Chapter 11

The feast was quite the spectacle. The smell that drifted through the air was making me salivate. There was smokers on the go with bbqs as well. There was a table as long as a limo that was full of food.

“Holy shit that’s a bigger spread than last year!” Joel said.

“So much meat.” Logan said almost drooling.

“You’re in heaven aren’t you?” Ellis teased him.

“Oh yeah, just have some dark skinned beauty serve me and I could die a happy man.” I tried to wonder if he had a chance with Tegan or even Leilana.

“So what’s the plan?” I ask.

“We join that line and get ourselves some food, the real fun starts later.” Joel hooked his arm over my shoulder as we started to move.

“Real fun?” I ask.

“Oh yeah ... once all the younger kids, teachers and parents are away.” He said but didn’t elaborate much more than that. I mean I have a few girls that might keep me entertained so tonight was looking extra fun.

For the size of the line we joined, it moved pretty quickly. Soon enough we were sat at a big make shift picnic table with a decent sized plate of food.

“Jesus Logan, you can go for seconds if need be!” Ellis said as Logan sat down with a mound of food.

“What? I’m hungry.” He defended his plate that could probably feed a family of four.

“I can see” Ellis chuckled.

“These muscles don’t grow themselves.” Logan said as he flexed his arms. Showing off his biceps. He was the biggest of the four of us.

“I mean technically they do.” Ellis retorted. This then began a small argument between the two about muscle development. Joel who was sat next to me nudged me.

“How they hell did you wangle getting on the kissing booth?” He asked.

“Hazel was looking for someone to replace Andrew.” I told him.

“Why didn’t Andrew want to do it? Is it cause he’s gay and doesn’t want to kiss girls?”

“Apparently he’s got a girlfriend that’s why he didn’t want to do it.” I told him.

“A girlfriend? Huh?” He had the same sort of surprised expression as Mikayla. “So you just happened to be in the right place at the right time?”

“Basically yeah” I grinned.

“You’d fall in shit and come out clean huh.” He nudged me again and we both laughed. “So who did you get to kiss?”

“Pretty much just a load of Grandma’s, sweet old ladies.” I said.

“Uh huh ... Who else?” He pried.

“Naimh...” I replied.

“And?”

“Briana...”

“Anyone else?” He urged.

“No” I shook my head.

“Who was the better kisser?” He asked.

“They were both intense, Briana went second so she was definitely playing it up more.” I told him.

“Ok who sucks cock better?”

“I had more time with Briana if that’s an answer.” I said trying to play it down.

“Not a direct answer but I’ll take it.” He smirked. And gave me an other friendly nudged before reaching out his fist which I bumped. Thankfully Logan and Ellis had moved on from muscle arguments and the four of us fell into our normal laughing.

The feast went on for a while and the crowd thinned a little. The sun was starting to lower in the sky but it was still warm. It was giving off more of an orange glow as it got lower. Our attention was drawn to an area where Principal Lloyd stood with a megaphone. The music that had been playing cut out and she began to speak.

“Hello and thank you all for coming today...”

She went on but I drifted off to finish eating my food. Logan somehow had gotten a second plate as well, all be it not as big as the first.

I’m not sure how long the principals speach went on for but I soon became all too aware that people were looking at me and Joel was giving me harder nudges.

“What?” I snapped back to where I was.

“You won!” Joel sniggered at me.

“Shane where are you? Would you like to come up please?” I heard the principals voice sound out again.

“Won what?” I whispered to Joel as I stood up.

“Just go!” He pushed me towards the principal.

I awkwardly walked towards her as I felt a lot of eyes and attention on me. One face that caught my attention was Harrison’s. Every other face was either smiling or pleasant his wasn’t. I gave him a wink as I approached the Prinicpal.

“Glad you could join us” The principal chuckled. “As I said Palm Valley doesn’t do things traditionally with their homecoming dance. However some things should still be traditional. Now for the homecoming queen...” Homecoming Queen, does that mean I was the king? Surely not. Why did I get it.

“Mikayla Stevens!” Principal Llyod announced. The crowd clapped as I watched the now blonde Mikayla stand up and come join me. She mouthed ‘Hi’ to me as she stood on the other side of the Principal. “Ladies...” the principal turned as Hazel and Julie came with crowns and a sash. Julie went to Mikayla and Hazel stood infront of me.

“Congratulations” she said to me. “I still think Harrison should have won but I suppose you’re an ok second.”

“Why thank you Hazel.” I said with a mocked grin. Nice of her to be so honest and now I know where her loyalites lie so will be staying clear of her.

“Your Homecoming King and Queen!” Principal Llyod announced as she stepped back. Mikayla stepped forward and reached out her hand which I took. She then raised it up and people clapped.

“What the hell is going on?” I whispered to her.

“Just smile and wave, embrace it.” She said to me. So I did. I gave a wave and we were then soon ushered away as the principal finished with her closing speach.

“Your majesty.” Joel said as I got back to them and the three of them bowed their heads in a courtesy.

“That’s enough peasants.” I joked as I sat down. “What the hell is this? How did I win?”

“Honestly I’ve no idea, I’ve never worked out how they select them. In truth I’ve never actually cared before.” He said. “But who cares how, you won.”

“Just like that” I said.

“Just like that.” He nodded.

“Should have seen Harrison’s face through it.” Logan chuckled.

“I saw him walking up, he probably assumed he would win.” I said.

“His face was a picture of beauty.” Joel laughed.

“Hazel thought he should have won...”

“No surprise there. Hazel has the biggest crush on him it’s embarrassing.” Joel said.

“Why didn’t she just use him for the kissing booth then when she needed someone?” I asked.

“Well think about it” Ellis spoke up. “Hazel has a crush on him, she wouldn’t want him having the chance to kiss other girls.”

“Ok that’s a very good point.” I laughed. Kicking myself why I didn’t think of that because it’s the obvious answer.

“So does this actually mean anything?” I asked tapping the crown on my head.

“Oh yeah...”

“Nahhhh, it’s just a ceremonial thing. Nothing more really.” Joel said as he cut off Logan who looked a bit lost. I could only wonder that Joel was hiding the truth that Logan was about to spill. Surely meant there was more to come.

“Anyway see that sun! See how’s it’s almost gone behind the horizon of the sea.” He hooked his hand around my shoulders and pointed at the orange ball that was half gone. “See when that’s fully gone, that’s when the real party starts.”

“Real party?” I ask.

“Oh yeah.” Logan nodded eagerly.

“So all the parents and teachers will leave. Only ones left will be us seniors and the alumni. That begins the alumni games.” I could tell by Joel’s voice that there was excitement there.

“Alumni games?” God I really no idea what went on at this school.

“I’ve only heard the rumours and stories of past years but basically seniors compete against the alumni in various games.” Joel said.

“Drinking games to be exact.” Ellis added.

“Yes thank you Ellis.” Joel nodded and waved off his friend. “There’s a trophy as well. The alumni have won it the last few years.”

“The school is all on board with this?” I find myself asking.

“Well yeah there is rules.” Joel conceded.

“Always is.” Logan huffed.

“No one under the age of eighteen can be here now. The alchohol has all been provided and only that can be consumed. We have to stay within the designated area for public safety. We have to finish and be gone by midnight as the Police will round us up.” Ellis rattled off.