Memories of Azura

The Proposal

Chapter 2: The Proposal

“But a careful character doesn’t always ensure success. Even the most careful character fails from time to time.”

Blinding flashes of lights from cameras greeted me as I stepped out of Tyler’s shiny white Audi.

“Ms. Connors, how do you feel about tonight’s event?” Stacy asked as she handed me her microphone. I didn’t expect to be interviewed but I had to accept the microphone before I’d be branded ‘rude’ for the rest of high school.

Frantic. Crazy. Exhausted. Nervous. Those words ached to come out of my mouth but I kept them in.

“Ecstatic.” I let out an appropriate answer as she nodded giving me a signal for continuation. “Aren’t we all are?” I added as I faked a convincing confident tone, giving her back the mic to avoid more of it.

She faced Alejandro on camera. “And that’s Ms. Lucy Therese Connors, assistant editor in chief and head of the design committee…”

I glared back at Stacy giving her a you-don’t-have-to-say-that kind of look. She just winked at me as Alejandro focused the camera on Tyler. I will definitely put her back to editorial cartooning when Avery gets discharged from the hospital.

Tyler and I walked to the hall entrance as she continued her ‘reporter fantasy’ coming true. “…with her handsome date, Mr. Tyler Mayer; principal Mayer’s grandson and last year’s homecoming king. Perfect couple aren’t they?” Stacy blabbed as she came out of earshot.

I was flushing red, pissed with Stacy’s being out of the script and the embarrassment she brought as she announced my status to the entire school. I hate it when my plans get to askew.

Tyler on the other hand had a huge adorable grin on his face that I halfheartedly wanted to erase. He’s always teasing in situations like this. He likes showing off while I keep us on a low profile.

We opened the wooden double door of the event hall turned ‘ball room’ as I was left jaw dropped with my staff’s obvious success.

‘Seventeen ain’t so Sweet by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus’ fills the room. This was the best among all the parties I’ve organized. I know I pushed the preparations to the highest all because this would be Tyler’s last in high school and our last together until I go to college to join him but I didn’t expect it to be this grand.

Black glittery paper replaced the white boring ceiling and the entire walls. It looked like we were inside a void space in the universe. Thin strips of cloth and strings of silver sequins connected the huge crystal chandelier to the four corners of the room. Tall lifeless trees were bathed with silver glitters as they stood hovering over the entrance, the stage and at each end of the navy blue carpeted isle.

Tyler’s hand tapping my shoulder and nudging me closer to him brought me back to my senses. He smiled, proud at yet another huge achievement like a father bragging about his daughter.

I smiled in response but I still had my eyes straying at the circular tables covered with purple silken cloths. At the center of each table was a crystal potion bottle with tall silver twigs replacing the plain traditional vase and fresh flower centerpiece.

We walked through the isle as I was almost deceived by the lamppost that I myself had designed. “They almost look real.” Tyler commented, shaking one of the lampposts as he hid the amazement in his voice. I shook my head in contrast with what I had in mind. A bronze lamppost stood every two meters as we walked towards the stage. Dead leafless shrubs lie proudly between each lamppost as blooming white roses were carefully inserted generously to accent them. Strings of silver sequins were also artistically knotted from lamppost to lamppost making an illusion of drawbridge handrails.