This was so dull.
>> IVY LANGLEY: PROM START
Ivy had done a little dancing, not much, just enough to see and be seen; for the sake of appearances she had thus far been sober for the entire event, which had made prom, for the most part, an unbearable bore. There was a glamor about it, as much as a high school event could have, but she'd been to more prestigious events at the country club (not that those were less boring). Overall it was a grin-and-bear-it sort of ordeal, to be tolerated for the sake of the important things. To get pictures taken was one such thing, naturally. A few with Bret, a bunch more with Myles. Her dress was finally tailored properly, barely skimming the floor in her dancing flats and rising just above it in her silver heels, matching with bracelets and a necklace that likely cost more a piece than half of her classmate's dresses. This night was one night, but the images would last forever. She had to look perfect. She'd touched up her hair and her makeup about three times in the past hour, to that end. Overkill? Probably. Did she have anything better to do, though?
The after party, of course, was something else hopefully worth waiting for. She'd forgotten already where they were headed, the limo driver had the address and that was what mattered. She had considered, at least for a moment, holding a slightly more private event at her place for just the people she found tolerable, but the same day she was batting that idea around Adrienne had made one of her rare extended trips out of her cave and had both knocked over a wine rack, breaking several bottles in the process, and for the first time in months remembered who Ivy was well enough to attempt to hug her. That was more than enough to put any idea of having company over to rest for the foreseeable future, and it had put a dark cloud over her mood for the last few weeks. At any rate, Adrienne wasn't her problem now. She wasn't exactly planning on spending the night at home, after all.
The final and most important thing, though, was what would follow when she heard a voice on a microphone calling the students in attendance to gather around.
Ivy knew.
Of course she did. What had months of preparing and campaigning led up to, if not to this moment in time? Perhaps campaigning was a strong word, it brought to mind the upfront nature of the student council campaign season—not her style, not at all. What she had done was more subtle, more of a suggestion, and less a self-promotion than an admonition of what, precisely, would happen should she not win. Which was never going to happen, of course. She couldn't imagine it was even close.
She gave Bret a kiss on the cheek and fell away into the crowd, quickly locating Myles and dragging him to the front by the arm. Admittedly she doubted he'd be her king, as nice as that would be, but it still felt like a moment they needed to have together. He'd been by her side through all of it, anyway, from the very beginning, and there was no one else she more wanted there.
The announcer cleared her throat.
"Ladies and gentlemen, your George Hunter High School class of 2018's prom queen is..."
For a beat, she imagined losing. She imagined slipping away from the crowd, out into the night, away, as far as she could, as fast as she could, how else could she deal with that kind of humiliation-
"Ivy Langley."
And that moment was gone, replaced with one far more important. She knew. Of course she did. But even so her mouth turned up in an involuntary grin and her enthusiasm was hardly exaggerated when she hugged Myles so hard she thought she might break him in half. Applause surrounded her, and the more cynical part of her brain, pushed down by the moment, thought about how much of that was perfunctory and meaningless, but that didn't matter. Why would it? Who cared what anyone thought? She was the one going up on that stage, and that thought moved her legs forward, up toward her spotlight, up toward a crown that was placed snugly on her head. It was silver. It matched perfectly. It was meant for her.
She looked out into the crowd, a sea of faces that melted together into an indistinguishable mass, and she smiled. She heard the announcer speaking again, but she missed all but the last two words.
"Connor Lorenzen."
Oh.
Well.
This should be interesting.
you should see me in a crown
~prom royalty announcement~
you should see me in a crown
"Well, Fenris, the King of Gossip. We meet again."
As much as could be expected, for Connor Lorenzen, prom was going off without a hitch. For one night, all seemed right with the world. Madison was in a good mood, wasn't drunk, and hadn't bitten anyone's head off. Wyatt, Bret and the boys seemed to be in good spirits. Nobody was actively fighting with anyone else, and Connor was enjoying the selection of music. The limousine had shown up promptly, his tuxedo looked impressive amongst the other lesser, obviously rented ones of other students, and there was a palpable air of enjoyment flowing through the student body of George Hunter High.
It was near-perfect.
((CONNOR LORENZEN - PROM START))
Having just returned from the refreshment table, no sooner had Connor set his cup down on the table when he heard the call to arms from the stage. It was now time to announce the two lucky winners of Prom King and Queen for the George Hunter High School class of 2018. Never one to shy away from a big announcement, Connor had dodged Madison's eyerolls and had dragged his girlfriend towards the crowd. So it was here they now stood, on the periphery of the group, waiting for the announcement.
Winning one of these was something that Connor hadn't really put a whole lot of thought into, if he were being honest with himself. While he knew that he had a certain amount of clout and reputation at the school, it hadn't been something that he'd really given a ton of thought over. While Madison was a wonderful companion most of the time, he knew that she tended to leave a bit of a sour taste in the mouths of any students who happened to catch her at the wrong time, and so winning the King and Queen wasn't something that seemed feasible. As such, he'd shut out most of the chatter and paid heed to most of his other commitments, like school - and football.
Always football.
After what seemed like an eternity, the announcer finally leaned forward and addressed the crowd.
"Ladies and gentlemen, your George Hunter High School class of 2018's prom queen is..."
Dramatic pause - for effect, of course.
"... Ivy Langley!"
Connor blinked in surprise. Wow - now that was a little bit of a surprise. Not that Ivy was an unpopular choice, but the rumour mill had been in overdrive lately with some strife that had supposedly come about between her and some other people. Then Wyatt had shown up to practice one day with an obviously bullshit story about how him and Bret had gotten into another scrap and had the bruises to supposedly prove it, which struck Connor as unusual. If Wyatt Carter was going to fight someone, they were almost certainly going to lose. But for Wyatt to defend his brother's girlfriend against some slight? That seemed more plausible. Besides, Connor knew Ivy well enough to know that she, like Madison, was not always a smooth drink of water. Their shared history had proven that for him tenfold.
Nonetheless, he applauded politely as he saw her react from afar, obviously beyond thrilled at the honour. He wondered who the student body had elected as King. He hoped for Bret - that would be fitting, and would probably be a best-case scenario as far as keeping the drama to a minimum. Plus, his friend deserved it, with all of the tireless work that he did for the team. He'd done an excellent interview with the school newspaper earlier in the year that had increased support for the squad, and-
"... prom king is Connor Lorenzen!"
A myriad of thoughts and emotions slammed into him all at once as he heard his own name come through the loudspeakers. Surprise. Happiness. Dismay. Even a tinge of embarrassment. Everything cycled through his body, until all that was left was a feeling of obligation. The crowd had turned, and was looking directly at him. The surprised expression on his face was genuine, but as he realized that Madison's arm had slipped away from his arm, he kept it pasted to his face.
Shit.
Most people would have understood the random nature of prom votes, and taken it in stride, but Madison? Madison wasn't most people. She understood, and the whole thing was liable to piss her off anyway. He couldn't altogether blame her, really.
How would anyone feel if their boyfriend was picked to be prom king alongside his ex-girlfriend?
Barely able to hear her grumble something about getting a drink, Connor nodded, and with only a moment's hesitation, made his way toward the stage. Being in front of a crowd of people wasn't exactly new, nor did it bother him, but there were several very important sets of eyes that demanded he nail this particular test with flying colours, lest he pay for it later. Allowing himself to take the steps to the stage one at a time, he tried to formulate a plan of action.
Accept crown.
Congratulate Ivy.
Wave at crowd.
King and Queen dance.
Damage control.
As he hit the top step, he allowed himself a small, unheard sigh under his breath. That last point would be vital. Madison would inevitably be pissed, and while he knew Bret probably didn't care, he made a mental note to seek his buddy out and ensure that everything was cool. It was the proper way to go about it.
Walking across the stage, he slowed for a bit to shoot a smile and wave to the crowd, not allowing them any inkling that he was displeased or torn about winning. Ivy would see right through it, of course - but she probably felt exactly the same. Extending a hand to the attendant that held the prom crown, he couldn't help but laugh as he had to bend down to have it attached to his head. What a ridiculous-looking thing.
Finally, he turned to Ivy, who was standing there, her expression similarly put-upon for the crowd. They both knew how weird this felt. The crowd - either from obligation or a genuine enjoyment of the moment - cheered loudly, drowning out any conversation from the stage.
"Ivy! Congratulations, hun. Go figure, huh?"
It was near-perfect.
((CONNOR LORENZEN - PROM START))
Having just returned from the refreshment table, no sooner had Connor set his cup down on the table when he heard the call to arms from the stage. It was now time to announce the two lucky winners of Prom King and Queen for the George Hunter High School class of 2018. Never one to shy away from a big announcement, Connor had dodged Madison's eyerolls and had dragged his girlfriend towards the crowd. So it was here they now stood, on the periphery of the group, waiting for the announcement.
Winning one of these was something that Connor hadn't really put a whole lot of thought into, if he were being honest with himself. While he knew that he had a certain amount of clout and reputation at the school, it hadn't been something that he'd really given a ton of thought over. While Madison was a wonderful companion most of the time, he knew that she tended to leave a bit of a sour taste in the mouths of any students who happened to catch her at the wrong time, and so winning the King and Queen wasn't something that seemed feasible. As such, he'd shut out most of the chatter and paid heed to most of his other commitments, like school - and football.
Always football.
After what seemed like an eternity, the announcer finally leaned forward and addressed the crowd.
"Ladies and gentlemen, your George Hunter High School class of 2018's prom queen is..."
Dramatic pause - for effect, of course.
"... Ivy Langley!"
Connor blinked in surprise. Wow - now that was a little bit of a surprise. Not that Ivy was an unpopular choice, but the rumour mill had been in overdrive lately with some strife that had supposedly come about between her and some other people. Then Wyatt had shown up to practice one day with an obviously bullshit story about how him and Bret had gotten into another scrap and had the bruises to supposedly prove it, which struck Connor as unusual. If Wyatt Carter was going to fight someone, they were almost certainly going to lose. But for Wyatt to defend his brother's girlfriend against some slight? That seemed more plausible. Besides, Connor knew Ivy well enough to know that she, like Madison, was not always a smooth drink of water. Their shared history had proven that for him tenfold.
Nonetheless, he applauded politely as he saw her react from afar, obviously beyond thrilled at the honour. He wondered who the student body had elected as King. He hoped for Bret - that would be fitting, and would probably be a best-case scenario as far as keeping the drama to a minimum. Plus, his friend deserved it, with all of the tireless work that he did for the team. He'd done an excellent interview with the school newspaper earlier in the year that had increased support for the squad, and-
"... prom king is Connor Lorenzen!"
A myriad of thoughts and emotions slammed into him all at once as he heard his own name come through the loudspeakers. Surprise. Happiness. Dismay. Even a tinge of embarrassment. Everything cycled through his body, until all that was left was a feeling of obligation. The crowd had turned, and was looking directly at him. The surprised expression on his face was genuine, but as he realized that Madison's arm had slipped away from his arm, he kept it pasted to his face.
Shit.
Most people would have understood the random nature of prom votes, and taken it in stride, but Madison? Madison wasn't most people. She understood, and the whole thing was liable to piss her off anyway. He couldn't altogether blame her, really.
How would anyone feel if their boyfriend was picked to be prom king alongside his ex-girlfriend?
Barely able to hear her grumble something about getting a drink, Connor nodded, and with only a moment's hesitation, made his way toward the stage. Being in front of a crowd of people wasn't exactly new, nor did it bother him, but there were several very important sets of eyes that demanded he nail this particular test with flying colours, lest he pay for it later. Allowing himself to take the steps to the stage one at a time, he tried to formulate a plan of action.
Accept crown.
Congratulate Ivy.
Wave at crowd.
King and Queen dance.
Damage control.
As he hit the top step, he allowed himself a small, unheard sigh under his breath. That last point would be vital. Madison would inevitably be pissed, and while he knew Bret probably didn't care, he made a mental note to seek his buddy out and ensure that everything was cool. It was the proper way to go about it.
Walking across the stage, he slowed for a bit to shoot a smile and wave to the crowd, not allowing them any inkling that he was displeased or torn about winning. Ivy would see right through it, of course - but she probably felt exactly the same. Extending a hand to the attendant that held the prom crown, he couldn't help but laugh as he had to bend down to have it attached to his head. What a ridiculous-looking thing.
Finally, he turned to Ivy, who was standing there, her expression similarly put-upon for the crowd. They both knew how weird this felt. The crowd - either from obligation or a genuine enjoyment of the moment - cheered loudly, drowning out any conversation from the stage.
"Ivy! Congratulations, hun. Go figure, huh?"
It took every ounce of self-control within her to not laugh.
Because honestly, what was this situation if not hilarious? Ivy supposed she was within her rights to respond with concern, considering the likelihood of Madison slashing, at a minimum, her tires before the night was out. But Madison was a million miles away right now. Who the fuck cared what she thought? Who had ever cared what Madison Springer thought? Well, Connor, probably. But Connor's feelings were equally unimportant. So long as he didn't make trouble—and he wouldn't, he cared about his image too much—he was basically a good-looking prop. And that was all she wanted from her king.
But the look on Connor's face! He was smiling, of course, but that was a mask clumsily slapped on top of his obvious distress. To her, anyway; Connor was pretty damn good at putting on whatever face he wanted, he always had been. Necessary skill for his line of work, work here meaning "being popular". But Ivy knew him. Probably better than he would admit.
God, there was so much to mine here. It would have to wait, of course, but she could be patient. For a few hours, anyway.
Her smile was its own sort of fake—she was perfectly happy, but probably hysterical laughter wasn't a particularly good look, so she kept her expression on the coy side. That would probably piss Madison off more, anyway. She played with one of the strands of hair framing her face and turned to face Connor as he accepted his crown.
"I can't say I was expecting it." You, not me, obviously, I was always going to win, she didn't say. "But here we are."
One corner of her mouth rose a touch more than the other. "How's Madison?"
Because honestly, what was this situation if not hilarious? Ivy supposed she was within her rights to respond with concern, considering the likelihood of Madison slashing, at a minimum, her tires before the night was out. But Madison was a million miles away right now. Who the fuck cared what she thought? Who had ever cared what Madison Springer thought? Well, Connor, probably. But Connor's feelings were equally unimportant. So long as he didn't make trouble—and he wouldn't, he cared about his image too much—he was basically a good-looking prop. And that was all she wanted from her king.
But the look on Connor's face! He was smiling, of course, but that was a mask clumsily slapped on top of his obvious distress. To her, anyway; Connor was pretty damn good at putting on whatever face he wanted, he always had been. Necessary skill for his line of work, work here meaning "being popular". But Ivy knew him. Probably better than he would admit.
God, there was so much to mine here. It would have to wait, of course, but she could be patient. For a few hours, anyway.
Her smile was its own sort of fake—she was perfectly happy, but probably hysterical laughter wasn't a particularly good look, so she kept her expression on the coy side. That would probably piss Madison off more, anyway. She played with one of the strands of hair framing her face and turned to face Connor as he accepted his crown.
"I can't say I was expecting it." You, not me, obviously, I was always going to win, she didn't say. "But here we are."
One corner of her mouth rose a touch more than the other. "How's Madison?"
"Well, Fenris, the King of Gossip. We meet again."
Now that was hogwash. Ivy had been wandering around school almost campaigning for the title of prom queen, and had enough pull in the school's elite that it was bound to happen. A bit of a surprise? Maybe that she'd managed to pull it off, but he'd have thought she would be in the top three vote-getters regardless. That hadn't been overly surprising to Connor. What had thrown him was his own nomination. Perhaps some people still felt that him and Ivy were together - or should be? Perish the thought. They'd dated what seemed like a lifetime ago, and while both his current and former girlfriends were not the simplest people to date, it had become very apparent that Ivy and Connor would not be a long-term couple.
Sometimes what seems like perfectly bottled magic spills all over the floor; he allowed himself a glance at Ivy's well-put together prom outfit - pink hair and all.
Sometimes it spills, and sometimes it all goes down the hatch.
Smiling at Ivy, he shrugged. They were in front of the whole school at this point, and he managed to suppress his cringe as she jabbed right at the one spot she'd have known would be a bit of a hot one for him. Allowing himself a truthful expression of trepidation, he raised his eyes in a bit of an 'oh shit' look and glanced out into the crowd. The spotlights were aimed right at them, so he couldn't see where she'd ended up.
"Oh, I'm sure she's just dandy. Reacting like you'd expect." He kept his words low and his expression pleasant. "What about Bret? He's got to be happy for you, anyhow. I don't suspect he cares too much that y'all are up here without him though."
Connor chuckled, tilting his head in realization.
"I probably owe him a case'a beer though, even still."
He allowed himself an exhale, and his nerves calmed a little. This would be fine. Not an issue at all for Connor Lorenzen. It was a curveball, but he was a multi-sport athlete. He'd put this one into the stands, step town and toss a bomb into the endzone with Madison.
No problem at all.
Sometimes what seems like perfectly bottled magic spills all over the floor; he allowed himself a glance at Ivy's well-put together prom outfit - pink hair and all.
Sometimes it spills, and sometimes it all goes down the hatch.
Smiling at Ivy, he shrugged. They were in front of the whole school at this point, and he managed to suppress his cringe as she jabbed right at the one spot she'd have known would be a bit of a hot one for him. Allowing himself a truthful expression of trepidation, he raised his eyes in a bit of an 'oh shit' look and glanced out into the crowd. The spotlights were aimed right at them, so he couldn't see where she'd ended up.
"Oh, I'm sure she's just dandy. Reacting like you'd expect." He kept his words low and his expression pleasant. "What about Bret? He's got to be happy for you, anyhow. I don't suspect he cares too much that y'all are up here without him though."
Connor chuckled, tilting his head in realization.
"I probably owe him a case'a beer though, even still."
He allowed himself an exhale, and his nerves calmed a little. This would be fine. Not an issue at all for Connor Lorenzen. It was a curveball, but he was a multi-sport athlete. He'd put this one into the stands, step town and toss a bomb into the endzone with Madison.
No problem at all.
Ivy's nose wrinkled.
It was a tiny gesture on an otherwise unchanging expression, invisible to anyone further away than Connor himself, but it was there, all the same. A moment of weakness. Connor wasn't the sort to capitalize on such a thing, but allowing it to happen in the first place was bad praxis. She shook it off, quickly, as though it never happened. In her later recollections, it never had.
What about Bret? It was a fair question. She hadn't been with him when her name was called, after all, so she hadn't been able to gauge his reaction. She... hadn't been with him for most of the night, now that she was considering it. She'd spent much of her time hanging around with Myles and, by logical necessity, Declyn. Perhaps not how Myles had intended to spend the night, but whatever. Best friends were obligated to make certain sacrifices, and it wasn't like she was planning on hanging around if the two of them found a nice closet to fuck in.
But when she spotted Bret, chatting with his friends, it gave her pause.
She was overthinking it. Connor was almost certainly right, at least in that Bret would be unbothered. He almost always was. It made her want to dig her nails into the mask he had to be wearing and rip it off.
Her smile hadn't wavered.
"I doubt that's strictly necessary, but he wouldn't say no to one."
She hadn't missed the once-over, didn't bother to assign more meaning to it than necessary, though she did file it away in memory in case she needed a grenade to toss at Madison later. She didn't want Connor, not anymore, and she knew full well that feeling was mutual. Some things were very clearly not meant to be. She returned the look, anyway. No one was about to crucify her for appreciating the view.
"I won't keep you too long, promise. Catch up to her before she burns the place to the ground, yes? I rather like this dress. Smoke would damage it."
She wouldn't have to wait long for her cue. She'd missed the announcement, the MC must have said something about the traditional king and queen dance or whatever, but the crowd had quieted, a new song had started. She held out her hand, looked away almost shyly, glancing up at him from beneath long eyelashes. Flirtatious, unabashedly so, but she knew he wasn't stupid enough to think it was genuine. It might make him squirm for half a second, though, and that was entertainment enough.
Maybe Bret would notice. Maybe it would bother him. Maybe.
"May I have this dance?"
It was a tiny gesture on an otherwise unchanging expression, invisible to anyone further away than Connor himself, but it was there, all the same. A moment of weakness. Connor wasn't the sort to capitalize on such a thing, but allowing it to happen in the first place was bad praxis. She shook it off, quickly, as though it never happened. In her later recollections, it never had.
What about Bret? It was a fair question. She hadn't been with him when her name was called, after all, so she hadn't been able to gauge his reaction. She... hadn't been with him for most of the night, now that she was considering it. She'd spent much of her time hanging around with Myles and, by logical necessity, Declyn. Perhaps not how Myles had intended to spend the night, but whatever. Best friends were obligated to make certain sacrifices, and it wasn't like she was planning on hanging around if the two of them found a nice closet to fuck in.
But when she spotted Bret, chatting with his friends, it gave her pause.
She was overthinking it. Connor was almost certainly right, at least in that Bret would be unbothered. He almost always was. It made her want to dig her nails into the mask he had to be wearing and rip it off.
Her smile hadn't wavered.
"I doubt that's strictly necessary, but he wouldn't say no to one."
She hadn't missed the once-over, didn't bother to assign more meaning to it than necessary, though she did file it away in memory in case she needed a grenade to toss at Madison later. She didn't want Connor, not anymore, and she knew full well that feeling was mutual. Some things were very clearly not meant to be. She returned the look, anyway. No one was about to crucify her for appreciating the view.
"I won't keep you too long, promise. Catch up to her before she burns the place to the ground, yes? I rather like this dress. Smoke would damage it."
She wouldn't have to wait long for her cue. She'd missed the announcement, the MC must have said something about the traditional king and queen dance or whatever, but the crowd had quieted, a new song had started. She held out her hand, looked away almost shyly, glancing up at him from beneath long eyelashes. Flirtatious, unabashedly so, but she knew he wasn't stupid enough to think it was genuine. It might make him squirm for half a second, though, and that was entertainment enough.
Maybe Bret would notice. Maybe it would bother him. Maybe.
"May I have this dance?"
"Well, Fenris, the King of Gossip. We meet again."
As the crowd parted and the lights dimmed a bit the the music changing, Connor couldn't help but give Ivy a laugh. She had a good point. If there was one thing that you could count on in life, it was that either of the Carter brothers would appreciate a good case of beer. They had often bet cases of beer on things; it wasn't as though any of the three had a difficult time obtaining alcohol as their parents tended to keep ample supply around. Not to mention that the Carter house and the Lorenzen house were common hangouts and party places, well... they'd exchanged many a case over the last year or so.
"All the same, I'm sure he'd appreciate the thought. I've had to pay up so many times I know exactly what he likes."
Coming back to the moment at hand, Connor took Ivy's hand, giving her an amused smirk at her display. The two of them had shared history, but as he knew Ivy did, she was putting on a display for someone's amusement - if not his own. The two of them were long over, but maybe there was some sort of trouble in paradise. Bret hadn't mentioned it, though he did tend to keep these things close to the vest. He'd have to ask Wyatt later, maybe he knew.
Walking her to the centre of the circle, Connor placed his hand in the small of her back, holding on to her hand, ensuring to keep a polite distance between the two of them. As the music started, he smirked again and kept his voice low, only for her benefit.
"I don't think she'd burn down the whole school. Maybe just the gym. Scratch up a few cars."
As the dance began, Connor couldn't help but recognize that since him and Ivy had broken up, several years before, they had remained within the same social circle but hadn't really chatted very much. It had been a good long while since he'd really had a conversation.
It seemed as good a time as any.
"So how y'all doin', anyway? You're now the prom queen. Has senior year been everythin' you thought it would be?"
The same could be said of himself; he didn't want for much and he didn't have much to complain about. Prom King was another feather in his cap - not one that he necessarily wanted, but a feather nonetheless. It wouldn't mean jack squat once he went off to college, but he gathered that finishing high school on a high note wasn't the worst way to go about it.
"All the same, I'm sure he'd appreciate the thought. I've had to pay up so many times I know exactly what he likes."
Coming back to the moment at hand, Connor took Ivy's hand, giving her an amused smirk at her display. The two of them had shared history, but as he knew Ivy did, she was putting on a display for someone's amusement - if not his own. The two of them were long over, but maybe there was some sort of trouble in paradise. Bret hadn't mentioned it, though he did tend to keep these things close to the vest. He'd have to ask Wyatt later, maybe he knew.
Walking her to the centre of the circle, Connor placed his hand in the small of her back, holding on to her hand, ensuring to keep a polite distance between the two of them. As the music started, he smirked again and kept his voice low, only for her benefit.
"I don't think she'd burn down the whole school. Maybe just the gym. Scratch up a few cars."
As the dance began, Connor couldn't help but recognize that since him and Ivy had broken up, several years before, they had remained within the same social circle but hadn't really chatted very much. It had been a good long while since he'd really had a conversation.
It seemed as good a time as any.
"So how y'all doin', anyway? You're now the prom queen. Has senior year been everythin' you thought it would be?"
The same could be said of himself; he didn't want for much and he didn't have much to complain about. Prom King was another feather in his cap - not one that he necessarily wanted, but a feather nonetheless. It wouldn't mean jack squat once he went off to college, but he gathered that finishing high school on a high note wasn't the worst way to go about it.
This was an odd time to try and catch up, wasn't it?
Ivy studied his expression, looking for his angle, his ulterior motive, because there had to be one, didn't there? Most people, she thought, wouldn't be so suspicious. Not of Connor. He was a good guy, a nice guy, an ideal face for the football team. Put-together, polite, good-looking, well-mannered. He didn't talk too much shit, but he wouldn't back down from a challenge, either. As though you asked a computer to come up with a picture-perfect high school quarterback. Most people would take for granted that he was genuinely interested, or at worst he was being polite.
Most people were, of course, idiots.
His eyes still betrayed worry. That was only natural; whatever he said downplaying Madison's potential reaction, he had to know that anything was possible with her. The girl was a fucking powder keg. Ivy had had the inclination to set her off more than a few times, but the proposition was risky. She was one of very few people who sat near enough to her on the totem pole to cause problems, and she didn't hate Madison quite enough to risk nuking her own standing. Connor himself was another one of those people, but unlike with Madison, she was lacking in material even if she had the nerve to attempt to sink him. What she had wasn't concrete. It was just a feeling, an instinct, based only on a couple of peeks behind the mask.
Not enough to kill anyone's reputation. Just enough to kill any respect she'd ever had for him. Not that respect meant all that much, as far as high school currencies meant. At any rate, there wasn't anything malicious in his question. He was just killing time. Might as well play along.
"I suppose. A few loose ends to tie up, I think, but otherwise it's difficult to complain." She shrugged, lightly. "Duke should be interesting."
They danced. They were both coordinated enough that they looked good, thankfully. She was holding him a touch too close, wasn't she? Oh well. She didn't have to like him to use him.
Ivy studied his expression, looking for his angle, his ulterior motive, because there had to be one, didn't there? Most people, she thought, wouldn't be so suspicious. Not of Connor. He was a good guy, a nice guy, an ideal face for the football team. Put-together, polite, good-looking, well-mannered. He didn't talk too much shit, but he wouldn't back down from a challenge, either. As though you asked a computer to come up with a picture-perfect high school quarterback. Most people would take for granted that he was genuinely interested, or at worst he was being polite.
Most people were, of course, idiots.
His eyes still betrayed worry. That was only natural; whatever he said downplaying Madison's potential reaction, he had to know that anything was possible with her. The girl was a fucking powder keg. Ivy had had the inclination to set her off more than a few times, but the proposition was risky. She was one of very few people who sat near enough to her on the totem pole to cause problems, and she didn't hate Madison quite enough to risk nuking her own standing. Connor himself was another one of those people, but unlike with Madison, she was lacking in material even if she had the nerve to attempt to sink him. What she had wasn't concrete. It was just a feeling, an instinct, based only on a couple of peeks behind the mask.
Not enough to kill anyone's reputation. Just enough to kill any respect she'd ever had for him. Not that respect meant all that much, as far as high school currencies meant. At any rate, there wasn't anything malicious in his question. He was just killing time. Might as well play along.
"I suppose. A few loose ends to tie up, I think, but otherwise it's difficult to complain." She shrugged, lightly. "Duke should be interesting."
They danced. They were both coordinated enough that they looked good, thankfully. She was holding him a touch too close, wasn't she? Oh well. She didn't have to like him to use him.
"Well, Fenris, the King of Gossip. We meet again."
What else was he supposed to say? It was a dance, with someone that he had history with, and even as the words came out of his mouth he knew that they sounded silly. But for them to have the king and queen dance in silence would have been uncomfortable for everyone; probably even moreso for their respective partners as everyone wondered how uncomfortable things really were.
Shifting his hands as he came to the realization that Ivy was holding him a little closer than he'd have preferred, his mind instantly went to the various strips of him that he'd probably lose later on were Madison watching this particular event. She readjusted as he did. Of course she did. He swallowed his discomfort and smiled down at her.
"Duke, huh? That will be interesting. Y'all goin' to take a few trips up north, I guess?" The inference was there that Ivy and Bret would be staying together. How their relationship was going, who knew? Bret wasn't the talky type when it came to his feelings and that suited Connor just fine. When the two of them had gotten together, Bret and Connor had talked it out for a hot minute, but as far as Connor was concerned, everything as a-okay with him.
Considering that Connor himself was heading north for school; Notre Dame being in Indiana and Michigan State being in, well, Michigan, he wondered how seriously they'd try the long-distance aspect of their relationship. Interesting. A small sidebar formed in his brain as he realized that he'd likely have to go against Bret in college football games; a realization he wasn't looking forward to in the slightest.
"You'll have to let me know when y'all come up. We can get the gang together."
It was a surface gesture - he knew it, and she probably knew it, but it was a nice thought, a decent thing to say. Even if it was paper-thin. They continued to dance, Connor trying to keep any and all impure thoughts from his head as Ivy clutched him just-slightly-too-close.
Shifting his hands as he came to the realization that Ivy was holding him a little closer than he'd have preferred, his mind instantly went to the various strips of him that he'd probably lose later on were Madison watching this particular event. She readjusted as he did. Of course she did. He swallowed his discomfort and smiled down at her.
"Duke, huh? That will be interesting. Y'all goin' to take a few trips up north, I guess?" The inference was there that Ivy and Bret would be staying together. How their relationship was going, who knew? Bret wasn't the talky type when it came to his feelings and that suited Connor just fine. When the two of them had gotten together, Bret and Connor had talked it out for a hot minute, but as far as Connor was concerned, everything as a-okay with him.
Considering that Connor himself was heading north for school; Notre Dame being in Indiana and Michigan State being in, well, Michigan, he wondered how seriously they'd try the long-distance aspect of their relationship. Interesting. A small sidebar formed in his brain as he realized that he'd likely have to go against Bret in college football games; a realization he wasn't looking forward to in the slightest.
"You'll have to let me know when y'all come up. We can get the gang together."
It was a surface gesture - he knew it, and she probably knew it, but it was a nice thought, a decent thing to say. Even if it was paper-thin. They continued to dance, Connor trying to keep any and all impure thoughts from his head as Ivy clutched him just-slightly-too-close.
Did Connor honestly believe that? No, Ivy doubted it. He was a lot of things, but he wasn't stupid, or naive. He said the words because they were the words you were supposed to say. Pretending that your friends more than tolerated each other, that they'd be excited to see each other again even a week after graduation, let alone in months or years. That's what you had to say. As though there were more than a handful of people at George Hunter that Ivy planned to make any effort to keep in contact with.
They weren't a group of friends. They never had been. They were allies, at best, and once their opponents ceased to exist they had no reason to deal with each other anymore. She liked some of their little group, sure. They could be entertaining. But they weren't important.
Connor knew that. Who would he bother keeping in touch with, she wondered? The Carters, maybe. They seemed pretty close. Other than that, though? She personally didn't expect to ever see him again, after they left for college. She wouldn't be particularly bothered either way.
It took a moment for her to realize what he was actually asking, which showed just how much it had been on her mind.
"Mm? Oh... well, yes. We haven't discussed it, much, but you would assume so, yes?"
Her smile widened slightly as though to distract from her moment of disorientation.
"What about you and Madison, hmm? I don't imagine she's the type to do well with long-distance, you know. No offense meant, of course."
They weren't a group of friends. They never had been. They were allies, at best, and once their opponents ceased to exist they had no reason to deal with each other anymore. She liked some of their little group, sure. They could be entertaining. But they weren't important.
Connor knew that. Who would he bother keeping in touch with, she wondered? The Carters, maybe. They seemed pretty close. Other than that, though? She personally didn't expect to ever see him again, after they left for college. She wouldn't be particularly bothered either way.
It took a moment for her to realize what he was actually asking, which showed just how much it had been on her mind.
"Mm? Oh... well, yes. We haven't discussed it, much, but you would assume so, yes?"
Her smile widened slightly as though to distract from her moment of disorientation.
"What about you and Madison, hmm? I don't imagine she's the type to do well with long-distance, you know. No offense meant, of course."
"Well, Fenris, the King of Gossip. We meet again."
There was such a height differential between the two of them, that Connor almost had to slouch to hear Ivy. Of course, this gave the appearance that he was intentionally getting closer to her, and the small voice in the back of his head continued to scream at him that this moment, this exact instant in time would undoubtedly be the root of some future argument that him and Madison had yet to have. Maybe she'd stormed off and was talking to someone, ignoring the king and queen dance? Perhaps she'd decided to take that moment to visit the restroom.
Naturally, Connor knew better than that. He couldn't see her as they gently danced, rotating every few steps, but he knew that she was absolutely taking in every single second, watching the tall high school quarterback dance with his petite, pink-haired ex-girlfriend. Madison was likely pounding back punch, or squeezing the life out of her handbag. Something like that. Naturally, Ivy took that exact moment to read where his focus was and inquire about his own future with Madison. Great.
Allowing his inner feelings to remain just that, Connor glanced down and smiled at Ivy once more, giving a small shrug.
"Y'know, Maddy and I haven't really discussed it. I think we're just gonna look at things as a 'cross that bridge' sort of deal. Long-distance is tough, but we might be able to make it work. Never know."
He didn't suppose that he was very convincing, but that was fine. Ivy knew - she likely saw right through him, much as he supposed Madison did from time to time. Connor Lorenzen sure knew how to pick 'em. His two longest high-school girlfriends were probably two of the more volatile women in the school, but both of them had made an indelible mark upon him. Even if he and Ivy weren't necessarily the best of friends, he was glad they had dated. He was glad that she'd come into his life. She'd taught him a few lessons that he was very glad to have learned.
He'd never really mentioned that, either.
So he did.
"Y'know, Ives. As funny as this is," he paused, and this time the smile was genuine, "I'm glad that it's you and I up here. It's been a wild four years, and seems like y'all bein' here brings it all full circle."
As they continued to dance, Connor gave Ivy a small squeeze of her own, as if to tell her that his words weren't just words - he meant them.
Naturally, Connor knew better than that. He couldn't see her as they gently danced, rotating every few steps, but he knew that she was absolutely taking in every single second, watching the tall high school quarterback dance with his petite, pink-haired ex-girlfriend. Madison was likely pounding back punch, or squeezing the life out of her handbag. Something like that. Naturally, Ivy took that exact moment to read where his focus was and inquire about his own future with Madison. Great.
Allowing his inner feelings to remain just that, Connor glanced down and smiled at Ivy once more, giving a small shrug.
"Y'know, Maddy and I haven't really discussed it. I think we're just gonna look at things as a 'cross that bridge' sort of deal. Long-distance is tough, but we might be able to make it work. Never know."
He didn't suppose that he was very convincing, but that was fine. Ivy knew - she likely saw right through him, much as he supposed Madison did from time to time. Connor Lorenzen sure knew how to pick 'em. His two longest high-school girlfriends were probably two of the more volatile women in the school, but both of them had made an indelible mark upon him. Even if he and Ivy weren't necessarily the best of friends, he was glad they had dated. He was glad that she'd come into his life. She'd taught him a few lessons that he was very glad to have learned.
He'd never really mentioned that, either.
So he did.
"Y'know, Ives. As funny as this is," he paused, and this time the smile was genuine, "I'm glad that it's you and I up here. It's been a wild four years, and seems like y'all bein' here brings it all full circle."
As they continued to dance, Connor gave Ivy a small squeeze of her own, as if to tell her that his words weren't just words - he meant them.
Her eyes widened, just a touch. She wanted to chastise herself for the show of weakness, but a very real pout had already formed on her face. That one, he meant. How dare he.
The tidbit about Madison, though, that was interesting. She'd keep it in her pocket along with the glance he'd given her earlier, though admittedly her time to deploy those missiles was quite limited at this point. She didn't imagine it would be an easy subject to broach with Madison in particular; maybe he hoped that she'd bring it up first and he'd just go along with what she suggested? It didn't matter. The whole idea of long-distance was bullshit as far as she was concerned.
Which, of course, brought the question back to her. What was her plan with Bret? She didn't have one. As soon as graduation was, actually leaving Chattanooga still felt an eternity away, and why should she have to consider it before then? He... hm. He was the type to think about it, though. He must have. Right? He hadn't forgotten the way she had, he thought about the future when she often tried not to. Should she ask if he'd thought about it? Should he have asked her by now?
She shook her head, just enough to shake a stray strand of hair out of her face. Wasn't she supposed to be enjoying herself?
"It's been a long time, hasn't it."
Four years was an eternity. Who had she even been, back then?
"Odd to think it's almost over."
The tidbit about Madison, though, that was interesting. She'd keep it in her pocket along with the glance he'd given her earlier, though admittedly her time to deploy those missiles was quite limited at this point. She didn't imagine it would be an easy subject to broach with Madison in particular; maybe he hoped that she'd bring it up first and he'd just go along with what she suggested? It didn't matter. The whole idea of long-distance was bullshit as far as she was concerned.
Which, of course, brought the question back to her. What was her plan with Bret? She didn't have one. As soon as graduation was, actually leaving Chattanooga still felt an eternity away, and why should she have to consider it before then? He... hm. He was the type to think about it, though. He must have. Right? He hadn't forgotten the way she had, he thought about the future when she often tried not to. Should she ask if he'd thought about it? Should he have asked her by now?
She shook her head, just enough to shake a stray strand of hair out of her face. Wasn't she supposed to be enjoying herself?
"It's been a long time, hasn't it."
Four years was an eternity. Who had she even been, back then?
"Odd to think it's almost over."
"Well, Fenris, the King of Gossip. We meet again."
Slowly, he nodded. Time was a funny thing. It seemed like just yesterday that him and Ivy had been feeling one another out at the very beginning of high school, talking and chatting and making plans to go out on a date. Four years later, it was amazing to see how far both of them had come - for better, or for worse. They'd both been mostly innocent children who barely knew their way around high school, let alone any kind of relationship, and now?
Prom King Connor and Prom Queen Ivy.
Both of them had taken such different paths to lead them to this very moment, and neither of them had done it together. But here they were, the seeming culmination of the high school experience. His thoughts again went back to Madison. She would have hated this moment. For all of her loud and outgoing nature, his girlfriend disliked the spotlight. It was funny - Ivy and Madison had some definite things in common, and somehow both girls tolerated one another in their shared hangouts. But for everything they shared, this was one instance in which the two would have been miles apart. For Ivy, he surmised this moment was everything. For Madison, she would have hated it.
She probably hated it anyway, with him up here and her storming around in the crowd.
"Sure doesn't feel like it's been four years."
The song seemed to be reaching its crescendo, the dance was likely approaching its end.
"Would y'all change anything? If you had to do it all over?"
Connor surprised himself. He wasn't that wistful usually, and he knew that he wouldn't change anything. But people had regrets, people lamented. They looked back, and not ahead. Did Ivy? Probably. For only a moment, he'd allowed himself to look backward too. That didn't happen very often, and he couldn't say when the next time would be.
Prom King Connor and Prom Queen Ivy.
Both of them had taken such different paths to lead them to this very moment, and neither of them had done it together. But here they were, the seeming culmination of the high school experience. His thoughts again went back to Madison. She would have hated this moment. For all of her loud and outgoing nature, his girlfriend disliked the spotlight. It was funny - Ivy and Madison had some definite things in common, and somehow both girls tolerated one another in their shared hangouts. But for everything they shared, this was one instance in which the two would have been miles apart. For Ivy, he surmised this moment was everything. For Madison, she would have hated it.
She probably hated it anyway, with him up here and her storming around in the crowd.
"Sure doesn't feel like it's been four years."
The song seemed to be reaching its crescendo, the dance was likely approaching its end.
"Would y'all change anything? If you had to do it all over?"
Connor surprised himself. He wasn't that wistful usually, and he knew that he wouldn't change anything. But people had regrets, people lamented. They looked back, and not ahead. Did Ivy? Probably. For only a moment, he'd allowed himself to look backward too. That didn't happen very often, and he couldn't say when the next time would be.
"Yes,"
she said, far too quickly. If that made him think it was a lie, that was fine. If it didn't, that was fine, too. She didn't plan to give any more details, though she still found herself searching his face for his own, unspoken answer. If she asked, she'd be inviting the question back on herself. Not that she was sure what her answer would be, if she bothered to be honest.
Ivy would say, if asked, that she'd always known that she and Connor's relationship would never work out. That from the beginning it was just playing connect the dots. Cheerleaders date football players. They looked good together. Not exactly a basis for a relationship, obviously doomed to failure. That was revisionist history and she knew it, but no one but maybe Connor himself could prove otherwise. She was too young, then, to fake things so easily. Her sin, if there was one, wasn't deceit.
Would she change anything? She looked away, into the crowd, too bright and too crowded to make out individual faces, and wondered if Bret was watching. Cheerleaders date football players. They looked good together. Had she learned anything at all?
The song had ended, she realized as she looked back up at him. He was so tall. Or maybe she was just shrinking.
"Well," she said, smiling again, a bit too forced, "I ought to let you get back to Madison." Excuses. She stepped closer to hug him, because that seemed like the right thing to do, but she found herself holding him a little too tightly. There was an apology in there, somewhere, in her arms, but he probably couldn't feel it.
She hated him, she thought, but that was probably a lie, too.
she said, far too quickly. If that made him think it was a lie, that was fine. If it didn't, that was fine, too. She didn't plan to give any more details, though she still found herself searching his face for his own, unspoken answer. If she asked, she'd be inviting the question back on herself. Not that she was sure what her answer would be, if she bothered to be honest.
Ivy would say, if asked, that she'd always known that she and Connor's relationship would never work out. That from the beginning it was just playing connect the dots. Cheerleaders date football players. They looked good together. Not exactly a basis for a relationship, obviously doomed to failure. That was revisionist history and she knew it, but no one but maybe Connor himself could prove otherwise. She was too young, then, to fake things so easily. Her sin, if there was one, wasn't deceit.
Would she change anything? She looked away, into the crowd, too bright and too crowded to make out individual faces, and wondered if Bret was watching. Cheerleaders date football players. They looked good together. Had she learned anything at all?
The song had ended, she realized as she looked back up at him. He was so tall. Or maybe she was just shrinking.
"Well," she said, smiling again, a bit too forced, "I ought to let you get back to Madison." Excuses. She stepped closer to hug him, because that seemed like the right thing to do, but she found herself holding him a little too tightly. There was an apology in there, somewhere, in her arms, but he probably couldn't feel it.
She hated him, she thought, but that was probably a lie, too.
"Well, Fenris, the King of Gossip. We meet again."
His question had touched a nerve. Ivy had tried to hide it, but Connor - for all of the distance between them - knew her too well to know what her tense smile meant. That she had so quickly admitted to wishing for change for what had already come to pass surprised him a little. Ivy wasn't the one who got caught up in her feelings, and less so shared them with others, particularly when sober.
Maybe the finality of the night was getting to her a little. While his focus was so firmly on the steps in front of him, Connor couldn't help but feel a little odd at the fact that this first step of the journey was approaching its end. Prom was the seminal marker for high school students everywhere, the event that meant that hey, you made it. You managed to navigate four years of preparation, four years of growing up. Four years of foundational growth as you approached adulthood. Not everyone made it here.
But they had. Not together, but they'd made it.
Ivy's hug was just a bit tighter than he expected, and she lingered for a moment. Was it an acknowledgement of their history, maybe - an understanding? Connor preferred to think that it was more taking one last moment for just them. For what they'd had, for just a little while. Things hadn't worked, but he was glad for them all the same. Letting the hug linger for just a moment, he gently pushed away, and leaned in, giving Ivy a kiss on the cheek. Chaste, but meaningful. He would undoubtedly catch hell for that later, but he'd take that bullet.
"Thank you very much for the dance, Ms. Langley," he smirked. The Southern gentleman act had never been Ivy's thing but had always made her laugh all the same.
"I suppose we'll see you and Bret at the after-party?"
And there it was, once more - the distance. They'd shared something, once. It had returned for a moment, but as the music quickened and the students filled in the previously empty space on the dance floor, the distance returned. Once more, they were miles apart, even as they stood next to one another.
Maybe the finality of the night was getting to her a little. While his focus was so firmly on the steps in front of him, Connor couldn't help but feel a little odd at the fact that this first step of the journey was approaching its end. Prom was the seminal marker for high school students everywhere, the event that meant that hey, you made it. You managed to navigate four years of preparation, four years of growing up. Four years of foundational growth as you approached adulthood. Not everyone made it here.
But they had. Not together, but they'd made it.
Ivy's hug was just a bit tighter than he expected, and she lingered for a moment. Was it an acknowledgement of their history, maybe - an understanding? Connor preferred to think that it was more taking one last moment for just them. For what they'd had, for just a little while. Things hadn't worked, but he was glad for them all the same. Letting the hug linger for just a moment, he gently pushed away, and leaned in, giving Ivy a kiss on the cheek. Chaste, but meaningful. He would undoubtedly catch hell for that later, but he'd take that bullet.
"Thank you very much for the dance, Ms. Langley," he smirked. The Southern gentleman act had never been Ivy's thing but had always made her laugh all the same.
"I suppose we'll see you and Bret at the after-party?"
And there it was, once more - the distance. They'd shared something, once. It had returned for a moment, but as the music quickened and the students filled in the previously empty space on the dance floor, the distance returned. Once more, they were miles apart, even as they stood next to one another.
He kissed her on the cheek. He honest to God kissed her on the cheek, and her hand instinctively moved to touch where his lips were a moment earlier. He'd have to do something a touch more extreme to really get a rise out of her, but she was almost impressed by his willingness to play with fire. What on earth was he getting out of this? Not that she wholly doubted at this point that at least some of his sentimentality was genuine, but it was hard for her to believe that he'd go this far without something going on in his head. She searched his face for it until he opened his mouth to speak.
Then, she just giggled. Right. Maybe he was just being a dork. She wasn't the sort to fall for it, but she'd still always thought it was cute, in a way. Maybe there were a few things she could still like about him.
Just like that, it was over. Months, hell, years of dreaming of this, of her crowning, of her moment of glory, and it seemed like it had ended before it really had a chance to begin. The night would go on, and the only one who cared now was her. Well, it wasn't quite over, she'd have to get photos and such (assuming Madison allowed him to be within five feet of her for the rest of the night) but—but. For all intents and purposes.
It was over now. "It" felt like more than it was, like it encompassed years, like it encompassed everyone moving to dance around her, like none of it mattered, now. She had to find Myles, had to celebrate with him, but she didn't know if she wanted to, anymore. He still mattered, he always would, and this would, too, once it was over, but right now she felt like she was standing on a stage where she'd long forgotten her lines.
Where did that leave her? For that matter, where did it leave Bret?
"Naturally." He wasn't wrong. The after-party couldn't come fast enough, now; she supposed now that her moment in the spotlight was up there'd be no harm in drinking, but she hadn't dared to try to smuggle anything in. It'd have to wait, which was a shame, because this was precisely the sort of introspective angst that begged for a drink to shut it up.
"I'll see you there."
She would, literally. She would see him, and they wouldn't speak, and they might never speak again. Why should they?
She took a few steps backward before turning and slipping into the crowd.
>> Ivy Langley continued in heaven help me for the way i am
Then, she just giggled. Right. Maybe he was just being a dork. She wasn't the sort to fall for it, but she'd still always thought it was cute, in a way. Maybe there were a few things she could still like about him.
Just like that, it was over. Months, hell, years of dreaming of this, of her crowning, of her moment of glory, and it seemed like it had ended before it really had a chance to begin. The night would go on, and the only one who cared now was her. Well, it wasn't quite over, she'd have to get photos and such (assuming Madison allowed him to be within five feet of her for the rest of the night) but—but. For all intents and purposes.
It was over now. "It" felt like more than it was, like it encompassed years, like it encompassed everyone moving to dance around her, like none of it mattered, now. She had to find Myles, had to celebrate with him, but she didn't know if she wanted to, anymore. He still mattered, he always would, and this would, too, once it was over, but right now she felt like she was standing on a stage where she'd long forgotten her lines.
Where did that leave her? For that matter, where did it leave Bret?
"Naturally." He wasn't wrong. The after-party couldn't come fast enough, now; she supposed now that her moment in the spotlight was up there'd be no harm in drinking, but she hadn't dared to try to smuggle anything in. It'd have to wait, which was a shame, because this was precisely the sort of introspective angst that begged for a drink to shut it up.
"I'll see you there."
She would, literally. She would see him, and they wouldn't speak, and they might never speak again. Why should they?
She took a few steps backward before turning and slipping into the crowd.
>> Ivy Langley continued in heaven help me for the way i am
"Well, Fenris, the King of Gossip. We meet again."