Prom Queen Winner (Janice)

The teacher opens the envelope slowly, the room dropping to a near hush.

Teacher: She looks up at the crowd with a smile. Seniors, your prom queen is... Janice!

The room erupts.

Janice's reaction is quiet and genuine, a hand going briefly to her mouth before she composes herself and starts moving toward the stage. She is stunning in the navy dress, the slit catching the light with every step, her hair still perfectly in place. People part naturally around her, applause following her all the way to the stage.

Miles watches her from the floor, clapping with everyone else, something warm and complicated moving through his chest simultaneously.

She steps onto the stage and accepts the crown with a gracious smile, looking out at the crowd briefly. She finds Miles without any apparent effort and holds his gaze for a moment, something unspoken passing between them before she looks away.