All Chapters of The Night Before Prom: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

“What is going on?” Lily asked, eyes darting between Stacey and the field.“I thought you both were friends too. Why didn’t he even say hello to you?” Stacey muttered.Paul scoffed. “They don’t speak to anyone except their group.”Stacey looked between them, then lifted her gaze toward the basketball court. Derrick still stood there, a deep scowl carved across his face as he held her stare without blinking.She exhaled sharply and marched to the court, dropping onto a seat. Lily and Paul followed, their faces full of puzzled curiosity.“Stace, I thought you and Derrick were good?” Lily said carefully.Stacey hissed. “Where’s the food? I’m hungry.” She stretched her hands out dramatically.“I thought you wanted to work?” Lily teased.Stacey let out a tired chuckle. “Lily, stop. I’m exhausted.”“Here—I picked this for you.” Paul handed her a pack of burger and yogurt.“Thank you.” Stacey looked at Lily for permission. Lily nodded, and she tore into the food immediately.“What?” Stacey m

“Get in. Let me drop you off.”Stacey froze, one leg already swung over her grandfather’s bike. She looked up sharply, Derrick had pulled his car right in front of her, blocking her path as if he owned the parking lot.The nearly empty school grounds felt too quiet, the late-afternoon sun blazing against the gravel. Stacey squinted at him, her face tightening with exhaustion.“What are you doing here?” she asked, frowning as she adjusted her backpack.“I was waiting for you,” he said. Leaning out of the window, his eyes locked on her. “I saw you copying your notes. I didn’t want you stressing yourself with the bike.”“You really do not understand. Leave me alone? I’m tired of repeating my words.” Stacey snapped.“No.” Derrick’s voice dipped , stubbornly. “Honestly… no, Stacey.”She scoffed. “Get out of the way, Derrick. I’m going home.”“No.”This time he stepped out of the car, slamming the door shut with a dull thud that echoed across the empty lot.“You are coming with me.”Stacey

“Young lady, is this the time you now close from school?” The moment Stacey rolled her grandfather’s bike into the compound, her mother’s voice sliced through the evening like a whip.“Stacey! What time is it?”Stacey froze halfway off the seat, her fingers slipping on the handlebars. Her mother stood at the doorway with her arms crossed so tightly her shoulders almost kissed her ears, face pinched with irritation.“I’m talking to you,” she repeated, stepping forward. “Why are you just coming back?”“I—” Stacey swallowed hard, her heartbeat thudding painfully in her ears. “My detention took longer than expected, I had to clean a huge mess.”Her mother’s eyes narrowed instantly. “You see what I tell you about misbehaving? Hope you are learning your lessons?” She shook her head, lips curled with disappointment. Stacey looked away, her jaw tightening. The shame stung, but her exhaustion hit deeper. She couldn’t breathe properly. Her chest felt small, and too full.Just then the door bes

The hallway buzzed with leftover noise from basketball practice as Stacey, Lily and Paul hurried toward their classroom. She still felt glances and murmur as she walked. Her chest felt tight from the scene at the court — Derrick’s cold star and Monica’s smirk. “Stace, what was that?” Lily whispered urgently as they reached the stairs.“What did you even do?” Paul added. “He looked like he wanted to murder someone, especially when he looked your way.”Stacey shook her head, rubbing her palms together as if trying to scrub the memory off. “I don’t know.”Before they could push further, the loud siren of the school cut them off.Students rushed back into their classroom. Lily grabbed her hand. “Come on, come on, we can’t be late for the presentation.”They ran. By the time they reached the senior hall — the largest class in the building — half the seats were already filled. The murmur of voices was loud, the air heavy with heat and chatter. Teachers were setting up the projector. Stud

“Come down,” Stacey’s mother said the moment she arrived at the gates of Blue VilleStacey muttered a soft “Bye, Mum,” and stepped out, adjusting her backpack on her shoulder. The morning sun wasn’t even warm yet, so the air still felt cool. Releasing a breath, she shut the door carefully.Before she could take two steps—“Stacey.” She heard her name loudly, and the voice that made her feel some type of way. Her heart jumped so hard she almost looked behind her instead.Derrick stood by the walkway, hands in his pockets, eyes already locked on her like he’d been waiting. The early light caught the sweat on his neck from morning drills, making him look like he just stepped out of a sports commercial.Her breath stumbled.She looked down quickly, squeezing her strap with her fingers.He walked closer.“Hey,” he said softly.Stacey forced herself to look up, and instantly— her smile bloomed the moment she caught his.“Hi,” she whispered.He chuckled under his breath, eyes dipping to he