Epilogue
You've got to make a choice
If the music drowns you out
And raise your voice
Every single time they try and shut your mouth
He was nervous. He didn't know why but he was extremely nervous. Self-consciously he tugged at the collar of his shirt as he stared in the mirror. He was dressed like royalty, no pun intended. He had never worn a tuxedo before, let alone one with a coattails.
"You look great, Moose. Just breathe." He turned to see Camille who was wearing a ball gown. It was rainbow and she looked absolutely stunning.
"This is it, Chameleon." He smiled as he took her hand they walked out of the tiny dressing room. He nodded to Gabriel who stood outside the door. The former king smirked as they walked down the hall leading to the ballroom.
Six months, it had taken them six months to rebuild the Grand Ball. In that time, Gabriel severed and built several connections. Moose stood by his side throughout it as he learned the ropes of being king. Jared was also there, educating Moose on underground New York life. Finally, the final touches had been put on their new Ball. Invitations were sent out and Moose spent a week paying visits to his patrons, both new and old. Now it was time for the most important part, the coronation.
They stepped into the ballroom and were immediately greeted by cheers and applause. Jared stood waiting by the throne they had rebuilt. Moose made a face at the ornate chair and looked at Gabriel.
"Do I really have to sit in that thing?" He asked and Gabriel laughed.
"I didn't, so you shouldn't have to." Moose smiled at this as they stopped in front of Jared. He nodded to Moose in respect before moving from in front of the chair. Moose took a long look at it before shaking his head. There was a collective gasp as he climbed onto the chair and stood, overlooking the crowd.
"Honestly, I'm no king. I never have been and probably never will be but I'm here," He looked at Gabriel who nodded, encouraging him to continue, "I'm here because the Grand Ball needed to change. It was always meant to be a haven, and as long I'm here, it will be." Moose looked to Jared who smiled and turned to the crowd.
"Come one! Come all! Welcome to the Grand Ball, where the strong one for cover, and the weak stand tall!" The ballroom was filled with applause and cheers, followed by the pulsating beats of music.
Moose stepped down from the throne and took Camille's hand. She kissed him immediately, and the rest of the ballroom disappeared. It was just him and the girl he loved. Nothing could ruin the moment as they slowly pulled apart and began to waltz across the floor. Everything was exactly how it should be.
"So what are you going to do now, your Majesty?" She asked him as they danced.
"Please don't call me that," He grinned and Camille laughed, "and I think some Moose and Camille time is in order. Gabriel hooked me up with two tickets to Hawaii." Camille gasped and she threw her arms around Moose who lifted her up and spun her around.
"When do we leave?" She asked.
"Tomorrow night so get packed." Moose told her and she kissed him again. He grinned at her, his eyes shining with love and adoration.
"Mind if I cut in?" Moose turned to see Gabriel swaying casually beside them. Camille stepped away and giggled as Moose and Gabriel began waltzing around her, "Two weeks in Hawaii, eh? Just make sure you remember your end of the bargain."
"I promise to bring back a souvenir," Moose laughed, "now can I finished dancing with my lovely girlfriend?"
Gabriel rolled his eyes as he stepped away and Moose rejoined Camille. He watched as they danced, laughed, and whispered to each other. He hardly noticed when Eleanor came to stand beside him.
"So what happens now?" She asked.
"We keep living. We just keep on living." He responded before disappearing within the crowd.
After the night was over, Moose and Camille watched the sun rise from the roof of the warehouse. He held her tightly and buried his face in her hair. He never wanted this moment to end, but it had to, as Camille started yawning. He gave her a sheepish smile before leading her back down to ground level, where a car was waiting on them.
They spent the day shopping and packing. Eleanor even joined them for a few hours, taking Camille jewelry and swimsuit shopping. They laughed as Moose nearly fainted at the prices of necklaces and bracelets. Finally, it was time to go. Eleanor hugged Camille tightly, promising that they would text as much as possible. She then shook Moose's head and gave him a wink. Moose smiled as he shook his head. He was Camille's and no one else's.
"She's a good girl, never let her go." Eleanor told him before closing the door of the cab and watching them depart for the airport.
Once there, they checked their luggage in and went through security. All the while, Moose was feeling anxious. Camille held his hand in an attempt to calm him down but the jitters didn't stop. It wasn't until he caught sight of the one person he was looking for that he finally got a hold of himself.
"I thought you wouldn't say goodbye." He said and Gabriel shook his head.
"Now why would I do something like that? See you in two weeks, little brother." Moose's eyes widened at the words and he opened his mouth to say something but Gabriel shook his head and pointed to the terminal. They didn't have much longer.
"See you soon."
Gabriel watched as Moose and Camille disappeared, having boarded the plane. He stayed until the plane took off and was out of sight. Then he walked back to the airport entrance, where his new Camaro awaited him. As he sped off into the night, he smiled in wonder. His life had changed so drastically in the last year and it was all thanks to one person.
Moose was unlike any other, he had come and he had conquered what Gabriel had battled for years. For the first time, there was peace of mind, and Gabriel was finally relaxed as he sped off to the place he could once again call a safe haven.
In a place where everyday ordinary becomes once in a lifetime extraordinary:
Welcome to the Masquerade.
El Fin
Well, there isn't much else to say is there? Thank you to everyone who reviewed and supported this story. Sadly, I've decided to put this to rest for right now. Maybe I'll write a sequel, who really knows? But it's all up to you guys. Goodbye...for now.
~As the Rush Comes~
Disclaimer: I do not own Step Up or Sing by My Chemical Romance