Chapter Twenty-Five

That was it. I confessed my feelings and the prom went on as it should've. Students and their dates got photographed, they drank punch, (Maisie may have spiked said punch) they danced, and some lined up against the walls awkwardly staring at the people who danced.

Among those who danced were Sabrina and Parker.

It was as if I'd said nothing to Sabrina at all.

Anna mingled on the dance floor while I joined the ranks of the people along the wall and stared off into space, hoping that I didn't look at pathetic as I felt. How could I have forgotten about a critical concept of the prom? Dancing. It didn't look appealing in the slightest. What was fun about moving your limbs in weird angles and jumping up and down. Hello, that's what the gym was for and who actually enjoyed going to the gym?

Anna hadn't yet twisted my arm about my promise to have one dance with her, and I wasn't going to go ahead and remind her any time soon.

It wasn't long before someone joined me, holding out a drink for me to take.

Maisie sighed dramatically. "We find ourselves watching the girls we love dancing with each other and not us again."

"Let's not watch then," I suggested, leaning my shoulder against the wall to look at her instead.

"You know, it's a shame that we don't have feelings for each other. Could have saved everyone the heartbreak."

"I'm not heartbroken," I said, finally taking the drink from her hands.

"The last time I offered you a drink, you said no. This time you took it. Something's wrong with your heart. Trust me. I'm an expert."

"You said to do something about it, and I did."

"You confessed to her?"

"I did."

"I really wasn't expecting that, considering how our date went. Props to you. How did it go? Wait. You're standing here beside me. That's my answer. Aw, Sam, I'm sorry."

"No, don't be sorry. She promised to speak about it with me later."

"Ouch." Maisie chugged back her drink. "I guess they do have a façade to keep up."

I nodded along as she spoke. "They do."

She scoffed. "At least you have a chance with her even if it's not right here and now. Even if it is a secret."

"How do you know that you don't have a chance with Parker?"

"Because, Sam, something would have happened by now."

"Well . . ." I gestured all around the room, indicating to the numerous arrows and hearts. "It's taken me five years to get my head out of my ass to do something about Sabrina. There's no time better to shoot your shot then right now. It's better to have said something than nothing at all."

"You're giving me this advice even when you're all moody?"

"I'm not moody."

"You're in the darkest part of the gym. Alone."

"I know how Sabrina feels about me. Tonight's special for her. I wouldn't expect her to suddenly fall into my arms because I decided to put on my big girl pants and admit what we both knew how I felt for her."

"Would have been a nice surprise though."

I nodded to the pair that were dancing together. "How could I expect her to drop something she worked hard to get? That I helped her to do? She waited for me; Now I can wait for her."

"See? You're understanding, patient, and a romantic, Sam." Maisie gave me a sideways hug. "I'm none of those things. You knew the odds, and I'm not one to take bets."

"I dare you to tell Parker how you feel."

"I am one for dares, though."

She kicked herself off the wall and intercepted Parker from heading off the dance floor and swirled her around. As they spun around, their smiles matched, and it was so obvious that Parker liked her back. Maybe she didn't know it yet. Something was bound to happen. My gut told me so.

I gulped back my drink, feeling accomplished in my Cupid duties and closed my eyes.

And suddenly there was a tapping of the microphone. Uncomfortable feedback surged through the room.

The spotlight blinded me, even behind my closed eyelids. There was my cue to go up on stage for an impromptu speech? But then I noted the crowns positioned on pink cushions and the envelopes in Mr. Kessler's hands and – why the hell was I responsible for announcing who was part of the royal court?

Reluctantly, I headed up to the stage and took the envelopes from the principal's hands and tapped the microphone once.

"Figured you would want to do this," he whispered before joining the awaiting crowd.

"I guess it's the time everyone's been waiting for," I said, gripping the envelopes tightly. "First, I'd like to thank myself and Anna for throwing this awesome prom together all by ourselves." There were laughter and cheers. I cracked a smile. "Will the royal court make their way to the stage, please? And while they do that, let's give them a round of applause!"

They carefully headed up the steps to the stage, linking arms with their dates. Jack and Gerald awaited the top of the steps and helped Sabrina and Parker up the final step like the gentlemen they were. Sasha and Chester stood confidently behind me and to my left while the rest of the court stood to my right.

It wasn't even me whose name was in the envelope, but the anticipation in the pit of my stomach on behalf of Sabrina felt like her win or loss would also be mine.

The lights dimmed, and it was time to look inside the envelope.

"Our queen this year is . . ." I slipped the piece of paper out and waited for the impromptu drum rolling to cease and nodded. "Parker Ramirez!"

Parker stepped forward, and as I positioned the crown onto her head, she whispered, "Thanks for everything. You shot your shot, Sam."

I cleared my throat and turned my attention to the next envelope. "Now this could be either a King or Queen . . . Awesome, I know, here goes . . ." I read off the paper. "Give your love to, the prom queen . . . Sabrina Jenkins!"

Sabrina stepped forward after receiving congratulatory hugs from Jack and Gerald and stood in front of me, awaiting the crown. I carefully placed it on top of her head and admired it. It was as if she were born to wear it. I guess she kind of was.

As I hugged her, she pressed her lips against my cheek.

"I'm so happy for you, Sabrina," I whispered.

"You really are, aren't you?" she said and studied my face with a crooked smile.

"I really am." I reached out and squeezed her wrist before turning my attention back to the mic. "Make way. It's time for the prom queen's dance!"

Sabrina grabbed the mic and held up her hand like a regal queen. "Actually, there's been a change of plans."

The rushed whispers and clapping celebrating their win came to a halt. She commanded the room with a single sentence, and everyone fell in line, eager to hear what she had to say. The number of eyeballs on us made me twitchy, and as I had nothing to grip onto anymore – since Sabrina stole the microphone, I wrung my hands together.

"This prom queen will be dancing with her date this evening," Sabrina said, and just like that my heart hammered in my chest, Thor's hammer swinging against my ribs over and over again. She turned to me and offered out her hand. "Sam, would you do me the honour of sharing this dance with me?"

I swallowed and averted my gaze from the crowds and their open mouths and the rather loud 'aw' that came from the students as if they weren't fooled and tricked and lied to for the last month.

I placed in my hand in Sabrina's and said, "Well, you did say you'd have to teach me sometime."

The spotlight followed us as we headed down the steps and into the parting crowd so that we stood dead in the centre of the circular band of bodies. Silently, she directed my hands up and around her neck, and she placed her hands on my waist, wiggling her eyebrows at my little awkward clearing of the throat.

Then we started to sway, back and forth, close together and all the voices that had whispered, and cheered faded away as we were in our own little bubble.

"I don't understand," I murmured.

"Who do you think I wanted to choose for your prom date?"

"No way." I blushed and noted happily that Parker had pulled Maisie into dancing with her.

"It's true. Unfortunately, I'd left it too late. You went on your date with Maisie."

"Wow."

"What do you say, Samantha Jackson, will you be the prom queen's date?"

"That is the cutest shit ever—"

"Why can't you be like that with me—"

"Say yes, god-damn it!"

"Time to jump all in, Sam!" Anna's was the only voice I recognised.

They all encouraged us. As my eyes roamed around, there was nothing but smiles and frozen bodies full of anticipation.

"In other words," Sabrina whispered. "Will you be my girlfriend, Sam?"

I rubbed my thumb across the back of her neck and in doing so felt something that led me to look down. There, in the middle of her chest was the necklace I'd given her all those Valentine's ago, with both our initials engraved in the centre. I traced my hand down to clasp it between my thumb and finger.

"You're wearing the necklace I gave you."

"I've worn it every Valentine's Day," she admitted softly. She twirled me around, making me laugh and pulled me much closer than we were before. Her lips grazed against mine as she whispered, "Sam?"

"I love you, Sabrina Jenkins."

She closed the distance and kissed me. There was no rush, no fear that it would be the last, not hot and heavy or anything we had before. It was soft and slow and more intense than anything I'd felt in my entire life. When we pulled away from each other and smiled, the whooping knocked us back into reality, making Sabrina duck her head and blush.

I cupped her cheek and teased, "Who's all shy now?"

She swatted me and rolled her eyes. "Says the girl who never answered my question but told me she loved me instead."

"Yes, I'm the prom queen's date, are you happy now?"

"Yes. It's all I ever wanted."

"—Told you, Sam, you are that gay," Anna said, wrapping us both into one big hug and refused to let go.

"I hope you don't mind that I stole your date," Sabrina mumbled into her sister's shoulder.

"Stolen? Oh no, she has the both of us now. Besides, Sam promised me a dance!"

"I did?" I bunched my eyebrows together. "Doesn't sound like me."

"Bring her back when you're done with her," Sabrina said, letting me go.

Anna snatched me away and twirled me around ridiculously in the middle of a slow song. After we danced to not one but three songs, Anna let me off the leash and sent me hurtling into the crowd to find Sabrina. And this time when I saw her dancing with Parker, it was with Maisie too, and I had no qualms about stealing her away and leading us to the roof.

Just as I was about to do what she did to me the last time on the roof and surprise her with a kiss against the wall, she pulled the crown I'd made from her handbag and placed in on top of my head.

She kissed me sweetly on the lips and murmured, "Happy Valentine's Day, Samantha. I love you too."

And this time, instead of running away or throwing myself off the roof – I stayed and kissed her back.