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We step back beside Adika, who crushes us both beneath a big hug. I can’t believe I used to think I hated these girls. They’re some of the best people I know.
“Now for your prom queen,” Mrs. Graidy announces. Pause. “Is…” Even longer pause for dramatic affect. “Adika Carson!”
I jump up and down and cheer loudly. “Yay, Adika!” I look down and see Stephanie going absolutely ballistic. She’s screaming so hard, her face is turning red, which just makes me smile bigger. Adika glides forward, graceful as ever. She smiles demurely as the sparkly, silver crown is placed on her head.
Then Henry leads Adika down the steps and out onto the dance floor. Taylor shoves past the rest of us and storms off stage. I honestly feel nothing toward her anymore, except pity. How sad to allow her night to be ruined by not winning.
The music begins for the king and queen’s dance. We all watch them gliding around on the floor. I can’t help but wonder who is leading who. When the song ends, we all clap again.
Mrs. Graidy announces that we can all return to our dates now. Austin is standing at the bottom of the steps, holding out his arms to me. I fall into them and he hugs me tight. He kisses me softly again.
“You are amazing,” he says to me.
“Thank you,” I say. I look up into his warm, brown eyes and admire the flecks of green in them. I reach up and brush my hand through his thick, brown hair. I play with one of his curls, wrapping it around my finger.
“Don’t ever cut your hair short,” I say. “I like it just the way it is.”
He smiles at me. “Do you want to dance more?” he asks.
“Yes. But let’s find my brother and Tessa first to get a group picture.”
Austin nods. “Your wish is my command,” he whispers. His voice tickles my ear and sends tingles down my spine.
We find Tessa a moment later. She has her head resting on Dylan’s shoulder. Austin and I come up behind them.
“Do you guys want to go get pictures while the line is down?” I ask.
They stop dancing and face us. “Yeah, let’s do it.”
“Let’s find Adika and Stephanie, too,” Tessa says. “They were in our group for dinner.”
“Yes, definitely,” I say, glancing around.
I spot the crowd of people swarming around Adika. “Over there,” I say, pointing.
We make our way through the crowd of students, hormones, and B.O. until we finally reach them.
“Come be in our group picture,” I say loudly in Stephanie’s ear, so she can hear me over the crowd.
She nods and reaches for Adika’s hand. Somehow, we’re able to pull them away.
“Congratulations!” I say to Adika, giving her a hug. “You absolutely deserve it.”
“Thank you,” she says. “But I thought you deserved it even more.”
I wave her comment off. “No way.”
“I’m glad we waited for pictures,” Tessa says. “Now we can have our sashes and your crown in the picture with us.”
“Oh yeah,” I say, nodding. “I didn’t even think of that.”
When it’s our turn, we smile nicely and pose how the photographer tells us to stand. It feels a little stiff and inauthentic. We decide to take another one and pose in a sillier way.
“We’re going to get something to drink,” Dylan says, taking Tessa by the hand. “Do you guys want to join us?”
I look at Austin. He shrugs. “No, I think we’ll dance more,” I say. “Thanks though.”
As we make our way back to the dance floor, a boy with acne stops us. “Call of Duty is the best!” he says, giving me a high-five.
