Under the Stars

Chapter 17

~CHAPTER SEVENTEEN~

   The school intercom crackled to life, drawing everyone's attention. “Attention all students,” Principal Roberts' voice echoed through the halls, “please report to the auditorium for an important announcement. Repeat, all students to the auditorium immediately.”

   Curiosity buzzed in the air as students began to file towards the auditorium. Carl and I exchanged puzzled looks but joined the flow, wondering what could be so important.

   In the auditorium, a sense of anticipation hung heavy. Whispers and murmurs filled the space as everyone settled into their seats. Principal Roberts stood at the podium, waiting for silence. Once the room was quiet, he began.

“Thank you all for coming on such short notice,” he started. “We have some exciting news to share regarding our school's participation in the upcoming theater program.”

  Carl and I exchanged a glance, intrigued. This was the first we'd heard about any theater program involving us.

“Every year,” Principal Roberts continued, “our school has the opportunity to submit student projects for the theater program. This year, we had an exceptional submission that has garnered significant attention. It is my pleasure to announce that the movie ‘Beyond the Stars,’ created by Lyla Smith and Carl Stevans, has won five awards, including Best Cinematography, Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress!”

The auditorium erupted in applause and cheers. My eyes widened in shock, and Carl's face lit up with a huge grin. We hadn't even known our project was submitted.

“Please join me in congratulating Lyla and Carl on their outstanding achievement,” Principal Roberts concluded, stepping back from the podium as the applause continued.

Carl nudged me gently. “We did it,” he said, his eyes shining with excitement.

I nodded, still processing the news. “I can't believe it.”

   As we made our way to the stage to accept the recognition, I felt a mixture of disbelief and pride. We accepted the awards, the applause ringing in our ears.

   After the ceremony, a celebration party was in full swing. The room was alive with music and laughter, but I felt out of place. I sipped my drink, trying to blend into the background.

Carl noticed my discomfort and leaned in close. “Do you want to sneak out of here?” he whispered.

I looked up at him, relief flooding through me. “Yes, please.”

  With a mischievous grin, Carl took my hand, and we slipped out through a side door, our departure unnoticed by the crowd. Outside, the night air was cool and refreshing. Carl led me down the street to a nearby arcade.

  The arcade was a whirlwind of lights and sounds. Neon lights flashed, and the noise of various game machines filled the air. Carl and I laughed as we competed in racing games, shooting hoops, and trying our luck at the claw machine. For a while, it felt like we were the only two people in the world.

After several rounds of games, we stumbled upon a photobooth tucked away in a corner. Carl's eyes lit up. “Hey, let's take a picture,” he suggested.

I hesitated, but his enthusiasm was contagious. “Okay,” I agreed, smiling.

We squeezed into the small booth, and the screen prompted us to get ready. The countdown began, and we struck our first pose, smiling brightly. For the next shot, Carl put on a serious face while I mimicked his expression, both of us struggling to keep straight faces. In the third shot, we made funny faces, sticking out our tongues and crossing our eyes. For the final shot, Carl leaned in and kissed my cheek, catching me completely off guard. I blushed, but couldn't help but laugh.