The Dance

It was Saturday night and Scott was busy getting ready for the dance. As it was his first dance, he did his best by showering for twenty minutes, brushed his teeth three times, added a lot of cologne, put on hair gel, moisturized his face, and put on his homecoming suit. His suit was dark red with a black tie and black dress pants. As Scott didn't have a dress blazer, he instead wore his black denim jacket as it could improvise the absent jacket that he forgot to get.

"Wow, this is my first dance." Scott looked at himself in the mirror. "I wonder what Ashley will look like in her dress."

Scott's mother came into his room to see what his young man looked like for his first dance. "Oh this is exciting! My son is going to his homecoming date with a beautiful girl." "Oh I can't wait for her to come soon!"

"Mom, this isn't a date. Like I said we're not dating. We are just going as friends." Scott looked at his mother in the mirror. "It's just that I've never seen a girl in a dress before."

"What about the time I wore that beautiful red dress during the new years party when you were just a cute little baby. You were tucking it like you fell in love with my dress." Mrs. Smith embarrassing Scott.

"Mom!" Scott felt embarrassed.

"Oh I'm joking. I know you'll have a great time with Ashley." Mrs. Smith messaging Scott's shoulders. "It's just that I got to see you make a friend. It's been only a few months since we've moved here and I'm so proud of you."

"Do you think dad would be proud if he was still around?" Scott looked at his mother.

Scott's mother looked a bit sad looking at the ground as she knew what her husband did was wrong. "Yes Scott, he will be proud of you."

Soon an engine was heard from outside of the house. It was mostly Ashley's motorcycle outside the house waiting for Scott to come out.

"I guess that engine noise from outside is Ashley's motorcycle." Mrs. Smith recognized that noise from yesterday. "Time for you to head to the dance, Scott."

"Yeah mom." Scott heading downstairs holding his jacket.

"Also Scott."

"Yeah"

"Please have fun with Ashley. She seems like a very nice girl to be around with and I hope to see you graduate together." Mrs. Smith smiled as she saw her son had developed.

"I will mom." Scott also smiled and left the door.

As Scott went outside, it was a breezy evening with the sun slowly coming down. But Scott embraced it as he knew he was going to have fun. He took a deep breath inhaling the air and then exhaling it.

"Hey Scott." Ashley on her motorcycle.

"He- WOAH." Scott's mouth being fully opened.

Ashley looked very stunning with her gray dress, red lipstick, makeup on her face, black boots, and her hair flowing in the wind.

"Ashley where's your-"

"My helmet. Well, I don't want to mess up my makeup and my hair, so I decided to just ride without it." Ashley looked really good. "However, I have to ride slowly or else the wind will also ruin my makeup."

"Alright." Scott blushing.

"What are you waiting for, hop on?" Ashley patted the passenger seat.

Scott got on and they both went to the dance. Ashley drove slowly however as she didn't have her helmet on to help her with the wind resistance.

"So Scott, why the jacket?" Ashley drives the motorcycle slowly.

"Well I don't have a dress jacket, so I decided to use my jacket instead." Scott holding his jacket. "I really like this jacket because before my dad left, he gave it to me ever since I was born. Since then I've been holding on to it."

"That's awesome Scott. It's nice to have something you can remember your father by. My dad gave me nothing but constant dress." Ashley being a bit jealous of Scott. "But hey, he's just an alcoholic who spends his time drinking and being on the couch all day."

"Well, you still have me." Scott cheering up Ashley.

Ashley started smiling knowing that Scott was trying not to talk about her dad. "At least I have you Scott."

Soon, they were now at the homecoming dance with lights everyone on Sunshine High. It was like a movie premiere with the red carpet in front of the school's entrance, people were dressed in their peak clothing, and of course there was a long yellow and white limo at the entrance. Little to no surprise, it was John and his girlfriend, Laura, coming out of that limo as well as Troy being their third wheel.

"Thank you, thank you my friends, this will be a great night." John waved at the crowd around him.

All three of them have since gone in as well as the other students following them.

"Wow, I know the homecoming dance is supposed to be fun, but I never expected this school to go all out on a stupid dance." Scott looked at the entrance.

"If it's stupid, then why are we still going?" Ashley laughed a little bit.

"Well you got a point." Scott looked at himself.

Once they got to the entrance, Ashley parked her motorcycle in front of the entrance. They both got off and headed to the entrance.

"By the way Scott, would you do me a favor and hold on to my keys. It wouldn't be nice for a lady to carry her things with no pockets on her dress." Ashley threw her keys at Scott.

"Yeah sure." Scott put her keys in his jacket.

Once they both got in, they headed to the gym as it was where the dance was held. One of the classrooms next to the gym was used as a coat hanger with people lining up to hang their coats. The person managing that line was the same kid who got slapped by Laura on the second day of school, with the bruise still there on his face.

"Come and hang your coats here." The guy felt upset as he wasn't wearing anything formal, but a yellow shirt with his name tag on.

"Man, I feel bad for you." Scott passed by the guy.

Once they went to the gym, it was crowded. There was a stage up front of the dance with the DJ bringing up there playing a lot of pop music. People were dancing like crazy with some even forming a mosh pit. Some were having conversations, while some were having a lot of refreshments on the snack bar. On the snack bar though, there was a guy who was very big with musty hair gobbling down the refreshments with no control of himself.

"Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Oh this is so good. I just can't stop eating their pastries." The guy with musty hair kept eating until he collapsed on the floor.

"Wow this place has more spirit than my old school's homecoming dance." Ashley looked around.

"Is it supposed to be this special?" Scott looked at Ashley.

"Well usually no, but hey how can you blame them as this town praises this school as if it was a cult."

"Alright then." Scott looked at the crowd again.

Later, the music stopped and the lights started focusing towards the stage. The DJ stepped aside for someone to be on the stage. And that person was Jimmy Wilson.

"H-hello e-everyone. I'm Jimmy Wilson, the school's biggest nerd." People started laughing at Jimmy as they believe nerds are the dorkiest people in the world. "As I was saying, we are happy for you guys to join Sunshine High's homecoming dance. I myself am happy to be here. But you know who we want to see. Come on out, the King of Highschool!"

John came from the curtains as well as Laura and Troy. They waved at the crowd smiling as if nothing had happened to them.

"Thank you so much Jimmy, now would you excuse me please." John waved his hand with his wrist at Jimmy.

As Jimmy stepped back though, he accidentally tripped causing the whole crowd to laugh at him.

"As you know, this homecoming dance is a dance where we can always have fun. But the biggest thing for us is prom, the best moment of our lives." People started cheering when John mentioned prom. "Although prom is very far away, I want to mention this as it will be the most romantic moment we will have for the rest of our lives. Also, High School is the only moment where we can have fun because after that, our lives will start going downhill and nothing will matter to us anymore."

People in the crowd started to worry as they were now concerned for the future.

"But don't worry, I promise to you all that I'll make this moment the best moment you'll remember. Although adulthood is just a pile of trash, we can do what we can now to have fun, am I right guys!" People started to get hyped again as they are now very focused on having fun in the moment rather than focusing on what happens after High School.

'Pff, bullshit." Ashley looking at John. "He doesn't understand what adult life is like. I'm eighteen years old and I've dealt with a lot of adult issues after my dad left me."

"So should I be worried about adulthood?" Scott was a bit worried.

"Of course not. Being an adult is really fun. This assholedoesn't know what it's like being an adult, maybe because he's just being like a child." Ashley rolled her eyes at John.

"Anyway let's start dancing shall we." people were cheering John on as he, Laura, and Troy got off the stage.

The DJ came back to his booth and started the dance with a romantic song. People were trying to find others to dance with while others thought it was a boring song choice. But the DJ never cared as it was a demand from John to play the song. It was only for John and Laura to dance romantically, while Troy stood there and watched.

"Are you kidding me, why this song?" Ashley complained about the terrible song choice. "Homecoming should be for everyone, not for those two idiots. This is song is specifically just for them but not for us"

"Yeah and to be honest, I'm not actually good at dancing." Scott scratched the back of his head.

"Wait, you don't know how to dance." Ashley was in shock.

"Nope."

"Alright then, then I'll teach you how to dance." Ashley looked around.

While looking around, Ashley stumbled upon Jimmy Wilson standing at the edge by himself. Ashley ran towards him wanting Jimmy's attention.

"Hey Jimmy." Ashley looked at Jimmy.

"H-hi Ashley, how have you been?" Jimmy looked at Ashley.

"I'm great Jimmy. Precalculus isn't my strong class but I'm still working hard." Ashley bend down to her boot.

She took off her shoe to get something inside. Inside was a hundred dollar bill that had a bit of dirt but was still worth it.

"Hey can you do me a favor Jimmy." Ashley showed her hundred bucks to Jimmy.

"Anything." Jimmy looked at the bill.

"Can you head to the DJ and request this song for me?" Ashley whispered the song to Jimmy's ear.

"Alright and you want me to give the hundred dollar bill to the DJ?" Jimmy looked at the bill again.

Ashley nodded yes.

She gave the hundred dollar bill to Jimmy as he went towards the stage to see the DJ.

As he went towards the DJ, he took off his headphones to listen to the song request. As the DJ was about to decline, Jimmy gave him the hundred dollar bill. The DJ was satisfied by the money he got and wants to know the song request that Jimmy is suggesting. Jimmy whispered in his ear and later came down the stage.

The stage lights that used to focus on John and Laura were now shifted to Ashley. The music changed from romantic to a Mexican Fiesta with the music being very loud and party-like. The lights became very colorful lighting the whole gym up.

"What the hell is this?" John looked around the gym.

"Alright Scott, I'm going to teach you how to dance. The Mexican way." Ashley took Scott's hand.

Ashley danced with Scott roughly with him being spun around, dancing rapidly with his feet, and a lot of movements that Scott himself couldn't keep up with. At the end of their dance, Ashley finished her dance with her carrying Scott in one of her arms while standing.

The crowd cheered with everyone wanting them to do it again.

"A-Ashley, can you dance with me next!" Jimmy wanted to volunteer.

"Of course. Let me teach you." Ashley is now holding Jimmy's hand.

Compared to Scott's dance, Ashley puts it easy for Jimmy as she assumes that Jimmy isn't very experienced in moving at a very fast rate. Once they were done, Jimmy was having so much head to the point where he felt like he was spinning.

"G-gosh, that was the best thing that has e-ever h-happen to me." Jimmy was very dizzy.

However, it wasn't over yet. Ashley still has a few more tricks up her sleeve.

"Everyone, I want you all to join this dance for me. It's a tradition where everyone should be together to dance. That is what makes dances so memorable." Ashley looked at everyone. "So please join me!"

As Ashley started dancing, Scott and Jimmy were both copying her movements. Then later, it started a chain reaction, where more people started to join her. More and more people started to join where people started paying attention to Ashley more than John and Laura.

"Wait, where's everyone going. Don't they want to see us dance!" Ashley holding tight to John.

"Guys wait. Don't you want to see us have a romantic dance." John is trying to get his audience back.

However, nothing worked as Ashley's dance was more exciting than John's moment. Troy was the only person that stood by John's side.

"Troy, this is the night." John is talking next to Troy.

"It is the night." Troy responded to John

"Yes it is." Laura joined in.

When the dance was over, everyone applauded Ashley as she made everyone's night. When the song was over, the DJ had gone back to its usual pop songs.

"Wow Ashley, you know how to bring a crowd together." Scott panting after a very long dance.

"Yeah, I guess I got that from my ancestors." Ashley also panting.

"W-wow guys. Hey, can we give a big cheer to Ashley Martinez. She had the best night this school has ever had!" Jimmy cheering on Ashley.

The crowd cheered for Ashley screaming out her name making herself feel proud.

A few hours had passed and the dance was slowly coming to an end. People started to leave the school to head back home as it was close to midnight. The DJ seemed to leave packing up his DJ kit and got off the stage and the red carpet was slowly being rolled up by the other janitor of the school. The lights were on with the whole gym being in such a huge mess. People were grabbing their coats from the hangers with the guy managing to get them all.

"Here's your coat, have a great night." The guy handing out other people's coats.

"Wow this was a fun night Ashley. I never knew homecoming dances could be that thrilling." Scott holding his jacket.

"Well I guess I was trying to show you how fun homecoming dances can actually be." Ashley blushing with a little of her sweat from the dance messing her makeup a little bit. "Anyways, can you wait for me outside next to my bike? I got to use the bathroom after drinking too much fruit punch."

"Yeah, take your time." Scott walked towards the entrance way.

Ashley went to the bathroom taking her time after all the dances she has gone through. Once she was done, she was also heading to the entrance.

But something came into her mind.

"Since I'm still here, I want to know what happened to Lopez." Ashley went towards the newspaper room across her locker where the hallways were dark and far from the hallway where she was.

When she approached the door, she came in and saw how much the room has changed in less than a week. She knew that the room was the same size as she knew the janitor's office was, but the only difference being that there's a lot of office equipment with a printer, a big table in the middle, a computer, and a very big computer. With a lot of monitors connecting to it.

"Weird, why would a newspaper room need to have this many monitors." Ashley went up towards the big computer.

When she turned it on. All the monitors at the same time turned on. But what she saw was unexpecting. It was the cameras that Scott was scared about. In each monitor, it was from the different cameras that unexpectedly appeared after Lopez's disappearance.

"Oh my god. Scott was right. They were watching him." Ashley walked back from her shock.

But when she walked back, she stepped on something that didn't feel hard. As if it felt like she was stepping on clay.

"What the hell." Ashley looked at where she was stepping.

She also realizes that the tiles on the floors were very loose. One of them came off and there was some sort of thing under it that smelled. As if it smelled like it was rotting.

Out of suspicion, Ashley grabbed the yardstick from the table and started plucking off the loose tiles. Once she got all the tiles, she saw a dead body on the ground and she recognized the face of that body.

"LOPEZ!" Ashley was scared as if she knew she was correct as Lopez's dead body was on the ground rotting. "What have they done to you?"

"Oh he just retired, that's all." Troy closed the door while hiding behind it.

"Troy what the hell is this!" Ashley is scared and at the same time angry at Troy."

"We didn't want you to know, but your ignorance must've made you come to this room and here we are." Troy getting closer towards Ashley.

"As you see, Lopez is just a simple janitor that we didn't want. We wanted something for our school more than just an old man. We wanted something that other schools never had, which is a newspaper room."

"What are you trying to say Troy?"

"In this school, we want to have the perfect school. A school that never sees disappointments. A school where everyone can always smile. A school where we can finally have our happy endings."

"I can also tell that you also want a happy ending Ashley. It was so sad that your alcoholic father left you and your mother dead."

"Don't fucking talk about my mother."

"Why not? That's what reality is. It's a world where things go wrong. Failures usually happen and people's lives are nothing but shit. In Sunshine High, we filter out those realities and make a new reality where only happiness only exists."

"But reality isn't like that. Yeah it may be tough, but there's good in there and that's what makes us human. The hardship of life is what makes us stronger and get ready for the world. If you and this 'King of High School' guy are setting these fantasies for them, then they won't see the reality of life."

"Ashley, you're sounding like you don't belong in Sunshine High. Do you really want to go out there and face that reality?"

Ashley looked at the ground with Lopez's rotten corpse.

"Yes, yes I will."

"I've been an adult ever since I was seventeen and I had to deal with a lot of trauma and stress back in Chicago. I learned to move on from what happened to my parents and try to start over here. But I guess this school is nothing, but a dystopia."

Troy started to get angry as Ashley insulted Sunshine High.

"Dystopia huh. Well Ashley, I left you with no choice."

The door behind Ashley was closed by someone outside of the newspaper room.

"What the hell. What are you doing Troy!"

"Ashley, I gave you a chance to live and be in our new reality where you were destined to be our new piece. But we prefer Scott and as you have no place in Sunshine High, we decide to put you down."

"What do you mean?"

"Goodbye Ashley."

Troy came closer to Ashley, scaring her.

"Get away from me Troy!"

Ashley tried to run to the door to open it, but it was locked from the outside with an anonymous person locking it.

"What the fuck."

"Why are you running Ashley, don't you want to dance with me."

Troy grabbed Ashley by the wrist.

"Let go of me you pervert!"

Ashley slapped Troy really hard with a big red mark on his face. Troy touched his face after she slapped him.

"You fucking whore."

Troy grabbed Ashley's full body and held on to her so tight that even Ashley was struggling to get out of it.

"You want to play that game you bitch. I'm the fucking best football player of the school's team and you dare to slap me."

Troy got his butterfly knife that John gave him yesterday and flipped it open.

"You only got in John's way."

"We don't need people like you in our school so say goodbye you little slut."

Troy's knife was on her throat.

"No! No! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

With no hesitation, Troy slit her throat very deep to the point where a lot of blood came out of her throat. With tears in Ashley's eyes, she died crying with blood all over her dress. Her dead corpse fell next to Lopez as blood was still coming out of Ashley's throat. With little to no respect, Troy kicked her dead corpse closer to Lopez's laughing about her ideals about reality.

"Yeah right. Reality being a good place. Get the fuck out of my face you dead bitch."

Troy, with the keys in his pocket, left the room with two corpses remaining in the newspaper room smiling as if he felt relieved that Ashley is now dead.

"Is she dead Troy."

"Yes she is."