"I thought people only wore tuxedos to prom," Aaron grumbled, fidgeting with his cuff links.
"Maybe at a public school, but everybody wears them to all the dances here."
"Really, Harry? Then why am I the only one wearing a penguin suit?" Aaron asked sharply.
The room was full of handsome boys, hair carefully done and dress shoes shined, perfection in their button down shirts and pressed black pants. Aaron, as always, stood out- this time in full regalia, his brown hair tamed to accent his delicate features and mouth twisted into an angry scowl. He should have known better than to trust the twins, especially since it was Benji who had suggested the outfit.
"Because," Roman said, looping an arm around Aaron's waist and drawing him close, "Nobody else would look as good as you, so they won't try."
Aaron blushed from head to toe, shoving Roman away and calling him a name that didn't matter, because his grin negated the word. "It's a nice thought, but you'd blow me out of the water."
Roman blinked at Aaron, surprised by the rush of emotion that swelled in him because the boy had said he was attractive- albeit in a roundabout way. "Modesty isn't really a virtue," he breezed, to cover up his moment of silence, "It's only the jealous, unimpressive people who think it is."
"Or maybe you're just too stuck up to realize-"
"Guys, stop fighting! Cara and Jarrod are here!" Kris snapped, pulling Roman and Aaron out of their argument; they'd been fighting more often with more volume, and the morning's events had done nothing to help with that. If Roman would just admit to Aaron he had feelings for him, the fights would stop, and they might actually make some progress. But since Roman was as far in denial as Kris had ever seen anybody get, that wasn't likely to happen anytime soon.
"What in god's name is she wearing?" Nova asked, horrified.
Cara's dress was green, a nasty pea soup color, but if it had been clear Aaron would have thought she dressed herself in plastic wrap. The dress barely covered her crotch, and the ridiculous swell of her chest made it obvious she was either wearing a push-up bra, or had stuffed the dress.
"So not classy," Harry said, shaking his head. The followers that swarmed Cara, however, seemed to think the dress was the best thing since liquid diets. She preened in the middle of the group, fluffing blonde hair that had been teased to almost twice its normal height. Jarrod, wearing a button-down the same unfortunate color as her dress, seemed bored with the whole charade. He rattled off his greetings before leaning close to Cara to be heard over the music. She nodded absently and waved her hand in his general direction, which made him frown as he walked away, heading to the punch bowl.
"Alright, Nova, you're up," Aaron said- too late, because Nova was already moving.
Where Cara had apparently decided to dress like a whore, Nova looked like a high-stakes princess; her platinum blonde hair shimmered in the light, and her dress was a beautiful deep blue. The full skirt ripple like water as she walked, crystal heels peeking out beneath the folds of the fabric, and the sweetheart neckline emphasized her assets without making her look slutty. The two girls were worlds apart, and Aaron had to wonder why Cara was the queen bee instead of Nova.
Nova could guess what Aaron was thinking when she caught a glimpse of his expression, and a heavy sigh pushed past her glossed lips. She had been the queen bee, once- then her brother grew out of his dorky adolescent phase and became the school idol, the most popular because Roman was only a lowly freshman and Quinn was a senior. When freshman Cara started to date him, it had put her on the same level of the totem pole as Nova. The war between them would have been bitter and nasty with lots of casualties- but more importantly, it would have disappointed her brother. And so Nova had stepped down and let Cara take her place.
Three years later, she was sick of how Cara treated people, and more than willing to right the wrong she'd done by stepping down. "Hey Cara," she said, managing a warm smile for the benefit of the sheep, "Have you seen Quinn?"
"No, of course not. He hasn't gone to school here for three years," stupid, that scathing look said.
You've got this the wrong way around, sweetheart- you're the idiot, Nova thought, and her smile sweetened. "Of course he doesn't, silly," she said lightly, before molding her face into an expression of concern, "But he said he was coming tonight. He said he wants everybody to know you're still his girl."
Lies. Quinn had come to help because Nova had finally told him about Jarrod. At first he'd been furious Nova had kept it from him. Then she explained she'd been afraid finding out the truth would hurt him too much. They had a tearful Hallmark moment before Nova told him the plan. When Quinn had finished laughing, he was excited to help.
Cara's horrified gasp drew Nova out of her thoughts. "He can't come here! What the hell is he thinking?" she hissed, her eyes on the sandy blonde hair that belonged to her date, "When is he supposed to get here?"
"Oh, he's already here," Nova chirped, destroying any hope Cara had of making a clean break, "In fact, he drove me here."
Cara's face fell, and Nova almost felt bad for a second. Then she saw Benji heading toward Jarrod to distract him, and Lizzy dancing and laughing along with Aaron, ecstatic knowing she'd have a dance with her long-time crush.
"He wanted me to tell you something... what was it again?" Nova mockingly twirled a strand of hair around her finger, gnawing her lip and pretending to be thinking. The increasingly frustrated expression on Cara's face was delicious, "Oh right! I think he said to meet him behind the curtains they set up at the back of the little stage where they'll present the king and queen."
"Alright, thanks Noah," Cara rushed off in the direction of the curtains, leaving Nova shaking her head- the dumb blonde could have at least gotten her gender right, if not her name.
Nova waited for the text from her brother, a pre-prepared message he could send with one stroke to avid rousing suspicion. She grinned widely when it came and cut a path through the dance floor to reach Aaron. "Quinn said we're good to go."
"Maybe we shouldn't do this," Lizzy said, looking nervous and upset, "I mean, don't you think it's a little harsh?"
Nova frowned at her. "He has to find out eventually."
"Yeah, but-"
"What are you really worried about?" Aaron asked, as perceptive as ever. The command to start the final phase of the plan to ruin Cara's relationship was type out and ready to send, but he waited to hear what Lizzy would say.
Lizzy looked down, her voice coming out soft, like she was afraid Jarrod would hear. "What if he finds out what I did and hates me for it?"
"What you did?" Aaron raised an eyebrow at her, "This was all me and Nova's idea, and we didn't give you a choice in the matter. Right, Nova?"
"Of course. We will gladly take full responsibility," Nova answered with a devilish grin.
A relieved smile cleared the doubt from Lizzy's eyes. "Thanks, guys. You're great friends."
Aaron ignored the statement, because he had no time to be sentimental; the announcement of the homecoming court was soon, and they had to complete the plan well before that. He looked down at his pone- he had finally accepted it was his- and shot off the text to Harry, Benji, and Roman: It's all up to you now. I hope you have good timing.
A blank text came back, the signal that the boys had understood. Two minutes later Roman, appointed the announcer by the student government, stepped onto the makeshift stage, "Just a gentle reminder, ladies and gents, the announcement you've all been waiting for is coming up soon!" he declared; the students roared their approval, "Let's run through the nominees, just to refresh your memory!"
Roman started with the boys; a spotlight settled on Jarrod Hollister, then a boy named Xavier Black, before resting on Aaron, who did a good impression of a tomato. "And on the ladies' side, we have gorgeous, glamorous Nova Cassien, and look how that spotlight makes her hair shine. We also have beautiful, bubbly Elizabeth Allens, looking ravishing in her black dress. Last, and most definitely least," that was delivered with a wink that inspired laughter, "We have Cara Knight."
The spotlight searched the crowd. Aaron and Nova stood side by side, beaming in their excitement as the spotlight returned to Roman. "That's odd. Now where could she be?" Roman scratched his head, but he was too pleased to look puzzled, "I know, let's check behind door number one! Starks, will you do the honor?"
Roman stepped down, and spotlights illuminated the twins. They were standing on either side of the curtains, and each of them had a gold rope in their hands. The whole crowd followed their lead in counting down from three, and the twins yanked hard on the ropes. The curtains swept aside, and the crowd gasped as a whole.
A gorgeous man with platinum blonde hair was pressed to the wall, distaste evident on his noble features and in his green eyes. The girl he was with had her back to the crowd, but it was obvious she was all over him, with her hand down his pants. It was just as obvious who the girl was- that golden brown hair and unfortunate pea soup green dress could not be mistaken.
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