We're finally here!

Ad-Jacin-t to You: Part Six

"You'll be crowned, wouldn't you?" Cress whispers, holding his hand tightly.

"I better," Thorne boasts. "You will too."

Cress shakes her head, knowing this is all a popularity contest and, despite dating Thorne, she's far from it. "It's just a crown and it won't be on my head. I wouldn't even vote for me."

"I did."

They wait in anticipation as the results are brought to the front. The music is paused and everyone holds their breaths. After what felt like forever and the constant reminders to vote with the many flyers strewn across the school, the time is finally here. Couples and friends holding each other tightly, phones out ready to capture the moment regardless of who wins. A sore loss or triumphant win is a good story anyways.

"Our first star king is…" the room is pin-drop silent as the star-shaped envelope is opened. "Kai Rikan!"

No surprise but everyone roars into applause. Kai didn't see that result coming but Cinder immediately grabs him and kisses him on the cheek as Wolf, Jacin, and Thorne encouragingly slap him on the back and shove him up to the front to claim his right.

Once Kai walks to the front and gets the charming plastic crown placed on his head, camera flashes and cheers fill the room. Some scream excitedly for Kai who's smiling gleefully and others egg on Cinder since they think she'll be Star Queen. They're a couple so the chances are high. Nothing is more beautiful than a couple deeply in love crowned as Star Royalty.

"And our Star Queen is," the envelope is opened with a surprised yet confused face. Laughter is held back which builds suspense. "Wait, Star King. Our other Star King is, wait for it, Carswell Thorne!"

The room fills with a mix of cheering and laughter, capturing everyone second of the moment in photos. Thorne's confusion, perplexity, victory. Kissing Cress, laughing at Cinder and rubbing it in her face that he won over her. Wolf, Scarlet, and Jacin dying of laughter and Winter cheering. Thorne walks up to the front towards a horrified Kai with the biggest grin which only grows when he gets his matching crown.

Eventually, Kai laughs as Thorne wraps his arm around him and they laugh at each other. Two best friends in their best suits wearing plastic crowns shaped like wreaths of a constellation set.

"Shall we have the first dance?" Thorne offers, holding out a hand.

"I was announced first so I get to lead," Kai says, grabbing Thorne's hand.

"No fair! You saw that I was the better dancer. Military education at its finest." Thorne winks at Jacin who shudders.

The spotlight lands on them as everyone circles. A new slow song starts and nobody can keep a straight face, especially since Thorne and Kai don't know where to put their hands without it looking weird as if it wasn't already odd. Kai ended up with his hands on Thorne's shoulders while Thorne was barely holding Kai's waist. It wasn't sure who was leading since they were stepping back and forth in the same two places.

"This is adorable," Cress says, watching them dance with awe.

"Spading Carswell Thorne stole my crown and my date," Cinder grumbles, still smiling and holding up her phone to record everything.

"Not the first time," Wolf mutters.

He shows his phone to Cress and Cinder and it's an old photo from Thorne's party where he and Kai are drunkenly dancing on the table. It's way more intimate because of all the booze, their faces smooshed together in a hammered glory. The stars could never. If there wasn't photographic evidence of that party dance and an internet trail, they would've all forgotten about it.

"Love coming full circle," Scarlet laughs.

"Best part of the dance," Jacin adds.

"Go get your crown," Winter says to Cinder as the song ends, "time for a revolution."

"That's dramatic," Jacin says, looking at Winter concerned for her wanting a sudden coup, but a coup on Carswell started by Cinder is intriguing. "You have my support."

"But this is so funny," Scarlet says, pointing back to Thorne and Kai dancing. "Admittedly, it could've been worse. You could've been dancing with Thorne."

"Aces, you're right," Cinder says, shuddering. "No offence, Cress."

"You wouldn't be able to handle the dance we had earlier," Cress responds, still thinking of herself in Thorne's arms earlier as he whisked her across the floor. Never has Cress felt more like a princess.

"Hard pass."

Kai was leading but still listening to Thorne's dance moves suggestions. At the final chorus and ending music, Kai dipped Thorne back and he kicked a leg back dramatically. Only with Carswell Thorne could lean all the way and keep the crown on his head. Everyone claps as the boys stand straight and bow before the next song plays and they walk back to their friends.

"I have never been more entertained in my entire life," Scarlet states.

"And I didn't even need the cadet uniform," Thorne bluffs to Jacin, showing off his crown despite Jacin not giving a spade.

"I heard people still voted for him," Wolf says.

"Come on!" Thorne yells. "You don't even go here!"

"Military education at its finest," Jacin mocks, even adding the same wink earlier. Thorne shudders this time.

As Thorne continues to boast about his victory, taking pictures with Cress, Kai walked to Cinder who has her arms crossed. They had to admit that they couldn't have asked for a better co-king for the school dance.

"What?" Kai asks with a smile.

"Didn't dip me," Cinder responds, holding a fake grudge.

"Thorne dipped himself. I couldn't drop him."

"Why not?"

"Aces, Cinder…"

Cinder laughs as she pulls him close and kisses him. "Emperor Kai Rikan of the Commonwealth."

"Oh, stars." Kai holds her by the small of her back and holds her close, bodies against each other. "Let's get out of here."

So you, the people, have spoken and voted. For the past two years (and yes, I've counted), I got lots of votes in my poll, the reviews, my PMs, and even on my now-dead Wattpad. Thank you all so much for voting. I'll tell you that when I first put up the poll, I personally wanted the results not to be a couple solely for comedic reasons. A part of me also wanted Jacin to win because, as I mentioned in the poll beside his name, he doesn't go to their school.

Kaider was in the lead for the longest time until Thorne kicked Cinder over last minute, which is such a Carswell Thorne thing to do. But overall, Kai was always in the lead.

Poll Results:

Kai - 31
Thorne - 27
Cinder - 24
Winter - 21
Cress - 19
Wolf - 13
Scarlet - 11
Jacin - 7