Page 84 of The Prom Queen Project
For me…but also for Jessie.
Nineteen
It was only when I blinked that the world seemed to surge forward, moving too fast for me to catch up.
Time didn’t slow just because I wanted it to. Days slipped into weeks, then into a month.
With every second that ticked by, my feelings for Elliot only grew stronger. At first, it was the little things that drew me in—his tattoos, his model-like demeanor, the way his jaw flexed when he was thinking.
Then, it became more.
The way he cared for his sister, the way he knew when I needed space and when I needed to be pulled closer, the way his face lit up when he was sucked into a game. Every lingering glance, every fleeting touch pulled me in deeper. It no longer felt fake—at least, not to me.
Kendra started calling usRomeo and Juliet, and eventually, even Andrew and Dani began to tolerate her presence after the initial silent treatment phase. But having Kendra back felt right.
What didn’t feel right, though, was Mrs. Hawthorne forcing us to deliver an argumentative speech instantaneously after pulling a random prompt out of a hat.
“Clarke, you’re up next.”
I flattened the creases of my peplum shirt and rose to my feet. My saliva became thick, lodging in my throat as I stepped in front of the class. I pursed my lips, staring back at the audience I never asked for, their eyes tracing my every move.
Reaching inside the Abraham Lincoln-like hat, I pulled out a small slip of paper and spoke aloud. “Villains are more compelling than heroes in literature. Agree or disagree? Defend your position.”
“Okay.” Mrs. Hawthorne clicked her nails against her wooden desk. “Your time starts now.”
Three minutes. I had to deliver a speech for three minutes. No big deal. I loved to yap, anyway.Easy-peasy.But as I looked out, the faces in the crowd blurred together into one giant mass of eyes, all locked on me.
Suddenly, it felt like a spotlight was burning down on me. My confidence vanished in an instant, replaced by a swarm of restless butterflies stirring in my stomach. What’s that trick people say when you’re nervous? Picture everyone in their underwear?Yeah. I could do that.Totally. A wave of unease washed over me as I opened my mouth.
“I believe heroes are more compelling in literature due to their inherent growth after surviving traumatic experiences forged by those who wish to do the unspeakable. One example of this is Atticus Finch in Harper Lee’sTo Kill A Mockingbird. Finch struggles with breaking free from social expectations in the 1930s as he defends an innocent African American man from persecution by his peers. It is his embodiment of humanity, perseverance, and strength that creates the amazing dynamic that the story portrays.” My mind raced as I scrambled to thinkof another literary example, and thankfully, within seconds, another one popped into my head. Exhaling softly, I continued, “Another example can be seen in Jane Austen’sPride and Prejudice. The main character, Elizabeth Bennet, strays from the path she was forced to venture down as her family tries to pressure her to enter into a marriage with a man she finds repulsive simply for financial gain. Her unwillingness to do so leads her to another man whom she originally disdains, but her sentiments change after she discovers his true intentions and allows for self-reflection. This willingness to be outspoken in an oppressive society, as well as the ability to acknowledge her own mistakes, makes Elizabeth Bennet a compelling hero who is able to capture audiences much more than many one-dimensional villains throughout history. All in all, I think heroes are…heroes can be…they have the capacity to…” The sentence fell off my tongue, my brain losing momentum as my thoughts went blank.
All around me, people were staring.
You’re almost there, Clarke.
I pulled my lip between my teeth and curled my fingers into a fist.
A blur of movement in my peripheral caught my attention. It was Elliot. He flashed a grin, giving me a subtle thumbs up, and mouthed the words—You got this, nerd.
My lips twitch upward. Staring back out into the sea of eyes, I continued speaking. “Heroes have the capacity to command the attention of audiences by appealing to the reader’s sense of self while fighting against obstacles and pushing through hardships. They strive to obtain a happily ever after, no matter how hard they have to fight, which is a feeling we can all relate to.”
I sucked in a breath, my chest heaving as the oxygen filled my lungs. Talking had never felt so…exhausting. You could hear the sound of a pin drop. Until—
“That was pretty good,” a nondescript voice whispered.
“How did she do that so easily? All those references were just in her head?” another kid muttered.
Elliot didn’t even attempt to speak quietly when he said, “Well, damn.”
“Mr. Keller, inappropriate!” the teacher scolded him. “And everyone else hush up! Ms. Taylor, well done. You may take your seat.”
“Thank you.”
I crept over to my desk, slipping into my seat as Elliot threw me a wink. He lounged back in his chair before shifting his focus forward.
I could finally breathe again.
My relief was short-lived when Mrs. Hawthorne summoned Elliot to the front of the class. Why was I nervousforhim?
