by Jenna Bernel
"Whoa! Sorry dude," Dale said, sliding to a stop when he realized he had just interrupted the most incredibly monumental moment as we both jumped backwards and out of each other's arms in startled surprise.
"What do you want?!" Evan demanded, completely miffed as he picked up the boutonniere box from the kitchen counter and chucked it at him.
"The group’s gettin' antsy in the limo," Dale said, easily catching the box that was thrown his way.
"Fine, we'll be out in a minute," Evan answered through clenched teeth.
"Hey, take your time," Dale encouraged, with the kind of smile a guy gives his buddy when he thinks he's about to score. Then he backed out of the kitchen to leave us alone. I sensed, however, that the moment had passed and Evan’s hefty sigh confirmed it. He dipped down and gave the tip of my nose a light little kiss, as if he were saying, to be continued.
"Ready?" he asked and I nodded, feeling disappointed and relieved all at once. Evan was my best friend, and once we ventured down that other road, there'd be no turning back. He took my hand and we met Kate and Bennet in the living room, where everyone had gathered to snap a few more pictures.
"Completely worth it," my dad complimented me as he hugged me goodbye. He was referring to the cost of my dress and agreeing that it was worth the extra expense. I nodded to my mother one more time, and she gave a sad little wave like she wished she could get a hug too, but I needed more time. Our parents all stood at the front door and I was glad Missy took Conner out to dinner, so she wasn't standing there too, as though she were part of our family. They waved, and snapped more pictures while I quickly climbed inside the limo to escape the cold now nipping at my bare arms.
"Let's hit it," Dale instructed the driver, sitting in the backward seat, closest to the front. The driver nodded and closed the partition before starting up the limo. Evan and I scooted in next to Kate and Bennett, naturally landing us straight across from Alec and Harper.
Harper wore a white dress with a layered, tulle skirt that looked more like a wedding gown than something for a high school dance. A hot streak of anger punched me in the face when I realized how Alec appeared like her groom. But as that thought occurred to me, I saw Alec sitting next to her, wearing a ruby satin mask, which was the exact color of the bottom of my dress. I knew it wasn't an accident. It was his silent way of communicating whom he'd prefer to be sharing the evening with. If we all stood in a crowd, anyone would have guessed that I was Alec’s date, and Harper was Evan's, judging by the way our contrasting colors matched the other. If I’d known Harper's dress would be white, I would've picked a different rose for Evan to wear.
A private smile played on Alec’s lips as he scanned my features, admiring me or the mask he provided that now covered my eyes, I didn't know. Evan put his arm over my shoulder and held me closer as he noticed Alec's eyes were riveted on me. I shook off his penetrating stare, catching Harper glaring in my direction. I hoped it was because she was jealous of my gorgeous dress and didn't notice Alec's silent exchange with me.
Dale dug into the cooler sitting next to him, instead of attending to his date, showing Alicia where his priorities lay as he lifted out a bottle of champagne. Jake began passing clear, plastic glasses down the row and we all took one as we settled in for our ride to the city. Dale popped the cork and the girls erupted in a collective scream before picking up the bottoms of their dresses from the floor, while trying to shield them from the champagne’s spray. Dale held it over the cooler until the overflow subsided before he passed it around the group.
We all held up our filled glasses at once, as Dale said, "Here's to a night to remember," and we toasted. Those were surprisingly nostalgic words from a guy who usually only cheered "to getting laid," at our dances. We all exchanged pleasantly shocked glances as we enjoyed the company of friends and clinked our glasses together.
Raising the cup to my painted red lips, I, once again, caught Alec’s eyes. A night to remember he mouthed in a whisper that only my vamp hearing could pick up, as if he were initiating a private toast between only us. I swallowed down the sparkling beverage, and tried to ignore the darkness that strove for release from within me. I had to stomp out whatever he managed to conjure when he looked at me that way.
Chapter 23: Masquerade
When we arrived at the hotel, it was already dark. The tall building was illuminated in the night, but as the clouds passed over, the top was hidden from view. We all stepped out, taking the arms of our companions for the evening as we entered the modern, black and white lobby. I could already tell some of our group members had imbibed of their fair share of champagne, so the after party in the hotel room promised to be interesting, to say the least.
My stomach soured, however, when I remembered it was Alec and Harper's room we'd be partying in. I knew it wasn't my place, and I didn't care, and I made sure Alec knew that too; but I couldn't get past the kiss we shared when he first entered my dream. It still lingered there, like it was only yesterday, and haunted me. It was like the black hole of nothingness I fell into last night when Alec said I Cloud Crashed his dream. When he looked at me, it was as though he could see something I couldn't, and nothing I said or did seemed to change what he saw when our eyes met. I trembled into Evan's arm, burying the dark cloud once again a little deeper, and felt thankful he stopped after just one glass of bubbly. He sturdily led us into the ballroom after handing over our tickets.
I looked up at him and his smile provided a different kind of safety that I welcomed with open arms. He looked ungodly handsome when he flashed me that familiar and confident smile. I clutched his arm even tighter and decided I wouldn't let go for the rest of the night.
Dark blue lights beamed on the fabric-paneled walls, and bounced off the crystal chandeliers, giving the room a dark, starry night quality that felt like magic. The music boomed from the DJ stand situated on the small, purposely erected stage, and tables draped with white linen surrounded the dance floor. The floral centerpieces and aromatic candles only added more romance to the evening.
The song playing over the speakers, however, was in grand contrast to the décor. The top forty dance pop tunes were clearly chosen by the DJ to appease the teenage mob. Evan took my hand from his arm, guiding me to the dance floor. He turned to face me when we squeezed into a spot and placed my arms up around his neck before moving in closer. We bobbed back and forth to the rhythm and I found myself letting go of the vampire, as well as the Nephilim. Putting it all aside tonight, I simply wanted to be a high school senior, savoring her last Homecoming and oh-so-fine date, who must’ve read my mind because he held my waist more tightly with each dance step.
*****
"Isn't it hot under that mask?" I asked Kate. The feathered layers that splayed outward covered a good portion of her face. She stuck her tongue out and fanned herself, silently answering my question. We were sitting at one of the tables where our group migrated, whenever they took a break from all the dancing. The temperature must have risen ten degrees once all the bodies were packed in. The guys left and were hitting up the snack buffet, getting us some much-needed refreshments.
"Are you having fun?" Harper asked from across the table. Alicia sat next to her, grinning snidely like the show was about to begin.
"Yes, and you?" I asked nicely, trying to be polite even though I hated her more than ever these days. I was so fed up with her phoniness and bitchy remarks.
"I think it will be much more fun in the hotel room for me after everyone leaves," she replied, as if making a promise.
"Weren't you specifically instructed to play nice?" I asked, hinting that I knew about her little deal with Alec, and her face visibly froze with surprise. You could almost hear her teeth grinding over the music. I swear, even wearing her white bridal gown, she could have passed for a vamp at that moment, she looked so menacing. I felt like she was about to leap across the table and start snarling and foaming at the mouth like a rabid pit bull. I stood up and Kate jumped up with me, walking away f
rom her before it got any uglier.
"Why are we friends with her again?" Kate asked, hooking my arm.
"I think it's more of a ‘friends by association’ thing," I answered and Kate nodded her agreement.
We started walking toward the guys at the other end of the room. From where we were, I could tell that Evan and Alec kept as much distance between them as possible. When we reached them, gathered by the punch bowl, Evan was holding two cups and he handed one to me, like he was just about to bring it over. I took a sip and instantly felt better about the sweltering room.
The song ended and instead of another one beginning, Principal Gerhard appeared on stage before the DJ handed her a microphone. She looked conservative in her pants suit and didn't bother wearing any mask. She probably hated attending these dances with so many bare shoulders and backs confronting her at every turn, and being forced to watch hormone-fueled students bumping and grinding on the dance floor, tarnishing her purebred prep school with every bump of their hips, and no detention slips available for her to issue.
"Hello, Mapleton Prep. Thank you for coming to our annual Homecoming Masquerade Ball. If everyone could gather round, I'll be announcing this year’s Homecoming King and Queen!" she said, trying to convey her enthusiasm, but I could see her eyes darting over the sea of students, which, at her elevated level, offered her a clear overview of every amalgam of ensemble she heartily disapproved of.
All of the students slowly walked toward the stage, following her instructions, but it seemed our group collectively chose to stay put, satisfied with our view from the back. I took one more sip of my punch and set it down on the table. Evan looked at me with a deflated smile because we both knew what was coming. I moved closer to him, leaning my back against his chest as we faced the front.
"And this year’s Homecoming Mapleton Prep King is…"
Evan brought his arms around my neck and kissed the top of my head, as if to soak up as much of me as possible before he had to touch his “Queen.”
"Evan Clark!" Principal Gerhard announced loudly as everyone cheered. Evan reluctantly unwrapped his arms from my shoulders and half-jogged up to the stage. Kate looked at me while continuing to clap, and shrugging. Her pressed-lip smile seemed to say, "go figure," and I sighed, clapping along with everyone else.
The DJ handed Principal Gerhard the plain gold crown, and she reached up to place it on Evan’s head. It’s reflection gleamed in his dark hair. I found our table from across the room and saw that Harper and Alicia were standing up and clasping each other’s hands. They were practically vibrating with excitement in anticipation of one of them about to be named "Miss America." I rolled my eyes and returned my attention to the stage.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this year's Mapleton Prep Queen is… Harper Smith!" Principal Gerhard waved the slip she read in the air as if to prove its validity, and everyone heard both Harper and Alicia shriek. They hugged each other dramatically while they bounced up and down before Harper scurried up to the stage to claim her crown. Principal Gerhard gingerly placed the gold crown on Harper as the crowd roared their cheers. Just then, I wondered if she deliberately wore the white gown so she'd look like a royal princess when they named her Homecoming Queen.
Alec came up beside me, politely clapping like he was at the opera. He stood close enough that the coat of his tuxedo brushed across my shoulder. It was such a simple touch, but he was a Nephil-vamp, meaning: keen and swift, with cunning reflexes and to whom no movement was ever by accident. I looked up at him and he met my eyes, giving me a grin like he knew something I didn't.
"And now, as we prepare for the King and Queen's special dance, we ask that their dates join us on the floor," Principal Gerhard said. Alec's face bloomed into a smile when my eyes went wide.
I was so focused on controlling my gag reflex over the chosen queen, I completely forgot that it was customary for the dates to dance alongside the crowned couple for a portion of the song, before cutting in, the indication for the rest of the attendees to join in the dance. I swallowed hard as the entire crowd now gathered onstage turned their heads collectively toward our group at the punch bowl, fastening their eyes on me with an expectant look.
I searched for an exit, but the entire school had already singled us out. Alec clasped my hand, hooking it in his arm, and began to lead us to the floor. I looked at Evan onstage, who bristled and stiffened at Alec's gesture, keeping his eyes locked on us, and not even realizing that Harper was literally pulling him by his coat. She practically dragged him down the steps as the crowd parted to give us room. Even though I was wearing the mask, I had no intention of saving Alec a dance, like his note requested. It was dangerous, and he was dangerous.
We reached the floor at the same time Evan and Harper came around the front of the stage. I gave Evan an apologetic look before turning to face Alec. The music began to play Taylor Swift's "Romeo & Juliet," which I found so obnoxiously cheeseball for the King and Queen's dance.
Alec cupped my hand with his and raised it up to shoulder-level, wrapping the other around the small of my back as he stepped in. I huffed out a breath and slapped my hand on his shoulder, but looked in Evan's direction and refused to meet Alec’s eyes.
Evan smiled when he saw me looking his way, and I grinned back, letting him know I too hoped this would all be over soon. Harper pulled his chin sharply back into her direction, as if she were appalled to find him looking at me with such longing while they shared their legendary and honorable dance. Alec began to move with the beat and I followed him, which mimicked a waltz.
"You're lovely," Alec said quietly. His words would have been completely muffled by the music if I didn't have my ultra-sensitive hearing. I looked up at him and pursed my lips as if to say, "Don't go there."
"I already knew you'd like the mask; what about the vase?" he asked and my eyes turned to slits.
"I smashed it to pieces," I replied, crunching my hand into his collarbone but he spun me under his arm before it could snap. I was, once again, facing him as I came out of the twirl, while continuing our dance.
"But I made it with my own two hands," he said, looking like a sad puppy dog while leaning in closer. Then I stepped back, arching away, until everything looked upside-down to me, but his hand remained firmly pressed into the small of my back and he slowly brought me upright.
"So what now? Am I supposed to swoon?" I asked with a huff, stepping outward to walk away, but he pulled me back and clasped our hands tightly as I swooped under his arm in an inverted turn, ultimately spinning right back to where I started.
"You're supposed to say ‘thank you, Alec’," he smirked and our eyes locked onto each other’s for a minute.
"Thank you, Alec," I said, but made it sound much more grateful than sarcastic, which was how I intended. We rotated in circles as the light cadence swept our steps and I found myself fixated on his eyes. Fully framed by a red mask, they drew my eyes like magnets and I couldn't look away.
"What happened last night?" I asked, feeling somehow more familiar. The dance, the give-and-take for something else seemed just out of reach.
"You came to see me?" he asked simply and it felt like the iciness between us lessened slightly.
"Why?" I mouthed, unable to find my voice.
"Let me show you," he said huskily as his eyes screamed with passion. We instantly stopped our movement and were standing completely still. I felt a darkness creeping in that was becoming increasingly powerful. I was trying very hard to cast out what Alec saw in my eyes. He shook his head almost imperceptibly, silently telling me to fight it.
"May I cut in?" Evan asked, but not really as a question. He stepped in swiftly, taking my hand from Alec's.
"Of course… Sorry," I said, clearing my throat as the haze behind my eyes fell away. I realized that Alec and I failed in our role to cut in during their dance, so Evan had to taken it upon himself to flee from Harper without my assistance.
"You looked like you were having fun," Evan said with palpabl
e jealousy.
"Not at all," I groaned, like Alec was really aggravating me, which he was.
Evan smiled, looking satisfied, "Yeah, me neither. Until now, that is," he revised, before dipping down and kissing my shoulder again, while sending another shudder through me. When he recovered, and was standing up straight again, I moved my hand up the back of his neck, slowly grazing my fingers over his scalp. He closed his eyes, stepping closer until our clasped hands were pressed against his chest. I turned my cheek to rest my head on his shoulder, ignoring the entire student body watching us, and waited for our next move.
"I'm really glad you're here with me," Evan said, resting his lips on top of my head.
"Me too," I said honestly. Just at that exact moment, Alec appeared in my line of sight, and as he danced with Harper, something struck me, hurting me. I quickly shut my eyes and swayed to the music while concentrating on Evan's heartbeat, in sync with mine.
Chapter 24: Homecoming
When we walked into the hotel room for the after party, it was already packed to capacity. I caught a shimmer of what I thought was Kate's silvery dress and she held her hand up in the air showing me she saw us too. She waved it back-and-forth so we could follow it like a beacon. Evan grabbed my hand, moving bodies out of the way with the other hand as he pulled me along, easily navigating the huge hotel suite situated on the top floor. We reached the spot where our group carved out some space and it looked like Dale made sure he was right next to the drink cart and his cooler from the limo.
"Hey, everybody, it's our king. Kowtow to the master," Dale joked. He took a sip from his cup, but he sounded like he was insinuating "the master" had nothing to do with Mapleton Prep’s school spirit. Evan reached across the open circle, flicking the bottom of Dale's cup as he drank it and sending the beer sloshing onto his face. Everyone simultaneously laughed, but it was short-lived. Dale shook his head out like a dog with drool-covered jowls, sending beer droplets flying onto everyone around him. We all stepped back at once and Jake, who unfortunately, got the brunt of it, punched him in the kidney with enough force to make Dale stop and reflexively cough.