Beata's Winter Formal 2016

An 'O' shape was made with her mouth and two eyebrows raised in reaction. "Oh! I completely forgot about that." She gave Mikaela a sheepish look, taking in a strand of hair and twirling it around her finger. "Is it bad that I forgot about that?" She asked, pulling her shoulders up into a shrug. "I guess I got caught up in looking for a dress." The younger girl did a twirl, and the solid red and polka dot navy blue and white fanned out in response.

---

---

Axel nodded along. That meant that Pepper had been there for the year before--it was her second year at beata then. Or something close to that. Of course she could have been there just before the formal. The dark haired teen was about to nod at her question but paused when her brother spoke before him. Pressing his lips together he gave his brother a sidelong glance. "Keep dreaming, Jax"

Thomas chuckled, but on the inside he yelled fuck. Declan really was as helpless as he thought the boy was. Maybe if the Summer was lucky the boy would forget about the bet they had. It was doubtful but it doesn't hurt to hope. "Of course you don't have one. You don't have very good people skills. But why not buy your date? Don't they have Escorts for that shit?" he asked Declan. Thomas stooped over and picked up a rabbit that had been lazily hopping around. A small squeak came from it's mouth as Thomas stood up. He began petting the baby bunny carefully and waited for an answer.

---

Will nodded his head, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah, something like that," he responded jokingly. Avoiding the two boys near the entrance to the faux garden and led Kota to the photographer. "So, should we do the typical Prom pose? Maybe Titanic?" The Autumn asked, chuckling.

---

Piper gave a small smile. "I'm Piper. Nice to meet you," she responded. "So, have you ever been to one of these Formal things?" The girl took another bitter sip of her drink and, like Peter, hid her distaste with a forced smile. "This punch is absolutely disgusting," she muttered under her breath.

---

Mikaela laughed softly. "Nah, it's not bad. I had just remembered myself," she replied. "Not that it matters, if I get the chance to see Shep in a tux I'm gonna ditch. Let Stephanie or whoever else was nominated win. I don't mind." And she really didn't. It was just a crown and a special dance or whatever. She watched the girl twirl in her cute dress and Mikaela smiled. "It's so pretty, you chose right," she told her.

Thomas was instantly met with a glare and pursed lips followed by a very dramatic eye roll and a hefty and melodramatic sigh. "That is below me. I pay people for homework, not human interaction," He muttered. "Besides, calling someone an escort is a euphemism for calling someone a prostitute. I don't roll that way. Besides!" A big grin spread across his face. "I don't need a date! I have a bet!" The grin quickly took a mischievous turn as he looked down at Thomas who was currently cuddling another bunny. Instantly, all of the build up lost its luster. "God, please put the rodent down..."

---

The mention of her makeup made Richard chuckle as he looked down at her, not even bothering to notice the way it was messed up. Even if it was a mess, he couldn't have cared less. He only wanted to keep her with him, but he couldn't resist a quick pick at her. "Well if you feel that way, I can certainly leave--" He was cut off, however, when she finally agreed to dance with him. It was funny. For some reason, he wasn't expecting her to say yes so now he had to bullshit his way through this dance. He knew for certain it was going to be awful but what better to define their relationship than a stupid and goofy dance that was going to end up as a hilarious disaster? With a big grin, he gently took her hand and led her to a better spot on the dance floor, pulling her into an elegant and gentle embrace before taking the first few steps to a song that was at least kind of slow. It was pleasant, but he certainly found himself staggering over his own feet but he wasn't doing too terribly. "I will apologize now for my awful dancing, but I wanted to try this year. The formal's been... too boring in the past I think," he told Lynn with a goofy smile stretching from ear to ear.

She almost choked on her punch. "Thanks, ass," she huffed into her cup, a flare of electricity winging up over her shoulder. Why did she bother going through all that torture again? The question kept hemorrhaging in her skull and she still didn't have an answer. Kayla hid her mouth behind the lip of the glass when he kept talking, an uncomfortable squirming in her stomach at the weak as fuck... compliment? The vaguest, most half-assed kinda compliment you could ever give a girl at a dance, but hey, it was a compliment... "Thanks..." she murmured. "I guess."

Kayla knocked back the bitter red, her head swimming, just as an excuse not to talk.

---

An accident. Sure.

Every word was another bullet ripping straight through her. They'd met on her first day at Beata. She'd just been so terrified of making a bad first impression and the first thing she did was bump into him and splash him with her fish tank... He brought back her knife when she forgot it on the bench with Lotte and Ethel and Montare, he played piano in the studio with her and Jayden, he held her in the hall and she'd kneed him right between the legs. How long did she avoid him after that? A couple weeks? A couple months?

"Well, for one thing... Could you tell me your name again?"

Running in the rain, staying the night in his bed, wearing his shirt while he slept on the floor. Back then, she'd figured that was the end. The peak. Nothing would ever top that. Nothing would ever come close to that. Flying into Glacier, catching her first fish in the lake, a drunken arm wrestling contest. That night was still vivid to her, so clear in her head. She'd never forget that Spring Break for the rest of her life.

Her snowflake necklace. That was the best birthday she'd ever had. Valentine's, the first time she told him she loved him, their duet on the piano. Winning her bear at the fair. That thing was still resting on her bed, the closest thing to another body to cuddle with at night. Evelyn couldn't meet his eyes. Evelyn couldn't stop staring. All she could think was that she wanted to splash another cup of punch across his fancy dress clothes.

"Just promise you won't back out, Snowflake."

One word. One name. It tore a hole open in her throat. Her heart leapt, a swell of elation that welled up in her chest before it all went crashing back down like a wave, sinking her deeper than she'd been before. There wasn't any hint in his voice she was anything else except a stranger anymore. Coincidence. Funny how it all worked, how he was still the same exact Jace that'd come and gone and he'd left her behind. Something stung at the corner of her eyes, a lump built in her throat.

All of that for him was erased. All of those years. She'd built herself up around him. She was his leech. He was her everything, her life support, the one pillar in her life she'd latched onto like a parasite. Those years were everything to her and he'd been able to move on with his life like it was nothing.

This had all backfired, hadn't it?

Would she have felt better if she just hadn't said anything? Or had she been expecting all this?

Another voice jolted her out of her paralysis. Eliza ripped her back to reality, and suddenly she and Jace weren't the only two people in the room anymore. Evelyn blinked, barely even comprehending the words. "Yeah..." she murmured, nodding. "Y-yeah..." Was that an answer for both of them, neither of them? She just grabbed at another glass and poured herself another drink, a subtle shake in her wrist making the punch ripple.

---

A half-remembered conversation about dancing with Parisian girls floated at the back of her mind, but she couldn't remember anything that'd passed between them in that cafe. Was it that long ago already? "You don't know me well at all, do you?" she asked, her face as still as it'd been since they'd walked into the Grand Hall together. "I dance. Or I did." Jane held out her hand, letting the cane rest against the table. "I believe the man leads. Don't drop me."

She could stand upright for a song or two, maybe.

Maisie pressed her lips together so hard, they seemed to cave in on each other. He was right, as much as she didn't want to go into it. Formals were about dancing, and though she'd been adamant with her mom about not participating in that part, she saw the lighthearted glares she got in response, the small smiles of  'Uh huh, yeah, sure.' She glanced down at her heels as well, feebly scuffing at the ground. Pain shot up the ball of her foot. Yikes.

"You're going to have to hold me, then," she said, more to the ground than anything. She would not have been able to say it unless she appeared that way, distracted, nonchalant. She took another drink, the liquid tepid in its pang, but still warm going down.

________________

"Oh." Logan smiled, putting his drink on the table he loitered by, laying out his tuxedo jacket next to it. He accepted her hand gingerly, walking backwards towards the dancefloor. "I guess I didn't. Hi, I'm Logan."

The song that played over the giant speakers was upbeat, a swing kind of song, the kind New Orleaners played with golden brass instruments with shades and tophats. Logan let their tether extend, moving further from her but keeping their hands together, grinning confidently. Suddenly, he snapped his wrist, pulling her closer, taking her waist with his left hand, keeping her hand with his right.

Perhaps those dance lessons his mom made him take were good with girls.

He began to lead the dance, making sure to move his waist, parting his hand from her own and joining it once again, taking charge on the upbeat dance.

____________

Despite his assurances, Lucy didn't grab any more, making sure to leave her cup at the table. He could, but the thought of getting drunk still left an uncertainty in her head. She was a little sporatic when sober already. The girl clasped her purse, instead moving to conversation again, trying not to look awkward watching him drink. She still found someone to talk to, neigh, a boy, and there was something to be happy about in that.

"What do you play?" she asked. Instruments always fascinated her, mainly because she didn't have the patience to pick one up. Two weeks of failed flute lessons in Seoul taught her that much.

Dakota shuffled into the garden behind him, passing by too others and gazing around at the small bunnies around their feet. They were adorable, there was no denying that. "Titanic?" She asked, raising her eyebrows as she nestled up close to him into the frame. "Doesn't the guy die in that?" It was such an old movie, and she hadn't seen it in years. It wasn't until the girl behind the camera had waved for her attention did she become acutely aware of exactly how close the were.

Ah, a couples pose... That was right. Well, not that they were exactly a couple, but so long as they were taking the picture - she might as well play the part. Plus, it might have been a little funny to catch him off his guard. "Just put your arm around me or something," the red-head muttered, turning her gaze towards the camera while the photographer counted off. At the corner of her eye, she could still make him out though, with his ruffled hair and tie, just slightly crooked; a soft faint glow of light behind him that made her cheeks tint red, ever so slightly. The moment the camera's flash went off, she reached up on her toes, planting a kiss tenderly against his cheek.

---

The dirty blonde laughed under her breath, brushing her hand up his arm, over the stuff band of his cast. Again, her gaze fell, wondering what happened to him, wondering what the hell could have been so fire that it kept him away from home so long, away from everyone. But now wasn't the best time to think about that, she reminded herself yet again, in that moment there was only him and her and this cheesy song and the dance floor beneath their feet. "You haven't stepped on me yet," Lynn mused, gazing up at him and resting her arms gently around his neck as they swayed. "I'd say you're doing pretty well."

She missed him. She missed his lame jokes and his dorky modesty. She missed that goofy smile on his face. It was hard to live completely in the moment, or forget how red and puffy her eyes were still from the stray tears, but one thing was clear and certain to her above all else; she loved him, and she was going to keep loving him as if she was going to lose him again. She couldn't bare to think anything else. ;DDD

Brailynn reached up on the tips of her toes, catching and holding his gaze in hers for a moment before letting her eyes flutter shut, pressing her lips to his.

---

God, he was fucking retarded.

Preston clenched onto his glass, mentally scolding himself as he practically mirror the girl beside him, raising the sweet liquor up to his lips. An alright job. That was weak, especially for him, and he wasn't sure what exactly was worse; the fact that it was thrown out so damned poorly or that he'd ever tried to say anything at all. Whatever was spiked into the drink must have been too damned strong, he was already starting to feel light-headed and all-over the damned place. For a second, he considered slowing down, but found himself taking another deep drink all the same.

He let his gaze travel around the room, looking for a distraction, anything would do. As his gaze settled on a pair at the tables just on the edge of the crowd, he nearly found himself choking on his drink. "Shit, have you seen some of these people?" Pres leaned aside closer to her, nudging her casually in their direction. One man, like others, in a dress shirt and formal pants, and a vest that was the pinkest fucking thing that he had ever laid on, covered to the brim in shimmering sparkles - he was pretty sure he dazzled more than half the girls in the room. It didn't take long for his gaze to hook long onto another, near the bunny arena, or whatever. "Or Count Dracula over there?"

Pres' crooked smile reappeared. "I think I under-dressed," he mused.

---

She'd gotten so quiet all of a sudden. Was it something he said? Jason's gazed ticked back toward the glasses abandoned on the table. He reached for his own, holding it loose as his finger tapped in rhythm against the smooth edge. His warm smile remained glued to his face, ready to say something, anything, when the right words came to him, if they did. Before he had the chance, it seemed a friend of hers had found them. He was quick to see her then, golden eyes darting up to meet her own. The new girl's gaze was empty, however, and seemed to stare straight through him.

Maybe she hadn't noticed herself, but he had seen how quick her smile had disappeared the moment she realized he was there. "You must be new too?" He asked, looking her over. Or maybe he just didn't recognize her and was behind himself. He couldn't imagine an art class would be the most productive place to send a blind girl to. The blonde had to pause and make sure she wasn't carrying a drink as well. His poor shirt could only take so much. "Call me Jason, Miss." There was hardly any room for formal introductions. "Your friend and I just..."

His voice was quick to trail off, expecting to see the shape of the young woman next to him, where she'd been only a moment before, he could have sworn... Jace turned aside towards the punch, picking out the blue dress and the warm hair out of the small crowd around the toxic drink.

What did she say her name was? He narrowed his eyes, brushing his hand through his hair, rubbing deep at his temple with his palm. "Eve?" The name slipped out from under his breath, playing back at his memory - offering some self-assurance that he'd heard it right. It'd only been said a few moments ago.

He let out a short sigh, a weary smile taking him. "We had a small run-in." Jace eyed the freshly filled glass in her hands, pulling his shirt out, which had long-since started sticking to his skin. At least now, this Eve girl had someone to watch out for her... Well, not literally, but...

---

Liam glanced down into the last of his drink, swirling the punch around in his glass and watching it typhoon along the edges. Even as she hid her face away, staring down at the ground between their feet, it was all-too easy for him to imagine the stark red color across her cheeks. "I can manage that," the young man said. With one last tilt, he raised the drink up, finishing up the sweet with a few final gulps. If the girl wanted to get anywhere close to finishing her own, she had hardly any time left to do so before he moved; urging it out of her hands and onto a free table beside them.

"Lets get it over with then," he muttered. With the slightest hint of a smile, he took her hand in his, weaving the two of them through the small dining area and over to the pristine dance floor. She could have complained all she liked and it wouldn't have stopped him too much, shifting his grasp on her hand around and holding out his free arm, giving her room to step in once she was ready. It was a slow enough song playing, so it should have been easy to dance a long too, even for a girl in stilts like her.

They looked nothing alike but if they said they were brothers then she wasn't going to argue. "That's cool," she replied with a smile. "Having brothers... it's definitely something else," she giggled. Having thirteen brothers wasn't something most people had to live with and if anyone knew what brothers were like, it was definitely her. "But you two seem like two peas in a pod, and I bet you always get along," the girl added sarcastically, knowing no siblings ever fully got along, no matter how close they were. Her and Louis were best friends and even they had their moments.

Eugh, he loathed that he had to do this, but all of the other teachers were out or busy for the night; none of the guardians seemed all that ready to prepare an announcement, and none of the student body was easily picked out of the crowd. He was left with little other choice.

Soon as the song died down and the crowd began to settle, Ethan hobbled onto the stage, a few envelopes in hand and crowns at his side. "Can... Can I have everyone's attention?" He coughed into the microphone, tapping on it a few times and waiting for the ruckus to settle down. One by one, the dancers paused in their dancing, the photos were halted, and many paused in their eating. The only people he couldn't quite make out were those in the very back, crowding behind the famous punch bowl. Of course. "Attention! Thank you..."

Again, the newly named teacher cleared his throat. "It's time... to announce the winners of this years Winter Formal. As you all know, our new royalty, once announced, are to take their crown and lead the school in dance for the night. And so with that..."

"Our King and Queen," He tore his thumb under the envelope, ripping it open and revealing the small card inside. "Preston Andrews and Pepper Ashina!" As the crowd cheered on, he made work of the other announcement. "And our Prince and Princess: Christopher Allen and Stephanie Hawke. Congratulations!"

A new, slower song passed over the crowd.

ooc;; let the posting roll on. enjoy the rest of your night.  ♥

"Nah, not that I can remember," Peter went on, trying very hard not to gag at the taste of the rum. He would have liked to go to more dances back home, but his parents had never liked the idea of allowing him to. The prospect of him being 'tainted' by 'sleazy' women and alcohol had been disgusting, in their eyes. "I went to a private school, and they didn't hold dances." A lie, but preferable to the truth. The truth sounded far more embarrassing. "I took classical dance classes but never went to a dance. Stupid, huh?" Though every fiber of his mind screamed at him not to keep drinking, Peter sipped his punch again.

---

Anthony sat down on the edge of the table, his eyes wandering over to the stage where the band was situated. "Guitar." He smiled, a little wistful. "I formed a stupid band with a couple of my buddies. We didn't get very far, but it was a fun time-waster while it lasted." He tilted his glass back again. "I would have liked to go somewhere with that, but it didn't.. Ah.. work out. Shit happens." He shrugged and sighed lightly through his nose. Was this really how he was going to spend his whole night? Being nostalgic and vague?

Before he could speak again, an announcement began from up on the stage. The winners of the formal royalty titles. All meaningless names. Lord, Anthony really didn't know anyone here. Following the announcement, the energetic music slowed to take on a softer sound, far better suited for chaste partner dancing. "And this is the part where I usually left middle-school dances. I thought I'd catch some sort of horrible disease if I danced with a girl. I was a dumb kid." Hell, he was still a dumb kid.

His fingers felt a little tingly as he finished off his glass and reached off to the side to fill it. He'd always been a bit of a lightweight, but it didn't bother him. The faster he got drunk, the better.

The night had come as quite the surprise to Stephanie. She had heard word of the amazing event known as the "Winter Formal" but her attendance hadn't even crossed her mind. Not until she was told about her nomination as "Princess", and Christopher's cute proposal that they went together.

The blonde was a little hesitant as she left her dorm and headed to the grand hall. She couldn't say she was proud of her prep work for the night, yet she did manage to leave somewhat content with her appearance. A lacy, navy blue dress she had found hung up in her dresser, a light dash of makeup, small dark heels, and hair as straight as could be. It wasn't perfect, but the Summer felt comfortable.

There was an underlying feeling of familiarity as she walked down the halls, watching the scenery dim and fairy lights beginning to decorate the walls as she grew closer to her destination.

Her short heels clacked as she entered the dance. Frosted - it was the only word she could use to describe the scenery. The girl's eyes gazed up at the slowly falling snowflakes that seemed to fade the closer they came to the students. It brought a smile to her face before her attention was brought back to the crowd in front of her. She wasn't here to admire the decor. Even if it was amazing. She was here for Christopher.

She swiveled her way around the dancing couples. Her times seemed to have been mixed up, judging by the already sweating bodies and aching feet of the dancers she made her way past.

Some time had gone by with no luck. Just as she began to give up hope for finding Christopher, and a small pit of anxiety began forming in her throat, she backed into someone and stepped on their foot. Spinning on the spot, her mouth formed an apology but froze when his shiny white hair came into view. Her mouth was stuck open as her amber-red eyes blinked at him. "A-Ah," she managed before brushing a lock of blonde hair behind her ear and glancing away. "I'm so sorry about your foot, Christopher..."

"But I am glad I stepped on your foo--" Her voice was cut out by the ringing of a microphone. A boy called out, grabbing the attention of the hall to announce the winners of the royalty ballot.

Stephanie clapped along with the crowd after the boy's speech before realizing her own name had been called in the mix. Her hands stuck together and her eyes widened before looking frantically at her friend. "We-We're the..?" Dumbfounded, she stood awkwardly with her hands still frozen together as the clapping subsided and a soft music replaced the noise. Her mouth wouldn't move but her eyes stuck to Christopher's with an obvious plea for help.

Lucy didn't know the names that passed over the speakers as awards were announced. She sat gingerly next to him on the table, looking out at the boy delivering the announcement. Was he suggesting he was going to leave? Did...did he want her to go with him? "I never went to middle school dances," the feathery-voiced girl said, it flickering on a crackly laugh. "I usually just stayed home, smerfed some League, or, err, played some video games." She felt like an old lady correcting herself, like someone who hadn't made it her entire life.

"My boyfriend made it so I didn't need to go to those." He was drinking pretty heavily. Lucy smiled and coughed to a clear throat.

___________________

As he walked Maisie out, a wobbly boy walked onto the stage, hastily finishing his announcements. A slow song soothed its way over the crowd, and suddenly, the girl's knees were shaking despite her shoes. She let herself sink into him, unable to move comfortably any other way, pressing herself into him and swaying awkwardly with the music. The more she buried herself close to him, her hand gripping his shoulder, the other his opposite fingers, the less she had to see his face. She couldn't. She could look this boy straight in the eyes and call him a 'faggot' with a firm glare, but this was too real.  Her blonde hair, once intricately parted and groomed, was now a clump, the air heavy in the hot, crowded room, and in her own head.

Maybe she should have drank more.

"Ah fuck," he muttered. "I was hoping you'd forgotten about that. But a bet's a bet. And no, I will not. This bunny is now mine. I'm naming him Snuffles." Thomas defiantly held the bunny in his arms and it's nose twitched and sniffed at the Summer's arms, finally settled after being picked up. "I'm gonna hurry, the winners of royalty are being announced soon and I don't want to miss that," he added, regretfully running for the dress he had stashed away in a nook he had found in the closest bathroom. He quickly changed into a red dress that matched his hair, but he kept his shoes the same because heels would be ridiculous. Running quickly back out to Declan, his face turned bright red. "This is so stupid why did I make this bet?" he added as he got back, crossing his arms.

---

Will laughed and shrugged. "The dude might've died I don't know I haven't seen it in years," he said. When Dakota had told him to put his arm around her, he figured a way to do that so it wouldn't be so awkward. He looked at the camera and smiled, waiting for the picture to be taken. He noticed that Kota was standing really close to him and it made him warm. Just when the camera's flash went off, he felt Dakota move upwards and plant a soft kiss on his cheek. Immediately his face flushed and he became flustered, which was strange for the Autumn. There hasn't been many girls to make him flustered like that over a kiss on the cheek. He looked at the girl and realized that their picture would forever be her kissing him and that caused butterflies in his stomach to flutter slightly. He wasn't sure what to do, but then the announcements for Winter Formal Royalty came over the speakers. He didn't have any time to do anything else. He grabbed Dakota's hand again and with his face still slightly pink he led her to the main area of the grand hall.

---

Piper chuckled. She had thought as much about the boy. She raised an eyebrow when Peter mentioned having taken classical dance classes. So he could dance, but the school he previously went to didn't have dances? That's very odd, but she didn't question it much. Then a voice came over the mic and the winners of Formal Royalty were announced. She clapped for the winners, not knowing a single one of them, then turned back to Peter as the music began. She finished off the cup she had been drinking and tried her best not to let a sour look cross her face. "You say you know how to dance, why don't you show me on the dance floor? I'm not a bad dancer myself?" she asked, unsure why she had asked him to dance with her. She had barely met him. But she shrugged it off and waited for his response, curious to how he would respond.

---

Turning her head to face the stage when someone called for everyone's attention, Pepper waited in silence, curious to hear who the king and queen were. Probably no one she knew so it wasn't of that much importance that she listened, right? Wrong.

Upon hearing her name, the Spring's face grew bright red and although it was something most people would be ecstatic about, she'd never felt more embarrassed and confused in her life. Her? The formal queen? She never thought she'd see the day. Well, then again, there was a first time for everything. Looking to the two boys that she'd just met, she gave a smile, feeling somewhat bad that she had to leave them. "Well, I hope to see you again," she said softly. With that, Pepper walked up to the stage, her silver heals clicking against the ground and grabbed her crown from the announcer, praying that she wouldn't trip or do something stupid on her way back to the dance floor.

Standing near the edge of the crowd, she stood in her short pink dress, fidgeting with her ponytail, and listening to the slow dance music as she looked around for this Preston character. Having made her way around the school more than enough times she could've sworn that she knew who this guy was but the fact that remembering his face was a bit fuzzy told her that they didn't know each other too well. Continuing to look around for the guy, Pepper tried her best to spot him out of the crowd but had no luck.

Got the crown and can't find my dance partner, just great.

Dork. Jane clenched his hand like she was hanging off a cliff, following him out to the dance floor with an uneven tempo of stiff and uneven steps. Slow dancing was slow dancing, nice, simple, there wasn't much to it other than what you'd expect, but at the height of the dance like this, every song had an electric sort of energy. Warm. Glowing. Kicking ass in DDR was all footwork; there was more nuance and intangibles to something like this. She couldn't dance as well as she talked about dancing, but what mattered was the chemistry, the energy, staying animated. Not falling on her face in these heels. Not thinking too much about it.

Don't think about thinking about it, or not thinking about it.

It started out simple enough. Arms length, some rudimentary swaying and bobbing, matching his grin, and then the music swelled, and then he snatched her close, and then he was leading her, and then she was rushing to keep up. A laugh, a genuine laugh, bubbled out from her mouth. "Logan," she said, voice cutting with mock chastisement. "You're showing another side to you."

This was the most exercise she's gotten since she'd woken up. She could feel her blood flowing, her face flushing, that buzz, that rush, like a runner's high. Little by little, she fell into her rhythm. Little by little, she forgot the rest of the room, forgot to worry about falling, forgot not to think not to think. She'd forgotten how good it felt just to move. How long had it been since she danced? Not DDR with Logan, not slow dancing with Jake last Formal, danced like this? Years. Years...

She was breathing from her mouth by the time Ethan interrupted them, cutting over the music. Jane slowed to a stop, turning her head to the stage, her hands in Logan's.

"...Pepper Ashina!"

Her smile curdled like sour milk, for one flash, one window, and then it was back again with a heavy sigh. "Of course. I suppose that makes us both losers." The hollow ache behind her bandage seemed to sharpen. For God knew what reason, she'd never contemplated losing... Jane laced her fingers through his as the music cooled, slow, steady, simple and sincere. "You can slow dance too I take it, Fred Astaire?"

---

Shit, like she hadn't noticed. Some of these dresses were fucking eye hazards. But she was another one of the clowns, wasn't she? The make-up felt thick against her face. "And what? I'm just alright compared to them?" Kayla grinned into her cup and took a swig, and another, before she just tilted it back and finished off the rest of the glass. This kind of thing, shit talking everybody else, this was more her speed. Maybe it was the music, maybe they'd just gotten over the first awkward hump, but she felt about two pounds lighter. Even a bit cheery? Just a little bit? Fuck, she didn't want to say she was enjoying this for what it was, but maybe it was just relieving to have gotten this far. Back in Brailynn's apartment, it felt like she was sitting on needles the whole time, watching the clock tick by. After tonight, she wouldn't have to worry about any stupid shit like this un̸ti͘l̡...

A few loose sparks cracked over her head. A loose laugh escaped her lips as she poured herself more of the punch, knocking it back. Drinking it was a good enough excuse not to talk, when she didn't know what to say, and shit, tonight it felt like she couldn't find any of the right words. "No, trust me. You're fine. Great. Just don't show up in a pink vest, alright? Ever." Or the pirate outfit. The words just came slipping out with every sip. "I think I like this look on you better." Another laugh. Another long drink.

The scream of a microphone. Electricity snapped out like tiny snakes with every tap Ethan made against the mic. They'd never really talked much back in the infirmary, but it was still surreal thinking about him as a teacher. Even in all his classes, she just couldn't take him seriously. One day he was just some other guy and the next he was Mr. Riley. What the fuck was she supposed to think of that? She'd almost forgotten about king and queen and all that stupid crap until he started the announcement, and then she was picking up her head, a lead weight filling her chest, with the sudden, sharp, and oh-too-horrifying realization that, oh...

What, she cared who won?

His name was the first one thrown out. Heads snapped their direction. She glanced up at him, and suddenly, it felt like she should be edging out of his way, out of his spotlight, away from his applause. Standing next to him was... too close to the action, she guessed. All of a sudden it was like he was someone else. Preston Andrews, Formal King. Jesus, give her a break.

"...Pepper Ashina!"

Kayla looked into her punch. She couldn't describe her reaction, or the unexpected swirl of emotion, except that it was... well, a reaction. "Hey, congrats," she finally said, fumbling for the words and forcing out the first thing that seemed right to say. She'd voted for him too, she guessed. So that should've meant she was... elated? Relieved? Something like that, but she couldn't pick out one distinct feeling except confused. Conflicted. Hey, she guessed that meant she'd just been rooting for him to lose. That would've been... hilarious? Or something. Funny to see him all bitter... "Don't let it get to your fat head." If he did the crown wouldn't fit.

Insulting him took the edge off.

Electricity flared above her head. It was easy to spot Pepper among the crowd even without all the gawkers and applause, glittering and pink and a standout from the rest of the room, a far cry from the roaring dragon she remembered from the Summer Tournament. Kayla raised the glass, wearing a feeble lopsided smile. "Long live the king," she droned. She'd just be... there. "Looks like you're wanted." Go on, get the fuck out.

So was this her cue to slip out? He deserved to spend his big moment and the rest of the night with the queen. There wasn't any place for her there except to swipe snacks off the table. It wouldn't be fair to him for her to sit there and creep on him from the other side of the room all night, or stay attached to his hip while he was at the center of the party. Kayla took another drink, suddenly isolated from the rest of the room. Out of place. That discomfort, that niggling bit of knowledge that she didn't belong at something like this, it crept back into the back of her mind.

At first, Declan was surprised that Thomas was upholding his side of the bet. He watched as the summer got up and walked to the bathroom only to return in a red dress that fit him rather well considering he was a guy. However, the spring's first instinct was to burst out laughing, which he did in a very loud manner to begin with. After a few seconds, however, he composed himself and covered his mouth as the last few giggles escaped. Never once had he thought that he would ever be at a formal with another guy in a dress, but here they were! "Wow," he said, shaking his head in near disbelief. "You actually went through with it. I have to say I'm impressed!" No matter how hard he tried, Declan just couldn't conceal the toothy grin on his face. But it was then that the guardian on the stage caught his attention. He paused for a moment, looking up at the stage as they announced the king, queen, prince and princess. It was nothing that he was really interested in so as everyone clapped, he clapped along but quickly turned his attention back to his "date," his massive smile returning with a small chuckle."I won't lie. You look pretty gay. Especially with the bunny."

---

A small smile appeared on Richard's face as Brailynn mentioned how he wasn't doing all that terribly at dancing. She had a point, but he still couldn't help but be a little nervous that he was going to step on her. After a minute, though, he finally just stuck to swaying. That seemed to work and it still had the intimacy of actual dancing. As her arms traveled up to his neck, his grip around her waist tightened, pulling her closer to him and closing the already small gap between them. He had opened his mouth to say something but as he caught her gaze, he simply shut up. Those beautiful hazel eyes drew him in; he couldn't look away... not that he wanted to.

Something about her just felt so genuine as they simply stood there swaying in the middle of the hall, yet part of him couldn't believe that this was actually happening right now. In some ways he felt like this was all a dream that he was going to wake up from any second and, in fact, he was still back in Germany imprisoned forever in that hellish lab. He almost believed it too had it not been for the gentle touch of her arms around him and her warm and tender lips as she reached up and kissed him. Richard welcomed it openly and hadn't realize how much he starved for her affection until just then, holding her as close as he physically could, trying to hold all of her all at once.

Unfortunately, their little moment was interrupted as he heard someone walked up to the microphone, calling for everyone's attention. Pulling away from her for just a moment, he smiled as he reached up with his good hand and tucked some loose strands of hair behind her ear. Then, he looked up long enough to listen to Ethan announce the winners of the formal and clap a little as they walked up on stage. He hadn't even realized that they had been there long enough to announce the royalty but no matter. After the energy died down again, he turned back to his beautiful girlfriend. "You know, I put in so much work to dance just for you. Couldn't you see the moves I was busting on the dance floor?" he asked her with a small laugh. "In all seriousness, though, I think I'm about done with this whole 'formal' thing. How about... we take this back to my place?" he asked in a sultry voice with a sort of smooth expression. Part of him figured that she would just laugh which was also just fine with him, but to top it off, he did probably need to go. The longer he stood around the more the pain medicine began to wear off, and he was most certainly going to need more before his head started splitting open from the pain.