Chapter VIII: Prom Night, Night of Dreams
The limo arrived at the Hôtel Grande, and the occupants quickly hurried out into the lobby. The ballroom was decorated magnificently, as stars and clouds hung from the ceiling. Belle smiled at the hard work the decoration committee had done the night before. Two student council representatives stood at the door, welcoming their fellow seniors to the prom. Each couple received a card, telling them what table they were sitting at. The small group headed over to Table 16, near the chaperones table. I was already there, talking with the other teachers whom the students picked to chaperone. Belle and the others greeted me before heading towards the door to greet the other incoming students.
The girls looked wonderful in their dresses. Polly wore a strapless blue dress that fell to her ankles, poofed out a bit and had beads on the bodice. Her brown hair was done in half up twists, with most of her hair falling past her shoulders. Julie wore a pink strapless dress with flowers on it, that also came with a sheer shawl. Her blondish-brown hair was done in a bun, with curls falling from it. Robin wore a black halter top like dress with white and red flowers on it. Her blonde hair was done up in curls, half in a bun, the rest falling to her shoulders. Francine wore a light purple dress that was strapped up in the back and glittery all over. She had just curled her black hair and allowed it to fall naturally, with purple glitter in it. Joanne wore a blue strapless dress that was puffy and glittery. Her black hair was done in a braided bun, with babybreath in it. Belle wore a bluish-purple strapless dress. It poofed out at the skirt, and the bodice was beaded and had rhinestone flowers on it. Her brown hair was in a ponytail of curls.
After a half-hour, all the students in the Enchanted Falls High School senior class was in the ballroom. The dj began the music to the class' prom song, "The Way You Look Tonight" by Frank Sinatra. All the couples were on the dance floor, dancing away. After that song, the buffet dinner was announced. The students dined on chicken parmesan, rice, potatoes, London broil, salmon, and pasta a la vodka (without the vodka). They "wined" on Coke, Pepsi and other sodas served at the bar. After the dj was certain everyone had eaten, he started up the music again. All went onto the dance floor and danced to all the latest hits. Even songs from the 70s were played as the kids sang along. During the dancing, the tables were called down one by one to take table and individual pictures.
Laughter filled the hall as the dj brought down the music and invited the prom committee up to the miniature stage set up by the door. After the committee presented a bouquet of flowers to Mrs. Anderson and Ms. Peterson for their help in planning for the prom. Once that was over, the dj started a drumroll as the President of the Student Council joined the prom committee on the stage to announce the prom king and queen. "Will our honored principal, Mr. Verika, Mrs. Anderson and Ms. Peterson, our prom planners and Mr. Gregorio, our beloved librarian, please join us on the stage?" The four of us made our way to the stage. Each of us was handed something to hold. Mr. Verika was given the prom king crown to hold, while I held his sash. Mrs. Anderson held the prom queen tiara, while Ms. Peterson held her sash and a member of the prom committee held the scepter to be given to the queen. The president got back up on the microphone. "The student council has tallied the votes collected during the past few weeks," she started, met with a few groans of those who remembered the trouble they went through with the student council. "And this year's Enchanted Falls High School Senior Prom King is…" the President wrestled the card out of the envelope and read: "Ross Angel!" Screams could be heard from Table 16, as Ross was pushed out of his chair. "Wait!! And this year's Enchanted Falls High School Senior Prom Queen is, no surprise here, Belle Lagrange!"
Ross pulled a stunned Belle to her feet and escorted her up to the stage. I placed Ross' sash over him, as Mr. Verika placed the crown on. Mrs. Anderson pinned the tiara into Belle's curls as both Ms. Peterson and the member of the prom committee handed her her sash and scepter. I gave Belle a hug as Ross took her hand and led her down to the dance floor for the special dance. As the music played, Ross and Belle danced slowly together. "When you moved to Enchanted Falls, did you think you would become our senior prom queen?" Ross asked Belle as they danced. "No, but then again, I never thought I would meet you," she replied. "Amazing what one year can do to you," she whispered. "Amazing what one person can do for you," Ross whispered back, kissing the top of her forehead. Soon, the other couples were invited to the dance floor, but Ross and Belle just danced together in each other's arms.
After the special dance, the dj played a fast song, to which the Enchanted Falls High School cheerleaders had choreographed a dance to. These girls, including Jessie, Julie, Jamie, and Francine, joined Belle in the front to do the dance. The boys, knowing the dance but too "manly" to do it, stood on the sidelines as the girls did "The Booty Drop." More music and dancing happened as the dj announced the last hour of the prom. At midnight, the time the prom ended, the dj played the last song, as everyone danced. Upon the completion of the last song, the dj played the class' graduation song, as the banner reading "Welcome Enchanted Falls Senior Class" was taken down and the balloons held up in a net were released. Confetti, balloons and strings fell down around the students, as the photographers came upstairs to get a picture all together. The group stood close together—only those who were not seniors or not from Enchanted Falls High remained out of the picture—and waited as the photographer took the picture. These kids and us teachers knew that the next time they posed together for a picture, it would be their last—on graduation day.
Good-bye kisses and hugs were exchanged as the students left the hotel, rather quickly, and went to their appropriate limos. Once inside their limo, the girls' shoes came off. "That feels so good!" Polly said, laughing. "I know, well, here's to the night!" Joanne said, raising up a little bottle of water from the cooler in the limo. "Here's to the night, I just want to sleep," Chris said, as Julie pushed him. "Party pooper," she said, which started Ross and Lance singing a very bad version of the song "Party Pooper," leaving the rest in the limo begging for mercy. The limo arrived at Joanne's apartment, where the girls put their shoes back on, kissed their guys good-bye and ran up to the apartment. Before leaving though, Julie turned around and caught a quick picture at all the boys in the limo. "Yes, done! Goodnight boys," she said, placing her third used disposable camera in her purse.
Upstairs, Joanne's and Jade's mothers, and Jade took pictures of the girls. Then, Jade's mother left and the other girls could change in peace. "I am so glad to be out of that dress. It was lovely, but a return to regular clothes was well needed," Joanne said, plopping on her couch. "Amen to that. Can I plop here?" Julie asked as Joanne nodded. Belle threw herself across Jade's lap, who was on the couch. "Oof, Okay, wasn't expecting that!" Jade said, giggling, as Polly joined her on the couch lying the opposite way of Belle. "This is fun," Francine said, dialing her cell phone to let her parents know she was safe. Joanne's mother had called Belle's father, who was calling everyone else. "Yes, and Disney is going to be even more fun!" Jade said. "Why are we only staying a week though?" Joanne asked. "Because even though you already graduated, we still have graduation," Belle said. "Graduation at Enchanted Falls High is later than most. For some reason, we have to have in mid-June. "But what about school?"
"We've done the appropriate amount of time needed for the school year, so we're off until we graduate," Julie said. "That sounds stupid," Joanne said. "It does, but hey, it's home!" Polly said. "Enchanted Falls, big on traditions. Faithfully follows the old ones and very slow about starting new ones," Robin said, generating laughs throughout the entire room.
The next morning, a group of very groggy seniors reported to the nearby airport for their flight home. Joanne's mother was driving Francine home, since she still had to take all her finals as a sophomore. They checked in, and got some breakfast while waiting to board. They boarded their plane and slept all the way to Florida and to a week of fun and magic.
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A/N: Okay, apologies to everyone who hates me for not updating for so long. Okay, here's what happened: I lost my muse for this story. She must've went on vacation, or the other muses must've overcrowded her in my head, because every time I opened up this file and tried to write, nothing happened. So, by March, when nothing was coming, I decided just to wait till May, I know you're all upset, but hear me out. May was my Junior Prom, so I thought I could get ideas from there for Belle and the gang's prom. It worked. Most of what happened in Belle's prom happened at my prom, with some exceptions that added to make it sound more "senior promish" than "junior promish." The gang's dresses were based off my friends' dresses and Belle's dress and hairdo is mine. Their prom song was my prom song, and the cheerleaders at my school did choreograph a dance to "The Booty Drop" which we performed at the prom. Thanks for being so patient. I can't make any promises about the next chapter, but it should definitely be up soon. (I want to get in before my finals and regents start.)
Sneak peak, next chapter: This one's the Epilogue, kids. I'm done, guys. So: the gang's graduation and ten year reunion in one chapter. See you then! ~*Mac*~