Beata's Winter Formal 2016

Walking into the Grand Hall, Pepper wasn’t so sure about this whole formal thing. Well, it wasn’t so much that she didn’t like socials like these, but usually the night ended up a dream come true or a total disaster and she didn’t really want to find out. Maybe I don’t need to stay for the whole thing, the girl reassured herself with a sigh, messing with her ponytail.

Tonight, she decided to wear a short, light pink dress with the fake, gem-like pieces of plastic that made it glimmer and shine. A silver bracelet too big for her wrist rested on her arm, annoyingly sliding around every time she moved. Pink flats covered her feet and although they weren’t the most comfortable thing she could’ve worn, it matched with the dress so she went with it.

Finding a chair near the outskirts of the dance floor, the Spring set her pink fleece coat on the back of it and made her way her way back to the edge of where people were starting to gather, not wanting to look like a total loner. Glancing around, she was surprised at how early she’d arrived, seeing the low number of people in the huge room and was it was a bit of a disappointment when she didn’t find anyone that she really knew to hang out with. Jake had a date, Louis wasn’t coming, and she hadn’t really spent the time to ask anyone else, much less be asked by someone else.

Letting out a sigh, Pepper stood alone, staring at the punch bowl that sat on the other side of the hall. She’d heard rumors about the bowl being spiked with alcohol and although at the moment it didn’t sound like a bad idea to have some if it happened to be spiked, Pepper decided to wait a little while. Maybe towards the end of the night.

~~~~~~

With Minami at his side, the two of them made their way to the winter formal, something Jake was excited and not excited for. Well, for starters, picking up his date had been a real… treat, or something like that. Let’s just say picking up a completely clueless girl isn’t something a guy looks forward too when going to a dance. But in the end, he’d somehow managed to remind her about the night they had planned without punching someone and here they were, finally at the formal.

The Autumn wore a simple yet classy dark grey vest suit, a white shirt, glossed black dress shoes, a watch (for no apparent reason), and like always, was groomed to perfection. Tantalizing cologne that everyone loved, jelled hair in just the right casual yet formal style, shaved face, a jawline that could cut glass. Some might even say he was a true work of art.

Being oddly early, Jake looked around, recognizing a few students, one being Pepper. Why he never went out with her was a mystery in of itself but maybe it was for the best. Yeah, she was sweet, but a little too cautious for his taste.

Being the class Vice President, he had to admit, the decorating committee did a fine job when it came to using his ideas for making the hall look not so… boring. Chandelier, dim blue lights, snowflakes everywhere, it was pretty cool. The Autumn still couldn’t believe that he’d become the class vice president and although he would always want to do the adventurous and more fun things in life, he knew he still had a "duty" to uphold, no matter how boring.

Looking around, Jake wondered if she would be here even though it was pretty unlikely, but anything was possible, including Jane showing up with that little dork. Clenching his fist, the student was filled with his usual anger but looking to Minami, he let his muscles relax. What was he doing, he’d decided to go with her instead, and wasn’t going to waste his life away trying to be his best for some girl who seemed to care less about his existence, he was going to have fun with or without Jane! Yeah, that’s right, Jake Baxter not obsessing over Jane Grey, what a thought!

But in all reality, who was he kidding, he’d never get over Jane and at this point he just needed to except the fact that this was how things might be from now on. Him fawning over her and her dismissing him like he was never there. What a way to boost his confidence, not like he needed it boosted though.

Trying to shake away the thoughts, he knew he needed to focus on the moment. Besides, he was with a date and couldn’t just ditch her for his fantasies, so he might as well enjoy the formal while it lasted. And who knew, maybe he’d get a little something extra at the end of the night…

Holding out a hand, Jake motioned towards her coat. "Your coat, madam," the tall student said in a playful tone with a grin on his face and took a small bow. A true gentleman.

If she could have gasped, she would have. But if she would have permited herself such thing, that to some might sound insignificant, even appropriate to entering the gorgeous hall, the whole thing would have been blasted away. Maybe not entirely, but some nearby people might get some torn clothes or rumpled hair, and she was not ready to take the blame. Jocellyn entered the hall quietly, her pink heels clicking on the floor.

Why did people name them heels? Maybe because it sounded awfully like Hell. They sure feel like it. she thought as she bit her lip from the uncomfortable sensation of the shoes. Why had she agreed to wear this dress... it felt so short, all black and strapless, with a huge pink bow tied to her hips. Jesus.

The relatively new Autumn stopped, quite lost in the middle of the masses of teens, and she was awfully unsure of what to do... she was here all alone and it was so depressing to go through. She began damcing slightly to the music playing, conscious of her strained face and shy moves.

~

Floriano was ready to be the showman of this party. He was wearing what others might consider the most ridiculous suit, like the ones people used to wear in old Engalnd. He pranced around with a huge smile planted on his lips and he went straight for the garden in the back, his face shining when he entered the paradise.

The blonde boy walked on the pathways, his ha ds on is pockets, now simply thinking and admiring the view. I wonder if Farkas would be here... he thought with a slight shade of pink to his pale cheeks, but tried to shake away the thought of the green-haired boy he had met only days ago.

She was one of the first ones there, not that anyone should notice. Evelyn just sat and watched at the snack table as the other couples started to filter in, a few stragglers and loners here and there... For her, she was in the same dress she'd worn the past few years, a plain navy blue slip cut just above the knees, black flats, a silver bracelet, earrings, the whole works. Her snowflake pendant still hung around her neck, like it always did, but at least at this time of year she matched the theme.

If you had one night to go all out, this was the night. She'd done her nails, done her hair, applied make-up like anyone would notice or care, even helped Eliza pick out a dress, and then she'd slipped away.

Evelyn grimaced. This was her fourth Formal, and her last one as a student, unless they decided to hold her back for her meager attendance. At this point, she only came for the punch. It was their little tradition. Last year, she'd watched half a hundred people sip from that punch, and more than half a dozen douse it with alcohol, all of them thinking they were oh-so-slick and oh-so-original. By the time the night was over, she wasn't sure there was any punch left. The Autumn prefect had done it too while her date's back was turned, and a couple weeks later, she was pregnant. She'd watched that happen. In a way, she'd let that happen. For whatever reason, she didn't feel guilty.

This was three out of four that she'd spent alone, but hey, that was fine, right? She'd start feeling better about it once she started drinking.

Now she was just determined to be the first one. This was her little farewell. Her goodbye. Her one last contribution to everyone else's perfect night. Evelyn poured out a bit from a hidden flask, a bit more, then a lot, upending it over the bowl. She stirred it in with a ladle and the deed was done.

Punch. Spiked.

The first thing she did was pour herself a cup. With her gift, off to the side, she could be a fly on the wall. Here was to one last Winter Formal. Evelyn knocked back the glass.

Bitter.

Logan walked into the infirmary in a tuxedo.

His dad was a short man. He had one tux, an old, slick black suit he married Logan's mother in, one he wore to every party, every formal of his own. When he died, there was a spat between the family as to whether or not he'd be buried in it or not. His dad's side fought vehemently for this, but his mom had different plans for it.

Logan fastened the cuff on the tuxedo, the bags under his eyes mostly gone, though cracks still evident above his cheeks. He didn't know how he slept. He'd felt the pangs of that afternoon all through the night. Nevertheless, he woke up to fresh sunlight and the comfortable aura of restfulness.

The boy cracked his wrist and massaged his neck as he stepped in. "Jane, you in here?" he called. She was on the brink of discharge, so he didn't know where she could have run off to. Perhaps she was already at the formal, whose lights had just begun to flicker through the Grand Hall windows as he walked through the December cold. Logan made his way further into the front room, his shined shoes tapping sharply across the tile, and caught himself in the reflection of mirror that hung on the closet door. He looked nothing like his father. Calmly, he smiled, and threw over the curtain to the rest of the facility. "Did you leave yet?"

ooc;; *cracks knuckles

Bunnies.

There. Were. Bunnies.

Ishiko wavered around in her spot, gently placing one hand on her chosen table, her free hand clenched close to her chest. At first, the newly-placed Summer had seriously considered avoiding the Grand Hall all-together for the evening. After all, it was a huge social event, and she'd hardly known anyone - besides some red-headed bully and a strange girl she'd share company with during the Thanksgiving banquet. Alas, the entire school wouldn't stop buzzing about the event. It was made out to be the biggest party of the year, nobody could seem to wait for it. Now that she was here and looking, she understood why.

She'd never seen any place quite so magical. It was outstanding, really. The room and everyone she saw walking about it were all so pretty. Thankfully, she'd manage to find an outfit that would allow her to fit in well enough. It was a simple cut gown, white and pink and polka-dotted, cut off just above her knee. Nothing like many of the dresses around her, but it would do.

And now, she was only focused on one thing...

Sending as much time with those adorable bunnies as she possibly could.

---

---

Opposing the room, close to the entrance, stood the miss Dakota Hall - who'd apparently had shown up far too early. She hadn't bothered to pay too much attention to the time or anything, and was worried she was late from the moment the lights were on in the music had started, but there was hardly anyone there yet. She was left with little other chance but to stand there and wait.

She wrung her hands together, anxiety creeping up on her with every passing second. She'd chosen to let her hair hang freely for the evening, resting past her waist, and choosing a dark red dress to match, the color of fine wine. It was comfortable enough for her, and loose. Lose enough to hide - ah, things. Kota bit into her lip, shifting her weight around and shooting yet another glance towards the door. She hoped she looked alright. Truthfully, even as close friends as they'd quickly grown to be, she'd been surprised when Will had asked her out to the dance.

How could she say no?

All she could do was hope she wasn't alone for long, or hoped she looked alright, or that everything else went okay... It'd be nice to relax just for one evening.

---

---

The punch was spiked. He'd heard rumors of it being bound to happen, but he figured hell - at an "official" school dance with the entire student body around on one of the most risque or "romantic" nights of the year, you'd think they would have things like this under control. But no. That sharp taste and warmth in his stomach was absolutely undeniable. He supposed he couldn't complain.

Liam brushed past the shape of some other girl, having poured himself a fresh drink and taking the closest seat he could find. He hadn't the slightest clue where his date might have been, and the Autumn dorms were far too chaotic to try and bother to hunt her down, especially since - lo and behold - she was nominated to be Queen of all things. He hadn't even known she was that popular, but he perhaps he shouldn't have been surprised about that either.

The red-head took a deep drink, warm eyes watching the entrance cautiously.

---

---

The echoes of music were muffled from outside of the Grand Hall, where he'd waited. Where Kayla had wound up herself for the evening, the young man hadn't the slightest clue. As he'd gotten ready, the Autumn had kept an ear out for the door, waiting for her to crash in her school uniform or a mess of jeans or anything at the last minute; but there was nothing. He'd figured they'd head on to the dance together, but the longer time stretched on, the more he was wondering if she was just bailing on him at the last minute.

Just the thought of it was bitter to him. Maybe, he wouldn't have minded just staying home with her, cooking up something to eat, watching pokemon in their ever-growing-pillow-fort (that had overtaken the poor dorm day by day), but that wasn't an option anymore. Somehow, he'd found his way again up onto the nominations for King, and he'd had an unspoken duty to make an appearance - with or without any company.

"Well, fuck..." Preston smirked to himself, holding up a small corsage in his hands. He wouldn't wait too much longer, if that shit really were the case.

---

---

Up until that point, most of his handy-work had been going on backstage. Making sure the sounds system were set up properly. Or checking to make sure all the lights were in order. All the decorations had been set out, messes cleared and put away. Even though it were technically up to the students to do most of the heavy duty when it came to setting up for the formal, as the new apparently Art Teacher, it was on him to play the part of manager. It wasn't a good idea to leave a bunch of gifted, unsteady teenagers around thousands of dollars worth of decoration and equipment. Who knew?

Jason had shown up in a formal tuxedo, but had slowly left bits and pieces behind or a mess as he made his way around. He'd already forgotten completely where he'd left his blazer, his sleeves were rolled up and his cuff-links missing, and his bow was long since properly tied. A shame, he supposed, but he hadn't need to worry for his appearance quite just yet, not until his dear friend arrived.

He'd had his own time in the formal spotlight, stealing the title of King not once, but twice for himself. It was nice to run in the background instead for once. As he finished the last of the wiring, Jace appeared from behind the stage curtains with a wide grin, wiping his forehead with the back of his arm and making a small leap onto the dance floor. It was hard not to admire their handiwork. They'd finished up just in time.

"Lucky for you, I didn't leave you behind," she answered, stepping out from the backroom as her doctor threw open the curtain. She looked dressed for a funeral instead of the Formal, a ruffled black dress and dark eye shadow. There was a white pad over her other eye, her missing eye, the color striking against the rest of her palette. An oblique smile hung on her lips as she made her way down the hall, every step stilted.

Tap. Taptap. Tap. Taptap. Tap. Taptap.

There was a third click at the end of every footstep, like a hideous third leg. They'd dug out a handsome old-fashioned cane out of the back for her a week or two ago, firm but slender dark wood collared by a thin silver band.

Would he have any second thoughts about this? "Don't you look handsome?" she said, glancing over the old worn suit. "C'mon. Let's not waste any moonlight." She'd wasted enough time in this infirmary.

Barry walked into the Grand Hall in the same clothes he wore for last year's formal. The clothes were looser on him than they were last year, however. He looked around at the Grand Hall and noticed the snowflakes falling again. He smiled and remembered everything that had happened with Cass at the previous formal. His eyes continued to dart around the Grand Hall and he spotted the fountain and garden that held all the little bunnies. They were so cute; he'd definitely have to go over there and pet them. The Autumn headed to the snack table and avoided the punch bowl. Even though he couldn't get drunk he didn't like the flavor of alcohol. He munched on a few snacks before turning towards everyone that was arriving, hopefully seeing a familiar face or two. Not that he knew many people still around at the school. Lamia was off somewhere doing who knows what, probably something stupidly selfless. Magic was... well, Mason was Mason. Barry would rather not think about his former best friend at that moment. Perhaps Devin would show up, though. And he didn't even know if Cassandra was even going to go, but he was hopeful.

---

The Summer girl made her way to the Grand Hall, unsure as to why she was even going to the Formal this year. Yet here she was, in a dress. She liked dresses, although she would never wear heels. They were too uncomfortable. Instead she decided on her regular converses because those were pretty much the only pair of shoes she owned that were at the school. She forgot to have her mom mail her some other pairs. Mikaela looked around at everything the Grand Hall had set up and spotted the rabbits almost immediately, making an audible "aww" as she watched them hop around.

---

Iceman was nervous. Very incredibly nervous. He was coming to Formal with Stephanie as his date. That's what made him so nervous. Not that he had to dress up, nor the fact that this was his first Formal. He ruffled his silvery hair with his ice hand and took a deep breath. He made his way to the punch bowl and poured himself a drink. He took a gulp and immediately scrunched up his face. The punch wasn't very good, but if it was the only thing available to drink he guessed that he'd have to either go thirsty or drink whatever the punch was. He set his cup down near the snacks and grabbed himself a few treats, almost bumping into the green-eyed speedster trying to reach the M&Ms. "Sorry," he muttered and awkwardly shuffled around the taller boy. Satisfied with the snacks that he had, Chris made his way around and waited for Steph.

---

Will strutted in with a grin and looked around at the barely-started Formal. Hopefully things would get more interesting as the night went on, as things were pretty boring at that moment. He grabbed a glass of the punch and took a drink, immediately knowing that it was full of alcohol. Just the way he liked it. If people drank the punch a lot, things definitely would get infinitely more interesting. Although, he wasn't sure how Kota would react to his drinking, especially with Joseph only weeks away from coming to live at the daycare in Rosebury. But tonight was not the night to worry about that. Tonight was a night to relax and hopefully forget any stress at least for a few hours. He then noticed Dakota standing a short distance away and walked up to her. "Hey Kota! You look nice," he said, smiling.

---

The boy with the bright red hair entered the Great Hall and immediately began to look for the boy he had a bet with, Declan. The Summer was not wearing a dress like he promised, at least not yet anyhow. He had to be sure that the boy didn't have a date first. Then he would change into the dress. His shoes stayed, however. No amount of money could get him to wear heels. Thankfully he didn't see Declan yet. Thomas breathed a sigh of relief and wandered towards the rabbits. He was a sucker for cute and fluffy things.

---

Piper nervously walked to the snack bar and grabbed a small packet of M&Ms. She had no idea what she was doing here, but some part of her wanted to get out and meet people. She munched on the candy and looked up at the snow and how it disappeared before it touched even the heads of the tallest students, including one of the people she had met when she arrived. Barry, she remembered. Another boy, even taller than the speedster, was wandering around. She didn't know his name, although she didn't really feel like introducing herself. He was pretty nice to look at though. After a moment staring at the tall boy, she noticed the man-made garden and also saw a red-haired boy make a bee-line for the rabbits that were hopping around there. She chuckled softly, the boy did not look like the type to like baby bunnies. The blue-eyed girl grabbed a drink from the punch bowl and took a sip, noticing the bitter taste. She didn't think the punch would be spiked since the teachers probably made sure it wasn't, so she didn't suspect that the bitterness came from the alcohol, but from some weird new flavor Hawaiian Punch or Kool-Aid came out with.

Walking to the Grand Hall from Brailynn's apartment was like walking to the gallows. Her stomach was a cocktail of nausea, butterflies, fear and anticipation, trepidation, a pounding heartbeat, reluctance, a dose of adrenaline, a pinch of self-consciousness, doubt gnawing at the back of her mind. She hadn't even stepped into the hall and it felt like the floor was lurching and spinning beneath her feet. All she had pushing her forward was that rush, swelling up in her belly to flood down her limbs, welling up in her cheeks and tickling at the roots of her hair. Tiny nervous sparks had popped and cracked around her the whole way there from Lynn's front door to Beata's front gates.

Kayla checked herself over one last time. Borrowed dress, borrowed shoes, borrowed bobbles. She felt like an imitation, an impostor, a wolf in princess' clothing. He'd see right through it if he could even recognize her like this.

Breathe in. Breathe out. Relax. She didn't feel any better. Kayla pouched her cheeks and blew out a deflating breath, heart fluttering, sparks crackling up her wrists, and stepped through the doors. Snow swirled down from the ceiling, dancing in the cool blue light that filled the Grand Hall. Just trying to stay balanced in her heels, she glanced around, all the dancers in this sea of people blurring together into the same leering face. Where was he? Had he even showed up? Snakes of lightning cracked around her as she worried at her hands, one step, two steps, baby steps into the Grand Hall, swiveling her head from left to right, searching the dance floor and the corners of the room and the punch bowl and the rafters and the tile beneath her heels and then she swept her eyes right past him and then there he was.

Her definitely-not-a-date. Her absolutely-never-a-date. Her... friend? Companion? Acquaintance? Roommate? Tormentor? Idiot. Moron. Douche. There were a hundred different labels that sprung to mind, but it was just easier to call him by his name. He was there, just a few short yards away.

"Preston," she called. Vest, tie, dress shirt underneath, dark jeans and casual sneakers. Fancy. He looked at home here. She swallowed, a crooked grin spreading across her face. Kayla forced herself to seal her lips together so he couldn't see any of her fucked up teeth. "Hey." The word strained in her throat, like she was struggling to inject volume into the greeting. Fuck, her mouth was dry.

This whole thing was stupid. Her heart leapt screaming off a plateau, but she kept her back straight and her lips sealed just like Lynn had coached her. She'd been through hell of a lot more terrifying shit than a fucking corny school dance. She could handle this.

Floriano shook his head for the hundreadth time, as if those feeling could be shaken of if you tried hard enough. They'd better be... he thought with a grimace as he walked the paths. He crouched low to pet one of the bunnies nibling at the pebbles on the ground, and he smiled as the fuzzy feeling grew inside him. Somewhre, somewhere, he was still a child.

With a smile of pride, and quite the forgivven thought of Farkas, the blonde charged with an unsuspecting joy to the punch bowl. Punch. Was. So. Good. He poired himself a glass without considering it twice. He downed it casually and wipped his mouth with the back of his hand. It tasted... weird, in a silly way. It made him smile dumbly, and he took another glass.

wooooooooo, this punch is sooooooooo gooooooood he thought with a dizzy head when he reached his fifth glass and hastily decided to stop whatever he was doing to himself with this drink. He left and paused at a table, where a girl with cute short brown hair and white and pink polka dot dress. He smiled and grabbed her wirst, a thing he might not have done if he wouldn't have been drunk. Probably. He couldn't even think straight.

"You, me, dance floor, now."

("You, me, bed, now." Yaoi
Said by the same character Flo is based upon <3)

Janya didn't have a date to the dance. Not that she cared, she just want to go to the dance and have fun! That is what it was about right? There was also the fact that she was the summer prefect, it was her job to watch over the other students, but tonight she wouldn't bother. It was about having fun, not following the rules.

The prefect wore a long dark blue dress that was layered, and poofed slightly as it went out towards her feet. It was a strapless dress that had a sweet heart neck line or she thought that is what it was called. Around her neck hung a heart shaped pendant. In her slowly growing blonde hair was a dark blue flower that matched her dress. She had silver earings that matched her necklace and a ring her mother gave her to tie in the accessories. She didn't normally dress fancy but might as well for tonight right? Well not full, hidden by her dress was a pair of converses. She had to be comfy in someway.

The summer prefect looked around at the growing crowd unsure of what to do at this point in time. To which that issue was shortly resolved when she saw the snacks.

---

Sophia didn't have a date this year, but as far as she was concerned that didn't matter. She was sure to catch someone's attention in her short red dress, and black heels. She had red studs to match her dress, and a black bow tied into her light auburn hair. Around her neck was a silver and black necklace to match with the black and silver bracelet sitting around her wrist.

A small smile sat on her face as she walked into the grand hall, her heels making clicks against the floor as she walked. Her lips were matte red to give off her a slightly sexier look. She was going to turn heads at this dance. She wanted to turn heads. She wasn't taken, and she wanted to grab attention of anyone taken or not. Maybe make some other jealous if she good. She was going to have fun tonight.

---

After Eve helped her pick out a decent dress, it was up too Eliza to do everything else. The few pieces of jewelry she had always matched with anything from what her mom told her. Her mother and mom, while always hovering, picked out some good things for her sometimes. Being blind for her life she didn't know what things looked like and relied on others to help her. She smoothed out her short blue dress, and grabbed her two bracelets and slipped them on her hands.

Next she sat down on her bed and slowly laced her flats around her legs. It was another thing she got due to being blind. The strings would keep her shoes to her feet, and she wouldn't lose them easily this way. She grabbed her headphones from the side of her bed as a comfort object. She didn't know anyone at the dance besides Eve. So it was going to be a bit uncomfortable for her. Once her headphones were in place around her neck she grabbed her cane and set out for the dance. Arriving a few minutes longer than it should have been, but she was here. She could smell the food, hear the music. Yes. She could do this.

---

Well the attire for this party was usual for Dorian. While the uniforms made them dress nicer than most students were use to they still dressed down in their free time. Due to how he was raised in his younger days he was use to dressing nicer on a daily basis. The only thing aside from his purple dress shirt, and black dress pants was the black vest and tie he wore this time to the party.

His black shoes tapped softly against the floor as he walked into the grand hall, his gift reaching for the shadows but he wouldn't let it. His hands were shoved into the pockets of his pants, while his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. Occasionally darkness or his shadows liked to wiggle their way up to his fore arms but he wouldn't let it and shoved them back to his back.

The summer made his way over to the punch and grabbed himself a drink but he didn't drink from it just yet.

After sometime, Dakota let herself wander around the room, watching all the couples as they huddled closely together at the tables or took quickly to the dance floor. It felt to her that half-the room were gushing over whatever date they'd brought a long with them to the formal, and the other half were busy lamenting over how utterly single they all were; and a fair share of both hadn't seemed to even realize that apparently someone had, already, went ahead and spiked the punch. There were a few who knew, the trouble-makers to keep an eye on, she'd supposed.

Speak of the devil, the Spring found her date, or he had found her. She hadn't even noticed him walk by. He was handsome as ever, as expected of the stupid, rich boy, and it was hard to not mirror that warm grin of his. "Hey Will," she said, tucking her hair behind her ear. "You - ah - do know that the punch is...?"

---

He was just thinking maybe now would be a good time to check out the punch bowl. If he were lucky, someone might have spiked it ten times over, much like last year. Preston's eyes fell to the delicate flower in his fingers, tapping it against the back of his palm thoughtfully, already throwing in a safety net to cover his own disappointment. There was still room for a good night. Free drinks, plenty of woman around, this place was a goldmine of opportunity - or so he told himself anyways. The young man had started to step off the moment he'd finally heard her familiar face.

It was stupid how fast the grin had cracked onto his face. "The fuck, Pikachu?" So, she'd decided to make an appearance after all. Preston shook his head, taking a slow turn around to finally see her. "What took you so long -"

His breath caught in his throat.

'Woah.' Oh, holy shit.

For a swift heartbeat, he couldn't be sure that he was looking at the right person, maybe he'd gotten into that punch early after all - or this faux moonlight were out and playing tricks on him. He'd never seen her so soft, or primped up, or ... shit, in a dress of all things, in a really nice dress, with really nice hair, and ... fuck. She looked good... She looked beautiful.

Preston forgot what he was going to do, or going to say, fumbling around awkwardly with his hands. "Kayla, you -" He fought back a small laugh, all words lost on him. Jesus, what was his problem all of a sudden. "You, ah, look like a girl." Maybe he should have stepped on up closer to her, he thought, and so he did. And maybe he should have stopped staring her down, but he couldn't bring himself to quit that quite just yet.

And here he'd showed up a pair of jeans and old shoes to be sure he didn't out-do her, or any fucking thing like that. "You're making me look shabby," he joked. He couldn't complain.

---

The girl clenched her first, dark eyes narrowing on a certain little fluffy creature close to her, just on the inside of the fence. She was going to do this. She was going to cuddle the ever-living heck out of that bunny! Determined as she was, taking her first few steps towards the small enclosure, she hadn't even heard the stranger come up behind her and grab at her wrist. Ishiko's entire body jolted in surprised and she whipped around, all flushed faced and wide-eyes. "N-Nani -" The words eeked out of her mouth. Her gaze flickered up, meeting the new boy's for a moment; tall and blonde and blue eyed. "Wait! I don't know how to dance!"

It didn't seem like she had much of a choice. All too late, she stumbled out onto the dance floor with him; confused and, ultimately, bunny-less. The girl clenched her fist, afraid to move or snatch her hand back, on the slight chance he didn't let go. She didn't want to her him or start a scene. The Summer narrowed her eyes, avoiding his looks - if he were even looking down at her. "You... stink of punch."

---

Brailynn had felt sad that she'd had to leave her experiment for the evening somewhere down the road, but the Guardian had had no choice but to rush ahead. It was her job to make sure that everything in the formal went smoothly, and they were in need for some last minute preparations. She would have loved to walk Kayla in, but there wasn't much else that she could do for her now - except try and keep an eye out, anyways.

The set-up was already complete and there was nothing else for the girl to do but be a concrete and honorable chaperone, watching dutifully from the sidelines... with a high-stacking plate of cheese and crackers on the table beside her, you know, just to keep up the energy for her oh-so tasking work. It was hard to not be nosy, watching all the young couples group up together, but she did her best to be as discrete as she could.

The girl whipped around at him and he flashed her a toothy grin as he pulled her out to the dance floor. No one could complain in this, right? She looked damn lonely and he was damn lonely... The music was pretty energetic, but even so, Floriano was determined to not let go of the girl. He flashed her a grin before spinning her around and pulling her close, thought not e ough to really make her uncomfortable, hopefully.

"It's easy, love." he smiled brightly as she complained, moving his hands to hold hers as he pulled them back and forth in the rythm. As they moved, he noted her words with an arched eyebrow, frowning after he moved one of his hands to his face to smell his breath. Kinda weird... he thought with a sight. Luckily, he was armed with all of the watermelon scented gum in the world, basically, and he did not hesitate to pop some into his mouth and begin chewwing on it with energy.

"Thanks for the observation." he smiled when the problem has been taken care of finally, and he could again spin carelessly with Ishiko on the dance floor. "So, what's your name, cutie?" he asked, blinking with his head tilted to his side, trying his best to look cute. He gulped slightly, as he could have easily been classified as a weak-drinker. Yup, alcohool was not of his taste.

A tilted a bit closer to her, smirking like an idiot.

The decoration was just as amazing as last year's formal. It also seemed there was an addition of bunnies, as many were huddled around the cozy animals as if they prefered their company to that of their peers. While it looked fairly tempting to play with bunnies the entire formal, Aleta found herself angling for something else to occupy her time with. As appealing as bunnies were, there is only so much petting she could do before she was bunnied out. If worse came to worse, Aleta could go spend time with her brother. Who mentioned that he had an old little kid tux that he would put on Shepard if she came by. It was a promising plan B.

The young girl smoothed out her dress, it was red in the outside plets and had poka-dot fabric on the inside pleats. For the most part the dress was red, six buttons lined up three in a row just above where the fabric fanned out at her waist. The dress had no sleeves, so she had braved the cold there. It wasn't too bad--she had flown to the hall instead of walked.

For the most part, Aleta snacked at the food, bag with only her phone packed away hung from her side. She enjoyed herself. Another eye was out for Devin, who she had gone with the year before. He hadn't been around as often, and found it tough as she found herself wanting to talk to him--to no avail. Forcing the thought away, she turned to watch others walk in, admiring the effort many have put into their appearances.

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Felicity strode into the grand hall with the utmost confidence in the room. Despite being new and knowing next to no one, she still beamed and twirled around. Her dress spinning alongside of her quick movements. It was a no sleeve orange dress that complimented her red hair, which was pulled up into a bun with to locks of hair framing each side of her face. A cream rose hair piece was added on the bun, and on her ears were star earrings that seemed to climb up the edges. The speedster seemed proud of herself--having gotten it done in under 10 minutes while using her super speed.

In a fit of her confidence, she strode towards the punch and poured herself a cup. Felicity then downed the first cup, figured it tasted pretty good, went for another--drank that--, and again. The oblivious girl did not even begin to think that anyone would spike it. So obviously someone was just good at punch making. Kudos on them!

Unknown to her, her body had already run the alcohol through her system. So her peers were getting drunk while she was getting merely hydrated.

She thought she would have learned last time.

Maisie more so stumbled into the hall than she did walk, covering her shoulders with a thin, transparent veil, a gossamer preview of the yellow dress she wore. Each step she made was a wobbly tap, and she came into a crowd of people, looking around for Liam with a mixture of misdirection and annoyance painted on her face. Why couldn't he have picked her up? He could have helped her walk in those god-awful shoes! What was his deal? The girl had a monologue of a spat prepared for him when she first saw him. That was, until she actually saw him. When she did, she took a deep breath, and she smiled, trying hard to keep her footsteps straight, almost running into a boy by the punchbowl.

"Hi," she said quietly, especially for who was speaking, the word fruitlessly gaining a hardness at its conclusion as she smiled awkwardly and licked her upper lip. She raised the frills of her dress in an unceremonious droop, her hands coming up only to return to her side immediately. "You like it?" Her mother had picked it out for her as soon as she'd heard that boy and her were a little more than begrudged friends. She fought the urge to twirl, as girls often did when showing off a dress, a slur of bad words running through her thoughts as the impulse came and left without action.

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"Why thank you!" the boy mused in his worst British accent, reaching out his arm to interlink with her own. He strolled out into the cold without even a shiver, bottling in his transit there, a walk spend with his hands massaging his arms. Now, he was stone. He kept sturdy beside the girl as they made the short trek to the hall. It took him a bit to pipe up a response, after about a dozen meters. "Oh, you look beautiful, by the way," he said with a shy grin, a grin echoing the dark hatred that seethed for himself in that moment. "I never pictured you being the type of girl to wear black, but it suits you." His footsteps crunched with the thin frost that seemed to cake the sidewalk, and he gripped her arm tighter to keep her from slipping.

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Lucy didn't know why she attended. She thought it would make her some friends, but after less than five minutes, she'd comforted herself by the punchbowl, sitting in a chair half-obstructing a tray of mini-muffins. This was her friend in only an instant, that and the punch, which she refilled her cup from at an alarming pace. Her dress was her old eighth-grade dance dress, one that miraculously fit her, but seemed dusty and old. Every now and again, the girl would look up from her screen in a momentary oggle, not so much at the people and the prospect of socialization, but more at the fantastic decor of the room. Of course, whatever loading screen that had come up in her game would pass, and so would her brief fascination with the outside world.