6:40
Homecoming finally started, and everything was not perfectly fine. Don't get me wrong, the place still looked amazing. All the students had beautiful gowns and suits, each different colour; they really embodied the theme, but other than that, nothing was going right.
As the students started to pile up, we realized there were way too many, that we attended. We usually give out tickets that the students have to purchase early. They are free, of course, but we had that system to make sure they didn't pile up.
"Zhera, what should we do?" Safiya asked, concern written all over her face.
Taking a minute to collect myself, I replied, "First, let's calm down; there's obviously nothing we can do right now. To manage this in the future, we could implement a stricter ticketing system. This way, the students would need to secure their tickets in advance." I paused for a second, catching my breath. "Is that alright?"
Everyone reluctantly nodded. "Alright, now let's get back to what we were doing previously."
As we made our way back, I couldn't help but notice the sight of Myvy and Roman walking together. Interesting
6:50
"Zhera, are you finally finished with your meeting? Come on, let's hit the dance floor," Kehlani exclaimed, pulling me towards the lively rhythm. I chuckled as I followed along.
"Where's Ciara?" My eyes scanned the room, searching for her familiar face. "Oh, she's waiting at the entrance for her date."
"He's still not here?" I remarked, a hint of surprise in my voice. It had already been thirty minutes since the dance began, and he's still not here..strange.
"Where's your date?" I shouted over the booming music. The crowded dance floor was starting to make me feel a bit uncomfortable.
"Oh, he'll be coming later. He had football practice," Kehlani explained amidst the loud beats.
Before I could reply, I felt a hand wrap around mine. "Zhera, we have a problem."
7:01
"The DJ is pissed off at Mason and Liam because they kept on throwing pranks." Sebastian explained with a frown.
I couldn't help but let out a sigh, shifting my gaze towards the direction where the mischievous duo was seated. Roman, in an attempt to diffuse the situation, was delivering a stern lecture to the twins, while Myvy was trying to calm down the agitated DJ.
Mason and Liam are the infamous Alderidges, a very rich family. Which is one of the main reasons why I think they scored a spot in the academy.
I mean, seriously, how else could they have made it in? They're not exactly the brightest bulbs, and they're always up to some pointless prank.
It's just so frustrating how the wealthy seem to slide by without any consequences. I made my way toward them. "Roman, could you guys please give us a moment?" I said it with a sweet smile. He nodded and escorted the DJ out of the room. Myvy is closely following behind.
As soon as they left, my sweet smile faded away, replaced by a more serious expression. "So I've heard you two have been pulling some pranks around here?"
They exchanged glances before chuckling, seemingly finding amusement in the situation.
I tilted my head to the side. "What's so funny?"
Mason couldn't help but snort before responding, "Oh, nothing, president."
"Go on." Liam finished
"No, I want to know what's so funny."
The twins glanced at each other for a second. One of them raised an eyebrow and casually scratched their head before responding. "We never knew that our president was this hot." He remarked, his words laced with a hint of amusement.
My face scrunched up in disgust. "What a very weird way to compliment someone."
"You asked us for an answer, and we delivered."
I stayed silent for a second, arms crossed. "So if I tell you guys something, would you deliver?"
The pair looked at each other before saying, "Depends."
7:10
I emerged from the room, a smile playing on my lips, while the twins trailed behind me, their heads bowed low.
Roman raised an eyebrow. "What happened in there?"
Sebastian chimed in, noting the unusual demeanour of the twins: "They don't seem like their usual selves."
"I just told them something—nothing to worry about. Now I'm going to go talk to the DJ and try to reason with him. Everything's all good."
I turned around to leave before noticing Myvy staring at me with a look on her face. I smirked back with a shrug.
—
After having a chat with the DJ, I finally convinced him to stay, reminding him of how much he gets paid for being here.
I then decided to take a moment for myself and stepped out onto a small balcony. The atmosphere outside was invigorating, with a fresh breeze that carried a slight chill but was nonetheless pleasant.
With my eyes closed, I allowed myself to exhale deeply, releasing a breath that had been unknowingly held within me.
A crease formed on my forehead as I sensed the presence of someone else joining me on the balcony. Despite this realization, I chose not to open my eyes; I was too lazy to do so.
"Thompson?"
I turned around when I heard that familiar voice. There stood Aiden, a look of surprise evident on his face. My eyes travelled down. He wore a tailored suit that accentuated his lean physique. The midnight blue fabric brought out the colour of his eyes, making them appear even more captivating. The suit was perfectly fitted, emphasizing his whole body.
His dark hair was pulled back nicely, revealing his sharp features and chiselled jawline. His piercing eyes were a captivating shade of hazel that were eliminated by the moonlight, framed by thick, well-groomed eyebrows.
Aiden looked a bit different today. I don't know how exactly, but he looked different.
"oh, hi." I stumbled in my response. As he drew nearer, his gaze delicately traced the contours of my face. "You look beautiful," he whispered softly.
A faint smile graced my lips, and a rush of warmth surged through me, causing a blush on my cheeks. I really do not know how to take compliments.
This felt weird. I felt weird. Aiden of all people giving me a compliment felt weird; the compliment was simple yet it held an impact on me. It felt strange coming from him, out of everyone who complimented me today; his carried a certain weight that set it apart from the others.
The atmosphere around us seemed to shift, a subtle tension building as we exchanged glances. Aiden's gaze was intense, his focus momentarily lost in the vast expanse of the sky.
And as I returned his gaze, I couldn't help but wonder what thoughts were running through his mind, accompanied by that gentle smile he held.
"The sky is beautiful, isn't it?" Aiden asked, while admiring the sky, his features were enhanced by the moonlight. Hazel eyes, deep and mesmerizing, reflected the stars above.
I stared at him while nodding, "Yeah, it's beautiful."
"I didn't think you would come," he said, breaking the silence that had settled between us.
I rubbed my arms, trying to ward off the slight chill in the air. "Yeah, I decided to," I replied softly. "After all, this is our last one."
"It is."
A comfortable silence enveloped us, interrupted only by the distant chirping of crickets and the faint strains of music playing in the background.
It felt nice to be away from the loud music and just everything else. Tonight had been a disappointment in many ways.
Finally, some peace and quiet.
—
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