All Chapters of The Night Before Prom: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Closing time came faster than expected. The sun outside had started dipping low, casting a soft yellow tint across the hallway windows.Stacey and Lily packed their bags together while Paul leaned on a desk, recounting some ridiculous joke that neither of them fully heard. Lily’s face was still tense from the principal’s office visit.“So?” Stacey asked softly. “What happened?”Lily sighed dramatically. “They want me to tutor King. Extra lessons. After school.”Paul choked. “King? That proud rooster?”Stacey winced. “Your crush? wait but why you?”“Because,” Lily rolled her eyes, “apparently I’m one of the most consistent literature students and he needs help with his grades.”“That’s not a reward,” Paul muttered. “It’s punishment.”Lily huffed. “Exactly.”“Well who knows, it could.” Stacey said with a smile.“He would never look at me, Stacey.” Lily said softly.“I’m glad you finally got it now.” Paul said, hugging her through the side. Stacey looked at her with pity, her lips tight

“He is so rude, Stacey! I swear I will strangle him before this tutoring even starts.”Lily bursted out, the seconds she and Stacey settled into their seats they had just returned from lunch break. Stacey nearly choked on her water.“Who? King?”“Yes, him!” Lily yelled, throwing her hands up. “He said, and I quote, ‘If you’re slow, don’t bother teaching me.’ I’m going to cry. I really am.”“That boy is really an asshole, such a proud literature dummy,” Stacey said with a big frown. Lily adjusted her glasses, her chubby cheeks shining red. “Stacey, I don’t think I can teach him. I might stab him with a pencil.”Stacey laughed. “Ignore him,” she said. “Just focus on teaching. You’ll be done in an hour anyway.” She rubbed Lily’s shoulders “don’t return his energy like Derick said.”Lily glared at the ceiling like she was praying for strength.“I honestly want to quit,” she groaned.Stacey giggled, a warm free sound bursting from her. Lily paused.Her eyes widened. Forming a little “

Paul leaned close to Lily, lowering his voice, “I don’t like this.” He muttered, “Derick is taking Stacey away from us, since when did they get this close?” Paul said with a hiss as he glanced at their direction.“I thought we advised her to give him a chance?” Lily said glancing at him“What! I didn't, it was you.” Paul hissed. Lily nudged him with her elbow “Don’t you think you are overreacting, Derick is not a bad person they can be close too. We are her main friend.”“And that is why she should be sitting here with us not there with him.” Paul said vehemently.Lily opened her mouth to speak but Mr Jacob’s voice over powered her.“Alright everyone, we would be expecting your mock motivation letter including the choice of course you would like to take in the university and why you choose that particular career. Is that clear?“Yes sir.” The class screamed back.“Alright, you all have a good day.” He said leaving the class. “Stacey.” Derick’s voice came from her side the second Mr

Stacey’s entire face was bright red by the time she pushed open the front door.Her eyes stung, tears still clinging to her lashes, the rest already dried in streaks down her cheeks. She sniffed , trying to swallow back the tight ache crawling up her throat. Her head was down as she walked inside, avoiding any chance of being seen. The house was quiet — until her mother’s voice snapped into the silence.“Stacey?”Her mother sat at the dining table with her laptop open, typing something fast, frustrated, and focused. Her fingers froze over the keyboard, as she looked at her daughter. “What happened to you?” she asked sharply, eyebrows lifting as her gaze swept over Stacey’s face. “Why are you crying?”Stacey dropped her eyes further, gripping the strap of her backpack like it was the only thing holding her upright.“I’m fine,” she whispered.“You don’t look fine,” her mother said, closing the laptop halfway. “What happened? Did someone say something? Did you get in trouble? Are you

Derick’s gaze cut across the field the moment Stacey stepped onto the track. It was sharp, and unrelenting, piercing straight through her. Every time their eyes met, it was like a jolt of electricity—painful, impossible, yet familiar. Stacey forced herself to look away, hugging her arms around herself, staying with Lily and Paul, though every muscle in her body ached to move toward him.Lily’s eyes flicked to Stacey. Her brow furrowed. She shook her head in exasperation, she knew something was wrong when Derick didn’t come their and from the way Stacey’s shoulders were tight, her steps stiff, and from her distant expression, she could tell she was unhappy, Lily’s chest tightened, what could have happened again, they were good yesterday until he called her babe in front of everyone. Paul, oblivious of Stacey’s pain, nudged Lily with a grin. “Big boy didn’t come today,” he threw a mocking glance towards Derick, noticing the scowl on his face “ We have our friend with us today.”Lily tu