Prom night had arrived, and the anticipation was electric. It's senior year, and let's be honest, prom night is a rite of passage for every high school senior—a night filled with glamour, dance, and hopefully, a little romance.
This year, our senior prom is being held at The Alcove's Hotel Resort, an extravagant venue that could rival a royal ballroom.
I should have been ecstatic, especially since my parents graciously agreed to sponsor the event. But for the first time in forever, my brothers, the infamous Date Extermination Squad (DES), had promised to stand down.
They were giving me the hands-off treatment. No pre-prom boardroom presentations, no background checks, and no security details hovering over my date.
Even Theo, the Ice Prince of the family, had offered me a nod of approval instead of his usual stern lecture.
The five of us sat around the living room—well, more like they sat while I perched nervously on the edge of the couch, clutching a pillow. It was a week before prom.
Marcus, my eldest brother and leader of the Date Extermination Squad, cleared his throat. "Alright, Xandria, we've talked it over."
"'We' being who exactly?" I raised an eyebrow, suspicious.
"The whole team," Dante, one of the twins, chimed in. "Don't look so nervous."
Julian, his identical counterpart, leaned forward with a grin. "We've decided to—drumroll, please—give you that night off."
I blinked. "What?"
Marcus nodded, his expression uncharacteristically serious. "No interventions, no oversight, no... 'vetting process.'"
"You mean no FBI-level background checks on my date?" I asked cautiously.
"Exactly," Theo replied, his voice cool and measured as always. "You'll have full freedom to choose your companion for the night."
"Wait, wait." I held up a hand. "Who are you, and what have you done with my brothers?"
Dante laughed. "Look, it's not like we've gone soft or anything. We just... decided it was time to let you have your way. It is prom."
"Yeah," Julian added, smirking. "You're old enough to handle yourself. Plus, we figured the last thing you'd want is us lurking around on your big night."
"That's... unexpectedly considerate."
Marcus leaned forward, his eyes locking onto mine. "But don't think for a second this means we're not watching. One wrong move from your date, and—"
"The team's back in action," Julian finished smoothly.
I rolled my eyes. "Of course."
"Hey, fair's fair." Dante grinned. "But until then, it's all you, sis."
I sat back, trying to process this rare display of leniency. "So, you're really giving me the night off? No strings attached?"
"None," Theo said, nodding.
"Enjoy yourself," Marcus added. "And pick wisely."
For the first time in forever, the Date Extermination Squad was standing down. No lectures. No interference. Just a promise to let me live my life—for one night, anyway.
I should have felt liberated. Instead, I had the sneaking suspicion they were up to something. But I pushed the thoughts aside. Tonight is my night.
With my dress—an ethereal, sparkling blue gown that flowed like a river of starlight—and my hair cascading in soft waves down my back, I was ready to make a splash.
Ethan, the valedictorian with a startup and the title of "most likely to succeed," feels like the perfect date. I meticulously chose him, and everything should be fine, right? Oh, how wrong I was.
The scene was set.
I was waiting outside the mansion when I caught a glimpse of Ethan's sleek car rolling up.
He stepped out, looking dashing in his tailored tuxedo, a bouquet of roses in hand. I waved excitedly, my smile widening as he approached.
"You made it!" I exclaimed, my heart racing.
"Of course," he said, returning the smile, though his expression faltered as he noticed my brothers loitering ominously by a decorative fountain adorned with roses.
"You look… incredible," he said, his voice soft, his eyes warm.
"You're not too bad yourself," I replied, my heart racing with a mix of excitement and dread.
But as I reached for the bouquet, the sound of a throat clearing shattered the moment. I turned to see Marcus, Dante, Julian, and Theo standing by the decorative fountain, their collective gazes drilling holes into Ethan.
"Hey, Ethan!" Marcus called out, his tone far too cheerful to be genuine. "Can we have a quick word before you two head off?"
I sighed. So much for their promise.
Marcus led Ethan to the side, flanked by the rest of the squad. They formed a semi-circle around him, the kind you'd see in mob movies before someone got "taken care of."
I followed, my fists clenched at my sides.
"What are your intentions with my sister?" Marcus began, his voice dropping into his "CEO grilling a rookie" tone.
"Uh, I just want to take her to prom," Ethan replied, looking more baffled than scared.
Dante waved his phone. "Oh, really? Then explain this!" He spun the screen to show… nothing.
"That's my lock screen," Ethan deadpanned.
"Damn it, a technical issue," Dante muttered, shoving his phone into his pocket. "Screw this. Come on, spill it—what's your big plan for taking Xandria to prom?"
Ethan blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Uh, just to have a good time? Dance? Maybe get some punch?"
Dante snorted, crossing his arms. "A good time, huh? That what you call making a bet about her?"
I froze. "What?" I turned to Ethan, my voice sharp. "A bet?"
Ethan's eyes widened. "No, it's not what you think! Some guys at school said dating you was impossible, and… okay, yes, there was a bet. But I didn't make it! I just didn't correct them."
Marcus stepped closer, looming. "So, you're saying you let them believe you were proving them wrong?"
Ethan stammered, running a hand through his hair. "I just… wanted to take her to prom. That's it."
"Suspicious," Dante muttered, pulling out his phone. "Texting the family group chat now. Might want to call in Uncle Liam. He's great with 'talks.'"
My heart raced with embarrassment, and I felt my cheeks flush. "Wait, don't do that! You don't need to—"
But Ethan was already stepping back, panic and confusion written all over his face.
"I didn't start the bet! I was just..." He faltered mid-sentence, his words catching in his throat. Whatever he was going to say seemed to crumble before it even left his lips.
A pained expression crossed his face, his eyes shadowed with a mixture of regret.
And what happened next, he bolted toward the parking lot, leaving me standing there, frozen in shock, while my brothers shared smug looks, clearly proud of their "intervention."
Ethan had left.
The silence between me and my brothers was deafening. The music from the ballroom pulsed in the background, but I couldn't hear it over the pounding in my ears. My hands clenched into fists as I turned to face them.
"You just couldn't help yourselves, could you?" My voice was cold, sharper than even I expected. "You always have to be in control of my life. Always."
Marcus barely flinched. "He made a bet, Xandria. We saved you the heartbreak."
"You didn't save me from anything!" I exploded, stepping closer. "You humiliated me in front of everyone! You made a scene—like you always do!" My voice cracked, but I forced myself to hold my ground.
Dante scoffed. "C'mon, Xan, you don't seriously believe he wasn't playing you."
"You know what I believe?" I laughed bitterly, shaking my head. "That it doesn't matter who I date, because you'll never approve. Doesn't matter if he's kind, rich, perfect, or whatever ridiculous standard you've set—I'll always be your little sister who needs to be protected."
For the first time, Marcus hesitated.
"That's not—"
"Yes, it is." My chest tightened. "And you know what? Maybe I should've been given the chance to figure it out myself. Maybe I wanted to hear Ethan explain. Maybe I wanted to make my own mistakes. But you never let me, do you?"
Theo, ever the silent one, finally spoke. "Xandria—"
"No." I shook my head. "I'm done."
I turned on my heel and stormed toward the parking lot, leaving my brothers standing there in stunned silence. For once, they had nothing to say.
As the reality of the situation sank in, my brothers exchanged glances, the smugness draining from their faces as they began to understand they'd crossed a line.
Theo stepped forward, his demeanor shifting to a more serious tone. "We just wanted to protect you, Xandria. But maybe we overstepped this time."
"Okay, we might have gone a little overboard," Marcus finally admitted, concern creeping into his expression. "But we only want what's best for you."
I sighed, picturing the lively scene of prom unfolding without me. "I still want to have fun tonight, just… without any more interventions, okay?"
They nodded, looking a bit sheepish. Julian made a dramatic gesture as if he was a director in a play. "Alright, but if you need us, we'll be nearby… lurking in the shadows."
I managed a small smile, shaking my head at their antics. "Just let me have this night, please."