Page 103 of Elemasters

“BRO!”

“CHRISTIAN!”

Chris laughed hysterically as Charlotte just shook her head in exasperation.

The doorbell rang, saving Dustin from drowning in awkwardness by giving him an excuse to leave the room for a second. As he opened it, he grinned from ear to ear.

Bailey stood there in her full getup; long, bleached blonde hair (shedding her long-standing iconic neon pink to match Chris on their special night) pulled up into an immaculate updo, dotted with sparkling pins and black and pink flowers. Her dress looked like something straight out of the Victorian era; pink, slim at the waist and slightly ruffled, hanging off her exposed shoulders. Black velvet opera gloves went up past her elbows, and she struggled to pull her heavy combat boots off before she stepped through the door.

“Damn, you look amazing Bails,” Dustin beamed, holding her arm to steady her as she finally got her shoes off.

“Thank you! So do you! I totally dig the jeans instead of boring old slacks,”

“There’s my girl,” Chris said as he came into the living room, lifting Bailey up and spinning her around, before dropping to one knee to present her corsage, “for you, my love,”

“Such a gentleman!” Bailey’s exaggerated southern belle voice warbled as she extended her wrist so he could slip it on.

“Bailey, darling, you are absolutely stunning!” Charlotte cooed, “when did you kids grow up? I still remember you three playing video games until the wee hours of the night, now look at you,”

Another knock came to the still open door, and Dustin turned to see James peeking his head inside, waving and smiling sweetly. His hair was slicked back, and he was wearing a vintage plaid blazer with patches on the elbows; one apparently passed down to him from his grandfather. A pair of designer sunglasses hid his eyes (because he was very likely stoned already), and he kicked off his pristine leather loafers as he came inside.

He looked Dustin up and down, before whistling.

“Damn baobei. 10/10, no notes,” his eyes drifted to Charlotte, who was standing there expectantly. He cleared his throat, straightened his posture, and pulled the sunglasses off, “oh, hello Mrs. Ying… Mrs. Fujiwara? Fujiwara-Ying, that’s it. Uh, hello!”

Charlotte looked at James for a long moment, before turning her gaze to Dustin. Her cold features melted into a grin.

“He’s adorable. He suits you, Dustin. Treat my son well young man. I graduated with your father, you know?”

James nodded furiously.

“Yes ma’am, of course!”

“Very good. Now, you boys should know… people might not react ideally to the two of you going to prom together,” Charlotte said somberly, “I’m sure you’re anticipating it. But I just don’t want this night to be ruined for you,”

James’s eyes twinkled as he stared at Dustin.

“I don’t think anything could ruin this night for me ma’am,”

Dustin locked eyes with James, before pulling the shorter boy into a tight hug.

“Same. Whatever hits come, we take them together, right?”

“Damn right,”

“That’s all that matters,” Charlotte nodded, regaining her composure before she allowed the tears welling up in her eyes to free themselves, “now. Isn’t it time for you all to be leaving? I know kids your age like to be fashionably late, but you don’t wanna miss all the fun,”

As if on cue, a car horn honked and the muffled sounds of Beyoncé’s “Get Me Bodied” could be heard thumping outside. Dustin peered through the door and saw a hot pink stretch limo pulling up in front of the house, with Chloe sticking her head through the sunroof, her natural curls blowing in the night air as she winked. Her dress was slim and form fitting, with cutouts in the sides that exposed her brown skin. The whole thing looked like it was dipped in diamonds, catching the streetlight and sparkling like an earthbound star.

“Let’s go people!” she yelled, “we’ve got places to be!”

Dustin and Chris quickly kissed their mom on opposite cheeks before rushing over to the door and pulling on their shoes alongside their dates. Charlotte stood by the door as the group assembled in the limo, waving to them as they took off down the street.

“This is gonna be the best night ever,” Chris said, stealing James’s sunglasses and popping them on, “I’m so fucking ready for this,”

“It damn well better be. I did not slave away on prom committee just for it to be anything less than perfect,” Chloe retorted, her eyes locking onto Dustin’s fringe, “excellent work Fall Out Boy. Your hair looks amazing,”

Dustin dramatically flipped it, making everyone laugh.

As the limo headed into town, the group joked and talked and laughed, ready to have what Dustin hoped would be the best night of their lives.

They didn’t notice the black car with tinted windows tailing them for a few blocks, nor did they notice when it turned off down a side street before they arrived at the civic center…

They’d be able to enjoy their prom, their graduation, and maybe even their summer break.

But the Elemasters would need to be called back into service eventually...

Hell could only wait for so long.