"Guess who's back?!", Matt yelled as he entered the house with Zephyr in tow.
Hearing his voice, Desiree came running from the kitchen and asked, "So how is it?"
"Guess who's got two thumbs and just bought the coolest tuxedo ever?", Matt hollered.
"This guy!", Zephyr answered, pointing at himself.
"Quick. Show me!", Desiree exclaimed, desperate to see his tuxedo.
Zephyr coughed, attracting Desiree's attention, "In order to increase the suspense, Dad has decided that the tuxedo shall only be revealed when I get dressed for prom".
"No!", Desiree screamed.
"Yes!", Matt gloated.
"No!", Desiree sobbed, "You can't do this to me! I've waited three years to see him dressed for prom!".
"Ha ha ha ha!", Matt laughed, "You'll have to wait a few more hours then. LOSER!".
"I think you should stop rubbing it in her face", Zephyr whispered.
"Why?", Matt questioned, "It's not like she's going to do anything".
"You!", Desiree pointed her finger at Matt, "You're going to sleep by yourself tonight".
"No!", Matt collapsed to his knees, "You can't do this to me".
"I can and I will", Desiree muttered, strutting away.
"Bad luck", Zephyr commented, casually walking past Matt and up the stairs into his bedroom.
[With the Dunphys]
"We're back", Claire exclaimed as she entered the house with Alex right behind her, "We got Alex the cutest prom dress ever! Show your Dad".
"Hey", Phil greeted upon seeing them, "Go on. Show me".
Excited by her prom dress, Alex quickly opened the zipper of the bag the dress was in and quickly showed the pink dress she picked.
"Oh God. That looks so good", Phil complimented upon seeing the dress, "But it looks a bit too short for my taste".
"Dad!", Alex complained.
"Don't worry honey", Claire comforted, "You're going to look fabulous for prom. I can't wait to see you and Zephyr together".
"Mom!", Alex muttered, embarrassed by what she said.
"Cute dress", Haley commented as she sat down on a chair.
"Thanks", Alex said with a smile on her face.
"I can't believe Haley's not going to prom but Alex is", Luke muttered loud enough for everyone to hear.
"What's that supposed to mean?", Alex questioned, somewhat offended by what Luke was saying.
Phil, noticing the slightly depressed mood Haley was in, said, "I know I keep saying it, Haley, but you should be going to prom. It's a major moment in a teenager's life and you're missing it".
"Proms are lame", Haley muttered, rolling her eyes at Phil's insistence, "It's just an excuse for dressed-up dorks to ride limos and hump each other".
"Okay", Phil murmured, "Now I like the idea of Alex going even less".
"I'm pretty sure we're fine", Claire muttered, "I've already talked to Alex about it and Desiree forced Matt to talk to Zephyr about it as well".
"Why are you even worrying about her?", Haley asked, "This is Alex we're talking about".
"Hey!", Alex indignantly complained, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means you're a geek!", Luke yelled.
"You know what?!", Alex exclaimed, "I might just go crazy tonight and-and hook up all over him!".
In response, everyone started laughing.
Apaulled by their reaction, Alex complained, "Why are you all laughing? That's not funny. I'm not even going to be wearing my glasses tonight". Observing that they were still laughing, Alex stormed out of the room, further intensifying their laughter.
"I feel better now", Phil commented, a small smile on the edge of his lips.
"I have to go to the mall for a job interview", Haley said, standing up.
"What?!", Phil exclaimed.
"Really?", Claire asked in surprise.
"Yep", Haley nodded, "My guidance counsellor suggested I take a gap year. You know, a year between high school and college where you take some courses, have some life experiences and get inspired. And, obviously, work at The Gap".
Seeing Haley walk away, Phil muttered, "Huh. The surprises keep on coming".
[Time Skip]
"Oh My God!", Desiree exclaimed as she saw the couple walk down the stairs.
"They look so adorable", Claire added, her hands covering her mouth.
"I'm speechless", Melaina continued.
"Argh!", Elena squealed, "They look amazing!".
"Adorable?", Alex asked, squinting as she looked at Desiree, "I'm not a puppy".
"You're looking at the wrong person", Zephyr whispered to Alex.
"Sorry", Alex muttered, turning to look at her mom, "I'm not a puppy".
"You look dashing", Phil muttered, giving Zephyr a thumbs up.
"I knew you could pull it off", Matt commented.
"Oh no, we forgot to record them!", Desiree yelled.
"Phil! Quick! Go get the camera!", Claire instructed.
"On it!", Phil saluted and quickly ran out of the room.
"Zephyr. Alex. Go back up", Claire commanded as she turned to look at the duo, "We need to get this all on camera. Come down when I tell you".
Zephyr sighed, "Fine. Just this once".
Zephyr and Alex walked back up the stairs. As they patiently waited for the signal, Zephyr looked at Alex and complimented, "You look really beautiful".
Alex blushed at his compliment, "Thanks. You look handsome too". Alex wore a blue strapless gown with a fitted bodice and silk skirt that ended above her knees. Her hair had been curled and due to a lack of glasses attracted attention to her light brown eyes.
"Thanks", Zephyr said, flashing her a smile as he did so. Zephyr donned a form-fitting navy tuxedo which contrasted with Alex's dress. His hair was swept to the side, perfectly framing his cerulean eyes and handsome face. Suddenly remembering, Zephyr quickly pulled out a small box from his pocket, "I almost forgot".
"What?", Alex asked as she looked at him.
Opening the box, a beautiful corsage that consisted of blue periwinkle flowers and light purple cranesbill flowers. "Here", Zephyr presented, "I'm told it's tradition".
"Thank you so much", Alex exclaimed as soon as she saw. Pausing for a moment, she looked at Zephyr and asked, "Do you want to put it on me?".
"Thought you'd never ask", Zephyr muttered, taking out the corsage from the box and slipping it on Alex's wrist.
"It looks beautiful", Alex commented as she closely observed the corsage. Turning to look at Zephyr, she wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a deep kiss that lasted a few seconds.
Unfortunately, the kiss was cut short by Claire yelling, "You can come now!".
Slightly disgruntled, Zephyr and Alex separated from each other. After quickly fixing up their clothes, Zephyr intertwined their fingers as they walked down the stairs, smiling at the cheers they received from their family.
"Oh God!", Elena squealed as soon as she saw the corsage on Alex's wrist, "That looks so beautiful!".
"It does", Desiree agreed.
"Oh Lord", Claire muttered, "I'm so happy for you two".
"Quick! We need to take pictures!", Melaina exclaimed, receiving nods from the rest of the women.
[Time Skip]
The high school prom took place in the beautifully decorated school gymnasium, which had been transformed into a glamorous and enchanting venue for the evening. The theme for the prom was "A Night Under the Stars," and it was evident in every detail.
The gymnasium was bathed in a soft, twinkling light, with strings of fairy lights hanging from the ceiling, creating a starry night atmosphere. The walls were adorned with elegant drapes in deep midnight blue and shimmering silver, giving the space a sense of sophistication.
At the entrance, a grand archway of balloons and flowers welcomed the attendees. The school committee had spared no expense in creating an unforgettable experience. A red carpet led into the venue, where a photographer set up a backdrop for couples to capture the moment. The students, dressed in their finest formal attire, posed with smiles and excitement in their eyes.
A hired DJ played melodious tunes, setting the perfect mood for dancing. The dance floor was the focal point of the room, and it was surrounded by tables covered in white linen and adorned with crystal centrepieces.
As the end of the prom neared, the DJ played one last song. The song was slow-paced, allowing couples to dance together and the prom on a high. As the music swelled and the soft, romantic notes filled the room, Zephyr and Alex took to the dance floor.
They moved gracefully, each step perfectly synchronized with the other. Their hands met in a gentle yet firm embrace, fingers interlocking as they swayed to the rhythm of the music. John's other hand rested securely on Emily's waist, while she placed her free hand on his shoulder. The atmosphere was charged with an undeniable chemistry between them, a magnetic connection that made their dance seem effortless.
Their bodies moved as one, a harmonious blend of grace and intimacy. John led with confidence, guiding Emily through the dance floor with precision and tenderness. Emily followed his lead with trust, her eyes locked onto his, their smiles conveying a shared moment of pure happiness.
With the last note of the song, the prom came to an end and so too did their splendid dance. Despite the event being over, Zephyr and Alex had smiles on their faces that weren't going to disappear any time soon.
(AN: School's starting for me from next week so I won't be able to update as regularly as I am. I'll probably update every two to three days from next week.)