Lifetime

Fireworks

The sound of the doorbell let me know that Jimin had arrived, hearing my mom gush over him as I cracked open my bedroom door. She immediately turned around at the sound of my heels clicking against the floor, a constant stream of her camera flashing as I entered the living room.

Jimin stood by the open door, one of my dad's hands on his shoulder as they pulled away from their greeting, both of them turning to me with appreciation in their eyes. I laughed as my dad wrapped an arm around me before Jimin had a chance, pressing a chaste kiss to my cheek that my mom caught on camera.

"Wow, wow, wow." Jimin whispered into my ear when he was finally able to pull me in for a hug. I giggled at his response, noting how dapper and prince-like he looked. I blushed at his reaction, my mom giving us instructions to pose for the multitude of pictures she wanted.

There was a commotion outside that led us to the sidewalk, Hobi, his mom and dad the source as they talked over each other, practically refusing to stand still for a photo while Gabby appeared impatient, snapping away with her phone.

Jimin's mom was behind, but ran from the house and across the street to meet us at the sidewalk as soon as the limousine pulled up that would take us on the short ride to school. All of our parents gathered at the edge of the road while we stood on the sidewalk, practicing different poses and hopping in and out of the camera's view as they dictated.

Gabby continued taking selfies of herself and Hobi once we piled into the back of the car, showing off her pretty red lip and classic black gown and trying to keep Hobi's attention from dancing from his seat with Jimin and I.

The first thing I noticed when we pulled up to the school was the line of teachers and staff who stood outside the doors, taking photos of everyone who entered. I slipped my hand into the crook of Jimin's arm as we stepped through the doors of the auditorium, the room semi-transformed with decorations that fit the Winter Wonderland theme.

Gabby spotted her friends quickly, walking ahead of us to the table where they'd saved two seats for them. When Hobi saw the table he turned to the next, grabbing two empty chairs to pull them up for Jimin and I so that we'd have a place next to him.

"Let's go grab some drinks." Hobi leaned into Jimin's ear, the both of them walking away and leaving me at the table with Gabby and her gaggle of friends. They were nice enough, but I still found myself feeling like an outsider.

I watched as the room filled with people, a little too packed as students and their dates showed up to the event. With Hobi and Jimin's return, I realized that the punch had already been spiked with rum, the first burning sip taking me off guard.

For a moment there, I found myself bored. Maybe it was all the way everyone hyped up the event that made it feel short of the perfection that was expected. "Let's dance." Jimin finally whispered into my ear once a song we were familiar with started to play. He stood, reaching out for my hand and tugged me through the crowd of people so that we were almost in the middle of the dance floor.

He did an intentionally goofy move that made me laugh before pulling me against him by my hips, leading me into a step that followed the beat. I started to really loosen up as he expertly danced around me, keeping me flush against him so that our bodies moved in sync.

A few people left the floor when the music changed from uptempo into a slower song, Jimin grabbing my hand and turning me around so that we faced each other. He kept his eyes on mine, his hands comfortable at my waist while one of mine wrapped around his neck, the other settled on his chest.

We kept our eyes locked on each other until the bridge of the song, when he leaned into my ear, his words unheard to anyone but me. "I love you."

That feeling, the one that started with an initial pull toward him and developed from a spark into a fire, exploded, like a full firework coursing through my spirit. I covered the surely too wide grin that was on my lips by leaning forward to kiss him, affirming my reciprocated love by whispering it into his mouth.

After another song he started to peek at the auditorium exit that led into the main part of the school building. "I'm going to the bathroom, be right back." He let go of my hands, heading through the crowd in the direction of the door.

I started to move toward the edge of the dance floor to find my seat again when a hand grabbed onto mine. I turned around and Hobi was there, taking a couple steps to close the space between us just as the first chords to one of my favorite Dru Hill songs started to play. "You're not gonna make me dance to this all alone are you?" He raised a brow.

"As long as you take it easy. Don't try any of your crazy moves on me." I responded.

I giggled as he immediately twirled me twice, holding an arm around my waist when he was done. "I don't know what moves you're talking about." He smiled as I curled my hand around his back, my fingers stretching to the top of his shoulder, the other hand in his by my chest.

We were at eye level with my shoes and he held my gaze, leaning his body forward a little more when I dropped my eyes, leaning my head on his shoulder for a minute. I didn't understand, tortured that the feelings I had for Jimin just moments ago could exist while I felt the same for Hobi.

I looked back up as the last notes of the song played, my eyes filled with tears. "Sel." Hobi sighed, putting one of his hands on my cheek just as another voice chimed in.

Gabby was grabbing onto Hobi's hand, smacking her lips as she pulled him away from me. "We're going to Tristan's party. This is boring." She complained. I blinked away my tears quickly, just in time for Jimin to return.

"Everyone's going to Tristan's for this after party. We should catch a ride." Jimin offered me his arm. I wrapped my hand around his bicep as he led us out of the building into the parking lot full of cars.

We looked around for a second before we spotted Hobi, giving Gabby a hand as she stepped into the passenger's seat of Tristan's lifted pick-up. He closed the door, seeing us when he turned around and waving us over.

"I'm gonna ride in the bed since we're only a mile away." He said as he pulled down the hatch. Hobi climbed up first while Jimin met me by the tire, holding onto my waist and practically lifting me so that Hobi could grab one of my hands while I held on to the bottom of my dress, slinging my leg over the side.

They sat on either side of me, Jimin keeping an arm around my waist to help with my balance as Tristan took off toward his house. I put my hands in the air, the wind blowing my hair around as Jimin laughed beside me, Hobi letting out a high-pitched howl in the night as we headed to the after party that would change everything.
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Author's Note: I thought I'd share a couple of the songs that were in my mind and that I listened to while I wrote this chapter in case people are interested in things like that. The song I imagined during the scene where Jimin professes his love is Electric by Alina Baraz (feat. Khalid), and Beauty by Dru Hill for the scene after with Seline and Hobi dancing. Hope you enjoy the chapter!