Chapter 30

I wake up early for the photoshoot. It's mostly Kaia's fault, since she panics about what to wear.

"Something nice," I yawn in the phone, "A dress maybe."

"Yeah, but what dress," Kaia deadpans, "I have this black formal one, which is down to my knees, then another one that is slightly longer but has a slit on the side, and my seventies dress with polka dots."

I yawn again and rub my eyes. "Knee length black dress. I'm hanging up."

My mum picked out a white, flouncy blouse for me, plus the only formal skirt I own. I'm pondering over my shoes, before I decide on simple Mary Janes with kitten heels. I don't want to stick out if we're going to stand for the pictures.

Kaia jumps into my car all excited, but forgets about it pretty soon when I hand her my phone.

"Oh my god," she exclaims and excitedly taps on the screen, "That's so cool. Wow, Matthew is so fit, you absolutely cannot break up with him."

I roll my eyes and stop my car on the nearly empty parking lot. Vivian's shiny white car is already there, next to what I assume is Liling's red Honda. Kaia starts jumping up and down on her seat, afraid we're going to be the last one and miss out on all of the fun.

It's right when a big black car stops in front of the school, and Agatha jumps out of it. She sends the driver one last smile, before spotting us and waving.

"Was this your boyfriend's car?" Kaia asks her in amazement, "Whew, it is huge! Is he rich?"

Agatha only smiles and shakes her head. "Let's go. I guess they're already waiting?"

When we walk through the main entrance, there's already loud music coming from the green & gold room, and something that sounds like the singing of Liling and Vivian. They're both in the green & gold room, prepping what looks like an endless supply of make-up and hair styling tools on the long tables they pushed back towards the walls. They also somehow organized three big mirrors, which looks suspiciously like the ones hanging in the girls' bathroom down the hallway.

Liling's happily singing along to what seems like a compilation of the latest boygroup hits, which I know she's a big fan of, but I never would've thought Vivian enjoys it, too. Thinking about it, I always imagined Vivian sitting all classy in her room listening to old recordings on an expensive vintage record player, or maybe dragging Logan to really niche indie bands no one has ever heard of, being extremely gatekeep-y about it, but here she is, smiling and singing to BTS' latest hit while rearranging eyeshadow palettes.

"You're here!" Liling jumps to hug us once she spots us standing in the doorway, "Come quick, we've already prepared everything!"

Which is how I find myself five minutes later in a chair in front of the mirrors, my hair pulled back into a ponytail while I try to apply foundation and simultaneously stop Kaia from going crazy with the blue eyeshadow. Kaia rarely wears makeup, but when she does she likes to go all out, which I'm not sure Johnny would appreciate on what's supposed to be our classy club pictures.

"We can go out next weekend," I tell her, "Watch a movie or something. I will do your makeup before and you can choose any color you like."

"Oh, please!" Kaia claps her hands, "I saw a TikTok where a girl did an amazing green and blue eyeshadow look, I've always wanted to recreate it!"

Liling leans over my shoulder to borrow my eyebrow pencil and critically eyes Kaia's face.

"You could do brown and golden today, this would look great with your hair. Also, Vivian and I decided to go for sleek buns, you in?"

"Um, my hair is definitely not long enough for this," Agatha says.

"You could do finger waves," Liling suggests, "Or like, do the Malfoy."

Agatha stares at her. "The what?"

"I can do finger waves," Vivian pipes up, "I did it for my cousin last Christmas. Did you bring your hair products?"

Agatha and Vivian move to quietly discuss about her hair options, while I wonder where Vivian, who I've never seen with anything but a tight bun, learned to do finger waves.

I inspect Kaia's finished look, which looks very natural and cute, and add more blush on her cheeks, and a bit of highlighter. Liling runs around behind us, carrying spray bottles and hair gel and helps Kaia to slick back her curls into a neat bun.

I'm trying and fighting with my own hair when the doors to the green & gold room open and Johnny pokes his head inside.

"Hey you. Are you almost done?"

"I don't know, are you?" Liling raises an eyebrow, "I don't think a little makeup would hurt you, president."

Five minutes later, Johnny sits on one chair with a blank expression as Vivian and Liling lean over him to powder his face. It's not like he needs it, but Duncan definitely does, showing up with ruffled hair and dark eye bags, and before he can even do so much as protest, Liling has him pushed down on the next chair.

"What the fuck, no," Duncan furrows his brows and tries to slap her hand away, "Leave me alone."

"In your dreams," Liling grabs his face in a way that unfortunately doesn't scream very romantic and starts to apply one layer of foundation after another, plus something that looks suspiciously like eyeliner.

Carlos shows up some time later with his cousin Sam, who looks exactly like him, minus the long curls, plus some wrinkles around his eyes. I've just finished my hair, so I get up to talk with them and let Sam explain to me his camera and whole set-up, which I instantly forget everything about. Matthew comes in in the middle of it and leans over my shoulder, which is highly distracting, but fortunately Agatha manages to grab him and drags him towards the make-up tables. Logan, who somehow appeared out of nowhere, is on the chair next to him and admires his own reflection, which is apparently Vivian's work. His hair is carefully combed and there's bronzer on his cheeks. He takes a ton of selfies and uploads them straight to his Instagram. Johnny allows it for a couple more minutes, but then he claps his hands and ushers everyone to get it going, because Sam doesn't have the whole day, but also because his hair probably won't stay up another five minutes.

We line up in the middle of the green & gold room, with the banner of the school visible on the wall behind us. No one gets to pose on the black couch. The girls sit on chairs in the front, which is easy since we can just fold our hands on our lap instead of awkwardly swinging them around. The boys have their hands on the backrests of our chairs, all classy looking with their gelled hair and flawless skin. Matthew and Carlos get to stand on the ends, since they're the tallest, and Logan and Johnny are in the middle.

"Ok then," Sam says and looks up from this huge camera, "Remember, don't look directly into the light, or your eyes will tear up. Don't want to ruin the makeup, do we?"

There are snorts, most notably from Duncan, and Logan nods all seriously.

"We're going for classy," Johnny says, "Don't laugh. Smiles, but no teeth. Carlos, stop squinting your eyes. Liling, don't play with your hair. Logan, formal smile remember. You look like an idiot."

I'm definitely not unfamiliar with putting on a stern, unaffected face, and stare at the camera right when the first flash goes off.

"Whoa, that surprised me!" Logan comments and grips tightly on both Agatha's and my backrest.

"I'm pretty sure I had my eyes closed in that one," Duncan says.

"Shut up, we're taking a whole lot more," Johnny says.

The next flash, and I change my posture a little, tilting my head to the side. Another one, and I unfold my hands, before quickly folding them again. Another one, and my neck starts hurting.

"Are we done yet," Duncan says.

"If you continue like this, we'll have to take at least a hundred for you to look good in one," Liling says.

"Shut up, both of you," Johnny snaps.

I stop counting and focus on keeping up a smile without scrunching up my whole face.

"That's all for now," Sam calls finally and checks the display of his camera, "You can check on them in a minute. Don't ruin your makeup until then."

Kaia jumps up and extends her hand in my direction. "That was exhausting, wasn't it?"

"I never really got my pictures taken professionally like this before," Agatha says, "It was more fun than I thought."

"Carlos, is your cousin doing prom pictures too?" Liling asks and jumps to grab his arm, "I want my prom partner and I to look absolutely gorgeous, and the pictures my parents take are only so-so."

"Who are you even going to prom with?" Carlos asks casually and tugs on a loose strand of her bun.

"Hmm? I don't know?" Liling laughs and twirls around, "I haven't decided yet – but guess who asked me! Guess, guess!"

"I don't know, someone of the council?" Carlos suggests and his eyes dart to Duncan, who's munching on packed sandwiches from the vending machine.

"What?" Liling furrows her brows, "Are you planning to ask me, Carlos?"

"No, of course not. So, who is it?"

"Aaron Steinberg!" Liling places a hand over her heart and sighs dreamily, "You know, that tall senior. I was so surprised – he went straight up to me and was like, Liling, you're really pretty, I'd love to go to the prom with you. That was so sweet of him!"

Duncan snorts with a full mouth. "And what did you say?"

Liling gives him an irritated look. "I told him I'll consider it. I mean, it's too soon to decide, isn't it?"

Duncan looks positively annoyed, Carlos completely done with the two of them.

"This," I say and turn around with a sigh, "Is never going to work, I fear."

It's only then that I realize I'm left with Vivian, since Kaia joined Agatha to take a look at the pictures. The situation is slightly awkward, at least for me, while Vivian seems completely at ease and straightens her skirt.

"Why are you so pessimistic?" she asks, but not in a mean way, "I think anything can happen. Like, I never expected Matthew and you to date."

She's actually smiling as she says it, and I'm confused, but not irritated.

"Me neither," I say slowly.

"You two make a cute couple, you know," Vivian continues and hums thoughtfully, "I'm glad Matthew finally found a girlfriend. He attended prom with all those girls but nothing ever seemed to work out for him. It wasn't fair. Matthew's a really nice guy."

I stare at her.

"What?" she asks and chuckles lightly.

"Completely different to what your boyfriend thinks," I say and raise an eyebrow.

Vivian is quiet for a moment, and I'm pretty sure she knows what I'm talking about.

"Don't – listen to Logan," she says then, very slowly and almost hesitant, "If you just don't mind – he won't either."

Vivian looks down at her lap, and it's a completely different Vivian. Nothing like the confident, snappy VP she usually is. Instead, Vivian looks almost insecure. And honestly, I can't blame her. Having a boyfriend that is still so hung up over his ex-girlfriend's new relationship must suck a lot.

"I'm sure he doesn't even mind much," I say and tilt my head, "You guys make a cute couple too."

That's only half a lie, but Vivian's smile afterwards totally makes up for it.

She laughs. "I sure hope so. Hey look, your boyfriend seems to want something from you."

I look up and see Matthew gesturing in my direction. I furrow my brows, and he grins and raises a finger before turning around.

Matthew walks up straight to Sam and then points at me. "Can I get a few extra pictures with my girlfriend?"

"Sure," Sam says and lowers his camera, "In front of the windows? It'll look nice."

Matthew nods and gestures me to come closer. I grimace, ignoring the way Carlos and Kaia coo in the background, and walk up to his side.

"A couple shoot?" I ask, "Seriously?"

"Why not?" Matthew grins and slings an arm around my waist, "My parents will love it. Your mother too. Also, it's something nice to keep, isn't it?"

I'm amazed by the fact he doesn't even think about the conditions our relationship is based on. Matthew seems completely relaxed and puts on a natural smile, and right when he cups my face with his other hand, the camera flashes.

I blink rapidly and try to relax into Matthew's hold. He smiles down at me, his face unbearably close, and I can't help but smile back. Another flash.

"Great, really," Sam calls, "Maybe, a kiss now?"

There are hollers, and Carlos whistles, and I send death glares in their direction. Kaia give me a thumbs up, while Liling screeches and covers her face with her hands and even Vivian and Agatha watch us with big smiles.

When I turn back, Matthew reaches out to cup my face with both of his hands. He smiles at me, his eyes sparkling with something I can't really place, and the next second his lips are pressed on mine. Another flash.

Matthew grins against my lips, and I groan and bury my face in his chest. This is seriously embarrassing. Another flash.

"Are we done yet?" I mumble into Matthew's shirt.

He shakes his head with a laugh, and I glare up at him. Another flash.

Sam calls something I can't hear over the cheering of the council members, and it's only when I look over my shoulder that I catch Logan's eyes. He's standing at the very back of the room, hair still carefully styled, face undeniably handsome, but it's the look in his eyes that completely catches me off-guard. It's no mad, like usual, nor annoyed or extremely pissed. Instead, Logan looks hurt. So very hurt, just by looking at us. It's a look I know just too well, since it's the same way I use to look at Vivian and him, and it's something I never expected from Logan. Not with the way he claimed whatever we had wasn't serious, not with the way he said he can't see a future with me. Not with the way he made so sure I didn't mean a thing to him.

I swallow hard, and try to calm my face. My grip on Matthew's shirt tightens, and it's right when he looks down at me with worry on his face that Sam claps his hands.

"Great," he calls and puts down his camera, "Seriously, these pictures are beautiful. Would you mind if I also use them for my portfolio?"

Matthew shakes his head and goes to cup my face. "Hey, are you okay?"

I close my eyes and take a deep breath.

"Sure," I say and free myself from his grip, "Uh – I'll go and get something to drink. This whole shooting was really exhausting."

Matthew doesn't seem to believe me one bit, but then Liling calls him, squealing over the pictures we took.

"June," Matthew starts and runs a hand through his hair, "I hope you know that I –"

"Matthew!" Liling calls again, "Oh my god Matthew, you look so good! Why are you not a model?"

I place my hands on his chest and push him lightly.

"I'll be back soon, promise."