The party was in full swing by the time we walked inside the school's gym, where the prom was being held. There were fairy lights displayed at the entrance, creating a curtain of blinking lights that we had to walk through to get inside. The polished, shiny wooden floors served as a makeshift dance floor, with some small circular tables scattered around. There were a few larger tables on the sides of the room that had food - which basically consisted of light snacks such as triangle shaped sandwiches or sausage rolls -, and drinks, with the traditional ponche and red cups all placed one into another, creating a small tower of cups.

The gym's lights were totally off, making the colorful projectors that they had placed all around the ceiling to serve as the only source of light in the room, with the exception of the large spotlight that stood proudly above the small stage they'd built in for tonight's event.

For a split second I allowed myself to think about all the shows and movies I spent endless nights watching, in the comfortable darkness of my bedroom, and how they all had that prom scene that was traditional, cliché and painted an image of perfection.

Well, tonight looked just like that, except that tonight it was mine. It was not someone else's, it was not fictional and it wasn't a scene trapped on a screen. It was real and it was mine and I wouldn't change a thing.

"Let's get this party started!" Ben came back with two red cups in each hand, already overflowing with a dark colored drink that I just assumed was Coke.

Chloé took her drink from his hand before following Ben into the dancefloor, and I watched from afar as they started dancing closely together to what sounded like a remix version of Apocalypse Please by Muse.

Carter and Kyle walked away from the group as well, holding hands as they made their way to the drinks' table, looking dapper as ever, in their fancy tuxedos. Carter chose an all black look that matched his mysterious personality really well. Kyle, being Kyle, dressed to impress, and with the intention to stand out, he decided to go with a dark, night sky blue colored tux, in velvet fabric.

Harper, who was standing next to me, looked every bit as nervous as she held onto her handbag tightly, against her abdomen. She was looking around the room, taking everything in when Wyatt cleared his throat and caught her attention.

"Do you wanna dance?" He'd asked, nervously, as he extended out his hand.

My cousin wasn't one to just be quiet or nervous around guys, and that was how I knew that as much as she repeats that she and Wyatt are just friends, there is definitely something more going on between them. And by the way Wyatt - a college boy - looked anxious around her too, I could easily make my assumptions.

Harper simply nodded in silence before placing her hand in his, and off they went into the dance floor.

And then there were two.

Me and Noah.

"You wanna check it out?" The question filled in the silence that was previously occupied by the muffled mixture of sounds of music and people chatting.

I looked in the direction his thumb was pointing at, finding a photobooth that stood in the corner of the room. Nodding in agreement, I followed him and hand in hand, we made our way through the crowd of sweaty bodies and spilled drinks and made it to our destination. Thankfully, it was empty, so we just walked right in and sat down.

Behind the seats, there was a tinsel fringe curtain in the shades of silver and blue, that created the perfect and very prom appropriate backdrop for the pictures.

The booth made for the perfect hidden spot of prom, away from everyone else. Underneath the white fluorescent lights and in the privacy of the booth, Noah kissed me without warning, and my lips welcomed his as I kissed him back.

"I need to tell you something." He said as our lips parted, and I eagerly waited for him to elaborate. "You look really, really beautiful tonight."

I giggled against his lips before giving him another peck and whispering, "You've already told me that."

"I know I did. But I'm gonna keep telling you that for the rest of night 'cause you really do." I smiled, yet he wasn't finished. "I know what you're gonna say, that we already have a lot of pictures, but we should take some here, while we're actually at prom. I never want to forget tonight and you and how you look. See, I'm gonna need a few pictures to look at everyday next fall."

My eyebrows met in the middle of my forehead as I frowned in confusion at his last few words, and gave Noah a questioning look.

"I got into CSU." The corners of his mouth shot up in a smile and I couldn't help but mirror his expression.

"Really?!" He nodded, and I wrapped my arms around his neck, holding him tightly against me. "I'm so happy for you!"

When I pulled back, his hand cupped my cheek and he pulled me in for another kiss.

"I took your advice and re-took the SATs. I heard back from then in April, right after spring break." His index finger toyed with my side braid that fell over my shoulder. "They sent me a conditional offer of admission, I'm getting in with a scholarship."

"You deserve it, Noah." He really did. And he was the best male swimmer of our school, it was no surprise to me that the university took that into consideration. "You're gonna do brilliantly over there."

I was expecting a thank you, or a kiss for that matter, but he said something else. "I'll be waiting for you."

I froze in my place, my eyes searching every corner of his brown ones, as if that would provide me with some sort of clear view about my future. After a moment, it did, and I let my lips curl upwards into a smile.

"You better." Were the two simple words that rolled out my tongue before I kissed him again.

At least until someone knocked on the booth, startling us and cutting our makeout session short. We laughed against each other's mouths before we let go.

Noah got us some props that were hanging on the side wall of the booth. He grabbed the mustache for himself, and handed me the tiny, sparkling golden crown.

"Better get started on these pictures."

* * *

The screeching, irritating, and abnormally high sound of someone grabbing the mic, caused everyone - including me - to stop what they were doing and look up at the stage. The two representatives of the student body were standing up there for everyone in the room to see them. They shared a nervous laugh at the mic in the taller guy's hands before bringing it a few inches away from their mouths as they put their faces closer.

"May we have your attention, please?"

"You already did that!" Ben shoutted, jokingly, which earned the two boys on the stage an eruption of laughter.

Way to loosen the crowd, Ben.

"I hope you're enjoying tonight!" Everyone cheered, and they instantly looked like they felt more at ease in front of all those people.

"As you probably already know,-"

"And if you don't, you're about to." The shortest guy with ginger colored curls said.

"We're the president and co-president of the student body. And we were the ones who put together this pretty amazing prom!"

More cheering.

"Thank you." Both of them smiled. "This is Davidson High, and if you've attended this school for at least a semester, you know that we like to change things up here. And this year, we decided we should not have a prom king and queen." That's what split the crowd between booing and cheering. "It's 2021 and choosing a guy and a girl to be crowned king and queen when we all look hot, is just wrong, alright? So, we decided we're gonna have a fashion show, and everyone's welcome to participate as a model and as a judge!"

Chloé literally screamed when the student body made their announcement and I managed to hide a giggle, choosing to just look at her with an amused expression.

"There'll be no winner and no losers, it'll literally just be participants walking down the stage and judges cheering them on!"

"Oh yeah, anything negative and you're immediately disqualified as a judge." The co-president added.

"I wish I could say that we don't make the rules, but we actually do."

Most of the room cheered, and sooner rather than later, everyone was showing their outfits and getting hyped up by the volunteer judges, and our group was no exception with each of us taking turns between showing off and shouting out flattering remarks.

I enjoyed hearing nice things about me and how I looked from my friends when it was my turn to walk, but my heart was set on the compliment I had already gotten tonight, and that I could not get enough of hearing.

* * *

author's note: what a fresh and positive idea about hyping each other up at prom instead of picking just one king and queen, uh? 🦋

i've got some important news for you - "The Beginning of the End" will be book #1 of the Cosmic Love Series! that's right, lovelies! Cosmic Love Series is a romance series created by me, that will include four books, and TBOTE will be its first! it'll be about every character you've met in this book (and some new ones, eheh), and although you'll be able to read each book as a standalone, i will persoanlly recommend that you'll read the previous books as the series will follow a timeline.

i'll share more about it in the future, so stay tuned <3 

last but not least, please vote if you liked this chapter, comment, and add this story to your reading list so you don't miss out on any updates!

xoxo, mars