Chapter 90 ~Are you ready?~
(Xander's POV)
I did it.
I confessed my feelings.
But what I didn't foresee was that her eyebrows would be furrowed in confusion, her lips slightly parted. What I didn't expect was that she wouldn't say it back.
My heart sank instantly. I shouldn't have done it.
Did I unknowingly freak her out?
Worse, was this unrequited?
“Xander…” Her voice trailed off. She couldn't even meet my eyes.
I swallowed dry air.
“I don't know what to say.” She suddenly looked so small. An expression like guilt spread across her face.
At that moment, I couldn't help but feel immense pity. I should've been mad at her for dumping my feelings onto her, but I felt sorry for her instead.
I held her arms, and she squirmed slightly. “You don't have to say it back.”
I forced a smile. I’d rather she said she loved me when she truly meant it, not because she felt compelled to reciprocate my feelings for me.
She nodded slowly.
“So,” I opened the car door for her. “Let's just make the best of our last days at NorthVale High.”
Oh, I almost forgot.
I tucked my hand into my pockets and retrieved her corsage.
I tied the small flower around her dainty wrist.
She smiled and for the first time, I noticed the tears in her eyes.
“What did I ever do to deserve someone like you?” she whispered, but I heard it.
She dug her hands into her clutch and brought out a boutonniere, then pinned it to my jacket. “You like?”
“Nice.” I grinned.
Her earlier statement burned in my chest. Someone like me?
I was far from perfect. I wonder what her reaction would be when she eventually found out the truth.
“Let's go, we'll be late.”
The drive was filled with us mutilating the lyrics to my car playlist.
It felt surreal. In this moment, everything felt perfect.
We pulled up to the parking lot. The sky had turned turquoise, and stars glittered beautifully.
“Yoh Xander!” Matt called out. “Sick tux bro.”
“I know.” I gave him a back slap. “You too.”
He turned to Fiona as she stepped out of the vehicle. “Whoa! FiFi, you look like an absolute goddess.”
“So I've been told.” She replied with a playful smirk.
The venue was already packed with so many students and other invitees. It was hard to believe it was the school gym. It was completely transformed.
The theme of this year's prom was Winter Wonderland.
The lighting was crisp and the decorations were like a frozen land of ice.
I noticed the stares and whispers as we walked in.
“I'm so nervous,” Fiona said in a soft voice.
“You have abso-fucking-lutely no reason to be.” I squeezed her palms. “You look like you walked out of a Vogue magazine.”
Matt, who was close to us, spoke out. “I need to get drunk as fuck!”
We laughed as he sauntered to the drink table.
Yara and Calvin walked up to us at the same moment.
“Oh my god. You guys are here finally.” Yara hugged Fiona. “It's been so fun!”
“Yeah. Let's go take photos.” Fiona tugged her hand and they walked to the photo booth.
Calvin and I were left alone.
I could feel his gaze on me in my peripheral vision.
“I will,” I responded before he had the chance to chastise me. “Tonight. After the formal dance, I'll tell her everything. Just not now.”
I needed to savor as many good times as I could.
Calvin squeezed my shoulder, and for the first time, he truly felt like an elder brother, not just my beta. “She has to hear it from you. If she hears it from elsewhere, it's not going to look good.”
“I know.”
I could see Yara and Fiona waving at us from the photobooth to join them for photos.
For a moment, the fear of losing her forever gripped me.
I turned to Calvin. “Do you think everything is going to be okay?”
We walked up to the photo booth. Calvin answered finally when we were just inches away. “I… I don't know.”
We took probably a thousand photos, cackling like hyenas as we did.
My favorite photo was the one where Fiona and I kissed.
Fiona's smiles, though. They felt too forced, almost like she was hiding beneath them.
Could it be that she'd already found out…
It was improbable.
We were by the snacks bar when they called for the formal dance.
“Ooh, the part I've been waiting for.” Yara squealed.
Caribbean Blue by Enya played on the speaker.
“I love that song,” Fiona whispered.
Was I just jealous of a song?
“Can I have this dance, mi lady?” I held out my palms.
She giggled. “With pleasure, good sir.”
The lights went dim, and the ceiling looked like a bed of clouds as we walked arm in arm to the dance floor.
We weren't staring into each other's eyes as we danced. No, we were staring at each other's souls.
I brushed her hair back when stray strands covered her face. “You look so fucking beautiful.”
She blushed crimson and placed her cheek on my chest for the rest of the dance.
I felt like I was soaring.
The dance felt too long, yet fleeting.
Finally, we broke apart when it was time for the group dance.
I went to the side and sat with Calvin, watching the dance.
It was going well until Brianna, Jasmin and whatever the other one's name was—surrounded and cornered Fiona.
They seemed to be trying to bully her.
I stood up to move toward them but Calvin was faster.
I watched with silent anger as the three bullies backed off as soon as Calvin showed up.
What were they trying to do?
I didn't have time to think about it for too long because it was time to crown the prom queen and king.
Gradually, all the students and others filed to the center stage where the host was speaking.
The lights went dim as they prepared to call the winners.
In a flash, I felt someone push through the crowd and drop something in my pocket.
“Hey!” I called out but the person had disappeared into the crowd.
Alarmed, I swiftly removed the item from my pocket.
An hourglass?
And a letter…
I squinted to make out the words.
It simply read:
Are you ready?
I stared blankly at the cryptic message.
I felt deeply uneasy.
“... for Prom King and Queen, Xander Theon Grayson and Fiona Hepburn!” The host was saying.
Claps erupted.
I was in a haze. Someone pushed me towards the front.
The hourglass crashed from my hands and broke on the ground.
“Congratulations!” Someone was saying.
A sash.
A tiara for Fiona.
But my mind was on the message. Are you ready?
From the top of the podium, I looked at the end of the hall.
Someone dressed fully in a black drape and hoodie stood watching me intently from the back.
His eyes flashed red, and I thought I caught a smirk that I was all too familiar with.
The hairs on my body stood on end.