(Preparing for Prom)

Author's Note: A New Arc begins! The Prom Arc! Hope everyone enjoys it

April 26th, 1943*

3:10 pm*

*Highlands High School*

Anya sat in her classroom with her friends as they all discussed plans for the upcoming prom night which was this upcoming Saturday.

"Alright! We need to figure out what we're going to wear for Prom. Unfortunately, I've grown out of the dress I wore for homecoming two years ago, so I need some help in that department." Anne spoke to her friends, placing the prom flyers on the desk as she sat down across from Anya and her friends.

"Believe it or not I can still fit the dress Judith brought me a while back so I don't have to worry about finding a prom outfit, but I can still come and hang out with y'all." Anya interrupted the conversation, speaking to her friends while everyone nodded at her.

"Wait, who are you going to prom with? I know it's not Calvin since he's away at war." Anne curiously asked Anya, waiting for her answer as she wrote down something in her notebook.

"Just with my friends, Charlotte, Nancy, you know, the usual gang, you? You can hang out with us if you don't have a date. That's what Nancy and Mai are doing." Anya asked Anne, waiting for an answer while Charlotte and Nancy nodded in support of the idea.

Of course, Anne was happy with the offer; however, she had already made plans with Thomas, who had confessed to her a few days ago.

"I would love to but I'm going with Thomas, as friends of course so I'll be mostly hanging out with him, Joseph, and Charles but thanks for the offer anyway." Anne responded with a smile while Anya nodded understandably, smiling as well.

"No worries. Do your thing, Anne, but we have to head out soon, me and my friends have somewhere to be." Anya responded while getting up from the desk alongside Charlotte and Nancy, packing their things in the process.

"Thanks for understanding and it's all good. Have a good day you guys, take care." Anne spoke to Anya for the final time, waving goodbye to her, Charlotte, and Nancy as she saw them exit the classroom.

The girls exited the classroom and walked across the hallway before finally exiting the school altogether.

During this, Charlotte noticed Anya was a bit down, prompting her to speak to her friend.

"Friend, anything okay? It's about Calvin, isn't it? I'm also hoping he's safe as well.." Charlotte asked her friend in a concerned voice, waiting for an answer while Nancy nodded in support.

"I'm doing okay, It's just I miss him and I also kinda don't want to burden you and the others by having you be with me instead of your dates, Charlotte, I know you have Emma but still.." Anya responded in a low voice, looking down while Charlotte quickly shook her head in disagreement, gently placing her hand on her shoulder.

"Not true at all! You're not a burden. You're my friend, my first friend in my life, and you were there for me during some rough times, including my whole ordeal with my father so I'll do the same for you, even if it means not spending much time with Emma and she will have the same settlements." Charlotte responded, giving her friend much-needed motivation as her tone was sincere and strong.

During the talk, Nancy began to chime into the conversation as well.

"She's right. You're my first friend as well, and we hate to see you alone, so this is our way of telling you that you're not alone in this." Nancy spoke to Anya as well, smiling warmly at her.

After hearing this, Anya looked up at her friends, smiling warmly as she began to speak.

"Thank you, guys. It means a lot. I'm glad to have such good friends." Anya responded, smiling warmly at Charlotte and Nancy as the trio began walking away from the school, heading back to Charlotte's home to further prepare for prom.

Meanwhile, Neville was watching the entire conversation not too far from them, and he smiled at this.

"Anya will be mine, isn't that right, Johnny and Bill?" Neville spoke to his friends, smirking at them while his two buddies nodded in agreement.

"Oh yeah, Anya is one fine piece of thing. That bastard Calvin sure is lucky." Bill responded, chuckling at his words while Johnny nodded with a smirk.

"I agree, I can't wait for Neville to finally get with her." Johnny chimed into the conversation while Neville laughed along with his friends.

"Don't worry. Anya will understand how much I want her. Even If I have to force my way with her.." Neville responded to his friends before he began to walk ahead, his friends following him along.

And so, Neville continued to walk with his friends, he intended to get with Anya.

*Charlotte's Room*

4:12 pm*

The gang sat in Charlotte's room, discussing and making preparations for prom.

"Good news! Cynthia and Robert are coming to prom as well, Isn't that great or what?! It's also been a while since we've seen them." Nancy told her friends with a smile while Anya and Charlotte were happy to hear the news of their friends coming to prom.

"How wonderful. I know Cynthia and Robert are in their twenties and some might be curious as to why they're at prom, but I'm sure people won't mind." Anya responded joyfully while Charlotte nodded in agreement.

"You have a good point there, and Cynthia is quite famous so I know people probably wouldn't mind." Charlotte spoke to Anya while Anya nodded in agreement, speaking once more.

"By the way, where's Emma at? Isn't she supposed to be coming here today? I recall her saying that during lunch today." Anya asked Charlotte, waiting for an answer while Charlotte spoke up.

"She's with Judith. She promised to hang out with her today so she won't be joining us today; however, she'll be here with us tomorrow." Charlotte responded with a smile while Anya nodded understandably.

"Wonderful, and let's do something fun to pass the time! We have the entire night to ourselves so let's do something productive." Anya responded once more, getting up joyfully while Nancy and Charlotte both nodded, getting up as well.

"You're right. We don't need much preparation for prom besides some shopping we have to do tomorrow so we could bake cookies or a cake." Nancy responded joyfully, nodding in agreement while Charlotte was also excited to join in the fun.

"Alright, let's head to the kitchen!" Charlotte spoke cheerfully, making her way toward the door while Anya and Nancy followed their friend, eager to create more memories of their time together.

During this, Anya thought about graduation, which was in just a few weeks, and she vowed to spend as much time with her friends as possible.

"I won't be sad. I need to spend more time with my friends, and Calvin, I miss you so much, my love. I hope you are safe, and I'm praying for you.." Anya thought to herself, feeling a longing to see Calvin while also feeling a sense of determination to spend time with her friends before the year was over.

Meanwhile, Neville and his friends were watching them from the sidewalk, eavesdropping on their entire interaction from outside.

"I will get you, Anya. No matter what.." Neville uttered to himself, slowly walking away from Charlotte's home while his two friends followed him.

*4 days until Prom*