Chapter 117 Prom King And Queen
Mia’s POV
I danced until my feet began to ache, but I didn’t mind it at all. The music, the lights, and the laughter around us made everything feel lighter. For a while, I forgot about the embarrassment earlier and the whispers that followed me in the ballroom.
Josh never left my side. He made sure I was smiling, laughing, and enjoying the night like everyone else. He spun me around the dance floor, joked with me, and kept the conversation light so I wouldn’t think about the things that had hurt me.
When Daniel and Dina finally joined us on the dance floor, Josh playfully switched partners with Daniel. Dina laughed as Josh took her hand, leaving me facing Daniel.
I smiled at him warmly.
“Congratulations, best couple,” I said. “Even the students at the academy believed you two were the perfect pair tonight. I’m really happy for you and Dina.”
Daniel chuckled softly as he placed his arm gently around my waist while we moved with the rhythm of the music.
“Thank you, Mia,” he replied. “Honestly, I didn’t expect people to vote for us.”
I laughed quietly.
“Well, you both looked amazing tonight. No one else really stood a chance.”
For a moment, I hesitated before speaking again.
“I’m sorry though,” I admitted honestly. “I wasn’t able to vote for you.”
Daniel raised an eyebrow in amusement, but he didn’t seem offended. Instead, he smiled knowingly.
“Thank you for your honesty,” he said. “And I think I know exactly why you weren’t able to vote.”
I looked at him, confused.
“What do you mean?”
His gaze softened as he studied my gown for a moment before looking back at my face.
“Mia, I’ve known you for years,” he said gently. “You’re not the type who would suddenly disappear from a party and come back wearing another beautiful gown unless something happened.”
My heart tightened slightly. Daniel continued in a calm voice.
“You wouldn’t change dresses in the middle of the night unless someone tried to ruin your evening.”
I didn’t answer right away. Instead, I forced a small smile and looked away for a second as the music continued around us.
He was right. Daniel had always been observant.
But tonight, I didn’t want to ruin the mood by talking about what had happened earlier.
So I simply smiled and said softly, “Let’s just say tonight has been… eventful.”
Daniel didn’t push me further. Instead, he simply nodded and guided me gently as we continued to dance. And for a moment, I allowed myself to forget everything again.
Just for this one night.
“Liam obviously wanted to dance with you.”
Daniel leaned closer and whispered the words near my ear.
My entire body suddenly felt warm, and I quickly looked away from the direction of Liam and Stacy.
“Please… don’t ruin my night,” I murmured softly.
Daniel chuckled under his breath, clearly amused by my reaction.
“I’m serious, Mia,” he continued. “He was staring at me the whole time. And that look he gave me… it was obvious. He wanted to trade places with me.”
I kept my eyes on the dance floor, pretending to focus on the music, but my heart had already started beating faster.
“Honestly,” Daniel added with a small shake of his head, “I almost felt sorry for him. Liam really wanted to be with you tonight.”
He paused before finishing quietly.
“But he can’t.” His words struck deeper than I wanted to admit.
I already knew that. And the painful truth was that I felt the same way. But I forced myself to smile as if his words didn’t affect me at all.
“Well,” I said lightly, “I didn’t come here tonight to think about someone I know I can’t be with. I only came to get extra points for attendance.”
I gave a small shrug.
“And maybe enjoy the night a little. Just once. I want this night to feel magical.”
Daniel looked at me for a moment, his eyes searching my face as if he didn’t quite believe me.
Before he could say anything else, he spoke again, his voice suddenly more serious.
“Well… Liam isn’t the only one who wants to be with you.” I blinked and looked at him.
“What do you mean?” I asked and Daniel met my gaze directly.
“I want to be with you too, Mia.”
His words made me shake my head immediately.
“Please, Dan,” I said gently but firmly. “Don’t start that again. You’re here with Dina tonight.”
I lowered my voice.
“Don’t make me feel even more guilty.”
Daniel sighed quietly.
“If I had waited for you instead of asking Dina—”
I didn’t let him finish.
“It’s okay,” I interrupted quickly. “Stop blaming yourself.”
I gave him a small smile.
“Besides, Josh is the best date I could ever have tonight.”
Daniel laughed softly, but there was still something serious in his eyes.
“And that’s exactly the problem,” he said.
I frowned slightly.
“What problem?”
“I know you and Josh are just best friends,” Daniel continued. “But sometimes I worry that one day… you might fall for him.”
He paused before adding quietly,
“And if that happens, I’ll lose my chance with you forever.”
His words made me want to laugh, but I managed to keep a straight face. If Daniel only knew the truth about Josh, he probably wouldn’t be saying that.
Josh was hiding his own secret, one that had nothing to do with me.
“That’s not going to happen,” I said gently.
Daniel looked at me curiously.
“Why not?”
“Because Josh is already in love with someone else,” I replied.
I hated lying, but this was the easiest way to end the conversation.
“He just keeps it secret,” I added. “The girl he likes… she’s someone like me.”
Daniel’s expression softened immediately.
“Really?”
I nodded. I didn’t want to add another lie or make the story more complicated. So I simply smiled and said, “Really.”
As the song slowly came to an end, Daniel spun me one last time before letting go of my hand. Josh and Dina returned to us, laughing softly as we switched partners again.
Josh immediately took my hand like he always did, steady and reassuring.
“You look like you’re finally enjoying the night,” he said with a teasing smile.
“I am,” I admitted quietly.
And it was true, the tight feeling in my chest had finally loosened. The music, the lights, and the laughter around us made everything feel almost magical.
For a moment, I forgot about the whispers.
I forgot about the humiliation earlier.
I even forgot about Liam standing across the ballroom.
Josh pulled me into one last spin just as the music faded and the dance floor slowly filled with applause.
Then the host returned to the stage.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” his cheerful voice echoed through the grand ballroom. “Please return to your assigned tables as we prepare for the highlight of tonight’s prom.”
Everyone began walking back to their seats, still talking and laughing excitedly.
Josh guided me back to our table, his hand resting lightly on my back as we walked. Daniel and Dina followed close behind us.
The lights dimmed slightly as everyone settled down.
A quiet buzz of excitement filled the ballroom. I watched as the host adjusted the microphone and smiled at the crowd.
“And now,” he announced proudly, “the moment everyone has been waiting for.”
A few students whistled while others clapped loudly.
“The announcement of this year’s Prom King and Prom Queen.”
My heart skipped slightly even though I knew it had nothing to do with me.
Students from elite families filled the academy. Beautiful, confident girls who had always belonged in places like this.
Girls like Stacy and not girls like me. I folded my hands on the table, simply waiting for the announcement to end so the night could continue.
The host lifted an envelope dramatically.
“Our Prom King for this year…”
The ballroom went quiet.
“…is Liam Alcaraz!”
The entire room erupted in cheers and applause.
I forced myself to smile politely as everyone stood to clap for him. It wasn’t surprising at all. Liam had always been the most admired student at Suncrest Academy.
He stood from his table, looking almost uncomfortable with the attention as he walked toward the stage.
My eyes followed him for a brief moment before I quickly looked down at the table again.
I didn’t want to watch.
“And now,” the host continued with excitement, “our Prom Queen.”
More cheers and whistles echoed across the ballroom.
I absently traced the edge of the tablecloth while waiting for the name of some beautiful and popular girl to be called.
The host opened the second envelope.
“Our Prom Queen for this year is…” He paused for dramatic effect.
Then he read the name.
“….Mia Villaruiz!”
For a moment, I thought I had heard wrong as my head snapped up.
The entire ballroom suddenly turned toward me.
Gasps and murmurs spread across the room. Josh’s eyes widened beside me.
Daniel stared in shock. And I simply sat there, frozen in my seat. Because the name the host had just called was mine.