Starlight by Muse is playing when we walk into the community center, which gives me hope for the night. The angsty teens are standing in one corner, probably arguing over who's going to spike the punch. The whole place is dressed to the nines, and there's a glittering disco ball hanging from the ceiling. The room is crowded, full of glittering dresses and expensive tuxedos, and boys shoving their faces in their woman's chest. I can barely hear myself think over the music, and I look to Jesse, who looks relaxed, despite the situation. Hes not even high. So far, no one's looking at us like creatures of the deep. Everyone seems to be enveloped in their own little world, their own little bubble, not wanting to ruin their nights with rumours and homophobia. Hold the Line by Toto comes on, and Jesse drags me to the dancefloor. I can't dance for my life, but something tells me he can. Right now, I wish to be high, so I can make it through this, but that's not an option. If Jesse's pushing through it, so should I. I feel something brush my leg and when I look up from investigation, Jesse has disappeared in the crowd. Brandon's in my sights, and I can tell he's looking at me. The music is too loud, and I can't think. It's switched over to some pop, hip-hop bullshit, something about sweater weather, a completely ridiculous topic, and Mickey's sucking on her date's neck. I wonder where Michelle is tonight. Probably trying to steal my man. I know he wouldn't dare, but I'm still anxious, and now, I can't breathe. I turn around and bump into someone, and quickly move to dodge them, but they grab me, and wrap their arms around me. Thank God, this is Jesse.
"Where the hell did you go?" I ask, my voice too quiet, so he surely didn't hear me over the screaming teens and the music. My head hurts, and I'm so sweaty. We've been here ten minutes, and I already want to leave. I start to feel Jesse's hands shaking, but he forces them to stop. He gets close to my ear and tells me that someone spiked the punch, and he hands me a flask. "I stole the alcohol." He adds, and I quickly take a swig. Instant relief. He drinks a bit too, then puts it in his pocket. "I don't want to forget this completely." He kisses my forehead before unwrapping his arms and disappearing again, leaving me alone, in the middle of a terrible crowd. Where the hell could he be going? In a flash, he's beside me once more. When he starts dancing, that's when I wonder if he's drunk already. I think I remember him telling me how lightweight he is. I decide to ask him if he's wasted, and he swears he isn't. He only took one sip, he promises. "Come on, baby. Loosen up." He adds, spinning me around. What the hell. It is prom, right?
The time comes for the announcement of prom king and queen, and the entire room falls silent. Standing behind me, Jesse wraps his arms around me, resting his chin on my head, as we all give our attention to the school principal, who's giving a whole bunch of rambling about this contest. First, as expected, he announces prom queen, which goes to none other than Michelle Peterson, the only girl who ran. All the other girls were too afraid to run against her. Then, the lights still dim, someone whispers something to the principal and hands him a card. He unfolds it, and he looks surprised. "Prom King goes to..." by then, I've stopped listening. "Of course," I sigh, knowing that he said Brandon. However, nobody goes onto the stage, but I do hear Brandon scream in agonistic anger. Wait, what did the principal say? I didn't hear him. Suddenly, I realize all of the eyes on me. "Is Matty here?" The principal asks, scanning the crowd with a spotlight. What the actual hell is happening. "Go on, baby." Jesse whispers, giving me a gentle shove. "Go get your crown." Reluctant and confused, I climb onto the stage and stand next to the principal as the aid places a plastic, costume crown on my head, and the whole senior class and their dates are staring at me in disgust and shock, and I feel sick to my stomach. Who the hell did this? I look at Jesse, who seems just as surprised as I am. Michelle pushes by me in disgust and seeks her boyfriend for the first dance thing. This cannot be happening. The middle of the dancefloor clears, and a spotlight shines down. I slowly descend the steps and rejoin Jesse as With or Without You by U2 starts playing. He's holding out his hand, expecting me to dance this with him. I accept the invitation, trying to block out the rest of the people around me. I move slow, but it's happening. I rest my head on his chest as we rock back and forth, the rest of the couples engaged in slow dance. I'm shaking madly, and I feel sick to my stomach. That's when I lose it, and I throw up on Jesse's shoes. The whole fucking world stops. Everyone stops dancing, and is now staring directly at me, hunched over, pale as a ghost. Jesse just stands there, eyes closed. I run. As sick as I feel, I sprint through the lane that has opened up, and I run out of the building, and collapse on the grass just before the parking lot. I'm sobbing, holding my stomach. Faintly, I hear the doors of the building open and close, and I can sense footsteps, frantic ones, coming towards me. I'm pathetic, lying on the grass, staining the tux with sweat and tears, and grass.
