Another One Cindirection Story (L.P.)

Chapter 19 - Not What I Thought

Liam's POV

I stand outside, watching as the girl runs off, slipping her shoes off as she runs. She doesn't look back. The dress doesn't slow her down and she's a sight to admire, a spark of red standing out against the dark night.

I watch as the last bit of her red dress disappears with her, wondering what her name is or if I'll ever see her again. I wonder if I did something wrong, after all, everything fell apart after I revealed my identity to her.

In the distance, I can still hear the last of the chimes indicating that it's midnight.

I sit down, holding my mask in my hands and study it.

Now there were two girls I had to look for.

No, it was only one.

This one.

The other one had already been found, so that left this girl.

But she knows my name now. Surely she will come and find me.

It is all I can do to just hope that she will come and find me before it is too late.

Behind me, there's an uproar. I turn back around to see the lights dimming in the gym. People are already gathered around the stage when I arrive and there's a girl on the stage with a golden manila, no doubt ready to announce Homecoming King. She taps the microphone to make sure it's on and feedback echoes through the gym causing people to wince and cover their ears.

"How's everyone doing?" she says and the crowd erupts into loud cheers and claps.

Someone from the audience calls out, "You're hot!" and she laughs easily, waving him off.

She clears her throat and says, "This year's Homecoming King is..." she tears open the envelope, "Connor Boyce!" she shouts into the microphone. There's a mysterious glint in her eye as the blonde boy from earlier, whose name I've just learned is Connor, saunters through the crowd. His friends clap him on the back and he shakes hands with them like he's just achieved world peace.

He takes his time walking up to the stage, soaking up the moment. I don't even think he realizes that his date isn't here. He winks at the girl on stage and I realize that she was one of the many girls he danced with tonight. The girl steps forward and he lowers his head, allowing her to crown him.

"As everyone knows, this year is going to be a little different. Instead of crowning a Queen by votes, tonight Connor will get to choose which lucky girl will get to be his Queen for the King and Queen dance," She hands him the microphone and steps back.

"Thanks for tonight, Madison Hills, it's been an honor!" he pumps his hand up and down and the crowd goes crazy. His friends in the front are especially loud, letting out low whistles and screaming his name.

"So that was my speech," he says, and a few people laugh. "Anyways, the moment you've all been waiting for..." Another spotlight appears and dances over the crowd.

"My Homecoming Queen is..." he pauses dramatically, his expression unreadable. "El—, nope, wait, wrong person. Taylor Hills!"

Murmurs fill the room.

"Taylor?"

"I thought he was going out with the new girl."

"Yeah, Ella something,"

The spotlight goes around the room, finally landing on a girl in a golden mask. She's frozen in the center of the crowd and the boy next to her looks furious. She doesn't make a move to join Connor on the stage. I can barely focus on what's happening because now I know her name. Ella.