PROM NIGHT

VIOLET


“Isn't she the whore that was seducing Ryan”
“Why is Ryan with her instead of Evelyn?”

“Oh my god, he’s even hotter up close…”

Her dress is actually nice, she looks so… different. Evelyn’s going to flip.”

Whispers drifted around us like smoke as Ryan and I stepped out of the sleek black Bentley. His fingers wrapped around mine, and the moment we crossed the threshold, cameras started flashing, capturing every inch of the scene. My heart pounded, a mix of thrill and nerves, and as the flashes grew more frequent, I felt his grip tighten around mine as though he’d sensed it too.

I took a breath, forcing myself to lift my gaze. The gym was almost unrecognizable, transformed into a starlit wonderland under the theme "A Night Under the Stars." Silver and blue lights cast a gentle glow over everything, filling the room with a hazy, dreamlike aura. Silver streamers glittered as they cascaded from the ceiling, twinkling like distant stars under the soft lighting. Students milled about, some with dates, others in groups, but everyone had stopped, just for a moment, to watch us enter.

The ambient music pulsed softly in the background. Couples swayed in unison, laughter filling the air yet, the attention seemed to be laser-focused on us, or maybe it was just my imagination.

I’d never been one for the spotlight, and tonight it felt as though a thousand tiny lasers were trained right on me.Maybe I should have thought it through before agreeing to be Ryan’s date. I glanced up at him, wondering how he could seem so unaffected by it all, but he just stared straight ahead, his expression calm and unreadable. This was natural for him—the spotlight, the whispers, the endless attention. None of it fazed him in the slightest.


He looked effortlessly stunning in his sleek, tailored black tux that highlighted his broad shoulders and strong frame, with a deep midnight-blue tie. His hair was combed back, but a few rebellious strands fell over his forehead, adding a touch of effortless charm to his look. He looked… perfect.

“You can take a picture, you know,” his voice broke through my daze, low and teasing, and heat rushed to my cheeks.

“I was just making sure there’s nothing ruining your perfect look,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

He raised an eyebrow. “Is that your way of calling me handsome?”

“Ugh, You know you are. You definitely get more than a compliment per day. Don’t try to fish for more from me” I replied, resisting the urge to roll my eyes.

“Fine, I'll take that as a yes”

He murmured,his green eyes glinting as he pulled me closer, guiding us further in. The weight of curious stares and bushes whispers that followed us like shadows. A part of me wanted to retreat,but with Ryan beside me,somehow I found the courage to lift my chin.

I spotted Ashley waving from across the dance floor. Kyle stood beside her looking. They both weaved their way through the crowd to reach us.

"Oh my gosh. You two look amazing" Ashley squealed, giving me a quick hug. "I deserve a huge thank you for transforming you into this queen" She whispered to my ear before withdrawing

“C'mon picture time. We need to capture this moment”

Ashley insisted on a round of pictures. Before I could protest, she was already pulling her phone out, positioning herself and Kyle beside us.

"Alright, smile!” she instructed, holding her phone up.

The camera flashed relentlessly.

“Now Just Ryan and you”

Ashley deserves the award for putting me in the most uncomfortable spot.

“Not necessary. We..”

My words were drowned out by Ryan's sudden interruption.

“We'll do it”

Oh right. Before I could protest, I felt Ryan’s arm slip around my waist, his hand resting just slightly lower than I’d expected. The touch sent an unexpected flutter through me, his warmth seeping through the thin fabric of my dress. His fingers brushed against my hip, the subtle but firm pressure grounding me yet somehow making me feel like I was floating.

I glanced up, only to catch him watching me, his gaze intense, like he was memorizing every detail of this moment. The corners of his mouth twitched in a hint of a smile, almost as if he knew the effect he had on me. My cheeks heated, and I turned back toward the camera, trying to focus on Ashley’s endless stream of “one more. You look so good together”

The last flash finally went off, and Ashley grinned, clearly pleased with her impromptu photo shoot. "You’re going to want copies of these, trust me,” she said with a wink.

“Have you seen Luke?” I asked, turning to Ashley as she reviewed the photos, hoping to distract myself from the warmth of Ryan’s hand still lingering against my waist. I could feel his gaze on me again, and it took everything in me to keep my voice steady.

Ashley looked up, her eyes flicking to me and then to Ryan. “Oh, yeah,” she said casually. “He texted earlier—said he won’t make it tonight.”

She barely finished her sentence before Kyle tugged at her arm, urging her back to the dance floor. “Catch up with you guys later!” she called over her shoulder as they disappeared into the crowd.

Now, it was just Ryan and me, standing close, his hand still resting on my waist. The air around us seemed to grow heavier, the sounds of laughter and music dimming in my ears. He hadn’t let go, hadn’t even shifted, and the intensity of his presence seemed to echo every beat of my heart.
Instead, he leaned down, his voice dropping low. “So… you’re disappointed?”

I blinked, looking up at him. “What?”

“About Luke.” He kept his tone casual, but his eyes were darker, intense, as if he was studying my reaction carefully.

I hesitated, caught off guard by the sudden change“No, I was just… wondering why he wasn't here” I managed to say, but the weight of his gaze didn’t waver. I swallowed hard, a lump forming in my throat. “Wait, are you jealous?” I asked, recalling his earlier question about Evelyn.

“What if I am?”

The air stilled around us, his response slicing through the ambient music like a knife through silk. It lodged somewhere between my heart and throat, where my pulse raced in frantic rhythm.

My tongue darted out, wetting my lips unconsciously, and Ryan’s gaze dipped to my mouth, the remaining oxygen around us snuffing out with a puff.

Move. Breathe. Take a step back. Do something.

My brain shot commands at me, but I didn’t heed a single one. I was stuck, trapped by the heat of his stare. A tingling sensation coursed through me; my muscles felt like they were on the verge of shutting down from overexertion—or maybe it was an involuntary reaction to Ryan’s proximity. Either way, the flutter in my chest as his gaze met mine again felt dangerously intoxicating.

Did he always have this blue hue in his eyes?

He tilted his head closer, the space between us shrinking. If I tilted mine up just a bit, we would—
Our moment was abruptly shattered by the blaring of the microphone, echoing through the gym. A school council member stepped up to the podium, a stack of papers clutched in his hands.

“Thank you for your attention, everyone! We’ve counted the votes, and the results are in for this year’s Prom King and Queen!” His voice boomed with excitement, drawing the crowd’s full attention.

My heart raced again, but this time it wasn’t from the electric atmosphere,it was from the thought of almost just kissing my stepbrother.

“After a tight race, we have our winners!” he continued, the crowd hushed in anticipation. “This year’s Prom King is… Ryan Jenkins!”

A bubble of applause erupted from the crowd, students cheering and clapping as Ryan’s name echoed through the gym. My heart swelled with pride and a strange mix of something else—a possessiveness that took me by surprise.

Ryan stood tall, a confident smile breaking across his face as he made his way to the front, a few girls swooning as he passed. I couldn’t help but muster a smile at him. “Congratulations,” I said, my voice barely carrying over the noise.

He nodded, his eyes briefly catching mine, a flicker of something passing between us before he walked out to accept his crown. The applause swelled, and my heart felt like it was in my throat.

“And now,” the council member continued “our Prom Queen for this year is… Evelyn Winters!”