Not Just Another Cliché

"Ready?" Holly asks me.

I look at her through the mirror and smile with a quick head nod.

We slowly walk down the stairs since I'm being forced to wear heels. They aren't bad though, they are actually comfortable. Well as comfy as heels can get.

As we reach the bottom of the stairs, my mom gasps and covers her face making me smile and look at Holly.

My mom and dad are joined by Andy and Zoe standing at the bottom of the stairs.

I spot two studs standing by the door in tuxedos and I feel butterflies in my stomach.

Casey catches my eye and smiles then looks me up and down and his eyes shine.

I walk down to meet him and smile.

"You look," Casey begins and just keeps opening and closing his mouth.

"Thank you. I think." I tease and he shakes his head and smiles.

"No, I mean." He says and I take hold of his hands as I interrupt him.

"You look gorgeous Em." He finally gets out and I smile.

My dress is cream with diamonds all over the top part and then along the waistband. It is a round neck and then the back goes down into a V-shape and then the long skirt is kind of an ivory.

My hair is styled into a low loose bun that allows some pieces of hair to escape to add to the look. I have diamond earrings in that match the dress.

Holly is wearing a long purple dress with a diamond single strap that goes down to her hip. Her hair is down and she has little make up on just like me.

"Oh um, this is for you." Casey says holding his hand out and showing a corsage.

"Wow this is new. Casey lost for words. Need a picture of this." My dad teases and everyone chuckles including me.

"Great idea. We need pictures. Loads, of pictures." My mom and Caseys mom say taking their phones and cameras out.

"Oh yeah, cause you would have never been able to come up with the idea of photos on your own mom." I say and everyone laughs.

Casey stands behind me and wraps his arms around my waist while I place my hands on his showing the corsage.

Seth and Holly do the same.

The prom doesn't start until 7 and it's only 5 now so all of our parents decided to have a small party for all of the families to see us before we leave.

It's in Seths house because he has the space and the cheap cleaner afterwards.

Before we walk out, I feel something rubbing itself against my leg making me look down and see precious Bella.

My mom and Liv are obsessed with her as am I but my grandma is majorly obsessed which is why she is gonna dogsit later on. We are bringing Belle with us to Seths and then when grandma Kay leaves, she'll take Bella with her.

Once photos are finished for now, we walk out the door to see a long white limo waiting to bring us to Seths dads house.

Oh by the way, Jamie asked Katie to prom on their date. Yeah it was no Casey St Cloud Promposal, but he's still Jamie Dawn.

We all pile into the limo while my parents and Caseys parents follow us to Seths house.

"So Em, do you have your valedictorian speech ready?" Holly asks me while Take My Hand by Picture This plays quietly in the back.

"Sort of. It's not necessarily long but I had an idea. I'll play a slideshow of all our pictures from like senior lock-in, senior camp, prom and generally just pictures of everyone together. I say that'll take up like 5 minutes plus my speech another 5 minutes. So if any of you have pictures please send them to me." I explain.

"Well I took a few pictures of Caseys Promposal. Could you use that?" Seth asks.

"I don't see why I couldn't. Can you send them to me later?" Seth nods.

"Casey? You are being very quiet." Holly points out and I look at Casey who is beside me.

"I'm just really tired. I was up late last night." He smiles slightly.

Holly and Seth begin a conversation talking about their college while I grab hold of Caseys hand and squeeze it.

"Are you okay?" I question.

"I'm fine. Seriously. Like I said, just tired."

"Why did you go to bed so late?"

"I was just researching Kentucky."

"More research?" I furrow my eyebrows.

"I knew how many games they won in every season after my dad retired, I know the background of every player previously and presently. But what I didn't know, is that, Nick Campbell, got a scholarship."

I take a sudden deep breath as my mind races.

"Nick? How did that happen? He never had good grades, never did well in school, barely ever showed up. I don't understand?"

"In Kentucky, you only need a certain attendance record to get accepted. To get a scholarship, you need to take part in one activity, not even football for that matter, to get one. It's awful. People work so hard to get into this school, and he gets handed the position for waking up in the morning? Makes me wonder if it's worth going. Maybe New York would be better. For both of us. For our relationship." Casey explains looking me in the eyes.

"Don't say that. Even if you were to come New York with me, I wouldn't be happy and accept it. I'd forever feel responsible for you not going through with this."

"But Em," Casey begins but I cut him off.

"But nothing. Casey for a while, you didn't think you would be able to walk ever again, never mind play football. Then whenever you find out you can walk again yet play football so soon, you throw it away."

"I'm now throwing it away, I'm just, downgrading a little."

"Well stop. Look Case, this is our prom night, let's talk about this tomorrow. Or never for that matter because I'm always right and I'm right about this."

"I think you just want to get rid of me." He smirks and I lean back in the seat.

"You got me. Can't get rid of you any sooner." I smile and laugh.

******

"Come on guys, aren't your 100 pictures enough?" Holly moans to all of our parents.

"Yeah, my cheeks hurt." I frown rubbing my cheeks in circles.

"Just 2 more. One with just girls and then just boys." Seths mom says.

"Can we get one with me Casey and Belle?" I question.

"Oh, who wants the pictures now." My mom teases and I make a face at her resulting in a chuckle from everyone.

Me and Holly get into a photo together with both of us doing a pose we've been doing since we were in the 3rd grade.

We make an L and then stick our two fingers into a peace sign over it and then look down.

We get into 4 other pictures. One of us looking at each other smiling, another with our backs together and us smiling, the third is us pouting and the last is just a regular picture of us smiling. All of them turn out super cute.

Next is Casey and Seth. They do the back to back gun thing making me and Holly laugh and then they move onto the teasing duck face making us laugh even more.

Then we get into a picture of all 6 of us.

All the boys are holding the girls in their arms as we all chuckle. It turned out to be an amazing picture, definitely one for the slide at graduation.

As everyone is beginning to leave for the actual prom, I pick up Bella and drag Casey back for a picture.

I hold Belle between us and we both look at her with loving eyes. This puppy is like a baby to us and I love it and the responsibility we have.

"That was beautiful Em. Casey you were very good for getting her for Em." My grandma smiles at the picture over my moms shoulder.

"Well Em has always wanted one and i always planned to get her one so I thought this would be a good way to give it to her."

"Guys, it's 6:30, we better get going." Katie reminds us.

"Awh baby. Have a great night and be safe. In both ways." My mom says pointing a finger at Casey making everyone laugh and me blush like mad.

"Bye." I say hugging my mom then dad.

I bend down and give Liv and Meg a hug and kiss them both on the cheek then place Bella in their arms.

As I hold my skirt, Casey takes hold of my free hand and guides me to the limo.

Everyone walks outside and waves us off.

Once we arrive at the school and enter the gym, we are suddenly stunned by the gorgeousness of the once sweaty and dark auditorium that is now full of beautiful lights and an amazing DJ performing up-beat that will eventually turn into slow songs for couples.

"Wow, this is incredible." Holly breaths out in awe as we stand at the door and take it all in.

"I know right. Good job Gabriella." I smile.

We all walk down the steps as we watch everyone dance and kiss.

We walk over to the punch table while Casey pours myself and him some of the red deliciousness that Rebecca Bensons mom made.

"You wanna dance?" Casey asks me as Thinking Out Loud begins to play.

I smile and nod handing my drink to Holly then allowing Casey to take my hand and guide me to the middle of the dance floor.

Casey places his hand on my hips and mine around his neck as we sway slowly to the beautiful voice of the amazing Ed Sheeran.

"So have all thoughts of not going to Louisville escaped your mind?" I ask.

"Not completely because I will always have the feeling of wanting to be with you for the rest of our lives but I know it's what I want to do and I'll regret it in 20 years if I don't go."

"Especially if you throw it away for some girl."

"Not some girl Em. The girl." He smiles making me smile too allowing us to fall into each other as place a kiss on each other's lips.

"Let this be a practice run. If things run smoothly while we are apart, we are meant to be together. But as soon as things get complicated, I'm pulling away as hard as it may be. " I say.

"Don't say that Em."

"I've seen the movies Case, not all relationships pass the long distance thing. It's difficult and I understand if you want a break."

"It's taken me years to get you, no break will be made while we are together. No matter how far away we are from each other." Casey argues and I smile.

"I was hoping you'd say that. I don't want that either." I smile.

"I love you Emily."

"I love you too."

The song finishes and we join our friends again.

"I love what they are doing for prom king and queen." Katie pipes up.

"I know right. At least it's not a popularity contest." I smile.

"Well we know who is going to win anyway." Seth says.

I roll my head and look at Casey then back to Seth.

"You don't know that." I say.

"Yes, we do. You were homecoming king and queen, you are the head cheerleader and quarterback and captain and you are the cutest love story this school and planet has ever seen. Amber doesn't have a chance." Holly says and I curl my lips and lean against Casey when I hear a voice behind us and Hollys face drops.

"Hey guys." The petite voice sags as I turn around and take a deep breath.

"I wanna say you look amazing Emily. And that I'm really sorry about what I put you through. It was childish immature and I'm sincerely sorry. I don't expect you to forgive me easily but once you know I'm sorry." Amber says.

"I'm not going to forgive you. Yeah I thought I would just to forget everything before graduation but I don't need to forgive you. I need friends and I have more than enough people who have my back. If I forgave you, what would that say about me? That I'm easy, stupid and pathetic? I appreciate you apologising but don't expect me to forgive you just yet. You put me through hell. Ruined me and Caseys relationship more times than I can count and nearly broke my neck and then to top it all of, you make a show of me in front of my friends. It's not right and it wouldn't be right to forgive you as quick. Goodbye Amber."

I turn my back and walk away with my friends following behind me.

"Go Emily! And here I was thinking you'd wimp out and forgive her. You really held your own." Holly smiles and I smile back.

"I learned that nothing in my life should change. I have great friends, a loving family and an amazing boyfriend who gave me an incredible dog. My life is fine just the way it is and before she apologised, nothing was different so not forgiving her will not make a difference as much as forgiving her will. I'm done with Amber and as soon as I get that diploma, I'm done with high school." I breath.

"And that's the way it should be." Seth says holding his hand up for me to high five.

*******
"Okay, as the night is coming to an end, it's time to crown prom king and queen. This year was a little different as you all know. We've been looking around the halls to see the most friendliest and most popular guy and girl amongst all of their peers. And we all seen the same people straight away." Ms Elliott says standing on the stage.

Casey has his arm wrapped around my shoulders and Seth and Holly doing the same beside us as Ms Elliott begins to announce the winners.

"The 2016 prom king and queen of Oceanview High School are...... Mr Casey St Cloud and Emily Hunter. Congratulations."

Everyone begins to cheer and clap as Holly and Seth push us up towards the stage.

Confetti and balloons fall around the place while music plays softly around in the background.

Someone places the crown on both of our heads and we are told to stand there for loads of pictures before making our way for the dance.

"Please don't run away this time." Casey teases and I let out a small laugh.

"Don't worry. I'm here for good." I smile as Beautiful Soul begins to play.

I'm here for good.

Always.

And forever.

*******
A/N
The next chapter is the last one omg! Not Just Another Cliché has been my baby and I loved working on it. Don't worry there will be a series and more stories written by me so please send ideas.

-MAddie🤘🏻🤘🏻