Prom Date Page 17
“Attention, attention!” Mr. Worthington was on the stage now, speaking into the mike as the music faded. “It’s time for some very special announcements.” He waited as the room slowly grew quiet and everyone circled around the stage, waiting for him to continue.
“As you all must know, this is a very special sort of prom—a first for Northwood Academy.” He smiled over the crowd. “I can’t begin to tell you how proud I am of all of you. The way you’ve all reached out, opening your arms and your hearts, as well as your pocketbooks, to help one of our student’s families—well, I hardly have words to express how pleased that makes me.” He waved over to where Mrs. Dorman was waiting with the prom queen crown on a velvet pillow. “Come on over here. Before we announce the vote results, I want Mrs. Dorman to share something.”
He held the mike for her, waiting for her to speak. “I agree with what Mr. Worthington just said. This has been a truly amazing prom. And I want to acknowledge the prom committee, which was headed by Bryn Jacobs. You all did an outstanding job. Above and beyond anything we’ve ever seen before—and beyond anything we ever imagined possible.” She beamed at them. “And now the good news is this—as a result of all your fund-raising energies, including matching funds from a generous family foundation, this year’s prom has miraculously raised nearly fifty thousand dollars.”
The whole room erupted in loud cheers and clapping that went on for nearly a minute.
Mr. Worthington acted as if he was about to faint, wiping a hand across his forehead. “I am in total shock,” he told them. “It doesn’t seem possible.” He waved his arms toward the crowd. “But it is thanks to you—all of you. Your hard work and your sacrifice have just helped young Sofia Ruez in her battle against leukemia.”
Cassidy looked over at Felicia. With Marcus on one side and Emma on the other, almost as if they were supporting her from falling, Felicia had tears streaming down her cheeks. She was holding her phone in a trembling hand, and Cassidy suspected that Felicia was texting her parents the amazing news.
“And now to announce the results from the vote,” Mr. Worthington said in a slightly more solemn tone. “Unfortunately, we had some challenges with our online ballot box. But we got a computer expert to look into it, and after a recount, we’re ready to announce the results.” He cleared his throat. “First of all, for the winner of that great-looking mountain bike. I wouldn’t mind having one of those myself—but for the promposal that received the most votes, the prize goes to Darrell Zuckerman.”
Once again the crowd burst into cheers and applause. And Darrell waved and made mock bows, playing it up for their enjoyment.
“And now for the young lady voted to reign over this year’s prom,” Mr. Worthington said solemnly. “I am pleased and proud to announce it’s the very same young lady who has worked so tirelessly to make this prom such a success. Bryn Jacobs, please come up here and receive your crown.”
Bryn looked truly shocked. But Darrell, hardly missing a beat, linked his arm in hers and escorted her up to the stage. Mrs. Dorman secured the crown onto Bryn’s head and Mr. Worthington presented her with a bouquet of pink roses, then handed her the mike. “We’d like to hear a few words from our queen.”
“Oh, my!” Bryn took in a raspy breath. “Thank you, everyone. This is so amazing. I don’t even know what to say.” She paused as if to steady herself. “But this crown should belong to all of you—everyone who helped to make this prom what it is, the ones who worked and sacrificed . . . I thank you. And in a hospital a few hours from here there’s a little girl who I expect wants to thank you as well.” She pointed to the crown. “This one’s for Sofia.”
Once again, everyone clapped and cheered. As Darrell escorted Bryn down the steps, the music began to play, and while the others watched, Darrell and Bryn performed a really stellar dance in the middle of the floor.
All six girls were in high spirits when they finally got to Bryn’s house around midnight. Really, could the evening have been more perfect? Oh, sure, there was that little glitch with Amanda and her friends in the ladies’ room. But hearing the total of the money that had been raised for Sofia and seeing Bryn crowned queen, well, everyone agreed that it totally made up for the Amanda factor. And no one was terribly surprised or very sorry when Amanda and her entourage left the prom early.
As the girls removed their pretty gowns and got into comfortable sweats and shorts and sleepwear, Devon asked if they were going to play “rate your date” like they’d done in the past. But everyone agreed there was no need for that this time. All their dates would’ve received top scores tonight.
“Even Leonard,” Devon proclaimed. “He was a true gentleman.”
“And Darrell was fantastic,” Bryn said. “What a dancer!”
They ate the junk food provided by Bryn and talked for a while about their dates and the evening in general. Then Felicia, who’d been rather quiet since they’d gotten home, finally spoke up.
“You guys are amazing,” she said with a sweet intensity. “Truly amazing. When I think of how you all became my friends last winter . . . and the way you helped me out of that mess . . . and then the way you’ve helped Sofia by raising so much money tonight . . .” With tears in her eyes, she slowly shook her head. “I just cannot believe it.”
Emma put an arm around Felicia’s shoulders.
“My parents cannot believe it,” Felicia continued. “What you have done for Sofia really may mean the difference between life and death. My mom was getting ready to remove her from the cancer treatment center—and it was really sad because Sofia has made so many good friends there. But because of your gift, she can stay—hopefully until she is well. I’m so thankful.”
“We’re not done. We’ll think of more ways to raise money,” Bryn assured Felicia. “We have over a month of school left. Who knows what we can raise by then?”
“That’s right,” Abby chimed in. “We’re not done yet. Not by any means.”
“And even though prom was the last big date of the school year . . . and the school year will be over in a few weeks . . . ,” Cassidy spoke tentatively, “well, I just hope we’re not done with the DG. I’d hate to see it end.”
“Of course not,” Emma declared. “Besides, as we all know, the DG isn’t only about dating guys.”
“That’s for sure,” Bryn agreed. “If it was, I’d have to say it’s been less than a huge success. Four dates in the course of a whole school year isn’t exactly record setting.”
“Maybe not,” Devon said quietly. “I might’ve thought that at first. But I know now that the DG is about us—about being friends. In fact, I was just thinking that ‘DG’ might stand for something completely different.”
“What?” they all demanded.
“It’s going to sound really lame,” Devon said. “Like I’ve been spending too much time with Grandma Betty.”
Emma shook a finger at Devon. “Hey, watch what you say about—”
“I love Grandma Betty,” Devon assured her. “But she says some funny things sometimes.”
Emma nodded. “So what does ‘DG’ stand for?”
Devon grinned at them. “Dear Girls.” She laughed. “That’s what Grandma Betty calls me sometimes, dear girl. Sometimes it’s in exasperation, and other time it’s just really sweet. But I got to thinking that is exactly what you guys are to me. Dear Girls. But don’t tell anyone I said that, okay? Maybe we can keep that to ourselves.”
“I like it,” Abby proclaimed. “Dear Girls.”
Bryn held up her soda can. “Here’s to Dear Girls.” They all held up their drinks, echoing her toast as they clicked their cans together. “Here’s to the real DG.”
MELODY CARLSON is the award-winning author of over two hundred books, including The Jerk Magnet, The Best Friend, The Prom Queen, Double Take, and the Diary of a Teenage Girl series. Melody recently received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her books. She and her husband live in Central Oregon. For more i
nformation about Melody, visit her website at www.melodycarlson.com.
Books by Melody Carlson
Devotions for Real Life
Double Take
Just Another Girl
Anything but Normal
Never Been Kissed
Allison O’Brian on Her Own—Volume 1
Allison O’Brian on Her Own—Volume 2
A Simple Song
My Amish Boyfriend
LIFE AT KINGSTON HIGH
The Jerk Magnet
The Best Friend
The Prom Queen
THE DATING GAMES
The Dating Games #1: First Date
The Dating Games #2: Blind Date
The Dating Games #3: Double Date
The Dating Games #4: Prom Date
MelodyCarlson.com
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