AI CLUB'S SECRET | AN APPLYFIC [Closed]

Chapter 44- Final Stage (Part 1)

NOTE: This chapter is quite long, but please try to read it all! As it stands, there are only three more chapters left of this book after this one.

Lena locked the storage room door, before turning to face Ben.
"Why didn't you call me?"

"I didn't want to worry you!
I can handle this myself, Lena!", defended Ben.

"No, I know you can! I just... we reconnected after all these years.
I don't want to lose you again", said Lena.

The normally confident girl suddenly felt like a million people were staring at her.
"You're... things have just gotten better since I saw you again."

"What are you talking about?
You're a Professor at the University. That's been your dream
since... forever!"

Lena frowned.
"I know I come across as this confident, sassy, funny, beautiful-"

"-Alright, alright, we get the picture!"

"But... I don't have many close friends here.
People here are just so serious.
I miss the days when we were in Uni. It was stressful, but atleast I had people who were there for me."

Ben frowned. He reached out for Lena's hand.
"Hey, you've got me.
And I'm not going anywhere."

Lena smiled and leaned into his touch.
"Thanks, Ben."

"And you know... you weren't wrong about being confident, sassy, funny and... and beautiful."

_____________________________

Quinn's blue dress acted as a
cape- rather fitting for someone like Quinn. She had fantasised about this day for so long.
But now, something like prom just seemed so... futile.

That didn't mean she wasn't going to make sure Maya and Yukishiro had the best night of their lives though.

Quinn knocked on the bathroom door.
"Come on, Maya!
Azzy's waiting for us."

"I'm coming, I'm coming!", exclaimed her best friend.

A few seconds later, Maya stepped out of the stall.
With painters at her house, and Quinn's brother having a study session at her grandparent's house, they had to make due with putting on their dresses in the school toilets.

A pale blue dress hugged Maya's waist, though the flowing material didn't outline her body shape completely.

She hugged her bare arms, clearly uncomfortable.
"H-How do I look?"

"Like you've got frostbite", said Quinn. "What's with this?", she questioned, copying Maya's arm positioning.

Maya sighed.
"I left my jacket at home.
I was planning on hiding in the corner so-"

"-I think the f*ck not!", interjected Quinn.
"This is your big night and you're gonna spend it on that dance floor!"

Quinn rummaged through her bag and revealed a black jacket adorned with sequins.
"That dress is beautiful, Maya."

Maya smiled gratefully and took the jacket.
"Thanks.
It's my Mum's."