Kisses and Near Misses

Chapter 22

Prom was life under the sea, which was not creative at all but Jacq loved it because she was in love with water.

Friends met up with friends and lovers with lovers. Everyone excitedly chattered about the dance and the last two weeks of school.

Aaron pushed away from his fanclub to go to Jacq, sure that tonight was the night (every girl gave it up on prom night). "Hey!"

"Hey!" She yelled back over the music.

He took in the sparkle to her eye and knew it was going down. He took her hands. "Let's dance!"

"Okay! I'll see you guys!" She waved off her friends without really looking.

Gabi narrowed her own shiny eyes. "I hate him!"

"Ditto!" Bobby sneered.

≈

Jacq was having a great time. She danced and smoozed. She laughed and made small talk. It was exhausting but she was doing it.

Suddenly the music cut and Principal Mathers came on stage. He tapped the microphone and cleared his throat. "Would Prom Court and the write-ins please come onstage?"

The court moved to go onstage but who exactly knew who was the write-ins?

He began reading from a blank ballot. "Cole Delaney, Stacey Fleming, Peter White and Jacquelyn Carter."

All four moved to the stage, three of them confused by it.

The old man mopped his sweaty bald head. "Your Prom King is Cole Delaney!"

Cole made a face before wiping it clean. He accepted his crown and scepter. This is so stupid!

"And for your Prom Queen, what you've all been waiting for,-!" Principal Mathers waited for a drumroll before reading the card. "Jacquelyn Carter!"

The look on Jacq's face wasn't the look she thought it was.

Some laughter rolled through the audience.

She fixed her face and accepted her crown and scepter.

"Speech! Speech!" Some drunks in the crowd chanted.

"No." She walked off stage.

Principal Mathers waved to the band. "And for your first dance as King and Queen, the band!"

The band began playing I Only Have Eyes for You as everyone else exited the stage.

Cole caught up to an embarrassed Jacq and pulled her into a dance.

She looked up at him but he was looking straight ahead. She took a shuddering breath and laid her cheek against his chest. His heart beat was slow and sure. Her own heart beat began to match it.

They swayed as the spotlight was on them. As was every eye... Pictures were taken. It was a thing.

Other couples began dancing around them and the attention refocused.

He finally looked down as he whispered the song to her.

She peeked up at him. Feeling like she was caught in a web, she raised her head to look him square in the eye.

Time slowed, the crowd disappeared, sound faded and it was only the two of them no longer swaying.

He leaned down and she angled up.

Before they could connect, someone pulled on her hand. Sound came rushing back in as applause rang out as the song finished, the crowd reappeared and time sped up.