Page 105 of The Prom Queen Project
Elliot brought his lips close to my ear. “If you click those sparkly heels of yours together three times, do you think we can teleport out of here?”
I couldn’t help but snort as I looked up at Elliot, who seemed pretty proud of his lame joke. Straightening my posture, I shot a quick glance at my parents. Thankfully, due to their technological ignorance, their eyes were still firmly glued to the phone.
“You’re the one who got us into this mess.”
Faster than he could answer, Cleo darted toward Elliot once again, swatting his jacket with her paw. Elliot leapt into the air, pushing himself closer to me until there was no space between us. He let out a barely audible yelp as he wrapped his arms around my waist, clinging to me for dear life. Cleo slinked away, looking satisfied with her actions. That was all it took to propel the laughter from my throat, and soon Eliot was howling alongside me. Then, a bright flash illuminated my peripheral.
“Oh, look at how cute you two are!” My mother cooed while cradling her phone like a newborn baby. “Do you want to see it? Maybe we should take another.”
“No!” I pushed Elliot to the side, forcing him in the direction of the door. He almost tripped as I rushed us out of the house. “Uhh—I mean…we’re gonna be late. We should go.”
My mom called after us. “You can hate me all you want, but just know that I only do it because I love you!”
“I know, I know. Love you guys, too.”
“Drive safe!” she yelled.
“And use protection!”
I looked back at my dad in horror. “Dad!”
“Sorry,” he mumbled while raising his hands in defeat.
Before they closed the door, the last thing I saw was my mother angrily shaking her fist as she dragged my father into the house. My cheeks were stained pink as
Elliot’s chuckles only grew louder.
My heart pounded harder than the bass rattling my eardrums, my chest humming with the rhythm as we stepped into the Summerville Banquet Hall.
Tonight would change everything.
My fingers were laced in Elliot’s.
The music heightened as we breached the main doors, my head spinning as the ground beneath my feet thumped. You know the room whereBeauty and the Beastdanced together in a grand castle?Picture that. Coffered ceilings anchored several light fixtures in their place, the chandeliers, bathing us in a golden hue.
Smiles were thrown around as groups of students clustered into the banquet hall, their voices theatrical and joyful. Circular tables lined the dance floor with ceramic dishes that sat neatly stacked on each placemat. I knew the formal dinner setup by heart—one of the many perks of attending every single one of my mother’s book launches. At the center was a service plate, topped with a soup bowl and a salad plate. To the left: a dinner fork and a salad fork. To the right: a salad knife and a meat knife.
I set my purse down on one of the five empty chairs.
“You’re here!” Kendra squealed.
Spinning around, I dropped Elliot’s hand and wrapped her in my arms. She squeezed me as we teetered side to side. I clenched my eyes shut as I hugged her tightly. It was another voice that tore me from her embrace.
“There’s the future Miss Prom Queen,” Andrew called. “You look good.”
My jaw fell to the floor when I saw Andrew approach us.
Flecks of purple shimmered against the light, his reflective suit sparkling brightly.Holy crap. He sashayed toward us, his plum manicured nails resting on his hip.
“You look better,” I countered.
His lip curled upward. “Don’t try and flatter me. I already voted for you.”
I shoved his shoulder as I let out a small laugh, leaning my arm on the back of the chair next to me. Elliot squinted; his eyes expressive, but his words mute.
I watched as he examined Andrew quietly. My eyebrows cocked.
Andrew flicked his eyes to the ceiling, then shifted his attention toward Elliot while flaring his nostrils.
