Chapter 10

Sarah blinked as her eyes recovered from the sudden flash. Where was she? Did she succeed?

"You really blinded us with that crazy camera flash Janice!" An unfamiliar girl let go of Sarah's arm. "I bet you both of us are going to have major bug eyes."

Sarah could only stare in confusion as she watched the girl goof off and twirl around in a sparkling green dress, her perfect brown curls bobbing up and down. It was only then that she started to notice that all the guys were in suits or tuxedos and all the girls in stunning ball gowns. Grad? Slowly, Sarah started to recognize the girl that had been in the picture with her. "Susan?" Sarah asked in bewilderment.

The girl stopped twirling around and stared at Sarah. "Of course it's me. We've only been best friends for the past three years. Janice's camera flash really stunned you eh?"

"That must be it." Sarah admitted sheepishly, though still dazed and confused.

"Hey, how are all of my fine ladies?" A male voice asked playfully.

"Very funny Billy, we know you only have eyes for Sarah." Susan sighed and rolled her own eyes.

Sarah's heart skipped a beat. Billy? She turned her head to look at the face of the boy that put his arm around her shoulders. A kiss was planted on her forehead.

Sarah nearly gasped. "Billy?" she couldn't believe it.

The boy gave Sarah a playful wink. "Your one and only, I sure hope."

It was Billy Thompson, but he was not the scrawny little boy that Sarah had remembered holding the gun. He was at least a few good inches taller and seemed more confident. There was even a hint of a slightly muscular body under the stunning black tuxedo and crystal white boutonniere. Sarah locked eyes with Billy and felt her heart go wild. "Um, I think I have to go to the washroom." She stammered.

"Alright, but come back soon, the dance is about to start."

Somehow Sarah found her way to the empty ladies' washroom. She took one look in the mirror and saw Mr. Smith and Alicia appear behind her out of thin air.

"Mr. Smith, Alicia!" Sarah laughed and gave each of them a hug. "I'm alive, and I'm here…did I make it?"

Mr. Smith couldn't help but smile. "You helped your younger self see the error of your ways. You stopped tormenting what you formerly called the 'little people.'"

"Billy got the courage to ask you out soon after you two admitted having crushes on each other, and you said yes." Alicia had a genuine smile on her face. "You two are now one of the IT couples in the school."

"The 'it' couple? You mean…did I end up keeping my popularity?"

"Well, you're not as popular as you were in your previous life, but you and Billy are definitely part of the 'in' crowd." Smith said. "But that doesn't mean you've let it all go to your heads. You have friends from all walks of life, as the saying goes. Billy convinced you to join the Drama Club, and you've been there ever since. You even convinced him to have an acting debut—you wouldn't be Juliet without him being your Romeo."

"Of course, after that he still preferred to be backstage." Alicia hid a small laugh.

Billy suddenly came back into Sarah's mind. "What happened to Billy?" she asked. "He looks so different, so much…cuter. Not the boy that I remembered so long ago."

"That was your doing." Alicia chuckled. "Billy convinced you to join the Drama Club, so you convinced him to try out for a couple of sports teams. After much nagging, he discovered that he really liked volleyball and soccer, and the rest is history, as they say."

More and more burning questions began to surface in Sarah's mind. "Billy and I, was I smart enough to treat him right? Will I always be smart enough to do that?"

"That is up to you." Smith said honestly. "Who knows how the future will turn out? You were granted your second chance—don't blow it."

"Thank you so much you guys." Sarah could feel the tears coming to your eyes. "I'll never forget it."

Smith soon bore an uneasy expression on his face. "I'm afraid this part will be very unfair. I…I mean, me and Alicia will remember everything that happened these past three days, but I am afraid that you will have no memory at all. You will only remember your new life."

A tear managed to escape and travel down Sarah's cheek. "What, you mean, Alicia, she's not coming back? Doesn't she deserve a second chance?"

"I don't belong in your world anymore." Alicia said sadly.

"But, Billy didn't kill us anymore, so we're alive right?" Sarah pointed out. "This changes everything."
"I'm sure somehow it will all get taken care of." Smith spoke up.

"So, I guess this will be it." Alicia said finally.

More tears fell from Sarah's eyes. "I'll never forget you guys."

"Yes you will." Smith replied. "The moment you walk out of that door, you will only remember your new life."

Sarah managed to smile through all of her tears. "I might not remember up here," she tapped her forehead. "But I will always remember here." She placed her hands over her heart.

Smith could start to feel his own eyes water. "No you won't." he whispered to himself as he watched Sarah walk out of that door.

Billy got up immediately as he saw Sarah emerge from the washroom. "There you are gorgeous. There is no way I could start the dance without you by my side…what's wrong?" Billy noticed Sarah's puffy red eyes.

"I just couldn't help but think of Alicia." Sarah confessed. "She should have been here with us today."

"Is that why you bolted into the washrooms?"

Alicia nodded.

"Come here." Billy enclosed Sarah in a warm hug. "I know how much you were friends with her, we all were. I wish she was still with us too. But somehow, I think she would want us to party on and be happy for her. So what do you say we go do that?"

Sarah smiled weakly. "I think I'd like that." Holding hands, the couple strolled back into the dance room, unable to see Smith and Alicia, who had been watching them closely the whole time.

"How is it that Sarah remembers me?" Alicia asked Smith.

"Like I said, it all managed to get taken care off." Smith led Alicia over to where a small plague hung on the wall, bearing a picture of a smiling Alicia. Underneath the picture, the words read: This prom is dedicated to the loving memory of Alicia Chang, who was killed by a drunk driver on April 14, 2004.

"You were good friends with both Billy and Sarah throughout high school." Smith explained. "Driving home one night you were struck by a drunk driver running a red light. The driver walked away without a scratch, but he'll have to answer for that crime when the time comes."

"So this is the way it will be." Alicia ran her hands lightly over the engraved words.

"Better than the alternative." Smith pointed out. "If you have any regrets about not going back…I think now would be a good time to speak up about it."

Alicia shook her head and put on a brave smile. "Sarah changed her life, and in doing so, my life was changed for the better. That's all I wanted."

But Smith sensed that there was one more thing that the young girl wanted. Doing a bit of magic, his leather jacket and black pants transformed into a stunning black tuxedo. "It would be a shame to deprive you of probably the most important event of your high school life." Smith said almost playfully. He did a small bow and extended his hand towards Alicia. "I would be honoured if you would be willing to accompany me to the dance. What do you say?"

Alicia almost winked at Mr. Smith as she found herself transformed into a stunning light blue ball gown, her hair tumbling past her shoulders. The two slowly entered the ballroom, unseen by everyone else. Alicia could almost feel her heart burst with happiness as the two of them began to sway to the music. She could not have asked for more.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I apologize for all those people who were eagerly waiting for the next chapter of this story. Procrastination got the better of me, but thanks to Cassandra30 I got set back on track and added this chapter. Hope you like it (please review, if possible). One last chapter coming up soon, I hope!