I cannot stress how happy I am to be updating this story again and how excited I am for you guys to read the dance (especially for our Kings/Queens).

Ad-Jacin-t to You: Part Three

On the night of the dance, Cress tried her best at doing her makeup. There were only so many blogs and videos she could study in the short amount of time and texts from Winter about how to make herself look pretty. It's not like she wanted a glam look or else she'll look caked nor did she have a lot to work with. All she had on her face was concealer to cover blemishes, mascara, and lipstick. A simple look for a magical night.

At least it matches her dress. Her matte pink lips complement her cotton candy pink a-line dress. She felt risqué picking something sleeveless with a high-low hem and lace.

And she got a text of confidence from the girls saying she looks amazing when she sent them a mirror selfie after receiving theirs. She looks and feels like a princess.

"Crescent!" She hears her dad call from downstairs.

Cress smiles excitedly, looking in the mirror one more time. Captain Thorne is here! She didn't do much to her short hair except brush it through. And she won't even try and work a curling iron or straightener and risk burning her face. She puts on her small heels on the way out of her room, happy she practised walking in them first. (Stars, that was a horrifying run-through).

She approaches the top of the staircase where she sees Thorne and her father talking by the doorway. They look at her and their conversations stop. Cress smiles down at them, seeing how Thorne can't take her eyes off him. She can't look away from him and his sharp suit either. However, she spares a minute to walk down the stairs. She can look at Thorne all night. This is her princess moment. Practising walking up and down the stairs was worth it (and good for her calves).

When she reaches the landing, she looks up at Thorne, beaming at his awe. His smile is adoring. She's seen him staring at her many times, all with love for her, but this gaze is different.

"You look beautiful," Thorne exhales.

"You do too," Cress responds giddily.

"Of course. I had to match my date."

"Alright," Sage says, getting their attention, "Crescent, you look remarkable."

"Thanks, Dad," Cress says. "We'll be home by-"

"That won't be a problem. I've already spoken to Thorne about it."

Cress's stomach twists. "You have?" She glances at Thorne who doesn't seem deterred. If this conversation happened a week ago, he would've lost his spades.

"I said I'd bring you home before curfew," Thorne states.

"I said he could bring you home within an hour after curfew," Sage says before smoking warmly. "You kids have fun."

-o-

While the Blackburn girls finished getting ready, Jacin was sitting in the living room. He didn't take long to get dressed since he just put on his nice military school uniform and tie. It took him five minutes and Winter was still trying to do Cinder's hair. He wanted to check in and watch Cinder suffer at Winter's hands but Winter didn't want him to see her dress. Jacin didn't argue or else he would've brought up that this wasn't their wedding and those old wives tales don't apply. At least she told him that he looked nice in his uniform.

He gets up when he hears the doorbell ring so he goes to answer it, knowing who it'll be. As expected, Kai's on the other side in his best suit.

"Aw," Jacin coos sarcastically despite meaning it genuinely (it's just how he naturally sounds when trying to be nice), "don't you look nice."

"Aces," Kai mutters as he steps inside and Jacin closes the door. He looks at the other boy's military uniform and now understands why Thorne was going off about it. The clean edges, the badges. "You're winning Star King for sure."

"I don't know what that means but as long as it'll anger Thorne, I'm game."

"Thorne's been petty about it since you arrived. So, how are the girls doing?"

"Last I checked, Winter was trying to do Cinder's hair."

Kai winces. "Oh, spades."

-o-

"See," Winter huffs, "was that so hard?"

Cinder frowns, muttering thanks to Winter. She looks in the mirror at the ponytail Winter did for her that Cinder could've done herself. In fact, she did do it on her own but Winter didn't like the kink or a loose strand that fell out. Cinder gave up and allowed Winter to do it which was her mistake. Winter brought the fine-tooth combs and nearly scraped them against her head. It was agonizing and she's surprised but relieved her hair didn't fall out.

It's a shame Jacin missed it.

"For the record, I put on my one-piece myself," Cinder says proudly as she looks at herself in the mirror. Her pantsuit looks better on her than any dress in that snooty store would've.

"But help me with mine," Winter says as she comes out of her closet with it. She lays the cover on the bed and unzips it, nearly squealing as if she didn't pick it out, buy it herself, and try it on many times before tonight. Cinder had to give her credit for always slipping it back in the cover.

All Cinder had to do was zip up the back once Winter put it on. It was a cute, red cross-fold box-pleated top with a floral skirt. Not Cinder's style one bit but Winter looks like a spring goddess. She left her hair curly and quickly did her makeup. Nothing thick or heavy since she'll be dancing, but some mascara and glittery eye shadow with lip gloss. Cinder takes a hard pass on makeup, settling for some unscented ChapStick.

A few mirror selfies later and they walk out of Winter's room in tandem, hearing Jacin and Kai talking downstairs. Once they're downstairs, the boys are silent as they see them.

"Don't you two look nice," Winter comments as she walks over to take Jacin's arm.

"She's winning Star Queen," Cinder says about Winter.

"Don't say that," Kai says as he pulls Cinder close, hiding her around her waist. "I think you have a shot."

"Fat chance. Nobody would want me as their queen."

-o-

Scarlet parks at Wolf's house to pick him up on their way to the dance. He wanted to save her the driving but it made more sense for her to drive to his place since she lived further and saved them travel time. It didn't matter. They could change their mind since she's parked at his place and he could drive them there. Given that she stepped out of the car to knock on his door after texting him that she was here, she figures he plotted it so he'd drive her.

At least she didn't have to knock since he opened it the moment she was close enough.

Wolf's seen her in her dress before and she didn't do any fancy makeup or attempt to manage her unruly curls. She doesn't even care about her heels since she's still shorter than him but, aces, Wolf Kesley in a suit is a sight the stars can't even fathom. She promised she'd send the girls a picture because they wanted to see but they can wait till the dance. This is her man. Her alpha. If they ask, she left her phone in the car and they wouldn't blame her.

"Wow, babe," Scarlet exhales, pursing her lips together looking him up and down. She better understands her philosophy about any boy looking better in a suit, basically becoming a man. This is how Wolf felt definitely seeing her in her dress the first time, wanting to rip it off.

"What?" Wolf asks casually, closing the door behind him. "First you want to go to the dance and now you're just standing there?"

"Not fair. You look good."

"Well…" Wolf mutters, leaning against his front door with his hand on the knob. "I didn't lock the door yet so we don't really have to go."

Scarlet crosses her arms. "Seriously? I put on heels."

"And I put on a tie."

"You're justifying wearing heels as the same as wearing a tie?"

" … yes. For us, yes."

Scarlet can't argue. They really only wear their school uniforms (not to code), work uniforms, sweatshirts, jeans, and sneakers. "You're lucky you look good in a suit."