PROM: Wallflower in blue and white.

[Salem Hirch]

Salem Hirch was not one for dressing up, let alone being in a room surrounded by dozens of other people. No, this certainly was not his scene. Yet, there here was...in a tuxedo that was just a tad too big for him, and at the Prom. This day was something the anti-social butterfly had dreaded since he found out what a Prom was. It seemed so archaic, like some silly mating ritual where the flashier you looked, the better your chances were. That and if you actually had a date, unlike himself. Originally, he had no intention of going, but one call from his mother had changed all that. She practically begged him to go, saying that he would regret it if he didn't and further more, he could go by himself. In some ways he knew she was right, but that did not mean he was thrilled to be there. Everyone seemed to be having so much fun, or fighting with their significant other because they danced with or looked at someone else. Those moments made the young man glad he was single, and yet...

Sure he would have loved to have been there with someone. Who wouldn't? However, shyness got the better of him any time he thought of asking anyone. That and his list of people he wanted to ask was very short, and got shorter each day going towards the Prom. There was one person he really wanted to go with, someone he desperately wanted to be there with, but he knew that was a moot point. For starters, he was already there, but mostly because this person had no idea he had feelings for them at all. So, Salem found himself where he always did. Sitting alone against the wall and actually enjoying the music, and the atmosphere. Even though he was alone and he didn't really want to be there, it wasn't all that bad. In fact it was a little fun. Not so much that he was going to jump from his seat and start dancing when they played "We Are Family", but fun.

With a little smile on his face, he pulled a paperback novel from his back pocket and leaned back in his chair. They guy always had a book on him, because you never knew when a situation would arise where you might want to do some reading. It wasn't a book one had to focus to intently on either. Just a simple novel really, and at first he didn't think much of the book he grabbed, until he actually thought about it. It was "Carrie" by Steven King. The sudden irony actually made him giggle rather loudly, especially considering half of the theme of the Prom. "Probably not the best book to be reading while sitting here by myself." He spoke out loud, not really thinking anyone could hear him.

[Nolan MacKenzie]

Nolan was at Prom again for the second year in a row. In junior year he'd ditched for an anti-Prom party, which is another way of saying he'd stayed home smoking out his window and taking shots of plastic-bottle vodka from the bottom shelf. Last year, as part of his 'trying to be a social human being' strategy, he'd come with a group. Still alone, though saying he was going stag sounded cooler, he supposed. At first he'd told people he was going ironically. Yeah, it made no sense, but it justified him going and sounded cool. Eventually he'd dropped that entirely, sucked it up, and put on a suit and tie.

That was last year. This year he came with a nicer suit - birthday present, thanks mom - and a much more jovial personality. After three vodka shots in his room, he'd brushed his teeth and followed the music. Of course, he also brought along his earplugs. Parties were fun, but they were loud, and to his ears they were deafening.

Not so deafening, however, that he couldn't hear the lonely voice talking to himself about a book. Nolan was grabbing a coke, hoping it'd wash out the toothpaste-taste lingering in his mouth. The only reason he heard the voice at all was because it was somewhat close by. He followed it, moving through the crowds of people, until he stopped at a boy who was... reading. Huh.

He stood in front of the guy for a moment, mystified.

"Not the party sort, eh?"

[Salem Hirch]

Within moments of opening the book, Salem was already totally engrossed in it. The music and laughter seemed to fade to the background as the words took up the space in his head where they normally go. Not that it really mattered, even like that he wouldn't have noticed anyone approaching him. Let alone someone who was obviously heading over to talk to him. The sudden voice did catch his attention though.

Peeking up through his glasses, he realized there was a guy there talking to him and his cheeks flushed. "Um..I...uh" Salem stammered and gently closed his book. "Well no no..not re...really." His eyes fell to the floor as if his shoes had suddenly become the most interesting thing in the room. The guy was totally unfamiliar to him which made this more awkward than normal. "I..I pr..promised my Momma..." His voice cracked a little as he stammered out his slightly vague reasoning.

Swallowing a little, he glanced back up. He was a little curious why the guy came over at all. Was he alone too? Maybe he was just being nice? Either way, Salem decided to a smile was in order, so he gave him a little one. "Wh..what a..about you?" His country accent was barely above a whisper and he hoped the guy could hear him.