Chapter 29
The chaperones were putting the finishing touches on the decorations as the students started arriving at Reefside's Senior Prom.
The dance was to start at 7:00 but the students started showing up e as
they had grown older, but the people they had been in high school were not gone, they were just toned down a little. Tommy didn't
know what was going to happen with him and Kimberly, but he knew that as long as she was side by side with him, for however long
it might be, he was going to enjoy that time. He looked across the dance floor and saw Jason and Hayley watching the other
side of the room. The chaperones were spread out throughout the floor, to watch from all angles. Jason had accepted Hayley's
offer as a friend. Nothing serious was happening between the two of thugh she had told him that she wasn't the same girl when Conner was in the hospital, just a month prior.
She had just grown up, much like he had. They were correct when they told each other that they had become different people as
they had grown older, but the people they had been in high school were not gone, they were just toned down a little. Tommy didn't
know what was going to happen with him and Kimberly, but he knew that as long as she was side by side with him, for however long
it might be, he was going to enjoy that time. He looked across the dance floor and saw Jason and Hayley watching the other
side of the room. The chaperones were spread out throughout the floor, to watch from all angles. Jason had accepted Hayley's
offer as a friend. Nothing serious was happening between the two of them just yet, but Tommy could tell that his high school
bro was quickly falling for his college sis even if he wouldn't admit to it. As Tommy scanned the room, he saw many familiar
faces that he had come to know throughout the year but he couldn't find the four people he had really wanted to see.
"Looking for the kids?" Kim asked.
"Yeah, I'm surprised they're not here yet."
"Well, Anna said that Kira needed help with her dress, so she was going to go and help her with that."
"And Conner is starting to be like me, always late."
"Yeah, you got better and he picked it up."
"That's what happens when you're my student."
"Come on handsome, let's dance. They'll be here soon enough."
"You're right, let's go beautiful." Tommy said before leading Kimberly out on to the dance floor.
(The Ford Residence)
"Kira, stop moving. You'll never get this dress on right if you don't stop moving." Anna scolded her friend.
"It's too tight."
"Of course it is, it's a prom dress. You don't want it too loose, then you don't give Conner a challenge."
Kira blushed a bright shade of red at that comment.
"Nothing's going to happen tonight."
"I'm just playing with you girl, now I'm not going to tell you again, quit moving."
"Anna, when are the guys going to get here?"
(Doorbell rings)
"Now." Anna said.
"Mom, can you get that please?" Kira called.
Mrs. Ford opened the door to see Conner and Ethan standing there in their tuxedos.
"My goodness boys, you look great." Mrs. Ford said.
"Thank you Mrs. Ford." Ethan said.
"Are the girls ready? We're already running late." Conner said.
"Let me make sure."
Mrs. Ford went upstairs to see if the girls were ready. A few minutes later, she walked back down the stairs.
"They'll be a few more minutes."
"Thank you."
About five minutes later, Anna came down the stairs and walked into the living room. Ethan was quick to meet her.
"Wow, you look great." He said referring to her purple strapless gown that went down to her ankles with sparkles across the chest.
"Thank you, you look nice too." She said referring to his basic tuxedo with a blue tie and cumerbund.
"Conner, Kira will be down in a minute, she had some last minute changes."
"Okay cool."
True to her word, Kira came down a minute later and Conner's jaw hit the floor. Kira had a spaghetti strap dress that went to
her ankles and hugged each and every one of her curves perfectly. It was the perfect shade of yellow for Kira but then again
she could have made a paper bag look good in Conner's eyes. Needless to say, he was dumbstruck. When she finally reached him,
she couldn't help but laugh at his expression.
"You like?" She said as she twirled for him.
"Kira, you're the most beautiful girl on the planet. I love it, it fits you perfectly."
"Thank you Conner."
"Well, you guys better get going. You've already missed an hour of the prom, you don't want to miss any more." Mrs. Ford said.
"Bye mom."
"Bye kids, have fun."
(Prom)
An hour had passed and Tommy still had not seen the kids. Kim could tell that Tommy was worrying, luckily she had just gotten a call from Anna.
"Anna just called, they're on their way."
"Good, I was really worrying."
About ten minutes later, the four kids made their way into the dance. They saw Jason and Hayley across the room and waved to them
before finding Tommy and Kim. They talked amongst each other for a few minutes before the kids made their way out to the dance
floor. As Tommy watched the kids he couldn't help but think back at the events of the past year. That first day of school,
the museum and the kids finding the dino gems. He watched as these kids, whom he had come to love as his own, grow and mature
at an alarming rate. Very similar to the way he had to. He couldn't be prouder of those three and he knew in his heart that
even though the year was coming to a close, he would stay in contact with them and continue to watch them grow and mature.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Kim asked.
"Just thinking about everything we had to go through this year to get where we are right now."
"You love those kids, don't you?"
"Like they were my own."
Another hour passed and it was time for a special performance. Tommy took to the stage for the introduction.
"Hello class of 2004! We've had quite a year, haven't we? We've been through a lot together. Some more than others. Right now,
though, we have a very special performance from two young girls. They've been working together for a few months now, trying
to find a song suitable for this situation and they found one. Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for Kira Ford and Anna Hutchins."
The crowd cheered as the curtain raised, revealing the two girls. Kira had her guitar and stood at the microphone stand while Anna took a seat at the piano.
"Hey everybody, tonight I have a special person that I want to sing this song to. His name is Conner McKnight. We're gonna do a version of "Stick Wit You" from the Pussycat Dolls. It's a little different than their version.
As Anna started the song on the piano, the spotlight was shone on Conner. Conner never heard the words or the music, his focus was on the love of his life, on stage singing to him. He was so taken back by her beauty that he didn't care what was being heard, all he knew was that this girl on stage, singing to him, was the best thing to ever happen to him. His thoughts went to the first day of school this past year, how everything just seemed to happen at once. Then meeting Anna and the fight with Trent, being in the hospital and being captured by Mesogog. Breaking free, Rita's funeral, confessing his feelings for Kira and now standing here in the middle of the dance floor as Kira sings a song to him. It was overwhelming and at the same time, he wouldn't have in any other way. He would do it all over again because in the end, he got what he always wanted. If those things hadn't have happened to him, he probably never would have admitted to Kira, his feelings for her. When the song ended, everyone was clapping and cheering the girls as they exited the stage and resumed dancing.
"Great job Kira."
"You weren't even listening."
"Yes I was, but I was also thinking."
"About what?"
"Us. And everything that has happened this year."
"Me too. I love you Conner."
"I love you too Kira."
As the hours passed, the dance quickly came to an end. The last song had just finished playing and the students were starting to leave. Kira, Conner, Anna and Ethan made their way to Tommy, Kim, Jason and Hayley at the far end of the dance floor.
"Hey guys, did you have fun tonight?" Jason asked.
"Had a blast." Ethan said.
"Good. You look like you had fun." Hayley said.
"So, what's up?" Tommy asked.
"We were just doing a lot of thinking and we wanted to come and say thank you." Conner said.
"For what?" Kim asked.
"For being there for us when we needed you the most. In school and in other forms." Anna said.
"We were glad to do it guys." Tommy said.
"So what now? Where do we go from here?" Conner asked.
"Now, you graduate. You've done all there is to do and then some. This was not an easy year but in a month you graduate and it will all be worth it." Tommy said.
"And after graduation?" Ethan asked.
"We go our seperate ways. You move on to bigger and better things and I stay and teach more classes at Reefside."
"Can we do that? Just go our seperate ways?" Kira asked.
"Yes and no. You each will go on and do your own thing but with a bond like ours, we'll never be far from each other." Jason said.
"And you know that from experience?" Anna asked.
"Yep, look at us three. High school friends still friends after all these years."
"The world has it's obstacles for each of you seperately but you'll attack them together, whether your together in body or spirit." Tommy said.
"Come on, it's getting late and you guys look tired. We should be getting home." Kim said.
"You're right."
With that the eight friends walked out of Reefside's Prom and got ready for the next milestone: Graduation.
TBC.