Chapter 10: Prom
Rue, Skeeter, Edward, and Artelind eat brunch together prom morning. They didn't want to have dinner when the girls were all dressed and made-up, so they gathered for some casual breakfast.
Rue holds Skeeter's hand under the table as the two of them flip through the menu together. Edward likes being with his friends, but he also likes Artelind's pretty face. Whoops.
Rue and Skeeter get pancakes, and Edward gets a waffle and lots of bacon. Artelind seems awkward but glad when Edward offers to order for her. She looks different when she's tired, her hair messier in its ponytail. Edward thinks she just looks plain adorable. She always looks plain adorable to Edward.
"So, how's school Artelind?"
Artelind types quickly. "We graduate next week," the monotone voice says.
"Lucky, we still have a month," sighs Skeeter.
"I just want to graduate already," Rue sighs. "But we started like, a million years late and now we're waiting like, forever."
"All of our college friends are done already, and you guys too," whines Skeeter.
"Tanner and Ben invited us over Wednesday and we had to remind them high school still exists," Rue laughs.
"Thank God for school," says Skeeter.
Rue kicks him under the table. "Ben is making an effort! Be nice!"
Artelind snickers. Edward smiles.
"I'm just saying, thank goodness for school."
"You're ignorant," sighs Rue. "You have to try."
"I've been trying."
"No you haven't. The only person who's been trying less than you is Jason. And he has that weird stupid vendetta against the guy."
"Well I do too," says Skeeter.
Rue sighs. The waitress interrupts the conversation by delivering some food.
"Thank God for pancakes," Rue says pointedly.
Edward and Artelind snicker.
~.~.
Rory's masculinity was pretty fragile. He didn't feel like much of a man, wearing a hot pink vest under his suit and a pink flower. But, it wasn't his choice. And Prim looked damn beautiful.
Her dress was the same hot pink as his vest (Hazelle Hawthorne spent an hour and a half in the tux store at the mall making sure it matched) and very simple. It was a long gown that swept across her feet, she is wearing high heels that are silver like the sparkles and gems on the bodice. Her hair was curled and done professionally, and her mother had done her make-up beautifully. Prim felt quite pretty, and she just wanted to run around her front yard, but 1) that would be quite hard to do in heels and 2) She and Rory have to hold still and pose for pictures.
Prim never thought she'd find a dress that suited her as well as her sister's did. Katniss's dress was red and orange like fire, and when she twirled it looked like it was real, but not like cheesy-CGI-fire, like the general aesthetic of fire. But, Prim found a dress that she fell in love with. And was much easier for her date to match. Then again, Katniss barely cared about matching. "Just don't wear, like, neon," Katniss had told her date, Peeta.
Anyways, the general process of standing in the yard and having cameras swarming around them was less than pleasant. Prim and Rory were sick of smiling for pictures.
At least it's sunny, Prim decides. In her strapless dress, she didn't want it to be too chilly.
I'm going to die of heatstroke, decides Rory, adjusting the black suit coat.
Prim's friends arrive when Rory thinks they never will, and they all have to pose for more prom pictures. So many parents stand in front of them with cameras, Rory doesn't know where to look. He figures he's probably looking to the side in most every picture because he feels helpless trying to figure out which camera to look at.
Afterwards, they let the kids go as they wait for the party bus that will take them to dinner before going to the prom.
"Are you excited?" asks Prim, smiling.
"Not particularly," shrugs Rory.
"It'll be fun!" Prim promises, and the other girls there all nod and tell their dates it will be fun.
"Alright," says Rory, "If you insist."
"Maybe I'll be prom queen," teases Prim.
"You very well could be," says Rory. "You're pretty well-liked. You're in the top 6."
"If you say," laughs Prim, as the bus pulls into the driveway. "Come on, we need to get to dinner." She takes his hand, her corsage on a pretty bracelet on her wrist.
Together, the group goes to being their prom time together.
~.~.
Santana and Jason have many similarities, but probably the most resounding of them all is the fact that they both hate school dances.
Jason's big promposal hadn't exactly been romantic. It was more like "Hey when's your final's week? Wanna go to prom?" Not that Santana was expecting some big show from him. Not that she really cared, or was hoping for a big show. Santana's not really a fan of attention and she would probably have nightmares if Jason were to go out of his comfort zone in some crazy extreme way.
He insisted on driving to her house to pick her up. She wore a simple black gown, recycled from last year. It was easy enough for him to match with a silver vest.
"Hey," she said, smiling as she opened the door.
"Hi," he said, twirling his lanyard with his keys around nervously. "Sup?"
"Not much." She smiled at him. "Still the same Jason, I see. Can I give you a hug?"
"Sure," he says, returning the hug she gives him.
"Let's get going, my family's waiting." He takes her hand and helps her to his car, opening the passenger door for her to get in.
Ever since they'd said "fuck it" and started dating, Jason hasn't felt nearly as nervous around her. She's Santana. She laughs so hard she snorts. She has this cute little wrinkle in her forehead when she's smiling, a real smile, not an "I'm okay" smile, a real smile. She's familiar to him, now, he doesn't have to worry about what she thinks of him. She already thinks he's the biggest dork ever to walk to earth. And he's learned to accept that.
Jason starts the drive to his house, Santana looking pleasantly out the window.
"Just think, each second that ticks away is one less second we have to do this." She grins at him, a teasing glint in her brown eyes. "And if you think one prom is bad, try doing it twice!"
"Sorry," says Jason sheepishly.
"It's fine," she muses. "You said your squad's ditching partway through?"
"I think so. If I remember right we're going back to our place and watching movies."
"Sounds fun." She sighs wistfully. "If only you'd told me to bring a change of clothes. I guess I'll have to borrow some of yours." Jason's face burns red, and he almost forgets to stop at a red stoplight.
"Er… Yeah."
Santana laughs. "Looking forward to it."
Now Jason forgets to go when the light turns green. It's probably a miracle that they make it back to the house, because Jason's face is red like a stop sign.
Abri's just arrived when they get there. Her dress is simple, but makes her look tall and slender. It's a navy two-piece dress, with a strap that goes around her neck striped with different shades of blue, and a silky navy skirt. She's just talking excitedly to Locke, Kuzey, and Pax about the deal she got on it and the excitement of her "princess shoes" when the others approach. Kuzey looks adorable in his nice suit with a lilac vest and bowtie, and Pax looks sharp, his hair done neatly, in a gray suit with the matching violet vest and tie.
"Hi Jason!" says Kuzey, beaming. "Did you see the flower Pax got me?" the excitement in his eyes makes Jason smile.
"No." He looks at the boutonniere on Kuzey's suit, a soft pink rose with miniature white flowers around it. "It's nice."
Kuzey goes slightly cross-eyed looking at it, a big smile on his face.
"Alright, everyone line up for pictures!" says Mrs. Hollow, and soon the couples are all arranged for pictures. Jason does a double-take when he sees a familiar snaggle-toothed face with a big grin on his knees taking pictures with a picture.
"Edmund! What the heck are you doing back without telling me!?"
"Shut up and smile," Jason's older brother puts the camera back up to his nose, covering a bright blue eye.
Jason smiles but talks through his teeth. "When did you get here without telling me what the-" he's about to swear but decides that's not the best idea with a bunch of parents around- "What the heck man?"
"Smile!~ " sings Edmund.
"Screw you," says Jason through clenched smiling teeth.
After about twelve eternities, certainly no less than twelve, the adults are satisfied with their pictures. Jason runs over to tackle his older brother, but not only was Edmund expecting it, but also Jason was slow due to dying of heat stroke in the heavy black suit jacket in the sun. Instead, though, Edmund squeezed Jason in a hug. It was short because Jason was already slightly sweaty and gross.
"You look good kiddo," says Edmund. "I couldn't miss your prom!" he was travelling for his photography endeavors, frankly, Jason has no idea how he scheduled his way home. Not that it mattered now, at least he was here. Jason hadn't seen him in, like, a million years.
"So, that's your girlfriend?" Edmund asks, a teasing glint illuminating his eyes as he gestures to Santana.
"Well, we're not technically-" Jason stops, because they are technically. "Yeah. Yeah, she is. Weird, right?"
"Weird that my little brother gets a girlfriend before me? Not to me. I've been way too busy with my travels to notice other people that could be possible soulmates. You're anchored right here, and you're not going too far, right?"
"I guess I'm going pretty far…"
"Not to Europe?" Edmund provides a toothy grin.
"No, not to Europe."
"Then you're really not going too far!"
"True, I guess." That seems to make it better, the distance thing. Jason hasn't really considered it, but they'd be in opposite directions from home… Oh, it's hard to think about.
"I'm not the only older brother that just decided to show up," Edmund says, gesturing to where a smiling boy with dark hair ruffles Kuzey's hair, and where a boy that looks like Abri is talking to her and Locke. "Ori and Gio came too. We all had to see our little sibling drum majors and their dates!"
"Locke and Abri are technically dating though. I don't think Pax and Kuzey are either."
"Dates is used metaphorically. You know what I mean. Prom dates."
Santana comes over to them just then, taking Jason's arm. "I think we're getting ready to go."
"Ah, here she is. Santana, correct? I'm At-I'm Edw-I'm Edmund."
"Having a bit of an identity crisis there?" she asks, smirking.
"Just a bit of a brain fart, as they say. You'd better take care of Jason, though, he's a good kid that deserves the very best."
"Of course. I know he does."
"Good. I won't try to intimidate you, but if you lay a finger on him you're dead."
"Thanks," deadpans Santana.
Kuzey and Pax both giggle loudly, causing the others to glance over. Jason wonders if they're dating or close to it because they'd be adorable together.
"I'll let you go," says Edmund, ruffling Jason's hair. "Enjoy it."
"Thanks." Edmund goes to talk to Abri and Locke and her brother, Jason and Santana go to chat with Kuzey and Pax.
"You must be Jason!" says the older boy cheerfully. "I'm Ori, Kuzey's older brother!"
"Uh, nice to meet you," says Jason politely.
"Hi Jason!" says Kuzey, smiling.
"Hey," says Pax.
"Hey guys. Are you excited?"
"Yeah!" says Pax cheerfully. Kuzey nods.
Jason figures that the big crowd is making him slightly nervous.
The limo pulls in to the driveway just then. The couples all go together and get in the vehicle excitedly. They're all slightly amazed at the luxury of it all. Kuzey waves at Ori and his parents out the window as it drives away. He seems more relaxed now that the crowd is more familiar. Being around all the parents made him nervous, but now Kuzey is with friends.
He holds onto Pax's arm, laying his head on Pax's shoulder as they sit next to each other in the limo. Pax smiles and leans against him affectionately.
Yeah, Pax is in too deep now. But who could blame him? Kuzey is the sweetest person ever, and he's absolutely adorable. And his hair is dark, so it's still warm from the sun. And his skin is soft. And his smile makes Pax melt. Come on, who wouldn't want to hold him?!
Locke and Abri chat animatedly the whole ride up. Locke is still oblivious to Abri's feelings, of course, but she's trying to enjoy the night anyways. He's just a fun person, and a good friend. He's the kind of person that is so damn friendly you can forget you have a crush on him. Which Abri appreciates.
Jason and Santana sit together. She puts her head on his shoulder, just enjoying the time they have together. They've been talking about her college life for a while over Skype, but now they finally get to just be together.
The group arrives at a restaurant to eat dinner together. They take a seat together and chat as they eat, laughing and taking the time to enjoy each other.
Kuzey and Pax keep exchanging looks and being blushy, causing the others to smile at them because dammit they're so cute! The group has dessert together, smiling at the sweetness of the chocolate and the taste of ice cream sundaes.
After eating, the group gets in the limo to go to prom. They sing Livin' On a Prayer together, and even Jason sings, though very quietly under his breath.
They arrive and get out of the car, getting in the back of the forming line for the promenade. Many well-dressed couples pass them, greeting their friends. Rue waves at them, wearing a light blue dress that she picked not only because it's adorable, but also because it would bring out Skeeter's eyes so well.
Artelind wears the same dress she wore to the Liberty prom a while back, a dark purple gown with silver gems on it. Her hair is all done up again, and she looks spectacular. Edward may or may not have drooled a bit when he first saw her. Also, he may have been staring at her the whole ride up. Lucky he wasn't driving.
The line starts moving, so after a brief "hey you look adorable!" the others go to the back.
Santana and Jason hold hands as they approach the prom-walk. Abri and Locke lock arms. Pax offers his arm to Kuzey, who takes it and nuzzles it affectionately. Pax beams as they go in.
The music is so loud the room is literally shaking, and lights are flashing. Kuzey squeezes his eyes shut, pressing his face into Pax's arm, distressed. Pax quickly notices the sit-in room downstairs and quickly goes there, Kuzey clutching tightly on his arm.
When they get to the quieter downstairs, Kuzey's tight grip on Pax's arm loosens slightly, but he keeps his face pressed. Pax sits in one of the booths, coaxing Kuzey to sit next to him. Kuzey's breathing had become jagged, but restores.
"Want me to get you some water?" Pax asks quietly into his hair.
"No! Don't leave!" Kuzey says quickly. "Stay here."
"Alright," says Pax, "I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."
Kuzey buries his face deeper. Pax holds him close. Kuzey inhales, taking in Pax's scent. He calms down quickly, and glances at Pax.
"Th-Thanks," he says quietly, blushing embarrassedly.
"Sure thing," says Pax, tweaking his glasses. He's so tempted to kiss Kuzey right on the adorable nose. He resists the temptation, though.
Kuzey snuggles against him, and Pax puts an arm around his adorable friend as Kuzey calms down again. They stay like that for a while, in comfortable silence.
They stay downstairs together, even when everyone goes up to see the announcement of prom king and queen.
"I'm sorry I kept you down here," says Kuzey quietly, seeming sad.
"No, don't be! I've had a wonderful time just being with you."
"R-Really? Promise?"
"I promise." Pax smiles and gives him an eskimo kiss. Kuzey giggles, causing Pax to smile.
Some people approach them and smile and tell them how cute they are.
Abri skips down with Locke in hand, who's wearing a crown.
"Look at our prom king!" Abri gushes. "And Prim was Prom Queen! It was awesome!"
"Congratulations Locke!" says Pax, smiling, "That's awesome!"
"Congratulations!" says Kuzey, feeling genuinely happy for him.
"Thanks guys!" says Locke. "I think Jason and Santana are ready to go home though," he says, glancing at the corner where the two sit and talk and watch Youtube videos together and laughing.
"Back for snuggling and movies?" Kuzey asks hopefully.
"That's what I was thinking!" says Abri. "Let's go get the others!" She takes Locke's hand and drags them over to the others.
Pax stands up and takes Kuzey's hand to help him up before Kuzey grabs hold of his arm again. Together, the three couples walk out through the lobby to the limo, to avoid the lights and music. They drive back to the Hollow household together, the girls glad to kick off their shoes and sit inside.
"What movie first?" asks Locke, looking at the DVDs.
"101 Dalmations?" Abri suggests, and the others agree.
Kuzey leans against Pax, the two of them sharing a bowl of popcorn. Santana stayed true to her word and is currently wearing one of Jason's T-shirts and a pair of his too big pajama pants. They're a tangle of limbs so that people can barely tell one from the other. Locke and Abri are both snuggled in piles of blankets on opposite sides of the couch.
Kuzey's eyes get heavy and soon he falls asleep against Pax. He's not very heavy and he's warm. Pax knows it must be a mistake to have feelings like this when he's so close to his senior year. Soon they'll barely get to see each other. Maybe Pax is wrong about how Kuzey really feels. Maybe Kuzey just sees him as a friend. Maybe Pax is wrong about all of this. He doesn't want to make it awkward.
Pax sighs, and decides to just enjoy this while he can and not worry about it.
He pulls a blanket around the two of them and watches the movie on the screen, smiling calmly.
Prom on its own wasn't better than any other school dance, true, but it's the friends he spent it with that separated it from other dances.
Pax kisses the top of Kuzey's head ever-so-gently.
Yeah.
He's in far too deep.