They stayed like that, in the perfect moment, for all of two seconds.
As things were, the two couldn't ignore the looks they were receiving. On the receiving end of everything from silent, wide-eyes to gaping mouths and looks of obvious shock to budding, scandalous conversations, Ilana and Lance looked at each other in a mixture of annoyance and confusion for half a second before Lance realized what they had done wrong, and looked away blushing.
Ilana frowned at this. "Lance?" The teenage boy cleared his throat and lifted his hand from Ilana's to tug nervously at his tie, trying to loosen up what had suddenly become a chokehold on his neck. She turned her head to try and catch his eye, unsure whether she should be giggling at his adorable, awkward display, or huffing in irritation.
The tall boy cleared his throat once more before meeting her eyes for an instant, and looking away immediately, blush deepening, as he explained: "I guess… uh…. word never really got around too much when Amy told Andre that we were all, y'know…. 'adopted'."
Ilana rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "Of course, the one 'secret' that we wouldn't have minded spreading around school…"
Lance chuckled hesitantly, but stopped short and began to squint out over Ilana's shoulder into the crowd.
She frowned at this, and turned around to try and find what her date was looking for, only to see a flash of orange disappear into the crowd. "What are you squinting at, Lance? You have have twenty-twenty vision."
"I thought I saw…." Lance's eyes creased in confusion and then widened with mirth. He began to chuckle. "Yeah, I thought so", he explained, nodding to the trail of enlightened faces that the orange blur left behind, some of them accompanied by a thumbs-up or a wink thrown Lance's and Ilana's way.
"What?" Ilana demanded, face dangerously close to disintegrating into an undignified pout.
"Leave it to Kimmy to spread the word like wildfire, I guess." He grinned and winked at her, something that took Ilana back a little before she started to giggle into her hand.
"I guess it's a good thing that she and Newton started dating, after all."
Lance returned the laugh. "Yeah, I suppose so." He looked around, one hand still on Ilana's waist and another serving as a visor while he scanned the crowd once more. "Hey, it's getting pretty late, do you think we should start looking agai-"
The couple cringed as feedback came on over the loudspeakers, and turned to look at the stage. On the platform stood a flustered student body president, his bowtie crooked and glasses falling off his face as he desperately tried to fix the technical error. The screeching noise suddenly stopped, giving way to disgruntled murmurs from students as the student body president shakily stood up and straightened himself out.
"Er- he - hello? Can you hear me?" Hearing a general murmur of affirmatives from the crowd caused him to stand up higher, voice growing more confident after his blunder. "Yes, sorry about that. Technical difficulties for a second. Anyway, welcome to Prom, everyone!" A few hoots and hollers, and he continued. "As most of you probably know, my name is Jeremy, and I'm your student body president. I hope you're all having a good time tonight, and I'm sorry to interrupt, but it's time for the moment you've all been waiting for - are you all ready to see this year's Prom King and Queen crowned?"
The crowd roared in approval, and Jeremy grinned. "That's what I thought!" He gave a slight nod offstage, and some light rock 'n roll began playing to aid the mood. "All right, guys! This year had some great candidates in the running, but only two can win their crowns! So now, without further adieu, your Prom King…. drumroll, please!" The crowd waited with bated breath as Jeremy took an envelope from a stage hand and began to open it. When he pulled the paper out of the envelope, he grinned in approval before announcing the results to the excited crowd. "...ladies and gentlemen, give it up for this year's Prom King, Lance Lunis!"
Girls screamed. Guys cheered. There was a general mood of agreement as students started pushing Lance up to the stage to be crowned. Despite his best efforts, the young corporal found he couldn't struggle against the mass of his peers, and only got to look and briefly wave at a chuckling Ilana as he was carried away and pushed onstage. He tried to put on a smile as the crown was placed on his head, but considering that he was grimacing inside, he knew he probably just looked as if he were in pain. The crowd cheered as the cloak was draped over his shoulders, and Lance bore the spotlight for another few seconds before stepping back good-naturedly to allow Jeremy to announce Prom Queen.
Amy's probably laughing at me right now, he thought. She knows how much I hate stuff like this, and my face is probably beet red. Ugh.
Jeremy cleared his throat into the microphone a few times to get the crowd of teenagers to settle down, and then smiled and continued. "And now, to announce this year's Prom Queen - the lovely lady who will get to share a dance with Lance!" A few in the crowd chuckled at the unintended joke, and Jeremy paused before continuing. Once more, he received an envelope from a person who quickly rushed offstage, and when he opened it, he smiled as he had before. "Ladies and gentlemen, let's hear a big round of applause for this year's Prom Queen, Kimmy Mysner!"
Another roar of approval and a shuffling of bodies later, Lance could make out a fiery head of hair moving away from a large figure he assumed was Newton. Within seconds Kimmy was on the stage, gracefully accepting her tiara from Jeremy before going to stand next to Lance. She shot him a wink, and he chuckled lightly. What an odd situation.
Another nod from Jeremy, and the music changed from rock 'n roll to soft, slow music as he began to wrap up. "Thanks to everyone who voted, and congrats to our Prom couple this year! Now, for the honorary dance between Prom King and Q-"
Lance suddenly noticed motion at his side, and before he knew it, Kimmy was next to Jeremy, whispering in his ear and stealing the microphone. Murmurs came from the crowd as Jeremy reluctantly nodded and addressed the crowd with the mic that was now in Kimmy's grip. "And now, students, an...unconventional….word from your Prom Queen!"
A few cheers shot up around the crowd, though most just looked on in confusion, soft music still serving as background noise once Kimmy took a deep breath and began to speak.
"Hi, everyone. I know that this is unusual for Prom - for the Queen to give a speech, I mean - but I have a few things I'd like to say." She looked out across the crowd with a smile. "First, I'd like to thank all of you for voting for me for Prom Queen. It really means a lot. Second, as you all know, Prom's the last dance of the year, and most of us will be graduating in a month. It's been fantastic getting to know you all, but in the last year, especially, a lot has changed at our school." Some people chuckled, and Kimmy smiled and shook her head. "No, I'm not talking about the monsters, actually - though that's definitely been a change. I'm actually talking about the school in general - the students that go here, and what the attitude is like every day when we walk through those double doors from the parking lot and get ready for another day.
"If, just a year ago, any of you would have told me that by my senior prom would have 'geeks' talking to 'jocks', or that the 'goth' kids shared a limo to the dance with the music kids, or even that the head cheerleader would have as her date the smartest kid in school", she giggled, "I would have done two things. First, I would have laughed at you. And then, second, I probably would have spread around word that you were crazy." There were a couple laughs from the crowd, a few uneasy with the knowledge that she was serious.
"And that's actually what I'm trying to say, right now. Look at us, guys!" She gestured enthusiastically across the crowd, everyone hanging on her words. "We've got the 'jocks' and the 'geeks' and the 'gamers' all socializing at the punch bowl -" she waved to a different point in the crowd, " - I can see at least three 'emo'/'cool kid' couples right now -" she gestured to herself last, laughing, "And my boyfriend has the highest GPA and the thickest glasses of anyone here, and I don't mind! Something's changed here at Sherman High in the last year, and it's not just the new buildings we've had to put up when the others were damaged by slime monsters.
"It's us, guys! Something's happened that's changed who we are and how we think about each other, and it's great! That I can walk down the hall and smile or wave or say hello to any of you without necessarily knowing your name or having some ulterior motive is something that would have been impossible a year ago. We're closer, we're spirited, and we're excited to know each other and to go here! I probably sound like just about every other cliched, nostalgic high school kid right now," Kimmy said with a laugh, "But as stupid as it sounds, I don't think any of you would argue otherwise." The many faces of the crowd were smiling, and some were looking around them fondly. Kimmy reached one hand up to her head and removed her tiara, bringing it down in front of her face as she smiled at it.
"Even this room, guys. Most of us have class in this room every day for P.E. or sports - if you'd have told me that this year the homecoming committee would have managed to cover up the stench of gym socks and sweat with the scent of a light Hawaiian ocean breeze and the aroma of a barbeque, I wouldn't have believed you." She looked up at the crowd, the tiara going to rest at her side. "So, I know what you're all wondering. If it's not the monster attacks, then what? And where, exactly, am I going with this speech?" In the background, the song ended and a new one began.
"I guess what I'm trying to say is that people have changed this school when they came here. One person, in particular, has tried harder than anyone I've ever met to try and be kind to everyone, compassionate, spirited, loving, and to be everyone's friend. I don't know if many of you have realized it, but her passion and positive attitude has infected us all and changed the way our school feels and acts. And it's not me." Kimmy brought the tiara up with a smile as her eyes locked on to someone in the crowd, and she smiled as she seemed to offer it to the crowd, and everyone listening began to murmur once more.
"You guys figured it out yet? I'll give you a hint. To the one who's changed our school; to the one who'll make this 'prom court couple' dance a real one" - Kimmy looked over her shoulder and winked at the nearly-forgotten Prom King - "and to the real Queen who acts like royalty should, I'd like to yield my crown, and to give you all one final hint." She gained a mischievous glint in her eye. "You can all join in when you get it." She took one final breath, and started to shout, putting the mic down at her side.
"Strength is what we have! Strength in numbers! Strength of heart! Strength of mind! Unite, and be all you can be! Stand up to the tyranny! There will be a tomorrow after today!" Kimmy was laughing now as she continued to yell, and the crowd slowly but surely began to join her until everyone shouted the last line of the infamous speech. Lance rolled his eyes good-naturedly at the memory, but said the last line with the rest of them as he smiled.
"Text 1279 and the battle will be won!"
"Ladies and gentlemen," Kimmy spoke into the microphone one last time. "Please give it up for your real Prom Queen, Ilana Lunis!"
There was a moment of laughter before a thunderous applause erupted from the crowd. Lance caught sight of Ilana as she approached the stage, surrounded by tens of kids on each side, all laughing and urging her onwards. She seemed to him to be mostly in shock, though her face still bore a huge smile and a small laugh glimmered in her eyes.
When she finally reached the stage, the laugh in her eyes had reached her mouth, and she chuckled as she hugged Kimmy tightly.
"Thank you, Kimmy", Ilana whispered in her ear. "I know how much this meant to you."
They pulled away, and Kimmy shook her head, a smile still on her face. "What matters most to me is that people realize what you've done here. Consider this the real prom court election - as well as a going-away gift from me." She looked over at Lance and beckoned him forward, giving him the mic. "Any words, Prom King?"
Lance took the microphone awkwardly, and smiled at Ilana as he put the tiara on her head. "My lady", he said jokingly.
In the silence that followed, the last song died out, Lance forgot he was holding the microphone, and the young couple continued to look at each other, blushing, until the crowd got impatient.
"Come on, already, Lance!" shouted a laughing, impatient….. familiar young voice, followed by a hearty chuckle from her date. "Kiss her!"
The blush hadn't even risen to Lance's cheeks before he felt arms being wrapped around his neck and another pair of lips pressed against his briefly. When he opened his eyes again, he was looking down at an equally flustered Ilana, and the crowd was roaring with laughter and approval at Ilana's straightforward action. "That works, too!", shouted someone from the crowd as another slow song began to play.
Lance went to wrap his other arm around Ilana to begin dancing, but suddenly realized he was still holding the microphone. Awkwardly, he rose it up to his face.
"Uh-" he cringed at the volume of his own voice, and pulled away from the mic before continuing. "So, in case some of you didn't know, we- Ilana and I aren't really related."
The same young voice from earlier shouted a response, laughing once more. "We know!"
"Yes, thank you, Amy", Lance muttered under his breath, and the crowd laughed as the mic picked up his response. A stage hand quickly shuffled over to Lance to retrieve the microphone, and Lance looked down at Ilana with the crooked, dorky smile that she loved.
"I know where to put my hands now", he murmured jokingly, as they began to dance.
Ilana laughed and rested her head on his shoulder. "I know, you dork." Lance huffed good-naturedly, and she giggled. "Right, sorry. I know, Prom King, sir."
"Better, Prom Queen."
"Corporal."
"Princess."
She looked up at him and smirked. "Soldier."
Lance's jet black eyes suddenly looked softly back at her. "Ilana." She chuckled after a moment and rested her head once more on his shoulder.
"What?" He asked defensively.
"Nothing." She smiled, looking out at the slowly swaying dance floor that accompanied them.
"I just like that title best."
AWTHURRR'S NOTEEE
#NOT DEAD YET
(And sorry for the year and a half delay. I need you all to get on my butt if I don't have the next chapter out within a week. AKA start bugging me if there's not a chapter by the 20th. I'm trying to finish this story by spring break.)
I seriously need reviews for motivation. I won't update the next chapter until this one gets at least five reviews. If you like it enough to follow or fave, you like it enough to leave at least a short review, guys.