Miss, Do I Know You?

14 - Friday, December 11

The Winter Ball illuminated the gym in a magical way that night. The atmosphere was electric, filled with laughter and stories as I spent time with Olivia, Sophia, and fun strangers.

Despite being at the end of the event when whispers of going home or attending the afterparty floated around, the excitement in the air remained. But just as I contemplated taking a breather to recharge, Sophia found my hand yet again, urging me back toward the dwindling dance floor, a clear sign that the evening was winding down.

A faint groan escaped Sophia's lips as she scanned the surroundings. The glitter adorning her face shimmered in the iridescent lights, practically transforming her features into a constellation of stardust. "Where did everyone go?"

"Probably migrated to your house. Shouldn't we get going too?"

"I got one of my friends to keep an eye on what's going on there. The student council has to stay longer because the school board is worried about the food rotting or whatnot."

The music abruptly faded away, making us stop. Surprise mixed with a twinge of dismay and contorted our features in funny dissatisfaction. Sophia furrowing her brows.

I flashed an apologetic smile. "I guess it's really over now."

She continued pulling me along. "I've been kinda waiting for this. Come on."

Confused but undeniably intrigued, I trailed her footsteps to the parking lot where she opened the trunk of her car and retrieved two guitars, handing them to me. My curiosity only intensified as she made a call and led us back to the dimly lit stage where Lucas waited for us, his expression a mirror of my own confusion. But beneath the surface of our collective bewilderment, an irrepressible surge of exhilaration was eager to burst forth. The school took their extracurriculars very seriously, as evidenced by the equipment around us that I dared not disturb with my limited understanding.

Sophia's cheeks were stretched wide as she connected the instruments and pressed buttons on the soundboard. "Ready to jam?" she said, handing me one of her guitars.

Before I could articulate my response, a stern voice rang out from behind, causing us to turn in unison. "What's going on here?" Mr. Harris asked, surprise painting his features as he peered up at us.

Sophia immediately stepped forward and looked down at the principal. "Sir, we'll just play for a little while. Maybe the cleaning will go along a lot faster with some background music."

"I think we'd be better off with six extra hands, not music." Mr. Harris sighed, but as Sophia unleashed her teachers' pet powers, his initial sternness gave way to a soft smile. "Just be sure to switch everything off afterward, alright? I don't want any surprises in the morning."

Victorious in her negotiation, Sophia beamed. "Of course. We'll leave everything as it was before."

Though the crowd had thinned, nerves and excitement mingled within me; one part of me was nervous, for our previous jam sessions had been confined to Sophia's room, but another part of me brimmed with exhilaration. The vibrations coursed through me like electricity, the rhythmic strumming of strings and the uplifting hum of the bass creating a beautiful sound that carried us away, surpassing our bedroom sessions.

What began as an impromptu jam session unexpectedly turned into something more. It was clear that the music was affecting the lingering people too; even some teachers were moving in time with the music, making us exchange glances and laugh amongst ourselves.

One figure in the room stood in undeniable prominence. Alex had dedicated most of her time to tidying up and ordering people around, but during one of the songs, the principal ventured towards her. The two of them danced for a minute or two, moving together like two teenagers, caught up in the moment as if oblivious to the fact that they were staff. It was a fun sight until they slipped away together and never returned.