High school seniors and their parents gathered on the freshly cut lawn of the Hatakana residence, surrounded by flower beds and twinkling garden lights that flickered as the sun began its slow descent. Laughter and chatter filled the air as corsages and boutonnieres were exchanged, each pin and ribbon secured with practiced, slightly nervous hands. The parents hovered nearby, snapping photos, offering proud smiles, and giving gentle reminders to stand up straight or tilt their chins just so. Every pairing brought out another round of murmured “awws” and hushed whispers as the couples posed together, smiling with a mix of excitement and awkwardness.
After the last photo was taken and parents had finally run out of angles and camera memory, the evening began in earnest. With goodbyes called and waves exchanged, the young adults piled into the sleek, black limo waiting by the driveway. The engine purred to life as the doors closed, sealing off the parents’ world for one enchanted night. Excitement bubbled through the group as they settled into the soft leather seats, their reflections glimmering in the windows as the car pulled out of the Hatakana driveway.
They were headed to the Tarrytown Castle Hotel and Spa—a grand estate that stood like a fairytale fortress at the edge of town. As the limo wound its way along the quiet evening roads, laughter filled the space, and a collective thrill surged as they anticipated a night of dancing, magic, and memories they’d hold onto for years.
“This is going to be quite the night, ladies and gentlemen,” Michael announced, cuddling his longtime girlfriend, Alyssa, on the plush leather seat. They were Julius and Joan’s best friends—apart from each other, of course. It was Alyssa who had finally convinced Joan to confess her feelings to Julius.
“Yeah, it’s going to be magical,” Paige added, smiling as she held Susana’s small hands. “A senior ball in a castle? It’s straight out of a Regency romance.” Paige and Susana were going together as friends; neither had found a date, though they didn’t seem to have tried very hard.
“I’m ninety-nine percent sure they’re into each other,” Michael had often said, voicing what the others only thought.
“Yes, yes, dancing in a castle is cool and all,” Michael continued, pulling something out of his pocket with a mischievous grin, “but what comes after is even cooler. Behold—the star of the night, as always: The Penjamin!”
Cheers erupted in the limo from everyone except Julius, who didn’t share the same excitement. His dad had once told a story about the first time he tried weed, claiming he’d thought he’d had an accident in his pants when, thankfully, he hadn’t. Whether it was true or just a scare tactic, it had kept Julius from ever wanting to try smoking.
“Oh, I’ll probably sit this one out. I don’t want Julius to be the only sober one,” Joan said, giving him a soft smile. Julius took her hand and gently placed it on her lap.
“It’s okay. I’ll have fun watching Paige get paranoid,” he joked.
“It only happened a couple of times!” Paige protested. “Now I know to stay away from sativa… or was it indica?”
“Indica, in da couch,” Michael said, but the others barely reacted.
“How do you even know the names of the different strains?” Susana asked. “To me, weed is just weed.”
“Because we’re not lightweights who get knocked out by half a gummy,” Alyssa teased. “We need to study. To experiment!”
“Gummies are just better,” Paige replied. “Besides, modern strains are way too powerful. Forty percent THC is absurd.”
For the next twenty minutes, they delved into a passionate conversation about the finer points of cannabis while Julius idly browsed memes on his phone.
> I wish my friends were alcoholics instead.
The following hours were a happy blur for Julius: endless photos, snacking, nerdy conversations about their favorite shows and comics, and dancing—so much dancing. Usually, at gatherings like this, he and his friends would have played Commander games of Magic for hours. But tonight felt different. It was intimate, and he’d promised Joan he’d spend the evening focused on her.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
For many, this dance was a last chance to enjoy the company of those they saw every day—people who’d soon become occasional acquaintances seen only during breaks, if at all. But for Julius and Joan, this was a beginning, the start of something beautiful. Their night together ended on a high note with a slow dance, capturing a perfect moment in time that they’d both remember as the start of their story.
It Had To Be You by Frank Sinatra filled the grand ballroom, the smooth notes drifting like warm honey through the evening air. As soon as the opening chords played, the soon-to-be graduates instinctively moved toward their partners. Some couples quickly pulled each other close, sinking into an easy rhythm. Others scrambled to find someone in the final moments, grabbing a friend or someone they’d had their eye on all night. A few stood off to the side, quietly watching the dancers with wistful expressions, perhaps regretting missed opportunities they’d remember for years to come.
Julius held Joan close, his hand resting on her waist as they swayed in gentle circles, their feet moving in slow, easy steps. He leaned down slightly to speak, his voice warm and low.
“You know, I’m actually a huge fan of jazz,” he said, glancing at her with a sheepish grin.
Joan looked up at him in surprise, her eyes glimmering under the soft ballroom lights. She smiled, charmed by the small reveal.
“I actually… didn’t know that,” she replied, her hands resting lightly on his shoulders.
“Yeah, it’s something I keep pretty close to my chest,” he admitted, feeling a bit shy.
“This song is actually one of my favorites… though, I’m more into contemporary jazz.”
“Contemporary?” Joan asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Yeah, like Laufey,” Julius replied, giving her a small, proud nod.
Joan let out a soft chuckle, her smile widening. “I’d hardly call Laufey contemporary. And some would hardly call her jazz.”
“Hey, she’s got a thriving career, and I’ll fight anyone who tries to say her music isn’t jazz,” he said, grinning as he defended his taste. “Neo-jazz is just as much jazz as classical jazz.”
He paused mid-sentence, noticing how Joan was gazing up at him with a warm, almost dreamy look in her deep green eyes. He felt his cheeks flush as he lost himself in her soft, inviting expression. They slowed their steps, their dance becoming more of a gentle sway in time with the music.
Joan slowly moved her hands from his shoulders to behind his neck, gently pulling him down toward her. She closed the distance and kissed him softly, a kiss filled with all the promise of a beautiful beginning.
“You’re silly…” she whispered, her voice soft and affectionate as she pulled back just enough to meet his gaze.
Julius didn’t respond with words. Instead, he smiled—a grin so wide his cheeks could’ve boiled water. Holding her close, he swayed with her for the rest of the song, savoring every note and every precious second of the moment.
Name
Outfit Color
Favorite Fruit
Favorite Fact
Julius
Blue
Lychee
Lord Byron had a pet bear.
Joan
Blue
Orange
The hero, Phoenix, led a prison break when he was just eighteen.
Alyssa
Green
Pineapple
Jerry Garcia would scuba dive.
Michael
Black
Banana
Beetles are the biggest collection of species in the world.
Susana
Purple
Peach
Blue whales are the largest animals to ever exist .
Paige
Yellow
Grapes
Viggo Mortensen broke his toe kicking a helmet while filming Lord of The Rings.