Page 112 of Ancient History

I took cautious steps backward and out of his room, like maybe there was a booby trap or something. Bud seemed very invested in me meeting his son at the closed hospital cafeteria. What if I was in a horror movie and didn’t know it? Just to be safe, I looked over my shoulder as I navigated through the hallways.

My curiosity and paranoia vanished as soon as I pushed open the double doors. Twinkly lights circled the room, giving this drab cafeteria an ethereal glow. Hutch stood in the center as music played, dressed in his tux that had to be fifty years old. He extended his hand to me.

“What’s going on?” I took a cautious step toward my boyfriend.

Hutch pulled me against him and positioned our hands for a slow dance. “Since we couldn’t go to prom together, I had prom come to us.”

I followed the source of the twinkling lights to a disco ball strung up on the ceiling, hanging from an existing hook. Everett, Chase, and Julian stood at the side, shining flashlights at the ball giving the room the twinkling effect.

“I called in some help,” Hutch admitted.

Streamers ran haphazardly across the cafeteria, their ends taped to the wall. It was hasty and sloppy but full of love, like a child’s picture for his parents.

“You didn’t have to do this,” I said, gazing into his eyes and letting the world fade away. “Your dad is recovering. You have a lot on your plate.”

“It was Pop’s idea.”

“I think Pop is my new best friend.” I laughed into his shoulder. He kissed the top of my head with such tenderness, I never wanted to leave his embrace. “This explains his coy smile in the room.”

“Pop’s not great at keeping secrets.” Hutch looked every bit the prom king. “I really wanted to go to prom with you tonight. Once again, history repeats itself.”

“I like this better.”

“We’re not done.”

Raleigh exited from the door leading to the kitchen with two plastic crowns in hand. He still had on his tux. He cleared his throat. “Hear ye, hear ye. The votes have been tallied, and I would like to announce this year’s South Rock High School Prom King and King. Being a former Prom King myself, I know what a big honor this is.”

I couldn’t help myself and glanced over to clock Everett’s inevitable eye roll.

Raleigh opened an envelope and paused for suspense.

“Your prom king and king are…Hutch Hawkins and Amos Bright.”

My friends clapped for us, causing their flashlights to jumble light around in an oddly cool effect.

“Kneel so I can place your crown on,” Raleigh said.

“Dude.” Hutch shot him a look. “This tux is rented.”

“It’s a good thing I’m tall then.”

In the background, I heard a very faint “barf” from the world’s most opinionated drama teacher.

I knew it was a dollar store crown, and I knew nobody voted for us because I knew this wasn’t prom. But the moment still gave me chills. At least in this cafeteria hospital, I was prom king with the man I loved. And damn if Hutch couldn’t make a cheap crown look regal. I was totally making him wear it during future sex.

“And as is custom, our prom king and king will now partake in a traditional slow dance. Deejay…” Raleigh pointed at Julian, who switched to a new song.

One Direction’s “You & I” filled the room, its melodies eliciting the same lump-in-my-throat feeling from me. Hutch held me close, swaying our bodies to the soft rhythm of the song. Every time I looked up from his shoulder, he was gazing at me like I was the Mona Lisa.

“I love this song,” I said.

“This is the song you wanted us to dance to at prom. It was also on your Spotify playlist.”

“Called Prom Songs.” Senior year, I made him a playlist of songs we could dance to at prom. The realization smacked me in the face. “This is the playlist.”

His big smile let me know I was correct.

“Hutch.” I was overcome by this moment, by him. I had wanted this for so long. The more I told myself Hutch was a distant memory, the more he burned bright in my mind. Real love couldn’t be ignored.

---