Prom Night

“Alright party people thank you for coming out and having a good time tonight! DJ Wolff signing off.”

The venue’s population began to dwindle as more and more people began to disperse.

“About time. My stomach is sending me the craziest signals requiring nourishment.” Chris said, rubbing his stomach. “What’s even around?”

“I mean Jessie's is around the corner. What are we thinking?” Leon asked the group.

“That diner?” Matt raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah. They’ve got some pretty good food.”

“Shit, I don’t care what we eat. As long as I get some food, I’m cool.” Mike threw his arm around Em’s shoulder.

“Jessie’s it is then, people. Let’s head out!”

“Yo! Why don’t us guys carpool with Jordan while the ladies all carpool with Em?”

“Not happening, Christopher.” Emily deadpanned, passing her keys to Mike.

“Woah woah woah! I didn’t agree to this, Chris.” Jordan said.

“C’mon man, don’t be like that.” Chris groaned.

“There’s not enough space to begin with, dude.” Jordan groaned. “Sam, Beth AND Hailey had to squeeze together."

“Sorry, Co-Cheese, Jordan’s taking us. Maybe next time.” Hailey said.

“Wait hold on, did she just call me Co-Cheese?” Chris asked, laughing.

“Sorry, man.” Jordan frowned.

“You can come with us.” Leon opened the driver seat door of his car as Joey got in the back and Melanie got in the front passenger seat.

“Sure.” Chris shrugged, walking towards the car, Ashley following suit.

As they began to pile into their cars, Hannah called out to Jessica before she could get into Emily’s car. “Jessica!” 

The blonde looked up to see Hannah approaching.

“Yes, Hannah?”

Hannah took the crown that she rightfully won off of her head and placed it on Jessica’s. “You and Matt didn’t have to save me from Myron but I’m thankful that you did so I think you deserve the crown.”

Jessica looked at the brunette in shock. “Hannah...I can’t. I didn’t earn this. You did.”

“I may have earned it but I don’t deserve the title of Prom Queen. You do.” Hannah insisted.

“Hannah, please. Keep it.” Jessica removed the crown and placed it back onto Hannah’s head with a smile. “It looks better on you than it does on me.”

The two embraced each other. “Thank you, Jessica.”

The pair departed and climbed into their vehicles, heading to their destination.

————————————————————————————————————————————

Jessica sat next to him, Emily sat in the passenger seat and Michael drove the car.

Matt stared out of the window of Em’s car, watching the world around him escape from his view. He wasn’t sure what he was thinking about at that very moment. It was all a blur.

“Yo, Matt! Got any recommendations?” Mike asked, handing him his phone.

“Recommendations?” Matt snapped out of his trance.

“Song recommendations, Meatbrain.”

“Oh. Nah, nothing in mind.” He shook his head, pushing the phone back to Mike and looking back out the window.

Mike shrugged. “Oh. Alright. I get it. No pressure.”

Jessica looked at the boy next to her and reached her hand out, setting it on top of his. She could tell that he was in his own world within that moment.

When he looked attentively at her, she wasn’t looking in his direction but he could see the subtle smile on her lips as she held onto his hand, even if it was dark within the car.

It was only when he interlocked her fingers with his own that she turned to look at him, sending a shiver down her spine.

The smile on his face made the blonde’s heart race. Matthew was always such an angel. He was the gentle giant of the group. His heart was too big, he always wanted to please the others before himself. He seemed to take pleasure in seeing other people’s happiness, Jessica’s in particular even if they weren’t a couple.

The distance between the two of them began to dwindle as they both mutually lurched closer to each other.

“And here we are, people!” Mike said, putting the car in park, ruining the moment.

The two awkwardly pulled away from each other with nervous smiles on their faces as they unbuckled their seatbelts and exited the vehicle to see the rest of their friends all exiting Jordan and Leon’s cars.

“Let’s feast!” Chris threw his arms up.

"I'm starting to think only Chris is the hungry one here."

"Alright, can we just go in?" Emily huffed.

Jessie’s had the aesthetic of a stereotypical American diner. American flags, 50's paraphernalia, ceiling fans that likely weren’t wiped down in a while, a jukebox, etc.

“Well if it isn’t my favorite nephew!” A woman, likely in her late twenties to early thirties pulled Leon into an embrace. “Look at you, looking just like your father. How is my loony brother anyways?”

“Y’know him, Aunt Val, he’s in his own world. He’s alive so you know he’s fine.” Leon responded with a chuckle.

“Is that Jordan and Hailey I see?!” Valerie hugged the two of them.

“Hey, Aunt Val. It’s good seeing you. It’s been a minute.”

“What brings all of you finely dressed people here?” She took a step back.

“We just left prom. Thought you could hook us up with some food.” Leon rubbed his stomach.

“Well why didn’t you say something? I’d imagine all that dancing left you guys hungry. Have a seat at the booth over there. Should be big enough for all of you.”

The thirteen teenagers all sat accordingly in the booth.

“Alrighty then. What refreshments can I get you all?” Valerie pulled out her notepad and a pen from her hair with a smirk.

“I’ve got this.” Leon smirked, clearing his throat.

“Sam’ll have water, Hannah, Jordan, Melanie and Jessica will have lemonade. Mike will have a Coke, Em will have a sweet tea, Matt will have a Pepsi to spite Michael, Beth, Chris, Ash and Hailey will have a Dr. Pepper, Joey will have a Sprite and yours truly will have a refreshing iced tea.”

The group looked at Leon in awe as he finished all of their orders without losing any breath.

“Coming right up!” Valerie said, jotting down the last of the order and walking away.

“How the hell did you do that?” Jordan asked, amazed.

“Family talent.” Leon chuckled.

“That’s impressive.” Chris said. “You should audition to talk about bullshit. You’d be a good advertisement fine print talker.”

“Hilarious, Chris.”

“No seriously, Chris has a point. You’d kill at speeches, Leon.” Ashley said.

“If you say so. Do you guys know what you want?” Leon put the menu down.

Everyone nodded in unison as Valerie returned with everyone’s drinks. “There are your drinks. Now, what’ll it be for dinner?”

Everyone individually took turns placing their order, Valerie taking notes very quickly but carefully.

“Seriously, Leon? Breakfast?” Melanie giggled.

“What? I barely even get to eat breakfast as is.” He answered.

The table was rather silent. Nobody really said anything to each other. The only noises that were really made were the sounds within the kitchen and the music from the jukebox.

“Well, this is awkward, huh?” Melanie sighed, fidgeting with her bracelet.

“Yeah. Kinda is.” Joey picked at his sleeve.

“It was great seeing you guys all come out. My expectations were honestly low. Thought prom would suck.” Matt said, taking a sip of his drink.

They all hummed in agreement.

Chris picked up his drink and lifted it up. “Since we’re all here. I just wanted to say it’s been one helluva night, even if it’s been awkward. So! A toast! To our odd group.”

Everybody laughed at the joke but nonetheless clinked all of their cups together.

Leon looked across the table at Jordan. “Psst. Jordan. Psst.”

Looking up at him, he mouthed the word ‘what’.

Leon pointed at his arm and Hannah who was conversing with Hailey and Beth.

Jordan showed visible confusion.

Looking around, Leon leaned forward. “Wrap your arm around Hannah’s shoulder.”

Jordan faked a stretch and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, causing her to freeze up for a second but nonetheless she melted into his arm.

“Atta boy.” Leon chuckled.

“You two are so cute!” Melanie gushed over the interaction.

“Melanie!” Hannah tried to hide behind a menu.

“What? Can I not be happy for my friends?”

“Melanie has a point. You two are really sweet together.” Sam lightly nudged Jordan’s shoulder.

The two of them awkwardly looked away from each other attempting to hide their blushed faces.

“Alright kiddos, here’s your food.” Valerie returned, setting down everyone’s meals in front of them one at a time.

“Thanks, Aunt Val.” Leon stood up to give her a hug.

“Don’t thank me, honey. It’s what aunts do. Eat up.” She pinched his cheek and walked away.

Thirty minutes went by as the teens all ate their food, laughing at the stories each of them told about their experiences.

“Y’know it’s been on my mind…”

Everybody stopped chewing and looked at Melanie.

“How did Hannah win?”

“What do you mean?” Hailey asked. “People voted for her obviously.”

A wide grin appeared on Joey’s face.

“What do you know, Cole?” Matt pointed his fork at him.

“I know quite a lot.” Joey answered.

Hannah leaned in. “Continue…”

His grin widened. “I rigged it so she’d win.”

“You did what?” Jordan nearly spit out his drink in Leon’s face.

“Not cool, dude.” Matt said before taking a bite of his food.

“Relax, dude.”

“Relax? Hannah illegitimately won!”

“But she won.”

“Did Josh put you up to this?” Sam squinted her eyes at Joey.

His response was simply laughter. “No. Josh did not tell me to rig it. I rigged it all on my own. Lone wolf, if you will.”

Hannah sighed. “Why?”

“Well…I wanted you to win. Plus I knew that it’d make your night a whole helluva lot better. Believe me I know, it was stupid as shit.”

“You bet your ass it was stupid.” Beth continued to eat. “Stupid but noble so I guess it balances out somehow.”

Joey leaned back and smirked. “I’d do it again.”

“We know.” Jessica giggled.

“Man. I’m full. That was some good shit.” Chris sat, holding his stomach.

“I told you. Should’ve listened.” Leon said, drinking the rest of his tea.

“So…who’s paying?” Mike asked, looking around.

“I’ve got it.”

The rest of them froze as both Emily and Jordan glared at each other.

“Not happening, Lanshire.” Em said. “Save your money. Michael, be a dear and hand me the check.”

Jordan closed his wallet, putting it back in his pocket as Emily pulled out three one hundred dollar bills and set them within the check presenter.

“Well. Guess it’s time to go.” Leon said, standing up to allow the others on his side of the booth out. “It’s getting late after all.”

“No kidding.” Chris yawned. 

“It’s going on 1.” Ashley said. “Time flies, huh?”

Each of them began to yawn.

“Well, see ya later. It was great seeing all of you.” Em said, waving as she exited with Mike.

“See ya, guys.” Jess smiled as she followed behind Em and Mike, while Matt followed behind her.

“See ya, lovebirds, gotta take these nerds home.” Leon said, giving Jordan a hug.

“See you later, man.” Jordan chuckled. 

“Bye, Sam. Bye, Han.” Melanie hugged the both of them before following after Leon.

“Bye, Mel.”

“See ya, Co-Cheese.” Hailey teased.

Chris simply rolled his eyes and made his way towards the exit, Ashley giving a wave as she walked close behind him.

“Welp, that leaves us. Let’s get home shall we?” Jordan grabbed his keys out of his pocket.

“Yeah, getting a little too sleepy over here.” Hailey yawned.

“Well let’s head out.”