Prom Night
Her mirror reflected well her black lace clad form, and it gave a sad sight. Before her, she saw herself, and in that, her black lace clad form looked terribly pudgy and fat, her spotted gold and gray form none too beautiful. Her long claws felt gangly, and her body did not have the muscled tone that the magazines always wanted to show, instead, she saw her body which was far from lovely.
A long, off-color streak of black ran the length of her cheeks, and her eyes were not the haunting blue most had come to expect from her species, and this too mad her sad. Where other might have seen beauty, she merely saw something terrible. The hands marked her cheeks softly, as a tear fell, and yet, tonight, the prom would be on, she was still to terribly fat to go. In her dark lacey clothes, she wept for the fear; she wept, because she had no choice not to go.
Her hands lifted the long dress up from where it lay, and she traced a finger through the blue sparkles, and across the soft silver seams. She bit back another breath, and then slid it on and up to her form, before buttoning the bottom up, and it felt a bit too tight, her chest, large and rounded, felt way too confined. But breathing in hard, she reached for the comb and pulled it back over her head, to smooth her ratty, tattered hair back down. The soap had not worked as advertised, it was still less than perfect, or even her best.
She looked at the mirror, and quietly ran a hand over the imperfect reflection, before she made her way towards the doorway, and looked into her the eyes of her mother, who positively beamed, with her father standing near, holding a small glass of Champaign. It was a day of celebration, in his eyes, but then again, he drunk Champaign more often than not, these days.
She walked down the stairs as her mother primped her fur out, and helped to apply the makeup to her face, to highlight her eyes and brighten her dark lips. The daughter fidgeted still, under the touches, and under the careful applications of her makeup, yet she didn't argue about it, why not let the night be ruined completely with motherly help!
She walked towards the door when she heard the ring, and looked up at the tall lion, the one who had agreed to join her at the dance; the one who had even managed to get his fathers car for the night. He stood strong and handsome, and she looked long at him, her heart fluttering long beneath his gaze. He smiled to her, and a hand moved to softly take her own, and then pin a flower above her chest. She smiled back softly, and let out a sigh, a most dreamy sigh, when he kissed her fingertips. "You look lovely."
"No I don't." She murmured, but did manage to enjoy the drive to the prom.
The music played loud, and the dance was quiet, no one really felt like doing anything but looking at the opposite sex. The girls milled about the girls, and the men talked with the men, and the chaperones dozed quietly in the corner, while others drank from bagged bottles, and seemed to much enjoy it. The music was good, at least.
No one did anything but stand and look, while the strobe light in the middle flickered and sputtered a second hand that would never work right for the dance, the most important part of their lives. Every sat and sighed, starting to wish this would get over soon.
The hyena sat alone, looking long at the boy who had brought her, who sat near her, but fidgeted before the many eyes that watched, and she was most certain that they were talking about her, a prospect she did not like to think about. Her cheeks burned, and her ears dipped down, hiding themselves in her long mane. She wanted it to be over, or even disappear.
"It's kind of boring." The large lion said, while looking over at her, and she nodded her head but subtly to that. Her stubby tail flicked behind her, against her satin clad backside, and she licked her lips; she was a bit sweet considering the lipstick upon them. The eyes looked about, wanting someone to do something to liven' the mood.
"I know." She said, while looking at the empty dance floor, before she looked over at him, and he looked back at her through his soft eyes. She smiled, and drew in a breath, before taking his hand in her own.
"Would you like to... dance?" She asked, while standing up, she did the same. Both of them looked into one anothers eyes, before they stepped to the dance floor to enjoy the slow dance that was starting. Their breath was soft, and each looked into the others eyes, while smiling, and touching palms. Then their eyes met, and they smiled both at once, while swaying back and forth to the beat, the beat which felt the same as the others heart, through their palms.
Their steps felt soft and gentle; their movements were sweet, and sensual, as she felt his hands upon her hips, and she looked back into his soft eyes. He smiled and chuckled softly, while the hands moved long and sweet over her belly, and she looked back, to kiss his cheek softly, because she could do nothing but fall in love with the dance.
They also fell in love with each other, there, and their hands touched sweet against, and they twisted, as the lights dimmed down, and the strobe seemed to work, making each of their actions seem just enough flash, that their brains saw only moments, felt only moments, that would only be remembered in dreams. But right now, right now, their hands held tight and against each other.
They felt the lights glance off of each other, and their eyes glowed when the beams touched for just enough into the others eyes. But a hand moved long to caress each others cheeks, before they kissed in deep, and their lips held tight, soft, and sweet in their soft blissful moments. But gazing, and swallowing, there was just the quiet, quiet beat of each others he arts, before the lights drew up, and they stepped back, both blushing hard.
"I love you." He said, the words which made her smile softly, and in that moment, in that dance, she truly felt to be the bell of the ball. His hand fell to his breast pocket, and he looked at her, as though to ask a question, but the words just slipped away from him, while looking into her soft eyes.
"People, clear the floor to announce the prom queen; come on people." The six people on the floor took their time to walk away from the audience, his time, thee were a few couples standing together, looking out at the well dressed rich folk whom knew they'd win. But the hyena and the lion just held one another as they watched, and they listened, but they could care less right now who won.
Their eyes all gazed onto the speaker, who went through the long list of names, each one of them seemed to be a popular cheerleader, and so, she ignored the calling of names, and just pressed against her boyfriend even closer, even tighter. He smelled strong, his natural musk heightened by the magic of the dance. Perhaps for the first time, she was glad to be here.
And then, her name was called across the speakers, and she turned her head to look up, towards the speaker, who seemed to be surprised to call that name. Her eyes glistened for a moment as a hand fell to her lips, in shock, and many others looked about, curious as to why she had been called. But, keeping pace, he called them up, each of the others walked strong, while she walked up hesitantly, carefully.
The girls clustered together, while she stood apart, her eyes looking at the many people, and a heavy flush fell to her cheeks, making her feel a touch woozy. The other girls each took a moment to talk, telling why they should be prom queen, and why they should have the chance to represent the schools prettiest girl. Their speeches were long and well rehearsed, and each seemed to glorify themselves, more than anything. The applause felt fake, after each, but they did not notice.
Then it was her turn, and she walked up to the podium, shakily, almost terrified of it, as though it were a snake. But she walked up to it, and gripped it within her velvety soft fingers, and tapped it once, to listen to the echo. Her voice adjusted, and she leaned her head down, to speak.
"I don't ask to be prom queen. I never asked to be nominated, but because I have been, I thank you, and I am glad that someone out there felt I should be. But I shouldn't. The other girls... The other girls are prettier than me, they have softer voices, and they have more money than me. They have better looks, better builds, and better chances at it than I do; I only want to be here, to enjoy my dance with my boyfriend, but thank you, for thinking I could do it. I mean, maybe it's a chance for someone who isn't perfect to try at it. Thank you." She stepped back, her ears were hot and flushing, and her eyes hurt from the light which was bright upon her. But she stepped back, feeling, maybe, just proud for herself, something she never really felt.
"Alright, uh, an interesting speech; We will tally the votes from the population of the school, and we'll see who will be the prom queen. But, one more dance before we announce. Alright, come on, don't be shy." Her arms went around her boyfriend, as she felt him near, and she buried her head against his muscular chest, holding him tightly. He wrapped his arms about her torso, and swayed with her as the music continued to play A Kiss from a Rose.
And they fell in love with each other again, when their eyes met, and their hands touched in their familiar, sweet sign. Their fingers touched, and she sighed up to him, with a smile. She didn't want the dance to end; she didn't want to have to not see him again. The moments before this dance felt as thought hey had never existed, and the hyena girl softly slid her hands, and his hands, up, so that she could hold him about her back. He didn't mind, her lion stud, he didn't mind at all.
"I want you to see something after the dance." He murmured to her ear, before giving it a playful, sweet little lick. She nodded her head slowly, and his tail wrapped around his side and the puff ball tickled softly her stub of a tail, making her sigh at the familiar presence. "I want you to see it, and then we need to talk some, I want you to feel better about yourself."
"I don't want to feel anything but you." She murmured dreamily, and the music, painfully, started to move to its close, which made her toes, her body, tingle, again. The tingling was a sweet sensation, yet bittersweet that they would have to separate. He'd want her to walk up on the stage, and even though she knew she'd not win, she knew that she would always keep the memory in her heart.
And she walked onto the stage, the other girls, in their long, white dresses, looked at her with a sneer to their lips, and a bitter anger in their hearts that they had to share with a 'scav' like her. But she kept her head high, and looked out amongst the people, before the announcer stepped up, and looked over his cards.
"Well, now... I'm surprised at this, guys and gals, but it seems that the winner is..." He mumbled a little while making sure the cards were right. "Well, it looks like the prom queen..." He took a breath in, and exhaled slow. "Yeesha Shilmadif."
Her eyes went wide, and a roaring in her brain made her stand, stunned, as did many of the 'preps' and even a few teachers. Many people just stood and looked, looked towards her, then towards the rest on stage, before she was ushered forward by the hand of the announcer, towards the center of the stage.
"The Prom Queen for 2000, the first prom queen of our millennium, Yeesha Shilmadif." She stood, looking over the gathered people, as her head was anointed with the crown of her position, and she was given a grasp of flowers within her right hand. She felt her heart beat fast, and her mouth fell open, making her look everyone over. It had to be a joke! But no, no one pointed and laughed. No, there was the sound of one person clapping. Her boyfriend, standing near the rest of the football team, was the one who was clapping.
Then the football team started clapping. Then the members of the Special Ed started clapping. Then the staff started clapping. And then everyone in the gym started clapping for her, the person no one expected to win. They clapped for her.
The dance was over, and she walked with her boyfriend down the hall of the school, towards the library. She walked with him, with the librarian walking near, understanding what he was about to do. The door was opened, and the librarian stood in front of it, waiting and listening while not watching, as she was sat at a comfortable chair, and the TV cart was wheeled forward. She watched, as he set a small disc into the slot, and sat beside her, pressing play on the remote.
"Yeesha," On the screen, her boyfriend stood. "I knew I had to do something to help you lift yourself up, so here is what I did. I got my buddies together and told them: "Lets make you the prom queen this year." And you know what, they thought about it, and then they agreed. You have been nice to each and every member of the team since you came to this school, some six years ago. You helped get our running back on the team, he helped us win our first victory. So you had our vote, and you had our strength to fall on. But we knew that the football team would not be enough for you, so we had to find someone else.
The screen then showed the special Ed class, those who were slower, yet those who were still good in heart. On screen was a small cat, who looked up at her with his goofy, ever-present grin. "Yeesha for prom queen!" A voice off camera asked why she should be, and he paused to look up at the camera.
"Yeesh, you always been there. When I was picked on by the bullies when I got here, you beat 'em up and helped me out. No one else would help me with math." He bit his lower lip and looked down, shyly. "You're the prettiest girl, and the nicest girl we have." He nodded his head proudly, while the camera spun around to look at her boyfriend, who smiled.
"We asked him about it, we always knew that you cared for the guy. So that's why we let him in on this. Of course, with this guy here, we knew you had a win." He smiled and winked. "But, we wanted to seal the victory, so we have to go and see the band."
The band room was up on screen, the Teacher sitting and looking over the students, while the band looked on.
"Yeesha for prom queen!" They shouted in unison, nearly breaking the microphone. "You always supported us, you helped us get new instruments for the band! You've appreciated and tutored a few of us in your time, and no one else would actually give a fuck, eh?" The teacher coughed behind, and tapped his des, with the conductors stick.
"Now, we could add in the others, like the science club, the D&D club, the auto shop, but hey, why waste film. No, I had other things in mind. Like wanting to tell you how much I love you, and that you really are the prettiest girl in school. You have always been the prettiest girl in school, no on else has cared about us that much. I could go on and on, but, I just... Yeesha, I love you. I really love you, you're the best girl in the world."
The camera went off, and she looked over at her boyfriend, for a moment. His hand held hers, and she felt a small tear trickle down her right eye, while swallowing and sniffing a bit. The camera work had been crude, the sound was off, but that didn't matter. The intent was good, the intent was strong.
She looked at her boyfriend for a moment, before he signaled to her to follow. She did, she walked her way towards the library, towards the upper floors of the beautiful place. Two flights, three flights, she finished at the fifth, and looked out at the window, towards the football field. Upon it, glowed: "We Love Yeesha."
She inhaled a deep, almost sobbing breath, while looking at him. "You are the prettiest girl in the school. No one else in the school is just as nice, just as special. I wouldn't ask anyone else to be our prom queen. Or anyone else..." He inhaled softly, while looking at her. He swallowed and walked with him down the stairs, as he looked over the books.
"I want... I... I am going to need to as you something." His heart felt throbbing beneath her fingertips, as she touched his chest. She looked long at him, and walked with him towards the librarian. "Yeesha. I..."
She looked at him for a moment. "Yes...?"
The captain of the football team, the leader of the school pack, the man who meant the world to her; he who had saved her from a life of loneliness knelt to alone leg, and from his right pocket, he drew up a small box, and inside, there lay a platinum band with a single diamond tip in the middle. And he held her soft hand, and looked from her long legs, over her thin belly and full chest, up towards her soft face. She was not pudgy as she thought, she was... no, she was perfect.
"I want... Will you marry me?"