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Every Little Thing You Do (I Do Adore)

Chapter 7: Day 7: Prom/Dancing

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

It was loud.

Juliana doesn't know what she was expecting from a school-wide event contained in one area. The Central Plaza was bursting with light and sounds and colors. Some of the students were dancing, some were watching the mini "Prom League" that was taking place on the upper battle court, some were by the buffet, taking as much advantage as they could of free non-cafeteria food offered by the school. And some were up against the wall, trying their best not to drown in the discord of the event.

Juliana herself had become a wallflower, watching the battles on the upper court in order to focus on something other than the noise and the lights.

She'd have to partake in the battles eventually, anyway. As popular as the League Club was, it wasn't the only club the school had, and the students from all of the other activities deserved a chance at the Blueberry Champion title, too.

But that wouldn't be for a while, probably a few more hours or so. Apparently more people had entered this year than any previous year, and the brackets were almost doubled. Juliana didn't know much about how long each match was supposed to last. But Drayton had phrased it as if the whole night was going to drag on and on and on. (Then again, anything that took longer than five minutes for Drayton was "way too long.")

Watching battles the whole night would've been boring if not for Kieran's company. Her date had gotten there shortly after she had, helping her and the rest of the Student Council set up the speakers and the decorations around the plaza. (She had watched him lift one of the heavier speakers with a surprising amount of ease that had made her face heat up. She had carried the same speaker into the room with no trouble at all, but there was a difference when she was watching the way his arms flexed through his suit that made her heart way too fluttery to be safe.) And he had promised he would help clean up at the end of everything too. He was way too sweet, and Juliana had felt like the luckiest girl in the world. (She probably was, with her three legendary friends and the shinies she hunts in her off time, but that's beside the point.)

Kieran had watched the battles with her, claiming that he didn't really want to do anything else anyway, and that he'd rather spend time with her. So, they watched the battles together, signing small commentaries about the strategies, or the Pokémon used, or the types of teams being run.

It wasn't the most interesting thing in the world, most of the battlers on the field didn't have more than four Pokémon, and their strategies were often basic weather teams, with the occasional Trick Room or Tailwind setter. (One of the trainers used a combination of Perish Song and Shadow Tag, which was interesting, even if it was a very gimmicky strategy.)

Eventually, Juliana felt the fatigue settle on her shoulders, and so she shifted her position from leaning against the wall into Kieran's side instead. She felt the way he stiffens for a moment, before he awkwardly placed his arm around her in order to support her. It was nice, just to zone out for a while.

The current battle had finished, and the makeshift bracket that sat on the League Club's cartable whiteboard was updated. About two-thirds of the way through, if Juliana had any guess. Still too much.

She pulled away from Kieran to stand up on her own, fidgeting with the ruffled ends of her sleeves as she thought. She wouldn't be needed until the final battle, which was at least an hour away at this point. She could leave, if she really wanted to.

She looked up at Kieran, as he stared down at her. He hesitantly put a hand on her shoulder, a silent comfort despite the noise.

"Do you want to walk with me?" she asked, grateful that she didn't have to yell over the crowds. Kieran nodded, taking her hand in his, and leading her down the stairs. She pointed towards the Polar Biome, squeezing his hand tight.


The night was going better than she expected, now that they were alone.

It felt cheesy, like something out of one of those over-the-top Unovan coming of age films. Skipping prom to dance alone with the boy she liked.

But as cheesy or stereotypical as it was, Juliana found comfort in it.

Chargestone Cavern wasn't exactly the best place to dance. The ground was rocky and uneven, and the number of times they had tripped over each other and fallen would have a hiker throw a fit.

But each fall, or stumble, or misstep had ended in laughter and small apologies that didn't mean anything, because the other had already been forgiven.

The walk to the Cavern had been peaceful, full of quiet conversation, and Juliana silently thanked Arceus for the fact that she had Kieran.

She couldn't help but admire him in the light of the caves, the subtle blue reflecting his features, and the yellow in his eyes shining brighter in the dark.

Kieran had always been pretty, even when they were just friends, Juliana appreciated his hair, his eyes, and his awkward charm. But it was different now. She didn't know how, or why, exactly. Just that looking at Kieran and his golden eyes, his dorky smile, and his hair half-up and half-down was doing something to make her dizzy. What a funny thing love is.

They stop for a moment, to catch their breath, more quiet laughter echoing off the walls. Kieran adjusts his suit, a magenta that Carmine had picked out, much to his own reluctance (at least he was able to put his foot down with a plain white button-up, rather than anything with ruffles or added accessories.) She was thankful for it, really. A moment to readjust her tie, and tighten the laces on her dress shoes, while Kieran messed with his cufflinks.

It was an opportunity to look at him, too. To admire everything that he had done to make the event successful, even if he didn't think it was a lot. An opportunity to acknowledge stupid teenage feelings, and how they maybe weren't so stupid if you had someone to laugh at them with. And an opportunity to look at something beautiful, even if his brow was furrowed and his face scrunched up as he used his teeth to hold fabric of his sleeve in place as he tried to push the silver metal through the hole in the sleeve. Juliana laughed, taking the few steps over to hold his sleeve for him as the button slid through, securing itself in place.

She straightened his bowtie. Not that he needed it, but it was something to do to touch him, to hold onto the quiet softness for a little while longer before the chaos of the dancing began again. Juliana looked up at him, at his eyes, his smile, his hair.

His hair was styled differently for the occasion. The sides tied back while the rest of his hair lay down. His hair was longer now, too, settling on his shoulders, while a few sections began to creep down his back. Juliana was starting to think she liked longer haired boys.

His bangs, however, were what really caught her attention. Once again, they fell in front of his face in the usual pinwheel style, as if he was hiding.

Perhaps she was being too sentimental, but Juliana wanted to see his face. All of it. The slight bags of his eyes because the last few nights had been spent preparing for today. The acne that scarred his forehead and his cheeks. And his nose, which was somehow always covered by his hair when he kept it down.

Juliana grabbed her hairclip from her braid, the normal pokéball having been traded out for a gemlike pattern that reminded her of Terapagos. (Her braid stayed in its place, her hair was much too thick to be held together by a hairclip alone.)

Carefully, she brushed his bangs off of his face, and clipped them to the side, her fingers awkwardly brushing his cheek.

Even with the blue-tinted view, she recognized the blush on his face, and Juliana's pretty sure her own face was becoming red, and maybe if she were in some sort of dramatic romance, she would've taken the chance. But if she's anything, she's a hero from a fairytale, there's a big difference between slaying a dragon and overcoming her fears.

Her phone buzzes, interrupting the almost-probably-not moment, and Juliana quickly opens it, turning her face away.

Amarys had sent her a picture of the bracket board. The final battle between the contestants was underway, before the grand finale against Blueberry's reigning League Club Champion would commence.

"We'll have to head back soon. Zzt!"

Kieran nodded, looking slightly disappointed.

"Yeah, you've got the final match, huh?" He smiles his stupidly adorable smile, and Juliana feels herself melt from the inside out. "I'll be rootin' for ya, Julie!"

And as much as she enjoys the sentiment, she can't help it. She doesn't want it to end like this, with an almost-something that she'll regret probably forever.

"We have time for one more dance. Zzt!" She's already pulling up the playlist again, hitting shuffle and hoping it doesn't land on the sappiest thing imaginable.

She takes his hand, and they dance.

Maybe one day she'll have the confidence to kiss him, to be romantic enough to try and sweep him off his feet. But for now, they're dancing hand in hand in the light of a cave, and Juliana doesn't think she could ask for anything more.

Notes:

Aaand done! Thank you so much for reading this silly story of mine. I hope you've enjoyed reading it as much as I've enjoyed writing it.
I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season, and God bless!