What is going on??

What is going on??
#FRIDAY#
#PROM DAY #

VIOLET’S POINT OF VIEW

By the time the afternoon light started settling softly through my window, my room no longer felt like my room, it felt like something out of a dream, something slower, something wrapped in quiet excitement that sat gently in my chest and refused to leave.

The dress was laid carefully across my bed, catching the light in a way that made it almost glow, a soft golden-yellow fabric that shimmered every time I moved past it, like sunlight had been woven into every thread. It wasn’t loud or too much, it was just… beautiful in a quiet way, the kind that didn’t need to beg for attention because it already had it.

My heels sat just beneath it, delicate and matching, the straps thin and elegant, while a small purse rested beside them, simple but perfect, like everything had been chosen not just to look good… but to feel right.

I stood in front of the mirror, barely recognizing the girl staring back at me.
My hair had just been styled, falling softly around my shoulders in loose waves that framed my face perfectly, and the makeup artist had only just stepped away, leaving behind a version of me that looked softer, brighter… different in a way I couldn’t fully explain.

“Hold still,” my mom murmured behind me, her hands gentle as she adjusted a small strand of hair that had slipped out of place, her touch careful, almost like she was handling something fragile.

I met her eyes through the mirror and for a second… she just looked at me.
Not speaking, not correcting anything… just looking.

“…you’ve grown,” she said quietly, and something about the way she said it made my chest tighten just a little and I smiled faintly, not trusting my voice enough to answer properly, because somehow… it felt true in more ways than one.

This past week… everything had changed.
Not loudly, not suddenly… but in those quiet, almost unnoticeable ways that only made sense when you stopped to really feel them.
Dylan had been… different.Softer and More present Like he was trying, not just to be there, but to be better, and the way he looked at me lately, the way he spoke to me, the way he held me like I was something he didn’t want to lose… it stayed with me even when he wasn’t around.

I let out a small breath, my fingers brushing lightly over the fabric of my dress as I stared at my reflection again.I think I love him…no.....I know I do.

The thought came quietly, not dramatic, not overwhelming… just honest.
And maybe… maybe I had known it for a while now.

“I’m done,” my mom said gently, stepping back with a small, satisfied smile as she looked me over again.

“You look… stunning, Violet.”

“Thank you, mom,” I whispered softly, turning slightly toward her, my heart already beating a little faster and I didn’t even know why.Maybe I did because just then… there was a soft knock at the door.

Mom’s eyes flickered toward it before she smiled knowingly, glancing back at me.

“Well…” she said lightly,

“I think he's here”My heart skipped.
Actually skipped and before I could even react properly, she was already moving toward the door, opening it just enough before stepping aside. Yeah this past days Dylan has been visiting a lot and it still surprises me that she let him into my room.

“Oh my…” she murmured, her tone shifting slightly in approval.

“Dylan, come in.”I didn’t turn immediately,I couldn’t because suddenly… I was nervous.
For no reason that made sense but I still turned Slowly.

And the moment my eyes landed on him… everything else faded just a little.He was standing there, dressed in a perfectly fitted black tuxedo that somehow made him look even more put together than usual, his hair styled just enough to look effortless, but his expression…......His expression gave him away because he wasn’t moving he was just staring at me like he had forgotten how to do anything else.

“Wow….....” he breathed out finally, his voice low, almost like he hadn’t meant to say it out loud and for some reason… that hit harder than anything rehearsed ever could.I felt my cheeks warm slightly, my fingers tightening just a little at my sides as I took a small step forward.

“Hi,” I said softly.He didn’t answer immediately,He just walked toward me, slow, steady… like he was taking his time, like he didn’t want to rush this moment.

“You look…” he started, then shook his head slightly, a faint smile pulling at his lips,

“no… beautiful doesn’t even cover it.”My breath caught just slightly.

“You look unreal, mon chérie,” he added more quietly, his gaze softening as it stayed on mine.My heart did that thing again… that slow, heavy pull.

“Thank you,” I whispered.My mom cleared her throat lightly behind us, amusement lacing her voice.

“Alright,” she said,

“I think I’ll leave you two before I start feeling like a third wheel in my own house.”That earned a soft laugh from me, and before I could say anything else… Dylan reached for my hand gently like he always did.

“Ready?” he asked, his thumb brushing lightly against my fingers and I nodded.

“Yeah.”He didn’t let go as he led me outside, opening the car door for me like it was the most natural thing in the world, his hand hovering just slightly as I stepped in, making sure I didn’t trip over my dress.

“Careful,” he murmured.

“I’ve got you.”And somehow… I believed that completely . The drive was quieter than I expected, but not uncomfortable.Just filled with small glances, soft smiles, and the kind of silence that didn’t need to be filled because it already felt like enough.

“You really look beautiful,” he said again after a while, his voice softer this time, like he wasn’t saying it just to compliment me… but because he meant it.I turned slightly toward him, smiling faintly.

“You’ve said that already.”

“I’ll keep saying it,” he replied easily,

“until you believe me as much as I do.”I didn’t answer that because I didn’t know how to without giving away just how much it affected me.By the time we pulled up to the venue, the energy was already there.Loud,bright and alive.

The building glowed with lights, music spilling out even before we stepped inside, voices overlapping, laughter echoing, dresses flowing in every direction while suits and tuxedos filled the space with movement and excitement and for a second… I just stood there taking it in.

“This is…” I started softly.

“Yeah,” Dylan finished beside me, a small smile on his lips as he glanced down at me,

“prom.”He reached for my hand again and without thinking… I held on.Together, we stepped forward into the lights,Into the music,Into a night that already felt like it was going to change everything.

The deeper we moved into the hall, the more everything around me seemed to come alive in a way I hadn’t expected, like stepping into a space where every sound, every light, every movement carried its own kind of energy, soft but overwhelming at the same time, and I found myself holding onto Dylan’s hand just a little tighter without even realizing it, grounding myself in something familiar while everything else felt new. My eyes caught Nianna who was standing at a corner of the hall sipping on a drink and immediately she saw me she grinned widely and I sighed and rolled my eyes walking away, I'm in no mood for her stunts today.

I've never been a fan of parties and It didn’t take long before familiar voices found me.

“Violet!”Mira’s voice came first, bright and impossible to miss, and the next thing I knew she was right in front of me, her eyes wide as she took me in from head to toe like she couldn’t quite believe what she was seeing, her hand immediately grabbing mine as she turned me slightly.

“Okay no, wait… hold on,” she said, shaking her head slowly,

“who is this because this cannot be the same Violet I know.”I laughed softly, a little embarrassed but mostly warmed by the way she was looking at me, like I had done something unbelievable just by showing up like this.

“You look insane,” she added quickly, her voice full of excitement,

“like actually insane, in the best way possible.”

“Thank you,” I said, smiling as my gaze shifted to the others standing with her.Zaynstood beside her, his arm resting easily around her waist, dressed sharply in a dark suit that somehow made him look more put together than usual, and he gave a small nod of approval.

“Hey sis.........You look good,” he said and I smiled brightly. Yeah we've been kinda close because of the whole wedding stuff and I can't believe the wedding is finally tomorrow.

“Not bad yourself,” I replied lightly, and that earned a small smirk from him before his eyes flickered briefly toward Dylan.Thessa stepped forward next, graceful as always, her dress soft and elegant in a way that fit her perfectly, Johnson standing beside her looking unusually composed but clearly enjoying the attention.

“You look beautiful, Violet,” she said warmly, pulling me into a gentle hug that felt grounding in the middle of everything.

“Thank you,” I murmured, hugging her back,

“you do too, seriously.”Johnson gave a quiet laugh.

“Didn’t think we’d ever see this version of you,” he teased, and I shot him a look that made him raise his hands immediately.

“I meant that in a good way,” he added quickly and Amanda joined in not long after, her expression lighting up the moment she saw me, Brian just beside her, a little quieter but smiling all the same.

“Okay… wait,” she said softly, studying me in a way that felt deeper than the others,

“you’re glowing.”That made my chest tighten just slightly, not in discomfort but in recognition, because it wasn’t the first time I had heard that today, and somehow it felt more real each time.

“I think I am,” I admitted quietly, and I didn’t miss the way her smile softened at that.For a while, everything felt easy.

We moved together, talked, laughed, blending into the rhythm of the night as music filled the space and couples slowly made their way to the dance floor, the lights dimming just enough to create that soft, almost dreamlike atmosphere where everything felt a little slower, a little closer.

At some point, Dylan’s hand found my waist again, pulling me gently into him, and we moved without thinking, not really dancing in any structured way, just swaying together, close enough that I could feel the steady rise and fall of his breathing.

“You okay?” he murmured near my ear, his voice low and warm in a way that sent a quiet shiver through me.

“I’m more than okay,” I whispered back, and I meant it in a way I hadn’t fully expected to.
His hand tightened slightly at my side, his touch gentle, familiar, and for a moment everything settled into something that felt almost perfect, like nothing outside of this space could reach us.

I didn’t notice when the music began to fade.I didn’t notice when conversations started lowering.Not until a voice cut through the room, clear and steady.

“Can I have everyone’s attention, please?”The principal stood at the front, drawing eyes toward him as the room gradually quieted, people turning, adjusting, stepping away from conversations as the energy shifted into something more focused.

Dylan’s hand was still at my waist, and I leaned slightly into him without thinking, my fingers lightly resting against his chest as I looked toward the front with everyone else.

“At this point in the evening,” the principal began, his voice carrying easily through the hall,

“we’d like to take a moment to acknowledge all of you and how far you’ve come......”

"I must say you all look fabulous and........."A soft interruption cut through his words.It was subtle at first, just a faint electronic hum that didn’t quite belong, but it grew quickly, enough to pull attention toward the back of the hall where the large display screen flickered unexpectedly.

The principal paused mid-sentence, turning slightly with a confused glance.
The screen went dark.

A murmur spread through the hall, small at first, then growing as people began to notice, heads turning, voices overlapping quietly in confusion.Then suddenly, the screen lit up again.
But this time… it wasn’t decorations.
It wasn’t the soft visuals that had been playing all night........it was blank but then an audio began playing and then....My breath caught because I recognized the voices
Zayn and Dylan's.

“You remember how this started, right"

“Zayn.........”

“I’m serious,” I cut in.

“Because if you’re not… you need to end it.”

“End it?”

“I’m not breaking up with Violet."

“Well You might have to.”

“Why?”

“Because if this keeps going… and our parents get serious… Violet might end up part of my family.”

“And when that happens,” I continued,

“the truth about the bet will blow everything up.”

“It won’t just hurt Violet. It’ll start a war between my dad and me. Between our families. Between everyone.”
The sound cleared after a brief crackle, voices becoming sharper, clearer, impossible to ignore and I haven't recovered fully from the recording when a video displayed this time showing the four friends this time and it looks like the video was gotten from a CCTV footage.

“Well, I know someone who can actually resist your charming face.

“Who could that possibly be? Come on, Johnny… there can’t be anyone who’d be immune to my stunning appeal!”

“Violet Roland,” I heard my name and gulped down nothing.

“Who’s that? Is she in our school? The name sounds a bit familiar, but I can't quite place it,”

“Violet Roland, you know, the brainy nerd from our class? She’s actually our class president right now,”

“Oh, right! The awkward girl who dresses like she’s going to a convent!"

“I really thought I was the only one who had noticed that,”

"I’ve been keeping an eye on her for quite some time now,"

"She’s the only one who doesn’t drool all over herself or scream like a banshee whenever she sees you. Honestly, I seriously doubt she has any feelings for you at all."

"Come on, guys, it's possible she might actually like me but is just too nervous to express it. Perhaps she feels intimidated by all the other girls in our class who are so obviously smitten with me. Shyness can be a powerful barrier, you know,"

"I have to agree with Johnson here, Dylan,"

"I've been observing her as well, and I can assure you that she doesn’t seem particularly attracted to you. In fact, I’ve never witnessed her gazing at you with even a hint of desire, unlike all those other girls who can hardly keep their eyes off you."

"That can't be true! She might just be the type of person who doesn’t wear her heart on her sleeve,"

"I mean, honestly, who could possibly resist my charming looks and substantial bank account?"

"Face it, man. The nerd simply doesn’t have a crush on you. It seems there’s still at least one girl in this world who isn’t falling for your so-called charm,"

"I’m not so certain that’s entirely true"

"I mean, seriously, what woman in her right mind wouldn’t be attracted to me? Unless, of course, she's a ghost or belongs to another planet. Even the lesbians can’t seem to resist my charm!"

"Alright, let’s make this interesting. How about we place a little bet ? If you manage to win her over and she agrees to go out with you, I will gladly give up my vacation house for you. But on the flip side, if you fail to convince her to date you, then that shiny cyber truck of yours is mine,".

"Oh, believe me, I’d be ready to part with my Benz if you can actually pull this off."

"Well, just to raise the stakes a little higher, I’ll throw in my Tesla truck too if you succeed,"

"Alright, deal! Just you wait and see; she’s going to say yes to me, and I’m going to walk away with all of your cars!" Dylan added, his tone almost careless, like it was nothing, like it meant nothing.

The video paused there immediately and by now I was shaking badly trying to digest all I've just heard.The room around me disappeared but everything else faded into something distant, something muffled, like I was hearing it from far away.

Gasps started rising, whispers spreading quickly, voices overlapping in disbelief, in shock, in something that felt too loud for what I was experiencing because inside me…It was quiet.....too quiet.

My hand slipped from his without me realizing when it happened, my fingers falling away slowly like they didn’t belong there anymore and then I turned,not fast,not sharply Just slowly Until I was facing him.....really facing him.

Searching his face for something… anything that would make this not real.
My throat tightened, my voice coming out softer than I intended, almost fragile in a way I didn’t recognize.

“Dylan…”He didn’t move.....Didn’t speak and that… that was worse than anything else.

My chest tightened painfully, my eyes searching his as the weight of everything settled heavier with every passing second.

“…what is going on?”