“They’ve already counted half the votes.” “Amber’s dress alone is going to win it.” “Chase could set the gym on fire and still take the crown.” Shirley hated it. Hated that the same kids who made Richard’s life miserable were about to be rewarded for their popularity. It wasn’t just wrong, it felt grotesque. By the time the night hit its stride, laughter filled the room.
The gym pulsed with music, students danced without care, and teachers clustered around the punch bowl as though drinking from it would help them feel thirty years younger. A group of girls posed dramatically under the “Hollywood Nights” backdrop, sparkling in the glow of someone’s flash. And yet, in the middle of all the noise, something chilled Shirley.