Selene blinked at the camera flash. "I think we're good on the photos," she told Carter.
He shook his head.
"Just a few more," Lucille said.
"Cheese," Declan grinned and the camera flashed again.
Of course, he was natural with the camera; he didn't have to work hard to look good and he knew it.
Though Prom didn't start until seven P.M. Selene had been up since six A.M getting ready. She first went to get her highlights redyed to a honey blond then she had to drive forty-five minutes downtown to pick up her dress from the tailors. After that, she drove to the mall to get her nails done and then to a makeup artist and after that home with the AC blasting so she wouldn't sweat off the seventy-five dollars worth of makeup. She had two iced coffees and her hands had only just stopped shaking half an hour ago.
She could bet every penny in her savings account that Declan had probably just showered, brushed his teeth, done his hair, put on his suit and come straight here.
Declan moved closer to her.
"Watch yourself, young man," barked Micah.
Declan took a step back. "Yes, sir."
Selene let them take photos for another fifteen minutes before she wrapped it up. "Okay, we're going to be late."
Lucille ran up and hug Selene. "Have fun."
While Lucille had zipped up Selene's dress earlier, she had told her about how she had brought Selene as her plus one to Prom. Some teachers had insisted that they take care of Selene through the night but she was so paranoid she spent the whole night with five-month-old Selene strapped to the sling in the front of her dress.
Selene smiled and hugged her mother back. "I'll see you in three days."
Lucille pulled away and was replaced by Micah. "No funny business at this cabin."
"Okay."
"You better be sleeping in a different room from the boys."
"Mhm."
"And text me when you get there," he said. "Or else I'm coming there myself."
"Got it, dad."
There was silence.
"Got it, Mr. Calloway," Declan said behind her.
Micah was replaced by Carter. "Have fun, kiddo. Enjoy yourself."
Selene nodded.
Finally, she was let go and Declan took her hand.
"Ready?" Declan asked.
She looked down at their joined hands then at Declan.
He was wearing a grey suit jacket and a pressed white shirt tucked neatly into grey dress pants. Peeking out of the jacket was a pair of emerald green suspenders that matched Selene's dress almost exactly and under the collar of his shirt was an emerald green bowtie. Pinned to the lapel of his jacket was the white rose boutonniere Selene had gotten for him.
"Ready," she said, squeezing his hand.
»
Selene was in a titillating haze the whole night.
The prom committee had outdone themselves with the theme of 'Under the Sea'. The centrepieces were fishbowls with a layer of water and a candle floating in the middle and the tables were covered with rose gold satin. Each name tag had been decorated to look like coral and the dance floor was painted in blue light and there was glow in the dark jellyfish hanging from the ceiling.
She marvelled at the fact that no matter what rivalries had happened during the school year, they dissolved that night as everyone laughed and danced. Even Nyx has complemented her dress and they had danced together--in a group but still, there were no catfights throughout the night and Selene considered that a win especially taking into account all the drama that had happened that semester alone.
It was nearing the end of dinner when the prom committee announced the Prom royalty.
Selene and Declan whooped along with the rest of their group as Verona and Roman won prom prince and princess.
"And your prom king is..." They opened the envelope like they were in a Ms. Universe pageant. "Declan Grey!"
Declan slowly unravelled his arm from around Selene's shoulder and stood up to go retrieve his crown and sash. He smiled broadly as the yearbook photographers took his picture.
"And your prom queen is... Zoë Richardson."
The graduating class clapped as Zoë walked up.
Selene could only stare.
Zoë was wearing a bright red ballgown, the dress billowing out at her waist with a small train following her. There was a shimmering gold decal all over the dress that shone in when it caught the light. Her pink hair was curled with one side of her hair pinned back with golden hair clips. Golden earrings dangled from her ears.
Zoë smiled as they placed the crown on her head, her new friends cheering louder than anyone.
A romantic slow song started playing. "Presenting our prom court."
Verona and Roman stepped onto the dance floor, holding hands before they danced.
The prom committee turned to Declan and Zoë.
Hesitantly, Declan held out a hand and Zoë took it as they walked towards the center of the dance floor.
Zoë said something which caused Declan to laugh as he spun her towards him.
For a second they looked like the perfect couple. Zoë gazing up at him as if he meant the world to her, Declan's hands firmly on her waist, his eyes locked with hers as he smiled lightly.
Carlos tapped Selene's shoulder and she wretched her eyes from the two of them to look at him. "What?" she asked.
"He literally doesn't stop talking about you," he said. "I've never seen him like this with anyone, ever."
She stared at him. Could Carlos read her thoughts or were they just that obvious?
"He's not the greatest... but he's trying his hardest. Because you make him want to try."
"Thanks, Carlos." Selene started to turn around but Carlos stopped her.
"Don't break his heart okay?"
"What?"
"He acts tough but he's not. Just... go easy on him."
"Hey," Declan said.
She turned to him and he extended a hand.
"May I have this dance?"
She smiled. "Deja Vu much?"
He grinned back at her and she took his hand.
"Sorry about that," he said as they walked onto the floor.
"You had no control over that." She put her arms around his neck and rocked slowly to the beat. "It's not like you knew you'd both win."
"Still," he said. "I know it made you uncomfortable--"
"It didn't," she lied. "I know that it's you and me; no reason to be uncomfortable."
The song changed into a faster-paced song that everyone seemed to know the lyrics to. Selene and Declan kept swaying.
Declan leaned in to be heard over the thumping bass. "I love you."
"I love you too," she said. And she was starting to realize it was more truth than a lie.
»
After prom, the group headed to Carlos's house for the afterparty. Selene, Verona and Ruby changed out of their prom dresses in one of the upstairs bedrooms in favour of more party-appropriate clothing.
Selene was wearing a black crop top with a pale blue denim skirt and a pale blue plaid long sleeve hanging off her shoulders.
Despite it being past midnight, their party still had a fairly large crowd. By one-thirty, there were teenagers everywhere; drinking, laughing and dancing.
Around two AM, Declan found Selene and challenged her to beer pong which she won two to one.
The party shut down around four AM.
The group cleaned up what they could and headed for the cars--Carlos and Roman were the only ones who hadn't been drinking so they would be driving the hour-long trip to the cabin where they would stay for the rest of the weekend.
"I have a surprise for you," Declan said as they stepped into the cabin's living room. Everyone else dispersed, heading for their own rooms. "In our room."
"Oh?" she said.
He nodded and told her to wait on the couch. Selene had started to dose off slightly by the time he returned.
Declan lead her upstairs to a bedroom at the end of the hallway.
"Is this the master?" she asked.
Declan nodded. "Roman and Rona insisted we take it... after I had called dibs and then won a game of uno."
Selene laughed.
He stopped in front of the closed door. "Ready?"
He didn't wait for a response and opened the door.
Selene gasped and she stepped into the room.
Declan had called dibs on the cabin bedroom by the lake and out the window, she could see the blue water glistening in the moonlight.
The bed and hardwood floor were covered in rose petals and there were a few lit candles on the hearth. The room smelt like warm vanilla.
"Declan," she said softly, turning to him.
"You like it?"
"I love it." She reached for his hand. "This is so nice."
He shrugged. "Only the best for the girl I love."
"You're cheesy," she said as she leaned up.
Her lips brushed his and he pulled away slightly. "I didn't do all this to get in your pants," he said. "Verona told me about how you always wanted prom to be special so I wanted to do that for you. We can just get into our PJs and talk until we fall asleep."
"Thank you," she said.
He smiled. "Don't worry about it."
She leaned up once again and kissed him.
He pulled her closer, his hands gripping her waist.
She couldn't explain what kissing Declan made her feel. All that she knew was that her heart was threatening to burst out of her chest and his tongue sweeping at her lower lip was driving her to the brink of insanity. Her body burned hot red as his hands wandered her body, and she let out small sounds of appreciation. She needed him closer to her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him towards the bed.
Declan pulled away to look at her, his eyes wide and his lips red and swollen.
Before she lost her courage, Selene took off her crop top.
Declan's eyes lowered for a second before they came back to her eyes. He kissed her gingerly, one hand cupping her face.
"I love you," she whispered.
"I love you too." His body pressed against hers and he broke the kiss to kiss her neck.
Selene closed her eyes. Her pulse beat harder as her breaths came out shorter. "Do you have a condom?" she breathed.
Declan paused to look at her. "Are you sure?"
She nodded and kissed him quickly. "I'm sure."