Chapter 112 Prom Night-Part 1
Liam's POV
"Oh Stacy, you look absolutely stunning. That midnight gown makes you look like a real princess," my mom said, smiling proudly as she admired every detail of the dress.
My parents were over the moon. I could tell from the moment we arrived at Stacy's house. My mother was already smiling too brightly, her phone ready even before I stepped out of the car. My father stood straighter than usual, proud, like this was some kind of business achievement instead of a school prom.
Stacy's house was glowing with lights. Her parents were waiting outside, equally excited. The moment I walked up the driveway, cameras started flashing.
"Stand closer," my mother instructed cheerfully.
Stacy slid her arm around mine, pressing herself against my side. I forced a polite smile as more pictures were taken.
Both of our parents were talking at the same time.
"You two look perfect together."
"Such a beautiful couple."
"This will definitely make it to the society page."
I felt my jaw tighten.
"Enjoy, kids," my father said with satisfaction, placing a firm hand on my shoulder.
"I can't wait to see the pictures in the magazine," my mother added, laughing lightly.
This wasn't about prom. It wasn't about enjoying a normal teenage night. It was about image. Reputation. Appearances.
My fists curled at my sides, my nails digging into my palms. I wasn't happy, instead I felt trapped.
Stacy must have noticed. When the cameras finally lowered and our parents stepped aside to continue talking about "future plans" and "family connections," Stacy turned to me.
"You're awfully quiet," she said, her voice softer now that no one else was directly listening.
"I'm fine," I replied automatically.
But I wasn't. She studied my face carefully.
"You don't look excited," she added, her smile fading slightly.
I didn't know what to say to that. Because she was right. I wasn't excited. Not when the only person I wanted to see tonight wasn't the girl standing beside me.
"I'm just tired," I muttered.
That wasn't entirely a lie. I was tired of pretending.
Tired of playing the role everyone expected from me.
Fed up standing next to someone while thinking about someone else.
Stacy's grip on my arm tightened just a little.
"Is this because of Mia?" she asked quietly, though her tone carried an edge.
I didn't answer. And that silence was answer enough.
Her posture stiffened.
"So you're still thinking about her," she said, forcing a laugh. "Even tonight?"
"It's not like that," I replied, but my voice lacked conviction.
Because the truth was simple. I couldn't stop thinking about Mia. All afternoon, I wondered if she would attend. I imagined what she might wear. I wondered if she would look at me the way she used to. And I feared that she might already hate me.
Stacy stepped slightly away from me.
"You're here with me, Liam," she said, her voice lower now, less confident. "You should at least try to look happy about it."
She was used to being admired and wanted. But tonight, even though I was physically beside her, I wasn't really there. And she could feel it.
Before the tension between us could grow worse, our parents interrupted again, asking for one last photo.
I forced another smile. Another fake moment captured forever. Finally, after what felt like hours, our parents let us go.
"Have fun!" my mother called out.
"Make us proud!" Stacy's father added.
I was glad when they finally let us leave. As I started the engine, I stared straight ahead. Everyone was expected prom night to be magical. But the only thing I could think about was whether Mia would be there.
And if she would look at me the way she used to.
Because no matter how perfect everything looked from the outside, the truth was simple. I wasn't excited to go to prom without her.
The moment we stepped inside the grand ballroom, the lights almost blinded me.
Crystal chandeliers shimmered above us, music floated through the air, and students filled the room in elegant gowns and sharp suits.
But I wasn’t looking at any of that. My eyes were searching for one person. And then I saw Mia.
For a second, I thought I was imagining it. She was standing near one of the tables, and my heart nearly stopped when I realized she was wearing the same midnight gown as Stacy.
The same cut, color, and the same design.
But what shocked me even more, what made my chest tighten painfully, was the realization that she wasn’t wearing the gown I bought for her.
I had imagined her in that dress all afternoon. I had pictured the way it would hug her waist, the way the fabric would shimmer against her skin.
But this wasn’t it. And somehow, that hurt more than I expected.
Still, the moment my eyes truly focused on her, everything else faded. She looked breathtaking.
They might have been wearing the same design, the same size even, but on Mia, the dress came alive.
It wasn’t just beautiful. There was something about the way she carried herself. The quiet strength in her posture. The soft glow of her skin under the golden lights. The way her hair framed her face perfectly.
She wasn’t just wearing the gown. She owned it.
She made it look effortless. And yes, she looked sexier.
Not in a loud or desperate way. But in a way that made it impossible to look anywhere else.
My gaze locked on her, and I couldn’t tear it away.
Then I noticed Stacy stiffen beside me. She had seen it too. Her grip on my arm tightened, and I could almost feel the anger radiating off her.
Before I could say anything, she was already walking toward Mia.
My instinct was to stop her and pull her back to prevent the scene I knew was coming. But I hesitated, if I stopped her too quickly, it would only make things worse. It would make it obvious that I cared too much.
So I followed a step behind, my heart pounding. I hated seeing Mia surrounded by whispers. I hated the way people were looking at her.
But before Stacy could completely unleash her anger, Josh stepped forward.
And in that moment, I felt something close to relief.
He stood beside Mia confidently, not hesitating even for a second. He didn’t look intimidated. He didn’t look embarrassed to be her date.
He looked proud and even though I knew they were just friends, I couldn’t stop the sharp sting of jealousy that pierced through me.
He was the one standing next to her. He was the one defending her. He was the one allowed to hold her hand tonight. And I hated that it wasn’t me.
Still, I was grateful that Josh knew exactly how to handle Stacy. He didn’t shout or create a bigger scene.
He challenged her calmly, cleverly, putting her in her place without making it look like an attack.
He exposed her insecurity without saying it directly.
And when Stacy finally backed down, I felt my shoulders relax slightly. Mia didn’t have to face that alone. As Stacy returned to our table, clearly furious but trying to maintain her composure, I followed silently.
We settled into our seats as people resumed talking.
The music continued but I wasn’t really there. Because no matter how hard I tried to focus on the conversation at our table, my eyes kept drifting back to Mia.
She was laughing softly at something Josh said. She looked nervous, yet she was trying so hard to be brave. I couldn’t stop staring. I kept telling myself to look away, to focus on Stacy, but my eyes betrayed me every single time.
The truth was simple. No matter who stood beside me, the only girl I could see in that ballroom was Mia.