"What the hell, Cara?" A spotlight swept over the crowd to highlight Jarrod. He was so angry he didn't protest the light, or perhaps he was too focused on the scene in front of him; either way, he let the spotlight follow him to the front of the crowd.
Cara spun upon hearing his voice, revealing the lipstick smeared on Quinn's neck. She saw the crowd rather than the curtain she had expected, and her eyes went wide with horror. "Hold on a minute, Jare Bear, and let me explain," she pleaded, hands held out to add the pathetic picture.
"Sure, Cara, I'd love to hear how you're going to explain this one away," Jarrod's voice dripped with acidic anger, and his fists were clenched at his sides.
Cara just stood there, mouth opening and closing like a fish's. Quinn was a better actor; he raked a hand through his hair, looking annoyed. "Look man, I don't know who you are, but you can't talk to my girlfriend like that. Right, babe?" He looped an arm around Cara's waist. Aaron assumed dying cows made the same noise Cara did.
"Your girlfriend?" It had taken a long few moments, but Jarrod finally understood. For a moment his eyes were huge, full of pain; then they hardened to ice, "Damn it, Cara. I always knew you were a bitch, but I always thought slut would be beneath you. I hope you enjoy being down to one boyfriend."
"Down to one?" Quinn looked between Jarrod and Cara before stepping away like she had suddenly contracted a nasty disease, "Aw hell no. I don't share, and I don't like lying whores. Have a nice life!"
Quinn hopped offstage and strode out the door without another word, leaving Cara alone with her lipstick smeared and her dress askew. She looked even more pathetic when Jarrod stormed away. Cara's eyes cut through the crowd, looking for the girl who's told her to find Quinn, and her eyes filled with a murderous rage. Aaron and Nova were leaning together, laughing so hard there were tears in their eyes. In that moment, Cara swore the peasant would pay for what he had done- then scampered offstage as people began to boo her.
The final piece of Aaron's plan was complete, so he stayed with Nova and tried to control his laughter. Lizzy, on the other hand, wasn't enjoying herself. Her face was bone white, and Aaron knew exactly why. "Go comfort him," he managed to say, before Nova squeaked "Aw hell no," and they started laughing again.
Lizzy followed the command, glad Aaron was able to see through her so clearly. Weaving through the crowd, she made her way to where Jarrod was leaning against the wall, other students keeping a good distance between themselves and those glaring eyes. He'd already been blamed for what Cara had done, ostracized for breaking up with her, and it made his foul mood worse.
Lizzy approached him slowly, uncertainty sketched across her face, and offered a weak, "Hey."
"What do you want?" Jarrod snapped in return. He recognized Lizzy and though he knew she wasn't one of Cara's followers, he didn't want to listen to another twit tell him what he did 'wrong'.
Lizzy's uncertainty grew and she began to stammer. "I, uh, I just wanted to say I'm sorry about what happened."
"So?"
"Well, you shouldn't have had to find out that way. It was really unfair of her."
"So?"
"I just want you to know I think you deserve a lot better than Cara!" Lizzy spat it out in a rush, her face turning red when she realized what she had said.
Jarrod stared at her, speechless. She thought Cara was in the wrong, and she thought he deserved better. Compared to what people usually told him, he felt like a fanfic author being told they were the next J.K. Rowling. He cleared his throat before managing simple words. "Thank you."
Lizzy smiled at him, and it was like the sun breaking over the horizon. Jarrod couldn't help but smile back. He stood up and offered a hand, preparing to ask her to dance.
The music turned into feedback before he had a chance. "Sorry folks!" It was Aaron on that side, looking furious, his gaze centered on a familiar golden haired boy who was trying to hide behind Kris and Marcus, "Roman had... something to take care of... so he left me in charge, and I barely know which end of the microphone I should be speaking into!"
Laughter rolled around the room, the shocked tension easing. Eager eyes looked up to Aaron as he said, "It's now time to announce this year's homecoming king and queen!"
"This year's king is... Jarrod Hollister!" Aaron announced. The students applauded, but nobody was really surprised. Jarrod slowly dropped his hand and gave Lizzy an apologetic smile. The twins were waiting to attach the crown and cape, and Aaron handed off a gaudy scepter. Jarrod took his place in the spotlight, tens and uneasy; it was tradition for the king and queen to dance, and it Cara won he might strangle her.
Aaron pulled a golden envelope out of his pocket. "And now, the moment you've all been waiting for. This year's homecoming queen is..."
Cara preened amidst her twittering group of followers. Glaring at Aaron as he took his time opening the envelope. Lizzy held her breath, hope swelling until her heart was in her throat. And all the host boys crossed their fingers- even Aaron, though he was wise enough to hide it. He pulled the card out of the envelope, a sunny smile replacing his breathless anticipation.
"Elizabeth Allen!" he announced.
Most of the crowd cheered wildly when the spotlight followed Lizzy through the crowd. Face flushed, lips slightly apart, there were grateful tears in her eyes as she walked up to the boys waiting onstage. The twins handed the cape and crown to Aaron, and Lizzy bent her head to help with the height difference. "Congratulations," Aaron said loud enough for the others to hear, before leaning in to kiss her cheek and whispering, "Good luck."
"Thank you for everything," she whispered back, cradling the bouquet of red roses she'd been handed. Her smile was absolutely breathtaking as she moved to stand next to Jarrod and he offered her an arm. She threaded hers through his, and they stood together as pictures were taken.
"And now," Aaron, again holding the scepter and roses so the couple's hand could be free, stepped back, "It's time for the king and queen's first dance!"
The crowd cleared to allow the couple, trailed by the spotlight, to take the center of the dance floor. Then the lights went out, just as the spotlight turned pink. Students murmured their awe over the job the 'homecoming committee' had done, not knowing the entire dance had been tailored by the host club. Kris had fixed the lighting, and even the music- the soft strains of Just By Being You- was chosen to create the perfect romantic mood after what had just happened.
And it worked. As Sherwood kids, both Jarrod and Lizzy had taken dance lessons, and they looked beautiful together. The anger and hurt faded, and Jarrod softened even more as Lizzy laid her head against his shoulder. He held her close, remembering the caring girl who was always invisible, and he began to think that she might be dangerous- because she was exactly the kind of girl he could fall in love with.
Fall he did. They were dating by the end of the month, and they were such a perfect couple, destined for each other almost, that everybody knew they would be the high school sweethearts who celebrated their eightieth wedding anniversary. And every time somebody mentioned it, they'd just smile and snuggle closer.
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