All Chapters of The Night Before Prom: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

Stacey was settling into a seat with Lily and Paul when the scent of a familiar perfume brushed her senses. She turned and saw Derick taking the space beside her, his face split into a wide grin. Stacey stiffened, goosebumps rippling across her skin.“What are you doing here, Derick?” she questioned.“I came to sit with you.”Lily cleared her throat, and Derick glanced at her. “Hey, Lily.” He nodded.Paul hissed and Lily punched his thigh under the desk.Earlier that morning, Stacey had received a good morning and can’t wait to see you in school text from Derick, which she just responded with just a smiley emoji, but they had both been busy and hadn’t crossed paths since.“But I thought we agreed to be more—”“Forget it. I miss you, little bird,” Derick whispered in her ear, cutting her off.Her cheeks warmed instantly. He took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. Stacey’s breath hitched as heat rolled through her, though her eyes stayed wide with confusion.“What is he trying to do

“Everyone file out in twos, and when you go out, form two lines. Boys in one line and girls on the other,” Mr. Jacob ordered.The bus doors opened and students poured out, the cool evening air brushing against warm skin. Derick still held Stacey’s hand as they stepped down together, each moving into their respective lines.“I thought you were going to bring her into the boys’ line too, since you want her glued to you.” King said, eyeing Derick.“Chill, bro. Don’t start.”“I really do want her to,” King replied casually.“Hey, you,” King shouted, but Mr. Jacob’s whistle pierced the air, cutting him off.Derick shook his head and glanced at Stacey, but she had already lowered her face, standing close to Lily. He released a quiet breath, relieved she hadn’t heard King.“Everyone go pick your bags. The girls’ site is on the left, while the boys have their side on the right,” Mr. Jacob announced.The area behind the bus erupted into movement as students searched for their luggage. Derick s

“Quick, everybody know your group members. This is going to be your team until we leave here.”The final year students of Blue Ville stood under the morning sun in their exercise clothes, sweat already clinging to their skin. Heads turned in every direction as they searched for familiar faces trying to figure out where they belonged. Stacey, Lily, and King ended up on the same team, while Derick, Monica, David, and a few others stood together in another group.After the attendance, Mr. Jacob’s whistle pierced the air, snapping everyone's attention.Stacey immediately moved to a spot at the end of the line. Lily noticed and, with a small frown, walked over to her.“Hey, Stace, seems like you’re running away from me.”“Hey,” Stacey responded with a cracked voice. She cleared her throat and began stretching along with the instructor, her movements stiff and distracted.“You disappeared yesterday, and when I came to the room you were already asleep. This morning I couldn’t find you. Stace

“Pass.”King’s sharp voice cut through the field as the girls on his team rehearsed for their volleyball game. He stood with his arms crossed, acting like a coach, barking instructions while tension rippled through the air. It clung to every glance they exchanged, heavy and unsettled.Stacey still hadn’t spoken to Lily. The distance gnawed at her chest. She missed her friend more than she wanted to admit, but she couldn’t face her yet, not when everything had fallen apart the night before.“Hey, you.”King’s voice snapped her attention just as the ball slammed straight into her face.She felt a strong pain hit her, bright and blinding, before anger followed fast and hot. Stacey lifted her head, blinking through the sting, and locked eyes with King. He wore a satisfied smile, like he had been waiting for it.“Are you crazy?” she barked.“No, I should be asking you that. To think you could walk in here and suddenly want to become First Lady.”“How does that connect to volleyball rehears

Camp activities finally came to an end, but the relief everyone expected never arrived. Instead coldness filled the atmosphere.Stacey and Lily stayed close, their shoulders brushing as they waited for the buses to load. They didn’t speak much. Their silence was heavy, stitched together by everything they had survived in the last twenty-four hours.Across the field, Paul kept glancing their way. His eyes lingered on Stacey longer than necessary, guilt written clearly across his face. Every time their gazes almost met, he looked away, jaw tightening as if holding back words that no longer had a place to go.Stacey’s face looked hollow, her eyes dulled by exhaustion and hurt. When she lifted her head, her gaze collided with Derick’s.The pain struck instantly.She hissed under her breath, as if the sight of him had physically burned her. Lily felt it and tightened her grip around Stacey’s hand, grounding her, and Stacey didn’t look again.Derick, however, couldn’t stop looking.His expr