Billy parked with the fleet of limousines and vintage cars in the parking lot. People in fancy dresses and stylish suits headed in to the hotel or stayed outside to take photos with friends. The sun had just began to set, turning the sky a gorgeous mix of purple, orange and pink.

"You kids have fun tonight," Billy said, holding the car door opened as we all filed out.

"We plan on it, Mr. Chambers," Gia assured him. She got this daydreamy look in her eyes before continuing. "I've been waiting for this moment since I was eleven and saw Carrie for the first. I know that's not the best example of a high school prom, but it was good up until the part with the pig's blood and—"

Before she could go on, Bee steered her girlfriend in the direction of some of her cheer buddies. "Let's go socialize, babe."

Once they walked away, Billy clamped a hand down on Nolan's shoulder. "Your mother would've loved this," he told him. "She used to worry about you not taking advantage of the high school experience. She was prepared to drag you to every pep rally and fundraiser your school had."

We laughed at that. Probably all thinking the same thing: Allison would've taken Nolan kicking and screaming. No doubt about it.

"But she didn't have to," he continued, looking at me. "Who knew a broken carburetor could change lives like this?"

It did come down to that, didn't it? What if another mechanic had been sent instead of Nolan? Would we be here now? Would we have just been a face in the crowded hallways to each other?

The thought that such a small detail could've meant not having Nolan in my life made me appreciate things a little more. When I looked up at Nolan and saw that his eyes were on me, a hint of a smile on his face, I knew he felt the same.

"Good thing I saved this." Billy dug into his wallet and pulled out a folded piece of paper, handing it to me. "Call it a prom gift. That's a thing, right?" He phone rang before either of us had a chance to answer. He glanced at the screen, then said, "Duty calls."

I didn't unfold the paper until after Billy left and Nolan and I were talking into the hotel. It took a second for me register what I was looking at. But when I did, an uncontrollable smile broke on my face.

"What is it?" He asked, trying to steal a peek.

"The review card from the day we met and you were being a total jerk," I said, smirking up at him.

"What'd you write on that anyway?" He asked, taking the paper from me.

"That you were being a total jerk."

"And that I ruined guys with long hair for you?" He stopped, glancing at me. "So, you only wanted me for my hair?"

Instead of answering that incriminating question, I kissed him.

"Are you trying to distract me?" He asked, pulling away a little.

I chewed at my bottom lip. "Is it working?"

"Yes." He smiled, leaning in again.

We were interrupted by Zane Banks and the annoying click of his camera as he bombarded us with photos.

"How does it feel being in the top six?" A girl, nearly as tall as Nolan, asked—pen and paper at the ready.

The year book committee knew no bounds.

"Awesome." Nolan said, clearly uninterested in being interviewed. He took my hand and started towards the entrance of the ball room that was decorated in a balloon arch in our school colors.

"One more question, Jade," the girl insisted.

I stopped, forcing Nolan to as well. It would've been rude not to. Besides, she was also a voter. Being nice to her could have its benefits. "Yes?"

"There's a rumor that you offered to sleep with Deshaun if he told everyone he lied about you cheating on him. Is there any truth to that?" Her hazel eyes lit up as she waited for me to reveal something juicy for her article.

I took back my previous statement. Nolan had the right idea. Instead of answering her insane question, I was the one dragging Nolan to the line to get inside the dance.

"Why can't people leave that alone already?" I groaned.

"Hey," he said, rubbing his hands up and my arms. "Only a couple more weeks with these idiots. Then it's bangers and mash with the Queen," he said, an easy grin on his face.

His optimism was infectious and I smiled back. "Ah, yes. The Queen will totally clear her day to have a meal with two American tourists."

The line moved quickly. When we handed in our tickets we were also asked to vote for king and queen. We cast votes for ourselves. I hoped those weren't the only votes we got.

* * *

The inside of ballroom wasn't at all what I expected. The prom committees' budget was large and the grizzly bear ice sculpture at the center of the refreshment table proved that.

Apparently, no amount of money could make up for them not a having a coherent theme. The room was decorated in the school colors. Red and white was everywhere—table clothes, flower arrangements, balloons. But that was the only thing tying the room together. Other than that, it was a weird mix of school pride and tropical island. Palm trees were in every corner and there was a light giving the illusion of fish swimming across the walls. I guess it was true that some people lost their sense of style when they came into money.

Where' they lacked in theme, they made up for in food and entertainment.

"Didn't he win a Grammy last year?" Nolan asked, pointing to the guy in the corner taking selfies with girls who were ignoring their dates.

"Yes, he did," I muttered, starstruck. I didn't even like the guys music, but when would I ever be in the presence of a Grammy winner again?

"Should I be jealous?"

I coughed, tearing my eyes away from the popstar. "What? No. Let's get some punch," I said, taking his hand and walking to the refreshment table.

It wasn't like in the movies with a punch bowl and cookies. There were buckets of canned soda and mini bottles of water sitting in buckets of ice and any kind of snack you could think of across a long table.

Nolan and I munched on chips as we watched the room slowly fill with more and more students. Bee and Gia finally made it inside and four of us posed for official prom photos in front of a backdrop that had starfish on it.

When the Grammy winner took the stage, it looked more like a concert than a prom. After some pouting I got Nolan to join me on the dance floor.

"I don't know if you noticed at our first prom," he said as I pulled into the crowd. "But I can't dance."

I turned to him. "Don't worry, I'll go easy on you."

"I'm serious," he insisted. "My lack of dance skills might cause us to lose voters."

"You danced just fine that night," I pointed out.

"Well, swaying back and forth is the only move I know."

"Then we'll sway," I said, wrapping my arms around his neck.

His arms circled my waist and we fell into a easy rhythm. We probably looked ridiculous slow dancing to an up-tempo song. I didn't care, it felt right.

As we danced, Nolan got this zoned out look on his face. "Hey," I said, catching his attention. "What's happening up there?"

"Just thinking about the last time we did this," he said, glancing around the room. "This has nothing on the prom we put together. The decorations were better, too."

"What? You don't like BCH Under the Sea?" I teased.

"You know, that night was the first time I really talked to my mom in a long time," he told me. "That wouldn't have happened when if it weren't for you."

Warmth flooded my cheeks as he peered down at me, golden eyes sincere. "I think you would've come around on your own."

He shook his head in protest. "I would've continued to do what I was doing. Hiding. Until it was too late."

"Well, I'm glad I could kick your ass into gear."

His lips stretched into a smile. "That night she called you my flashlight. I didn't understand what she meant then, but I get it now. You came into my life, shining a light on all the important things I tried so hard to avoid."

"Is your goal to make cry tonight?"

He chuckled. "No. Never." He rested his forehead against mine, pulling me closer. "I just wanted you to know how important you are to me."

I could feel the tears welling in my eyes. I didn't think it was possible to love him more than I already did. "Quick, say something Nolan-like before I ruin my make-up."

He leaned down, catching my lips in his, successfully distracting me from crying happy tears.

* * *

Bee and Gia stole me away from Nolan and the three of us danced for what seemed like hours. The entire night was a blur of lights, selfies, cupcakes and laughter.

The only thing that cut through my sugar induced haze was Principal Gibson warning last minute voter that the polls closed in thirty minutes. They'd be announcing the winner of king and queen soon. I was so nervous I could throw up.

And I did.

"Jade? Are you okay in there?" Bee asked from the other side of the stall door.

I came out, going straight to the sink to rinse my mouth. "Mini cupcakes are a trap. They're so small that you can eat a dozen before even realizing."

"I swiped this from the cleaning lady." She handed me a sample sized bottle of mouthwash, then sat on the counter. "Are you sure it was just the cupcakes? You have a lot happening today between prom and your dad showing up. What'd he want anyway? I'm assuming things are good since your mom didn't kick his ass back to San Francisco."

I let out a small laugh after spitting out the mouthwash. "Things are as good as they're going to get with him. Mom thinks he's having a midlife crisis."

"That actually make a lot of sense," she said. "My sim had one of those and she wanted to divorce her husband and move into a new house."

"Well, I hope it passes," I admitted.

Bee hopped of the counter and began washing her hands. "Are you going to keep the rest of your stomach contents down?"

"I'll try." I laughed. "It's weird, though. I've never been this nervous before."

"It was just nerves, right?" She asked, narrowing her eyes at me. "You weren't giving Nolan any love without a glove, were you?"

"Bee!" I warned. She was worse than my parents.

"What? It's prom," she said innocently. "Someone has to be pregnant. It's law."

"Well, it's sure as hell not me," I said, touching up my lipstick. "Now let's get back to our dates."

* * *

Back in the ballroom, the DJ was playing a mix of pop songs. The dance floor was practically empty, most people taking a break from dancing to raid the buffet and snack tables.

Nolan and Gia were at our table with Candi, Justin and Hannah, the five of them zoned out on their phones. Two hours into prom and everyone already looked bored.

"We leave for two minutes and the party dies?" Bee said, sliding into the chair next to Gia.

I sat next to Nolan, who immediately put his phone away and draped his arm around my shoulders.

"You okay?" He whispered.

I smiled and nodded. "I just wish they'd announce the winners already. I'm not cut out for this level of anxiety."

As an answered prayer, Principal Gibson's voice cut above the music. The room quieted down, all eyes on him.

"I know you're all getting restless waiting on the results," he said, holding up a glittering red envelope. "So, let's not drag this out any longer."

My heart thumped in my ears, my hands were sweating, my mouth was dry. I willed my stomach to settle.

Everyone clapped and shouted out their favorite couple. I think our table was the loudest thanks to Bee and Gia.

It was clear that Principal Gibson loved the sound of his own voice as he rambled on about how this was the best prom in Bellcreek High's history and using outdated slang like "on fleek".

Every time he gestured with his hands, the envelope he held sparkled under the lights. It took a lot for me to not snatch it from him and open it up. Didn't he know how painful this was for me?

"I'll tackle him, you grab the envelope," Nolan said into my ear, reading my mind.

I smiled up at him, a momentary distraction from my nerves. "Don't tempt me."

After a long-winded story about his senior prom and trying to explain to the confused crowd what a Jerry curl was, Principal Gibson finally addressed the envelope.

"Now for the moment you've all been waiting for," he said, basking in all the attention. "Are you ready to find out which of these deserving couples will win the opportunity of a lifetime?"

The crowd cheered, encouraging him to reveal the winner. My hand found Nolan's as I watch Principal Gibson take his sweet time peeling open the envelope.

The scene seemed to play out in slow motion. Principal Gibson glancing at each couple before pulling out the voting results. The crowd hooting and hollering when he read off the names of the winning couple. The balloons and confetti that fell from the ceiling. Rainesha and Ivan stepping up to the stage to accept their crowns and plan tickets to England.

I thought I'd be more disappointed. Not winning stung, but only a little. When I really thought about it, England or not, I had everything I wanted. I had Mom and Taylor. Dad, when he was being tolerable. Bee and Gia. A spot in an art program in New York City waiting for me.

And I had Nolan and a year's worth of memories I wouldn't have had otherwise. That was better than any prize.

* * *

When prom ended everyone headed to an after party at someone's house. Everyone except Nolan and I. We went back to his place.

I didn't realize how exhausted I was until I climbed into his bed. "I feel like I've been standing for days," I complained.

Nolan, being the amazing man that he was, pulled my heels off for me before lying beside me.

The map of Europe was still on his ceiling, the same route marked in red, the same heart around the UK. He wanted so badly to get away from Bellcreek. He literally had it mapped out. The thought of him being stuck there all summer didn't seem fair.

I rolled over on my side, propping my head up in my hand. "Come to New York with me."

His brow pulled together. "You're going to New York?"

"There's this art program I got into."

"You never told me that."

"It happened when we weren't exactly speaking," I said quickly, not wanting to dwell on those memories. "So? Will you come with me? I mean, according to the email they sent I'd have to stay in the dorms, so I'm not sure how that'd work. But maybe we can—"

His kiss silenced me.

"Is that a yes?" I asked, a smile tugging at my lips.

"Yes."

"But what about the rooming? I don't think you can stay in the dorms with me and I—"

He kissed me again, making me lose my train of thought.

"Okay, I get," I giggled. "We don't have to worry about that tonight."

"Exactly," he agreed. "Besides, there are other things we could be doing right now."

"Like?"

He stood, pulling me up with him. There was a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You'll see."

A few minutes later we were in the minivan, taking the familiar route to the abandoned park and dried up creek.

When we arrived, Bee's car was there. Her and Gia examined the warped graffiti art that was meant to be Spike the penguin.

"So, this is your secret hide out?" Bee sang, as I climbed out of the car. "Not at all what I expected."

"We got the pizza you asked for," Gia said, balancing two boxes on her palm.

"And regular lemonade because someone was too afraid to get the real stuff," Bee added, glancing at sheepish Gia.

When Nolan opened the trunk of the minivan, revealing pillows and blankets, it finally hit me that he was recreating our first "date".

"It's fine," he assured her. "The main thing is that were, you know, here. Together. Or whatever."

He glanced down at his dress shoes, embarrassed.

"Awe," Bee cooed. "Who knew Lanny could be so sentimental?"

His face was red as he ran his hand through his hair. "The pizza is getting cold," he said, changing the subject.

I gave his cheek a quick kiss before the four of us crammed into the back of the minivan.

"Oh, Jade," Gia said, excitement in her blue eyes. "Bee told me you might be going to New York this summer."

"Yeah, I am. For an art—"

"I'm going, too!" She squealed. "I'm dog sitting for my aunt while she does research in Alaska or Greenland. Somewhere cold. Speaking of cold, there's an ice cream place in New York that is to die for! We have to go there sometime..."

Gia continued talking a mile a minute as we all ate pizza and drank lemonade and tried to keep up. It was the perfect end to the night, being surrounded by the people closest to me. A lot happened that year. Some good, some bad. But Nolan was right. The main thing was that we were together.

//

You guys, this is the final chapter! (minus the epilogue)

This was definitely my favorite story I've written. Not once did I have the overwhelming urge to delete it like with my past stories lmao

Writing endings is so hard for me, though, so I apologize if you're not satisfied. I'll get better with endings one of theses days!

ANYWHO, thank you so much for reading and commenting and just overall supporting this story. I really appreciate it.

ILY <3