I give him a confused look.
"How?"
"What if Todd had AIDs? Kissing him could spread that to you and you'd both be at risk for early demise." I shiver a little.
"I don't think he'd break up with me, we could always hug each other." He raises an eyebrow.
"I see, but didn't you once say you'd refuse to have children with anyone other than the boy of your dreams?" My eyes widen and I blush a little.
"You weren't supposed to hear me say that." He nods.
"My apology." He admits. "You're both freshmen right now and the event is more for the juniors and seniors anyways." That's a relief. "But just know, we've never had a freshman couple in the yearbook before because nobody around age fourteen or fifteen can show that they care enough. The cutest couple is not all about who kisses the best, but also about the couple and how much they care about one another." He pats my shoulder one more time. "But no matter what you and Todd choose, tonight is for you. It was a chance to see all your friends one last time before next year begins." A smile slowly forms on my face. "Merry Christmas Maurecia."
"Merry Christmas Mr. Kidswatter." I say passionately as he walks away.
"You kids have fun!" He enters the room. Todd walks back out.
"Maurecia, we need to talk about this event and if it's wo-" I pull him in and kiss him. He immediately shuts up upon that happening and kisses back. Then I stop.
"Was that cute?" I ask, he nods nervously.
"I think so." He says.
"But I'll never know for sure how we look while we're kissing since my eyes are always closed." He blushes nervously.
"We can always get Dana to get a picture." I give a mockingly nervous-sad expression.
"But what happens if we break the camera or lose the picture?" I roll closer to him slowly as his cheeks turn redder and redder.
"Maybe we get multiple copies of the picture?"
"But how? Analog cameras lose quality via copying. I want to look at a lifelike image in plain sight." He gulps.
"You don't mean…" I nod. "You want to participate in the Mistletoe event?" I smile slowly.
"Now you get it."
"But, I thought you said it wouldn't be right to keep a photo of our kiss for everyone to keep." I nod.
"Yes I did, but we'd be the youngest couple the school has ever seen. Besides," I get in his face. "Don't you think I'm cute?" He sweats a little.
"Ye-yes." He stammers.
"And I think you're the most adorable boy on this planet. So what's wrong with showing others our cuteness?" He shrugs.
"It's something we'll have to live with the rest of our lives." I nod.
"I'm well aware. But it's something I'd like to try out, besides, who knows for sure if we're going to win?"
"Maybe because Mrs. Jewls likes us the most?" I shrug.
"What about Myron and Dana? They're her students to." He nods.
"Yeah but they're not necessarily together yet are they?" I approach him again.
"I don't know. But we are a couple and we shouldn't be ashamed of it." Todd turns his eyes over.
"I don't know if we should do it in public." He says nervously but understandably.
"I understand Todd, but we did kiss in front of Mrs. Jewls's entire class." He nods.
"I know that, but we were eighth graders at the time. Now we're freshmen and the freshmen generally are easy targets to anyone older than us to pick on." I frown slightly.
"Okay, we're halfway into our freshman year, name one person in the entire school whose ever bullied you." He raises his index finger and opens his mouth. "Besides me!" I quickly realize, and he pauses.
"No one." He admits.
"That's what I thought. And I would love to at least try to be recognized as a member of the cutest couple." I take his hand. "With you." I give him puppy eyes. He sighs slowly.
"I'll think about it." I nod.
"Okay then, let's dance!" I pull Todd onto the dance floor and we party for three hours. Doing both normal and slow paced songs. The slow songs were done with Todd's arms around my back and my hands on his shoulders. By the time the night is finally over Mr. Kidswatter takes the podium.
"Ho, ho, ho!" He exclaims. "Merry Christmas students of all ages! It's been a wonderful night to have you all here, and now it's almost 10:00 and I'd like to wrap up the final call for tonight's Mistletoe Event." I turn to Todd who looks very scared. Then back to Kidswatter.
"The current cutest couple is Parker and Ellie." I see my brother hold his arm in the air as Ellie waves, there is also some applause by the other students. After the applause fades he proceeds.
"Unless of course any students would like to make a final smooch before we close up shop. Now Louis!" Louis pulls a lever and large mistletoe appears from the ceiling. Students gasp and awe at the marvelous plant. "Anyone want to do it?" To my surprise a familiar voice speaks up.
"We will!" Dana exclaims. Myron smiles and waves.
"You bet!" I fold my arms and whisper to Todd.
"They won't win, they've never kissed anyone before today." Todd nods.
"You've got that right." Until they pull each other's face in. Immediately I'm astonished and everyone around us falls silent until it's over. Mrs. Jewls takes a snapshot and upon looking at it she falls silent as well.
"That, was adorable." Mr. Kidswatter says slowly. "You guys are the new couple."
"WHAT?" Todd and I both exclaim in unison and stare at each other.
"Will there be any more couples tonight?" Kidswatter asks. I glare at Todd with determination.
"They're going to be the first freshman couple ever." Todd's glare becomes what looks like an evil grin.
"No way." He grabs my wrist. "We cannot lose to them!"
"No we can't." I agree. He pulls me into the center.
"Mr. Kidswatter!" Todd shouts. I can feel my heart pulsating at this point in time.
"Yes Todd?" Todd's eyebrows lower.
"Maurecia and I would like one shot to be the cutest couple of the year." He looks around. "Is everyone okay with that?" Parker gives him a thumbs up.
"Go for it!" He says. Todd grabs me and we stare into each other's eyes for a second.
"You ready?" He asks.
"I'm not sure." I say shyly. He gives a determined look.
"We're ready!" He exclaims. "Mrs. Jewls?" Mrs. Jewls gives him a thumbs up. I begin sweating a little.
"Todd, I'm having second thoughts." I say nervously. Todd gets a grip.
"Maurecia, I love you." I'm touched. But to my surprise he immediately pulls my face in directly after that and all I can do is open my mouth and allow it to happen. Mrs. Jewls snaps the photo as we both close our eyes and continue. After a solid twenty seconds, we finish the kiss.
"Now what did you want to ask me?" He asks openly. I'm about to cry.
"I love you to." I say. There is suddenly a lot of applause.
"Ho, ho, ho!" Kidswatter exclaims. "We have a winning pair!" Mrs. Jewls hands him the photo. "Good job you two." I smile at my beloved boyfriend. Louis walks out.
"Whoa! That was the best kiss I've ever seen." Todd chuckles. "Who taught you how to kiss like that Todd?" Todd grins and points his thumb at me.
"Maurecia did." There's a real surprise. Louis faces me.
"And who taught you Maurecia?" I point at Todd.
"Todd did." He pats us both on the shoulder.
"Well that was an Oscar worthy kiss for a T.V. show. Good job you two." All I do is smile and stare at Todd. He stares back at me.
About twenty minutes later we make it back to Todd's house, but when we open the door it's fairly chilly on the inside and pitch black.
"Uh, Todd." He faces me. "Did you turn the thermostat off before we left?" I ask him.
"No, I didn't." He says as he withdraws his cell phone and turns on the light. "We must've lost the power to the blizzard." He starts heading toward the basement, I follow him. When we get to the bottom Todd grabs a lighter and lights a weird looking lantern. Upon being lighten it illuminates the entire room.
"Wow!" I marvel at the bright light. Todd gives an egotistical grin.
"Pretty cool huh?" I nod.
"Oh yes. Did you make that?" He nods.
"Yes I did. It's got many reflective chambers that amplify light and then multiply it all around the inside."
"That is so cool!" I exclaim excitedly. Todd grabs his electron generator.
"Now all we have to do is start this device and we'll have heat again." I clap a few times.
"Oh goody!" He presses a button and it doesn't start.
"Huh?" He presses the button firmly and it still doesn't start. "What the hell?" I'm pretty confused myself.
"What's wrong with it?" I ask nervously as he stammers and shakes his head a few times.
"I-I have no clue? I-it's supposed to rotate via the electrons it was programmed with! But it's like all of the electrons are gathered in one place as opposed to the whole device." My pupils shrink.
"Uh oh." I mumble and Todd's glare appears on his face.
"Did you do something to my generator Maurecia?" He asks sternly. I'm a little scared to answer.
"Well… not intentionally." He holds his hand up and next to his shoulder. "I accidently dropped one of your magnets on it." He face palms.
"How long did you leave it there?" He asks with a small tone of rage in his voice.
"From Tuesday to Wednesday morning." I tell the truth. He sighs really loud and really long.
"Maurecia, if you leave a magnet on an electronic device it will take in all of the electrons to one spot and then it disrupts the current!" I face palm.
"I didn't know that." He frowns.
"Why didn't you tell me you dropped a magnet on the generator?" He looks really mad.
"I didn't know what harm it could do." He sighs really slowly in a stressed tone. "I'm really sorry." A tear falls out of his eye.
"It's fine Maurecia." He turns away from me. "You didn't know and you didn't bother doing something about it." He pushes the generator over in frustration. "I guess we'll just have to go to bed now in a cold house with no heat." I feel really guilty. "Let's go, Fluffy's probably already asleep." He picks up the lantern and starts walking, I subtly skate behind him.
"Are you mad at me Todd?" He faces me and he's crying.
"No Maurecia." He says in a broken voice. "I'm not mad. And I'm sorry I got angry a second ago." He faces the stairs and begins climbing them as I follow him. "I just don't know if I'm going to have a good night's sleep in this already cold house." A really crazy thought goes through my mind, this thought isn't something I had in mind before but seeing Todd's mood right now makes me think I might need to use it.
"Todd…" I say quietly. He turns around and wipes the tears off his face.
"Yeah babe?" He says while shivering slightly.
"I think I know how to fix this." I say.
"My generator?" He asks and I shake my head.
"Not your generator, but I think I know a way we can still enjoy our night and not worry about the cold." His crying stops.
"Alright. What is your plan?" I stop to think for a second if this is a good idea or not.
"You'll see. First I need to use the restroom." I skate into the bathroom.
"For what?" He asks.
"You'll need to wait a minute!" I say nervously as I stop and sit on the floor. This isn't something I thought would happen, but now I think I need to make it better. I know I can trust Todd… but the question is. Is he ready for what I'm about to throw at him?
Author's Note: End of scene. Goodnight readers. I apologize for this one taking longer, but I'm not quite done with the story yet. And again, please note the next chapter will exceed the average T rating standards. Hope you enjoyed so far :)