This Prom Queen is winning out of spite.
Since the dawn of internet video, the AV Club of Van Buren High has hosted a reality show for twenty lucky seniors to compete for the coveted titles of Prom King and Queen. Self-imposed social outcast, Aspen...
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After our argument, Ky had gone strangely, refreshingly quiet about Asher. There was peace in the Faust house through Thanksgiving as he and I rekindled the friendship we'd once had, using our free nights for Mac and Cheesy Movie Night. Despite that, I could still feel the tension as his eyes drifted over every time I picked up my phone.
The day after Thanksgiving, a crowd of seniors packed into Ben's house under the pretense of a wicked party. Our next event would be tonight. I hadn't stopped worrying all day about how far things would go. It had been a couple years since I'd heard anything about a drinking contest, and it seemed to stop after Brady Smith almost died when I was in eighth grade. At least, that was what the rumors had said. The drinking contest was always kept hushed, so any real news always came through a game of telephone.
Walking up Ben's front lawn, Asher intertwined his fingers with mine. I shot him a curious glance.
"It's mostly for show," Asher told me quietly.
I could let myself enjoy something so innocent behind those motives. Especially when eyes continued to travel to our clasped hands as we entered the house and wove through the party. The first person I recognized was Ky. We waved to each other across the room. When he spotted my hand in Asher's, he let his eyes linger for a moment before turning away.
"Wow, you trained him well, huh?" Asher asked.
"I guess that fight shook him up a little," I agreed. "I know it hit me."
"Aspen!" Liv screamed from somewhere. She came running up behind me with Christian in tow. "Is Mister Tall Dark and Handsome your date tonight?"
Before I could tell her the truth, Asher announced, "Yep."
So, I threw on the best dazzling smile I could muster. "Hopefully the first of many."
Liv raised an eyebrow, a suggestive smile on her face. I would tell her the truth later, when less people were listening.
"Well, Asher, do you mind if I steal your date away for a couple dances?" she asked.
Lifting my hand out to her, Asher said, "Not at all. You guys have fun." He threw an arm around Christian's shoulders. "I'm sure we can find something to do together, isn't that right, Buddy?"
Christian pressed his lips together and shrugged. "I mean, if they're going to be anything like at Homecoming, we could always watch them again."
Liv and I shared a look, both rolling our eyes.
"Do you want to dance like we're in church?" she asked me.
"Yeah. Come on, guys, Christ is watching," I added.
"Bummer," Asher replied. He turned his attention to Christian. "You ever hit up the smokers' lounge?"
"I've been known to dabble once or twice." Christian swept his hand out in front of him. "Lead the way."
