A white carriage sat to the side as a photo op. White curtains hung from the gym ceiling, with balloons tied anywhere the committee could find a place.

The dirty gym room looked like a princess ballroom, and I suppose we were the princess and prince charming. Jeremy and Brennan dressed in identical faux fur and devil horns and stood by the punch bowl, dumping alcohol, hoping no one noticed.

Even Easton was there, basking in the light, dressed as a quite sexy police officer.

Prom was undoubtedly no cup of tea. I preferred standing on the roof, staring up at the stars. Aaron and I stood in mud-soaked outfits and sneakers on opposite sides of the room. We barely checked on one another, but watched the students brave enough to dance. Either that or they were drunk.

Best dressed? Not even close.

Mr. Cannery, dressed in bumble stripes and bobbing foam balls, was also on the dance floor, either too drunk to function or a fool. I chuckled at his attempt at the sprinkler dance. His left hand caressed his left ear while his right hand fought with his foot.                 

Bright lights shine down from stage one. Our school bands played "Smells like teen spirit" by Nirvana.

As the music died out and Clarissa tapped the microphone, everyone's head swiveled towards her. It was time for the worst night of my life or a happy fairy tale ending.                                          

"Hello, ladies, and ghouls. Welcome to the 2019 Halloween dance. Can I get my prom queen and king candidates on the dance floor to join me on stage?" Her mic screeched, and she pulled away.

Here goes nothing, I thought as I approached the steps to the stage. I looked at Aaron, who looked just as nervous as I. Still, Brennan and Jeremy couldn't have looked more chipper as Cece and Jennifer's cat walked their way up the steps in similar catsuits, leaving Jessica behind as Samira followed in a retro-goth vampire costume.              

"Now that I have all my candidates, let us begin." Clarissa's voice bounced off the gym walls as she spoke. Cheering and loud thumping rumbled the gymnasium floor as she called up her first contender.              

"Okay, without further or do... let's get started. This girl likes to sing when she thinks no one is watching," Clarissa chimed, "She's a Capricorn, and she's available; here's Samira."                  

An ample light appeared from above, shimmering down on Samira. Samira blushed as her hands rushed to her mouth, and students chuckled as she ran off-stage.                                 

"Okay, guys. That's enough. You scared her." Clarissa joked as ceaseless laughter broke the sound barrier of my eardrums.    

"Our next female contestant is a fierce, sexy bitch with an attitude. Say hello to Cece Greenwood." Cece shuffled towards the stage as everyone hollered and screamed. I was disgusted as she blew a kiss to the audience.                

"Okay, Cece, that's enough. Back in line," Clarissa barked. Cece returned to her spot without swaying her hips like a cat. I was getting nervous. Sweat formed in places I didn't even know were possible, and I wanted to run like Samira, but knowing Aaron was on stage with me, I stayed put.

"She plans to go into veterinarian school for animals when she grows up; she likes long walks on the beach and warm hugs. She is Jennifer Clode."

Jennifer whipped her long, braided ponytail in circles as she staggered to the front. Brennan cat-called her along with a few others off-stage, but as she turned on her heels, she tripped as students gasped, but soon laughter replaced their silence.

"Looks like someone had too much punch tonight," Clarissa chuckled. Anyway, last but not least." I gulped. "She's mean, lean, or used to be. Nerd is an overstatement for this young gal. She's—"  

No, I thought. "Emily Hart. We have something special for you."                                           

Jennifer crawled back in line as the crowd faced a jumbo tron on the opposite wall. And I was hoping my feet would suddenly learn to walk again.      

An enlarged photo of me kissing Nick Gardner steadied in place over by the punch bowl. My cheeks blushed bright red as the crowd blew kisses in my direction. I was officially living a nightmare, My nightmare.

Aaron grabbed the microphone in a sudden burst of adrenaline. His words were soft and mighty as the crowd hushed and turned back to the stage.          

"Everyone," he spoke up. "Why do we need to dwell on the past? Nobody is perfect in here, and we all have something we're hiding."     

"Yeah, except a nerd alert," a random girl shouted, causing my cheeks to redden even more.  

"Yeah, she may have been nerdy in her past and occasionally the mean girl, but she's changed. I've witnessed it. I'm in love with Emily Hart."    

My blush turned into a petty rage, and I wanted Aaron to leave the stage. Clarissa pried the amplifier from his fingers. His cheeks reddened, and the crowd laughed again, and he panicked.  

"Whew, that was an impressive speech." She wiped fake tears as she brought the mic closer to her lips. "Okay, ladies and gentlemen, we have now run out of time for the male portion of our introduction, so let's move on to our crowning."

The crowd cheered louder as Aaron ran off-stage, angered and disgusted with students who chanted, "Aaron and Emily sitting in a tree, K. I. S. S. I. N. G." I wanted to run after him, but my feet were still immobile at the moment.                
"Now, ladies and ghouls, let me hear you scream," Clarissa chimed. The school yelled impossibly loud as she held the resonator to the crowd.      

"Ladies and ghouls, this year, we're crowning our queen last. Are you ready for this year's prom, king?" The noise of the crowd kept reaching new heights as she went on.    

"Now, drum roll, please." The crowd hushed as the drummer in the background tapped the cymbals.

Clarissa didn't waste time unraveling the scroll with the name of our king. Instead, the paper slid through her fingers like butter as she shouted the following words. "Ladies and gentlemen, with a unanimous vote, Aaron Chanson!"    

The crowd started cheering again but was quickly hushed by Clarissa as she pointed out the obvious. "It looks as though our king has left the ballroom so that I will hold on to his crown for him."      

"I'll gladly take that for him," Brennan said, but Clarissa shut him down.

"No deal, dude," Clarissa barked, snatching it from his grimy fingers.                                               

"Okay," she started again. "We've saved the best for last." She grabbed a scroll from a pillow off to the side.

"Ladies and gentlemen. In my hands is the scroll to your next prom queen. Are you ready?"    

The crowd rippled the floor again, only to be silenced by Clarissa. "Now, ladies and gents. With another unanimous vote..." I crossed my fingers as Cece stepped forward.         

"It's—" With such a poor attitude, Clarissa announced 'Cecelia Greenwood' as Cece snatched the megaphone. The crowd was quiet and confused, but as one of the senior jocks chanted Cece's name, the rest joined in but suddenly became silent as Cece cleared her throat.

"I," Cece touched her chest, "I am honored to be your prom queen. It was so random, and I am very pleased. Thank you all for helping me. I couldn't have done it with none of you..."    

Cece rambled on as the rest of us left the stage. I looked towards the gym's back, but Aaron seemed to have gone. My shoes squeaked as I walked out of the exit, but hot breath tickled my neck, and I spun around, suddenly bumping into a heavily drunk Jeremy.