The Worst Prom Night Ever

-Corrine-

“Let’s break up.”

The bass of the EDM music thumps through the speakers. Its voice was so booming I wasn’t sure what Daniel Harris, my boyfriend, was saying.

I frowned while giving him an awkward grin. “What did you say, babe?!” I asked, half shouting.

Daniel didn’t smile with me. His expression was so serious that I felt stupid with my attitude. His nostrils flared for a moment before he snorted. “Let’s break up, Corrine Harmon!”

Daniel shouted so loudly, together with a pause of silence before the music changed.

Everyone at the prom tonight turned to glare at us and I felt heat radiate from my neck, and spread to the veins in my face.

“What?” My voice was squeaky like I was choking. I was still trying to laugh and thought Daniel was just joking. I took his arm and wrapped mine around it, then laughed as I pulled him off the dance floor.

My friends were still following me and Daniel with their gaze until the music started again and they got distracted.

Now we’re standing in a dark corner of the hall and Daniel jerks his hand away, begging me to let go.

He straightened his wrinkled sleeves as he stood with his back to me. That’s when I realized he wasn’t kidding.

“Babe?” call me carefully. “Did I do you wrong? I—I will do anything—“

He turned around. Our eyes met, and he stared at me. “Yes, you did,” he hissed through gritted teeth.

“Wh—what did I do?” I clenched my hands beside my body. My heart was pounding waiting for his answer while remembering the time we spent together the past few weeks.

There’s nothing wrong, I thought. I gladly gave up my virginity when he asked for it last month. And I was happy to pay for his car’s modifications when he complained about the lack of money for it.

“You love me too much,” Daniel said. “I’m sick of your attitude towards me.”

Cheers rang from the center of the hall and I looked over my shoulder to see what was happening. One of the alumni was singing while undressing and showing off his six-pack abs.

When I looked back at Daniel, he was busy on his phone, and I was waiting.

“Daniel,” I called, when he still didn’t put his phone in his shirt pocket and instead laughed while looking at the screen. “Daniel, look at me.”

Daniel looked up, and the laugh disappeared from his face. “What?” he asked curtly. “Am I not clear enough?”

“B—but… we’ve been together for a year and I even chose the same major as you at the university—”

“I didn’t ask for it,” Daniel cut me off. “I’m not your husband. Why are you following me around? Your presence only bothers me.”

I was stunned by his words.

All this time, he always said he loved me and he could not imagine his life without me. Daniel is the sweetest boyfriend I ever had and suddenly he changed, right on our graduation night.

Or maybe I just didn’t notice all along. What is wrong with us?

“Now, get out of my sight. I’m sick of seeing you.” After saying that, Daniel just walked away from my presence.

I froze in place for a moment until the laughter from a group of girls passing by made me flinch and I blinked. Unnoticed, tears streamed down my cheeks.

I rubbed it with the back of my hand while half running out of the hall. I don’t want anyone to see me like this after we got the award as the most romantic senior year couple just half an hour ago.

I passed through a side door, choking on sobs that kept my chest tight. The passage at the side of the hall led me to a garden bordering the woods.

There was no one here, and I immediately spat out my tears, even though I didn’t scream. I just sob. My lungs and throat ache, and my vision is blurry. I squatted down and buried my face into my turquoise mermaid dress. I’ve been preparing this dress since three months ago, imagining spending a beautiful and hot prom night with Daniel.

Tonight was hot for me, but it was all because of the tears and hurt, not because of what I hoped would happen.

The prom was still going on in there, but my spirits were completely gone. All I want now is to go home and let out my cry to my heart’s content in my room.

I reached into my purse and grabbed my cell phone, dialed up my older brother, Trevor, and texted him.

Pick me up. Now.

The reply came shortly after.

What happened to Daniel? Is he drunk on Kool-aid?

I laughed in the middle of my tears when I read the reply message from Trevor. I typed quickly and sent a reply.

No. I’ll tell you when we meet.

Looks like Trevor knows what’s going on. He doesn’t reply to my message but calls me right away.

“Hey,” I greeted. My voice was hoarse from the rest of the crying, and I blew my nose to clear my breath.

“Are you crying?” he asked. “What happened? What did that bastard do to you?”

“He dumped me,” I said. It’s weird to say that and feel nothing. It was as if my heart had gone numb.

“I knew it. He’s just toying with you,” Trevor said. I can hear the anger in his voice and I feel happy knowing someone in my corner now. Trevor is the best brother in the world. “I’m not at home right now. I’ll pick you up, but you have to wait at least five minutes. Can you?”

Five minutes doesn’t seem like a long time. “‘Kay,” I replied. “I’ll be waiting for you at the front gate.”

“Don’t,” said Trevor. “Wait around the hall, where there are lots of people. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

I rolled my eyes. This is Trevor’s shortcoming. He loves me too much to always worry about me in every situation. He had repeatedly imagined a scenario where I was in danger and he couldn’t save me.

We’re both werewolves, though.

Well, even though I haven’t gone through my first shift yet, my nineteenth birthday is still a month away, but I’m sure I’ll be just as tough a werewolf as Trevor.

“Fine,” I said. It’s useless to argue with him, so I’ll act like I’m doing his bidding.

Trevor sighed and said, “Don’t lie. Wait till I come.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

After that, I ended the call.

It seemed the music in the hall had changed to a slower tempo, which was usually used for pair dancing. My heart is tight again.

I stood up, put my phone in my party bag, then wiped the remaining tears from my cheeks.

As I was deciding where to wait for Trevor, I heard something.

A rustling sound from the woods outside the school fence.

As a werewolf, I can hear it clearly. Footsteps run between the dry leaves and twigs piled on the ground. Even though my wolf hasn’t appeared yet, I already have keen hearing and sight beyond an ordinary human.

I turned toward the woods and squinted.

Then I smelled something in the air. A scent so strong that it makes me freeze. And shortly after, I heard a howl of pain, just a moment, but enough to make me sure something was wrong.

I clutched my bag, ready to open it to grab my phone when something jumped over the fence between the school and the woods.

It landed right in front of me, and I thought I was seeing a werewolf.

But no. it’s not a werewolf like I’ve always known.

He stood on his two feet. And blood was smeared on his snout and his silver-feathered, clawed hands.

I can’t scream. I could only stand transfixed while my eyes locked on his eyes which were as dark as the night sky.

Then there was cheering from inside the building and I jumped. I looked back and when I turned my head against him again; he was gone.

“Shit,” I cursed. My legs trembled, and I fell to my knees while staring at the woods, waiting for the hideous figure to reappear and pounce on me. But there was nobody there. He has disappeared.

With my heart racing wildly, at that point I’m sure the thump could crack my ribs, I drag my ass and get away from that place. After I regained my strength, I stood up and ran to the front hall.

“Ouch!”

I bumped into my best friend, Kasey. The drink she was holding spilled and stained her dress.

“Kasey!” I shrieked. “I’m so sorry!”

I thought Kasey would laugh and say it wasn’t a big deal. But I didn’t expect her to stare at me and splash the rest of the drink in her glass onto my dress. The sweet, sticky liquid stained the bust of my dress, leaving a trail of red and a fruity smell.

“Kasey?” I frowned at her, disbelieving the way she looked at me.

“You did it on purpose, did you?” Kasey hissed. Everyone around us fell silent.

“What?” I was shocked to hear her accusations against me. “What are you saying? I’m not-“

“I heard Daniel dumped you,” she snapped. “Congratulations.”

“Are you drunk?” I narrowed my eyes suspiciously at her. “What is wrong with you?”

Our friendship has not been good enough lately and actually, I don’t know what caused it. But I always thought that we would make up like we used to.

I never thought that Kasey intended to end her friendship like this.

“This is an expensive dress,” Kasey scolded me. “You can’t compare this with your cheap dress.”

I could only gape at her.

Car headlights fell on the two of us and I heard the familiar roar of a car engine pull into the courtyard at the front of the hall. It’s Trevor. I’m happy because he came sooner than he promised.

Waiting no longer, I ran up to him and jumped into the passenger seat, and slammed the door.

“Hey, slow down,” Trevor said. “The car door might fall off.”

“C’mon,” I said, holding back tears. “Quickly, get out of here.”

I’m glad Trevor didn’t ask any further and stepped on the gas pedal, taking me away from the most horrific prom night of my life.

“Actually, I was going to call you earlier,” Trevor said as the car rolled out of the school.

“Huh? Why?” I asked, half lost in thought. I stared out the window, watching the dark woods flashing before my eyes. Maybe that figure will appear again….

“Something killed our pack’s member.”

My heart sank at Trevor’s words. I widened my eyes and turned my gaze to him. “Something?” I asked, choking.

A figure flashed behind my eyes. Blood on the snout and claws.

“Yeah.” Trevor drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. I just noticed that he looked nervous.

“Something like what?”

Trevor glanced at me. His lips pulled into a thin, pale line. “A Lycan.”