Chapter 34

"So, this is your boyfriend?"

My mum is positioned by the door with her camera and a bright smile on her face.

"Hello, Mrs. Riley," Matthew does something that looks like a bow, "Pleasure to meet you."

I make a face and nudge his back. My mum is all ecstatic.

"Oh, I like this one," she coos, "June told me so much about you – it was so sweet, how you helped her with the science project! I'm glad she found such a nice boyfriend."

My face heats up.

"Mum, come on. We don't have much time. Pictures, remember?"

It's cold outside, since it finally snowed, and my mum opted for outside pictures because of how beautiful the first snow looks compared to the old tapestry in our entry. It really does, but my prom dress is not exactly fitting outer wear. I glance longingly at the fluffy black coat hanging over my mum's arm, and can't wait to get this done with.

"Right, please get ready," my mum gives Matthew a quick pat on the arm, "You really didn't need to worry, June, there's no way a picture with such a handsome boy can come out bad."

I want to die. Matthew laughs and slings his arm around me, until I'm pressed against his side. He looks really good in his dark suit, and all my worrying last night that my senior prom pictures, aka the only prom pictures I'm ever going to take, will come out stupid because I look like an idiot. I mean, me looking like an idiot is still not completely ruled out, but Matthew looking like that is definitely going to make up for it. I reach out to gently touch his cheek and he smiles and leans down to press a kiss on my hair.

My mum takes about a hundred pictures and coos just how gorgeous and stunning we look, and I'm practically freezing to death.

Matthew senses my distress and laughs, rubbing my arm. "I think we got a lot of good ones by now."

"Of course, of course," my mum says and puts down her camera, "Do you want to look?"

I don't. I lightly pinch Matthew's side and he holds me closer.

"Unfortunately no. We're kind of in a hurry, my mum wants to take pictures, too," Matthew looks like he's seriously sad to leave, "I hope it's okay if we're leaving now, Mrs. Riley."

"Have fun," my mum calls and gives me one last hug, "Don't bring her home late, Matthew."

"I won't," he says and smiles, taking my coat from her and wrapping it around my shoulders.

I roll my eyes so hard I feel dizzy. "Let's go."

I hug my mum and she waves after us, and it's not until we're halfway down the driveway that I remember something.

"Mum," I call over my shoulder, "Can you send a few of those to dad?"

She gives me a look, and the smile on her face is soft and warm. "I will."

"You look great," Matthew tells me when we reach his car, "This dress is amazing."

I raise an eyebrow and laugh. This is so cliché, and it feels good.

"Thank you."

I don't feel entirely comfortable riding shotgun, but Matthew practically begged to drive.

"Just for once," he said, "Come on June, let me pick up my girl for prom night at least."

I'm mad at myself because I'm weak when he's all charming, even at the cost of my own life. Okay, we survive the drive, but it's really a close call. My whole body is shaking when I climb out of Matthew's car and I glare at him

"Never again."

Matthew makes a face. "Come on, it wasn't that bad."

"You almost run over three flowerpots! Plus probably scared that poor squirrel for life!"

"What it is doing in the middle of the street is completely beyond me anyway."

"June! Matthew!"

Liling comes running Matthew's driveway, or speed walking in her heels, and grabs my hand with a bright smile on her face.

"You're finally here, oh my god, and you both look stunning – gorgeous dress, June!"

She looks stunning herself, her hair carefully curled and her sparkly dress matching her eyes, but I'm mostly irritated because I definitely didn't expect her in Matthew's driveway.

"What are you doing here, Liling?"

Liling pauses and gives Matthew a look. "Taking pictures? With you?"

"And why are you taking pictures with us?" I deadpan.

"Prom pictures," Matthew says quickly and slings an arm around my shoulders, "Come inside, you'll understand."

Matthew's mother is just as excited as my own, fussing over my dress and how good Matthew and I look together and how she's so happy and the pictures will come out so great. I turn beat red and awkwardly shake both her and Matthew's father's hand, and it's only when Leonard shows up next to him I understand what's going on. He looks just as good as his brother, dressed in a matching black suit with his hair slicked backwards, and sports a pretty sour expression.

"Look at this," Liling cheers and throws herself at Leonard's arm, "Don't we look perfect together?"

I stare at Matthew, and he laughs awkwardly and presses a quick kiss on my cheek.

"Twenty bucks," I hiss at him, "I want it back. Pay me now."

"Relax, jealousy works wonders," Matthew mutters and pulls me closer, "So, what about the pictures now, mum?"

I feel like I'm in a photoshoot all over again. We pose in front of the house, next to the snow decorating the trees in the garden, in front of the fireplace, up the stairs with Leonard and Liling below Matthew and I, with our arms folded on the couches, inside Matthew's car and then outside again, leaning against it. Matthew holds both of my hands in his and even wants to give me his suit jacket because I'm freezing, but no way I'm going to ruin the aesthetic because of something a stupid as me dying of hypothermia. Especially not when Leonard and Liling manage to look like top models in every single picture, without even trying.

"I guess that's it," Matthew's mother declares with a look at her camera and smiles, "I wish you all lots of fun tonight. Matthew, don't forget Leonard has to be home at eleven."

Leonard turns to me with a murderous expression on his face.

"Kill me now. End my suffering."

"Oh come on," Liling laughs and takes his hand, "This will be fun, I'm sure."

She drags him with notable effort towards Matthew's car and Leonard manages one last desperate look in my direction before Liling pushes him inside. I would feel sorry for him, really, but I'm still mad Matthew allowed this to happen in the first place. I don't know what he was thinking, if jealousy had worked, Duncan would've swept Liling off her feet the second Aaron Steinberg even thought of asking her out.

Matthew's mother notices me staring and sighs.

"Please take care of him, okay? He's really nervous."

"Of course," I say quickly.

"And also, behave yourself!" Matthew's mother adds with a stern look in his direction, "No alcohol. No overeating. Treat June well."

"Mum," Matthew laughs and kisses her cheek, "Don't worry."

When we're all in the car, I tell Leonard I absolutely adored Holes.

"You do? You do?" Leonard's practically screaming and gives my backrest a good beating, "What did I tell you, this book isn't called a masterpiece for nothing. Liling, have you read Holes?"

"Of course," Liling says, "Kissin' Kate Barlow is my hero."

Leonard looks at Liling like he's seeing her in a whole new light. He even smiles.

The gym hall looks great. I didn't really pay attention before, since I was maybe too occupied with Logan screaming on top of a Christmas tree while we were decorating, but the fake snow, the long, Hogwarts-style tables with crisp white tablecloths and the soft blue and white lighting look great. It's just like a Christmas wonderland, minus the actual cold and plus a whole lot of students dressed in anything but suitable winter attire. Two girls from my math class pass us wearing bikini tops and hula skirts and – I'm not even asking. They look great though.

Unfortunately, the next thing I see is our faces hugely blown over a large banner of the wall, with the caption "Organized by the Event Council" right below. I'm pretty sure I remember us doing full body shots from a proper distance, so I'm not sure why the banner only displays uncomfortable close-ups of our faces.

Matthew follows my gaze and winces.

"I promise this was not my doing."

"It's fine," I shrug, "I already prepared myself for lots of embarrassing moments tonight, so."

"Err," Matthew says, "Speaking of which."

He clears his throat and starts pulling me towards the stage, where a lot of instruments are already set up, with half a dozen students standing next to them. I realize it's not the band but the other council members a little too late, and before I can turn around and leave, or like, kill myself, Johnny already spots us and starts waving urgently .

"Oh my god," I mutter and hide my face in Matthew's shoulder, "What is this? I surely would have remembered if we were supposed to get on stage, no?"

"What, I thought it was obvious," Liling pipes up from my other side, "This is our prom. Of course we need to do a speech!"

Matthew laughs and helps me climb up the stairs to the stage, which is a seriously difficult task in my three inch stilettos. Liling follows right afterwards, and she's laughing and brushing her long curls back, clearly enjoying all the attention. I clearly don't.

I quickly find Kaia, who looks amazing in her glittery pink and white dress, and grab her hand. She giggles and gives my hand an excited squeeze.

Vivian is on her other side, and she looks both classy and beautiful, which means Logan's gaze is practically glued on her. She doesn't spare him a single look, but chats quietly with Agatha and Carlos.

Then, after Matthew also made it on stage to stand behind me, Johnny clears his throat and switches on the mic.

"Good evening, how is everyone doing?" he booms into the mic and is greeted by a surprisingly loud cheering of the crowd.

"This is the amazing event council, and we're the one hosting the prom tonight," Johnny continues and I'm surprised by how charismatic he actually is on stage, "So have fun, enjoy the food, enjoy the music, and don't forget to follow our TikTok!"

"We have TikTok?" I whisper.

"As embarrassing as it is, we actually do," Carlos mutters back.

We're bowing, because of what reason I don't know, and then we're off stage again, Matthew holding both of my hands securely while I try not to faceplant.

The live band jumps on stage right after we exited and starts with what seems like an endless loop of Christmas song covers, but it's nice. Carlos and Duncan chose them, and I don't think it's a coincidence none of the band members seems younger than forty, but still. They chose well.

"Can I have this dance?" Matthew whispers somewhere above my ear.

"Uh," I wince, "Okay, but don't expect much. I can only do like, Just Dance dances."

Matthew laughs and guides me over the dance floor in a way that is honestly almost insulting. I feel like we're floating, and my feet move almost gracefully, which is definitely not something I usually experience while dancing.

I narrow my eyes at him.

"Did you take dance classes before?"

"Hmm?" Matthew grins and tightens his hold on my waist, "Maybe yes, maybe no. What if I tell you I'm a natural?"

I laugh and reach out to put my hand on his cheek to pull him down, pressing a quick kiss to the corner of his mouth. Matthew smiles and holds me closer and we dance some more, which okay. It's not that bad. At least not with him.