CURSED: The Last of Five Kingdoms.

Episode12- Back to where it all started(PRT2)/Prom

PROM DAY

Mael and Harry are dressed in a sleek black tuxedo and head to their Prom.

"No way. This can't be our gym," Harry says with his mouth wide open. Mael is equally astonished at the unfamiliar change but familiar environment. If they had no idea that this is their gym, they would have agreed with anyone that told them so. It looks like a miracle in here. The bleachers, the basketball nets and the exercise equipment are all gone. You can never tell that our gym holds things of such a nature. They've been replaced with twinkling white stars and a half-moon filled decorated ceiling. The walls are covered with blue and gold. Rows of round tables covered with silver tablecloths and four chairs around each table. They are scattered left and right, keeping the middle bare, serving as the dance floor. The boxing ring has been turned into the DJ stand with speakers at every corner, a turntable and the DJ cueing up music. Towards the exit of the gym or should I say our Prom stand, the refreshment tables are there with different drinks, snacks and food on them. And, of course, nothing alcoholic there. Just pure soft drinks, fruit juice or beverages. Hanging boldly, "THE END FOR THE BEGINNING." Which is the Prom theme, is written in Gold on blue paper. It made it graduate and look so beautiful.

After looking around to his satisfaction, "I'll catch you later," Harry shouts into Mael's ear on top of voice die to the loud music that the DJ is blasting.

There are no security, just the teachers which are unusual. Their school always have guards at every corner. Of all the nights to be absent, it had to be this one? Or did the teachers reconsider and got to the conclusion that the kids should have fun for once in their life and today has been their last night of high school?

Harry gathers his strength and begins to mingle. Of course, he has to. Because he is a popular kid. Everything looks different. The funniest thing is that none of the people looks familiar. I could not recognize them. They all look like celebrities. Because, none of the people sitting, walking, leaning over to fix a corsage, flirting, smiling, sipping a drink out of a plastic cup—none of those people looked like they went to school with there. They are all looking dreamy and flashy in suits and tuxedos, visions in silk and chiffon and lace. Skin glowing in the light from the candles and the stars, teeth sparkling, Jewelries looking like diamonds, and most of them are in pairs. Love all through the atmosphere.

Mael not having so many friends, secures a quiet corner and sits. He slowly taps his foot to the rhythm of the music, regretting why he even listened to Harry and came for this Prom. He isn't like Harry who when Mael looks ahead, is already taking but mostly flirting with some chic who is dressed in a purple royal gown, bold and too much makeover, dangling earrings that look as if they would fall off from her ears anytime soon, her hair long and curly. She doesn't look all that bad. If she wipes off the excess make-up and wears something less purple with her hairdo in a more gathered form, she will be just about right enough.

Seconds later, the girl who just commented on his outfit disappears into the crowd. He lets out a heavy sigh which shows that he has been holding his breath all the while she was around him. Mael is always tensed when someone comes close to him. For someone to comment on what he is wearing, is a good thing for him because people hardly notice him.

Mael resumes feeding his eyes with Harry's expedition. He is hugging the gorgeous girl in a purple gown and the girl is flushing. Looking like she is about to pass out.

Mael shakes his head in disgust and averts his eyes, moving them away to find something less annoying. He had no idea why girls behave in that manner whenever Harry gives them attention. Do we get that he is hot but is he hotter than Michael B. Jordan? He is just an average kid like everyone else who is graduating high school.

“Okay, that’s enough,” Mael scolds himself. For some reason, he begins to fan himself, “why is it so hot?" For the first time in a long time, someone else compliments him apart from his family and isn't taking the chances of running that by taking off his suit which looks like the cause of him sweating. Even if he begins to burn, Mael looks determined to still be in his tuxedo.

He is still in his mess of sweating when "come on!” Someone grabs his hand and drags him through the crowd to a table in the back corner.

Passing through everyone, he sees the prom with a clearer vision. It looks more beautiful and touchy. Girlfriends screaming, hugging and jumping up and down in a corner when they see each overlooking different and almost unrecognisable. Other girls getting checked out and admiration from their dates. The scenario warms the heart and is almost leading Mael to tears.

“Look at that dress!” one girl says as we passed them. She is referring to her friend of course.

“Where did you get it?” another asks.

“It looks so expensive another voice came."

The girls keep gossiping as we pass them.

We get to the table and I made out the face of who has been dragging me. It has been Harry the whole time.

"What man? I didn't even notice that it was you."

"You cannot just sit there like a statue. Have fun. That is the whole essence of why we came."

"I hear you."

"Later," waving and disappearing into the crowd.

I just had to agree with Harry to disagree with him. I do not have an interest in mingling anytime soon. Just when I am about to continue my eye-tour, I hear that voice.

"Hi, girls," it sings. chirping like an early morning bird. The sound is so melodic. it can only be one person with such an amazing voice.

Her dress looks like layers of gold and silver wrapped around her glowing skin. Her hair is in a sleek ponytail, neutral makeup, beautiful pencil shoes and a clutch purse. It is Grenada. My eyes couldn't come off her. Hooked to the way she smiles effortlessly, her swaying of hips and royal-like wave, she is made in heaven. Accompanying her are her friends who did not look any less gorgeous. She has two friends and they were inseparable from each other. They are referred to as the three Musketeers in school. Melody is in a peach dress and it is so beautiful on her. Although the length isn't the longest, it is actually very short but it complement's her got legs. Dorothy on the other hand is dressed in orange satin, fitted, strapless and a floor-length gown. Melody's hair is in braids and Dorothy has a sleek bun. The three looks gorgeous.

Still admiring them, then the DJ starts playing background music, not fast or loud enough to dance to. Around the gym, heads start bobbing, hips swaying back and forth. People in pairs, dancing and looking all in love, although it is obvious that there will be a lot of heartbreak after this moment. Because, it is the final night of high school and couples would get separated because of college and, others because they want to explore and have a fresh start.

Suddenly, the DJ grabs the mike, “are you ready to party?” He shouts

"Yes," almost everybody screams, rushing to the dance floor as if the DJ taking is their cue to do so.

The first beats out of the speakers are so deafening that they blew the hair out of my face.

A guy who looks like he is an underwear model, with brown-coloured skin and hot brown dreamy eyes, is already taking to Grenada, possibly asking her to dance. I couldn't make out their conversation because I am not close to where they are but that is obviously what he is asking

her for.

Grenada is single at the moment but we all knew it isn't for long. She had the habit of not maintaining relationships for long. It isn't just her thing. One day she is dating the football captain and the next, the hockey team leader. Who knows before the night is over she might end up with a boyfriend and someone from the sports unit.

The DJ outdid himself. Playing everyone's favourite party song back to back, earning him cheers and a lot of dance on the dance floor. Then he decides to switch back to the slow and romantic mood. For me, it is the best. Because it made everywhere go quiet. People sitting back in their seats, relaxing from their hot dance, others retiring back to their gossip units and some couples entwined. To be honest, the slow music gave me the chance to sit back and continue checking out the rest of the class.

Everyone still looking great, but when I look closely I see that some girls and guys did go way too far with their dressing but I guess they did so because this is a once in a lifetime event and they are not planning to do it twice. Some look like music stars, others like backup dancers and the last grade like rejects from a music video. The guys wearing tight suits that show off their ripped veins and muscles, others looking like bleachers and the last grade as well, looking like janitors. Hopefully, I am not among that last grade of girls. I mean I can't be. Right? Mom said I looked like prince charming, Dad said if he looked half good as I did, he would have secured my mom's heart earlier than he did and a mystery girl has complimented me this evening. So I want in that last category. All the same, everyone looks good.

From nowhere, Hardy repairs with a different girl in his arm. She looks terrible compared to the purple gown princess. She is in a black ball gown, looking like someone who just stepped out of a graveyard, but they match her boots, which is equally black. If I didn't know better, I would have thought this is a Halloween party because of her dressing.

I shoot Hardy daggers with my eyes which he responds by giving me a burst of full-time belly laughter. There is always something about tuxedoes, the make the likes of Harry look responsible when they are in fact, not so responsible.

“Come on,” Harry says. “Cut me some slack. It is not every day that you graduate from high school."

“You’re joking, right?” I growl.

Most people question how we two are brothers because apart from mom, dad, myself, and Harry, no one else knows the truth that I am adopted. They think it is weird that we do not even look like siblings but we behave like one and that has been shutting them up and sealing off any unwanted attention.

"Hey, there's an after-party at Grenada's, we will be attending., Harry says, leaving before he got my response.

Why does he always do that? Never wait around to get my affirmation or disagreement with his proposals. He will just throw the proposal at me and then disappear.

Still dealing with how I am going to be facing Grenada all the other kids, the songs come faster and faster, and the heat turns up. Everyone is moving, moving to a beat never heard before in the halls of Medival High School, arms waving, hips swaying, hearts locked into the same rhythm, the same beat until everyone danced so hard and gets exhausted. Most could not move any longer and they just bob their heads.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it is time to crown the prom King and Queen." The DJ roars through the mic.

The students or say ex-students of Medival High School cheer and gather around for the moment they've all been waiting for.

As soon as the preparation for Prom began things got hot. Friendships broke, lies were told and results were manipulated during the nomination of The Prom King and Queen by some people, just to get that spot. At the end of the whole day, four persons were nominated. Two who did not even care about the event was secretly voted into the process and two who worked harder than the others. Harry and Bliss are the nonchalant nominees and Grenada and Simeon are the ones that worked.

"This semester has been one of hard work," Principal Gary begins, adjusting his tie. Principal Gary is a bulky looking man with a wrinkled face. He has been the Principal for as long as I can remember and he is very good at his work. "Some of you made the right choices and others, not so good. But in all, you will be missed."

Suddenly, everyone freezes. The environment is drop-dead silent, as time has been paused. No one is moving forward or backwards except for Mael. Then everything goes dark.

Mark begins to panic, searching desperately for his phone so that he can turn on the flashlight but reaching for it, it slips through his hand and falls. Mael bends and begins to search for his phone. His hands touch something cold. Very cold. He feels it, the feeling felt like a face. An actual human beings face but a cold one.

"Why is it so cold?" He queries but gets no response. He withdraws his hand and continues searching for his phone. Almost frustrated, his hands get ahold of the phone then he switches on the torch.

"Ahhhhhhhhh," he screams and falls hard on his butt.

Everything goes back to normal, the people unfreezes, music blaring from the speakers and people back to cheering at the principal's speech. Mael's scream was so loud that everyone begins to look at him like he is crazy. Well, he looked pretty much crazy. Putting on his flashlight when there is pretty much light at every corner, sitting on the floor and screaming when the music is blasting? His voice drew attention because it was so loud. He is the only one that saw what he saw. No one else. How was he going to explain any of that?

"He is weird." People begin to murmur.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the moment you have been waiting for," The principal announces, bringing their attention to his voice.

Mael has never been so grateful to principal Gary than right now. He just saved him from being the centre of attraction for the rest of the evening.

"The King and Queen go to," a few minutes of suspending silence, "Harrison Vindisia and Grenada Moon, respectively." Clapping as he brings out the crowns. Hardy and Grenada goes on stage and gets their crown, wave, smile and returns to the audience.

"I was never expecting this, man," Harry jokes with his crown and hugs me.

"Congratulations, Harry," Grenada says before embracing him in a hug then goes back to her girlfriends who are squirming, jumping up and down and admiring her crown. As always she did not notice me or even say hi.

"Congratulations, Harry," I say, hugging him. "Wait, is that a real crown or a fake one?" I ask, pretending as if I am inspecting the crown.

While we are still at the Prom my mind wanders off to what I saw earlier. Since the stroke of midnight, I've been having all manner of bad dreams and visions. It is as if someone or something is out to scare me.

“Hey! we made it!” A voice shouts from the crowd, rushing o the picture booth to take a picture. Oh, that reminds me, it is picture time. It is the moment we create our last memory of high school.

As we walk in turns to take pictures, my gaze darts towards Grenada who now has her hands clasped with some hot dude. My brows rise and I narrow my eyes to make out the face of the guy but violent because it is dark. Well, I am not so surprised. It even took her long enough to be entwined. The guy is wrapping her in a hug which she returns with one arm. I did not want to be a crazy stalker who would focus on everything she did. I have to find something else to occupy my mind with. It is a good thing that after this night, we will all be leaving for college, that way it will be easy for me to forget her. This is what saved me from Blevair too. The fact that I got adopted helped me forget her. This too will be the case with Grenada.

“Come get in line everyone for the group picture." The principal shouts on top of his lungs so that everyone can hear him.

"I think we should do a picture together for Mom and Dad.” Harry tug's my hand, pulling me into line with everyone else. He starts arranging my tuxedo, making sure that everything is in place. That is a habit of his that I love so so much. He makes sure to look out for me no matter how little or insignificant the occasion might be.

As Harry does that, I notice something unusual, but there is something in his eyes that set off alarms in my brain. What is that all about? I wait to catch his eye and raise my brow in question. He shakes his head almost immediately. Whatever it is, and I am convinced there is something, now obviously isn't the time to discuss it. Knowing that didn’t help the wave of anxiety jolting through my stomach.

We focus on the picture, taking the group picture, one for mom and dad, and one for ourselves.

After the rounds of pictures, the glass door to the exit slides open and I notice that no one ccan in or went out but the door just opened. I wasn't taking alcohol so, who or what is messing with my head? When the thing happens, I start feeling unsafe and I have the urge to leave at that moment. The Prom has almost come to an end and it is a good thing because people have started heading to Grenada's house for the after-party. I used that as an excuse to drag Harry out of here.

" Harry?" I kept calling and searching through the crowd until I see him in a corner with a different girl. I don't bother to check this one out, "Hardy?"

"Yes, Mael." He nonchalantly responses, giving me a deadly glare.

I know that for interrupting him, it isn't going to come at an easy price. He would definitely use it against him but I didn't mind, as far as we get out of here before it gets any worse.

"Let's head out," I whisper.

"Why would I do that?" He whispers back

"Because we need to get to Grenada's house before it get's crowded and uncomfortable. And you know how I hate crowded places." I need to up my game if I want Harry out of here anytime soon, "Harry, you wouldn't want to go alone, right? We better get going before I change my mind about going there."

Narrowing his eyes, "I see what you are doing. Okay, you win. Let us go. But don't think that in a million years that I will forgive you for this." He lets go of the girl and walks with me to our car which I know that we are going to be leaving behind because mom said that our college doesn't need a car and I am still wondering how the Harvard University that I applied to, doesn't need a car. Or, the New York Film Academy that Harry applied to. It is still a mystery to the both of us but whatever mum says, goes.

We got into the jeep. It isn't the best version of its family as a car but it isn't the worst either. At least we had something that could move and it isn't that horrible but sometimes it can embarrass you. Like that one time that it stopped in the middle of nowhere with Harry and the girl, he liked so much in it. He did everything to it, and the car wouldn't just start. He was frustrated and had to walk miles back home with his crush. When he got home, he looked as half-dead as anything and when he told us what had happened, it took a whole year before we gave up mocking him about it. Of course, he found a way to pay me back. But we lived though.

Slowly, we ride to Grenada's house listening and singing to Last Friday Night by Katty Perry.

"I am so going to miss you, man," Harry says, looking like he means it.

"Me too." I know that I mean mine.

How am I going to survive without Harry since we are getting separated because of the college's we chose? I can't remember the last time we were in different places. Always together. Me doing his assignments and him fighting for me. It is going to be unbearable at first, but we will find a way to survive. It is bound to happen that one day, we will find our different ways. One thing I know is that, no matter how far we are from each other, he would always be my brother. We made plans to visit each other, share pictures of whatever we were doing and call frequently. Yes, we made that promise to each other and we are so going to keep it.  

Everything is going smoothly until we arrived at t Grenada's house.