Mallory-Kingston Combined Prom 2013

The V Hotel, Silverstar Ballroom

Doors open at 6.30p.m.

Theme: Masquerade 

Students arrived in chartered limousines and expensive saloons and convertibles, all dressed to the nines; nothing less expected of the students of the most prestigious school in the country. Slowly, they made the way down the aisle to the Silverstar Ballroom, where the party was held. There, a teacher took their attendance (it was still a school event, after all,) and handed them a ballot box. The students picked out slips of paper, with numbers on them, and they were told to remember their numbers. 

What would've been the venue of a typical high-class wedding, was converted into a temporary club; a makeshift stage was set up, and there were colourful rotating disco lights, Kingston high's resident student DJ was spinning tracks. The walls of the ballroom were lined with tables and tables of food: a desert table, a sushi counter, a bar counter serving refreshments (non-alcoholic, of course.) It was a gift to the kids, to mark their first step into adulthood.

Everyone had on masquerade masks, in an array of colours and textures- lacey, feathery, glittery, glossy, matte, black, white, blue, rainbow. Initially, the girls and guys were really awkward, and stood at different ends of the ballroom, as if there was an invisible wall between the two genders, but soon, the barrier was broken, and they began to mingle. 

"Where's Josh? Do you see him? If anybody spots him report to me immediately!" a shrill voice said. It was a slender girl wearing a figure-hugging scarlet red bandage dress, with a puffy fur coat draped over her shoulders. She wore 5-inched stilettos and had her lucious perfectly styled jet-black tossed over one shoulder. She had on an ebony mask lined with Swarovski crystals. Surrounding her were a group of girls, wearing similar bandage dresses, but in black. They also had on similar masks, but with smaller crystals. One look and anyone could tell that it was Bethany and her Bethlets. 

They stood in the middle of the ballroom, with their chests puffed out,  weight shifted to one side, and their noses in the air. The other girls looked at them in envy. Juniors from the photography club were present, and they were furiously taking photos of the Beth clique.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Prom 2014! I hope you've been enjoying yourselves so far. It's heartening to see that you've warmed to each other, but let's get to know each other better! Do you still have the number slips that you picked out at the entrance? Another student, from the opposite school, has the same number as you! Who'll be your partner for the day? Let's find out!" 

The students scattered to find their respective partners. After about 15 minutes, half of the students had found their partners and were breaking the ice.

Bethany looked at her number. "1879". She still had not found her partner. There was hope. She could end up partnering Josh Kim. She'd managed to be picked by her bias before, so what more her crush? Luck was on her side. She looked around. There, she spotted a tall guy. He wore a dark grey tailored suit which moulded to his athletic build. He wore a simple black mask, like Zorro, but that could not hide his chiseled jaw. It was him. Just like any hardcore fan could recognise her bias by his hands, Bethany had found him, she had found Josh Kim. She fixed her hair, took a deep breath, and walked up to him. 

"Oh hello, have you found your partner yet?" Josh gave a friendly smile as Bethany approached him. 

"No..." Bethany answered shyly, twirling her hair. 

"What's your number?" 

"My...handphone...? Oh oh, number slip...sorry..." Bethany giggled, "1879." 

Josh sighed. "Aww, guess we're not partners. Oh well. Nice talking to you!" 

He smiled and proceeded to walk off.

"WAIT!" Bethany wailed in desperation. 

Josh turned around. 

"I.....I...uhm..." 

Just then, a girl shuffled past. Her curls cascaded down her back and her lips were a soft baby pink. She wore a flowy pale pink dress with details near the collar. She had on cream coloured heels and was evidently not comfortable in them, stumbling into the ballroom. She had a white lacy mask which blended perfectly with her skin tone. She looked like a lost puppy. 

Josh blinked. By then, he wasn't paying attention to Bethany, he was utterly captivated by the fairy maiden. 

"Sorry, excuse me, it was nice talking to you, I hope you find your partner soon!" Josh bade Bethany goodbye. 

~~~

"1004" Seyeon read out. 

The teacher recorded down her number and smiled. 

"Go on dear! The event's started! Have fun!" 

Seyeon bowed slightly and entered the ballroom. She was overwhelmed by the disco lights and the overall frenzy. 

"1879?" A guy approached her.

Seyeon blinked. 

"I beg your pardon?" 

"Your number slip!" 

"Oh, oh, this. 1004. Sorry, I just arrived. May I know what's going on?" 

"Damn, we're not partners. Basically, you'll have to walk around finding someone with the same number slip as you. Good luck! It should be easier now, most of them have found their partners!" 

"Thank you! Good luck to you too!" Seyeon smiled. 

Seyeon walked away. Where was she going to find her partner? 

"Hello." 

Seyeon turned around. It was a guy in a dark grey suit and simple black mask. Despite having his eyes blocked by his mask, Seyeon could sense that he was oozing with masculinity. She blushed.

"I haven't found my partner yet...I wonder if..." He opened his slip of paper, revealing the number to Seyeon. 

1004. 

Seyeon's eyes widened. She opened her slip of paper too. 

1004. 

The guy smiled. 

"I've been looking for you."