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. Marcus, Dante, Julian, and Theo were huddled together, their eyes glinting with mischief.
"Wow, you look… incredible," Ethan said, trying to regain his composure.
Before we could make our way to the entrance, Marcus stepped forward, arms crossed and a serious look on his face.
"Hey, Ethan! Can we have a word before you take my sister to the prom?" he said, his tone ominous.
My heart sank. I knew it was only a matter of time before they struck. "Um, maybe we should—"
But Marcus was already diving in.
Marcus led Ethan to the side of the entrance, flanked by his brothers, creating a barrier of protective scrutiny around him. Ethan's confidence visibly shrank under their collective gaze.
"So, Ethan, what are your intentions with my sister?" Marcus demanded.
Ethan fumbled for words, clearly taken aback. "Uh, just going to enjoy the night and dance with her."
Dante, leaning casually against the wall, jumped in with a smirk. "Enjoy the night? Is that what you call it? I heard from my sources that you made a bet with some seniors about Xandria."
I gasped, stepping forward, my eyes wide with shock. "Ethan, is that true? You were betting on me?"
Ethan's face paled, and he stammered, "N-no! It wasn't like that! It was… unintentional!" He ran a hand through his hair, clearly flustered.
"I overheard some guys saying that dating the Alcove princess was practically impossible. I couldn't believe them, and... before I knew it, a bet had been made."
Before he could backtrack, Julian jumped in dramatically. "Betting, you say? You know, we Alcoves have a history of taking bets very seriously! And not just on prom night."
Ethan glanced nervously between me and my brothers, his bravado slipping.
"If you're not serious about my sister," Marcus leaned closer, "you might want to reconsider your options."
Theo, ever the pragmatic one, added, "Heartbreak can have long-term psychological effects. You wouldn't want to be responsible for that, would you?"
Ethan gulped, and his eyes darted around as he sensed the pressure closing in on him.
Just then, Dante pulled out his phone, pretending to type a message frantically. "Just sent a group text to the family. You know, 'Ethan Soren is not worthy of our sister.' Expect some angry relatives to crash the party in five minutes!"
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."
"Great. Just great!" I turned to my brothers, fury bubbling up inside me. "You scared him off! I wanted to have a normal prom experience!"
Marcus attempted to sound supportive, though his tone was defensive. "We were just looking out for you. He didn't seem right for you."
Julian added, "Yeah! Who needs a guy who bets on you? You're the Alcove princess!"
Dante shrugged, a playful grin on his face. "And look how easy it was! He didn't stand a chance."
I took a deep breath, trying to rein in my frustration. "I appreciate that, but I want to experience things for myself! I'm not a little girl anymore!"
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."
As we turned to head inside, I could feel a weight lifting off my shoulders. Maybe I didn't need Ethan to have fun. Maybe I could make this night my own, even if it meant dancing with my brothers instead of a date.