Multi-Purpose Room

[Elda Forever]

Preston Brailsford

He peered into the lunchroom and started to panic. Where was she? She hadn't bailed today, had she? Maybe she'd eaten lunch outside. Maybe she hadn't felt well and needed to...

Oh, there she was. Preston let out a sigh, amused at his own reaction. Be still, my foolish heart! he thought with a chuckle. But he couldn't help it. This was kind of a big deal. He'd had two or three girls hovering around him today, wondering who he was going to take to prom. Half of his guy friends couldn't shut up about it, and the other half avoided the topic like the bubonic plague. Preston grinned as he watched her, sitting at her lunch table with a solemn, distanced look in her eyes. No, Shelby wasn't the type of girl to go hound a guy down. She would wait for him to come to her, and for some sick reason he liked how hard she made him work sometimes.

"Preston!" the familiar voice made him jump about a foot high off the ground. "What are you doing?"

"Shhhh!" he held up a finger to have Jessica silenced, even though there was no possible way Shelby could hear them over the roar of the cafeteria. "I'm about to pop the question with Shelby Wright."

A happy squeal from Jessica made Preston jump again. He was so nervous today, and she wasn't helping any. "Oh my God, Preston! Really?! How are you gonna---" He slapped his hand over her mouth.

"Jessica, I know you love playing the giddy in love lead in every play this school conjures up from some dark abyss in the playwriter's world," his words came rushed and frantic, shoved together by an absolute need to shut her up fast, "And I know someday you aspire to marry some Catholic Russian playwright who will write you a million more leading roles to play, but I would rather if you not scream out a very important question aloud and ruin my surprise over here." A pause. "Because I've worked very---" He made a little bobbing gesture with his head to indicate indecisiveness, then amended, "Okay, pretty hard on. But I seriously... Don't need your help. So go practice kissing someone."

Abandoning Jessica, Preston clung more tightly to the enormous - and very full - tan messenger bag under one arm, taking a deep, calming breath before stepping out into the cafeteria chaos - his own metaphorical center stage. With a determined step, he found a table only half-full that was only a few feet from Shelby and stepped up on top of it. He took a glance at the initials written on his left hand, used for a prompt. S.L.E.B.W. He didn't want to mess this up, and precautions never hurt. Stomping one foot for attention, he called out, "Shelby Louise Eleanore Bernadette Wright?! I have a question for you!" Once he was sure he had her attention, he send her an irresistible smirk and continued, holding the messenger bag behind his back and out of her view. "From the first day I almost pummeled over you in my dad's car, to the first time you showed me how well you could chuck a plushie across your yard, I knew I was a sucker for you." He pulled out an enormous lollipop - about the size of an apple - from the bag, to show her, grinning. It was just so corny, he couldn't resist. He bent down, sticking the lollipop on the cafeteria table in front of her.

"I know you like to keep a low-profile, so I promise I'll mind my manners when I'm stalking the internet hoping you get yourself a formspring or a facebook or something so I can spam you with ridiculous comments and inside jokes that I want to create with you, just like we're speaking our own little code." He pulled out from the bag next a sticker of Grumpy from Snow White And The Seven Dwarves, holding it up for her inspection, then letting it join the lollipop on the table.

"And since we have such a fabulous rapport, beyond your abilities to threaten me and tell me to keep the hell out of your treehouses, I'd like to ask you to accompany me to a rather fabulous night of dancing and fancy-dress-up and utter ridiculous celebration that we often call prom." He paused for dramatic effect, leaning a bit forward and tilting his head to the side curiously, "And if you decide to tell me know, will you at least take this little guy? See..." He pulled out the last item from the bag as he took two hops forward, first to the bench, then to the ground in front of Shelby. His free hand grabbed the lollipop and sticker and moved them within her reach. With a flair he revealed to her his very expensive and final gift, having taped a tiny little black bowtie on the strange area he supposed was Al's neckline. In the toy gloved hand was a little rose, the head switched out for the alternative one. He held it out for Shelby with pride, "See, he's very shy, and he needs a little reassurance, you know? We both understand your need to play hard to get and all - we find it adorable, to say the least - but we...erm...I mean him," he rolled his eyes at the mock slip-up, "Would love to at least have this one chance to declare our undying love for you. If you'll have him - or us. Or something." He dropped down to his knees, holding out Alphonse in one hand and placing his other hand dramatically on his heart, "What I'm trying to say in short, Shelby Wright, is 'will you go to prom with me'?"

[The Phantom of Paris]

Shelby Wright

She had just managed to steer the conversation towards something more intelligent and less stressful than prom: the new book by the author of The Lightning Thief, about ancient Egypt. She sat back, more observing than anything else, interjecting her own comments every now and then. This was the sort of thing she had missed--just chatting with her friends about nothing really at all, about whatever caught their attentions and imaginations at the moment, and yet the conversations always seemed to matter more than those "serious" ones people were always talking about. That was what friends were for, right?

Still, after a while, that conversation died down--rather abruptly, actually. Shelby followed Frankie's gaze to a table almost directly in front of theirs...the one Preston was just climbing on top of. Shelby's brow furrowed in confusion, and she set down her fork, her eyes meeting his for just a fraction of a second. All around them, the dull roar of the other students died down to a few whispers here and there, confused looks that Shelby was sure mirrored her own gazing up at him. What are you doing, Mustang?

"Shelby Louise Eleanore Bernadette Wright?!" his voice rang through the cafeteria. All talking ceased then, and Shelby buried her head in her arms, leaning forward until she was practically laying on the table and wanting to sink into the floor. Frankie squealed quietly next to her, tapping Shelby on the shoulder. She ignored her. You are not. You are not! I'm going to kill Cassie. I'm going to kill her very painfully and creatively, preferably with very sharp objects.

"I have a question for you!" At this, Frankie yanked Shelby back up from her position of mortification leaning against the table, making it so that she was sitting up again. "Oh...my God."

He smirked at her. Yeah, you'd better be enjoying yourself. "From the first day I almost pummeled over you in my dad's car, to the first time you showed me how well you could chuck a plushie across your yard, I knew I was a sucker for you." At this, he withdrew a huge carnival-style lollipop from his bag--he's got PROPS?! Shelby thought incredulously--and set it on the table. The whispers had started back up again, with little snickers ringing out here and there only to be shushed by curious--and perhaps malicious--voices of fellow classmates. For the most part, the room remained quiet enough to hear Preston--not that that would have taken all that much. Everyone sat poised, waiting to see what he would do next.

Setting a Snow White and the Seven Dwarves sticker next to the sucker, Preston went on, saying, "I know you like to keep a low-profile, so I promise I'll mind my manners when I'm stalking the internet hoping you get yourself a formspring or a facebook or something so I can spam you with ridiculous comments and inside jokes that I want to create with you, just like we're speaking our own little code." Shelby sighed. Formspring. Of course. The thing that was responsible for the entire world knowing her ridiculously long full name. Again. Note to self: Kill Cassie. Still, despite her embarrassment, she met Preston's eyes once again, challenging him. What have you got for me next, hmm? What else do you have planned for me?

"And since we have such a fabulous rapport, beyond your abilities to threaten me and tell me to keep the hell out of your treehouses, I'd like to ask you to accompany me to a rather fabulous night of dancing and fancy-dress-up and utter ridiculous celebration that we often call prom."

I knew it!

"And if you decide to tell me no, will you at least take this little guy? See..." At this, he leapt down from the table, coming over closer to her and pulling something else out of the bag. Shelby couldn't help the little smile that came over her face as she saw Al all dressed up for prom, and wondered in the back of her mind how he had even managed to find something like that. "Aww, it's Alphonse! That's so sweet!" came the voice of her best friend, sounding high-pitched and overwhelmed. Kind of like Shelby now felt.

Actually...exactly how Shelby now felt.

"See, he's very shy, and he needs a little reassurance, you know? We both understand your need to play hard to get and all - we find it adorable, to say the least - but we...erm...I mean him, Would love to at least have this one chance to declare our undying love for you. If you'll have him - or us. Or something." He fell to his knees, a mock marriage proposal that caused all of Shelby's friends to dissolve into giggles. Oh, you guys are dead to me now... "What I'm trying to say in short, Shelby Wright, is 'will you go to prom with me'?"

Shelby stared at him, mouth slightly agape. Finally, she nodded silently. "Okay. I will." She reached out to take the Alphonse toy, her fingers just brushing his as she gave him a very overwhelmed and embarrassed, but for the most part sincere, smile.

[Elda Forever]

Preston Brailsford

"Shelby Louise Eleanore Bernadette Wright?!" his voice rang through the cafeteria. He felt a rush of pride at the hush that blanketed the cafeteria at his declaration. Shelby sank down, utterly embarrassed by her impossibly long name. Preston couldn't stop his smile as he continued to torment her in front of the whole school. This was his part, and he could play it well. At the appropriate times, he pull out the pre-planned prop that would aid in his endearing monologue to Shelby.

"I have a question for you!" He smirked at her as she mouthed something, her friends apparently on his side for the moment. "From the first day I almost pummeled over you in my dad's car, to the first time you showed me how well you could chuck a plushie across your yard, I knew I was a sucker for you. I know you like to keep a low-profile, so I promise I'll mind my manners when I'm stalking the internet hoping you get yourself a formspring or a facebook or something so I can spam you with ridiculous comments and inside jokes that I want to create with you, just like we're speaking our own little code. And since we have such a fabulous rapport, beyond your abilities to threaten me and tell me to keep the hell out of your treehouses, I'd like to ask you to accompany me to a rather fabulous night of dancing and fancy-dress-up and utter ridiculous celebration that we often call prom. And if you decide to tell me no, will you at least take this little guy? See..." At this, he leapt down from the table, coming over closer to her and pulling something else out of the bag. He felt a flush on his own face as he watched the sweet smile grow on her lips as she saw his gift for her, all ready for prom and looking suitably embarrassed and endearing. He'd wanted to get her something, even if he'd had to scrape up the cash for it. He wanted something she could carry around and keep in her bedroom as she studied for school, and... all sorts of little reasons.

"Aww, it's Alphonse! That's so sweet!" cooed one of her friends beside her. Shelby still said nothing.

"See, he's very shy, and he needs a little reassurance, you know? We both understand your need to play hard to get and all - we find it adorable, to say the least - but we...erm...I mean him, Would love to at least have this one chance to declare our undying love for you. If you'll have him - or us. Or something." He fell to his knees, all dramatic gestures and hoping to appeal to her theater-loving side. Several people started to giggle, but that only stirred Preston on as he summarized his speech, "What I'm trying to say in short, Shelby Wright, is 'will you go to prom with me'?"

Shelby stared at him, mouth slightly agape. Finally, she nodded silently. "Okay. I will." Preston beamed down at her, knowing there was a lot more than just three little words running through Shelby's mind. She was a super-quite type, and he supposed she would always be, at least mostly. But her fingers reached out in a child-like eagerness for the Al toy, and he gave it to her with a loud and open laugh. The smile she sent up to him was not fully satisfactory, though, because he supposed if they couldn't possibly get more official than this, he was entitled to certain things. Always taking the initiative, are we? With a little jolt of giddiness, he leapt up and slid over the table so he could sit next to her, giving her friends only a few seconds to move or be shoved aside. Once he was there, he wrapped his arm around her and did a peace sign over his head, shouting, "Woohoo! She says yes!"

Preston leaned down across the table and gave her a long, sweet-flavored kiss, his hand coming up to entangle in her hair as he savored a little display. Of course he wanted to milk it for all it was worth.

[The Phantom of Paris]

Shelby Wright

She stared at Preston, dumbfounded, listening to his insane ramblings as she tried to come up with some way to brainwash the majority of the student body from remembering her long name of horribleness. Hey, it isn't my fault it's so long. Blame my parents. Her embarrassment seemed to emanate from her in waves, and she sent up a silent prayer of thanks that she didn't blush when embarrassed. That would only have made the situation about ten thousand times worse. Even so, she buried herself behind a makeshift shield using her arms, wishing she could build a wall between herself and whatever she had gotten into just now.

I have a question for you!" At these words, she was ruthlessly tugged forward so she could once again meet Preston's eyes, and she gave a quick glare at the person behind the brutal betrayal, her best friend. I thought I could trust you... Her whispered comment didn't seem to faze the ineffable Preston, because he continued.

Oh God...okay, here's my throat. Somebody slit it please...put me out of my misery...

"From the first day I almost pummeled over you in my dad's car, to the first time you showed me how well you could chuck a plushie across your yard, I knew I was a sucker for you. I know you like to keep a low-profile, so I promise I'll mind my manners when I'm stalking the internet hoping you get yourself a formspring or a facebook or something so I can spam you with ridiculous comments and inside jokes that I want to create with you, just like we're speaking our own little code." He pulled out props as he spoke, putting all those little "inside jokes" about their unusual past encounters on display for all to see. Wow. You really have thought of everything, Mustang.

"And since we have such a fabulous rapport, beyond your abilities to threaten me and tell me to keep the hell out of your treehouses, I'd like to ask you to accompany me to a rather fabulous night of dancing and fancy-dress-up and utter ridiculous celebration that we often call prom. And if you decide to tell me no, will you at least take this little guy? See..." he reached for another prop, finally retrieving it and holding it out to her.

"Aww, it's Alphonse! That's so sweet!" And it was sweet. Somehow, he had searched all over the internet to find that thing for her, that amazing Al figurine just because he knew she'd like it. Preston had gotten that for her, because he cared. And he'd even gotten him all ready for prom, although Shelby was sure he wouldn't actually be attending. Wow.

She smiled softly at him.

"See, he's very shy, and he needs a little reassurance, you know? We both understand your need to play hard to get and all - we find it adorable, to say the least - but we...erm...I mean him, Would love to at least have this one chance to declare our undying love for you. If you'll have him - or us. Or something." In the next moment, he was on his knees, a marriage proposal gone horribly wrong. The laughter that followed this sweet yet insane gesture seemed to echthroughout the entire lunchroom. "What I'm trying to say in short, Shelby Wright, is 'will you go to prom with me'?"

A small silence passed as Shelby tried to process everything that had just happened to her in such a short amount of time. Do I say yes? Do I want to go? I never thought...I just...

Before her mind could even begin to formulate a response, though, she found herself nodding. "Okay. I will." Thank you.

In the next moment, he was jumping up to sit down next to her, forcing people to slide down to make room. Some laughed it off, others shot him fake glares, and the guys appeared to be sizing Preston up, seeing if there were any noticeable flaws or things they could protest for. Jason in particular looked miffed, but they'd all probably come around. If they weren't won over already.

His arm came around her, and she instinctively leaned into it, telling herself it was more for warmth than anything else. Hey, the air conditioning was freezing today.

"Woohoo! She says yes!" was Preston's celebratory cry. A couple of tables burst into applause, and Shelby rolled her eyes just as he pulled her into a kiss.

Her eyes widened at first, but after a moment she found them beginning to close almost dreamily. The sighs and squeals of Frankie, Corrina, and the rest barely mattered, nor did the chorus of "Oooh!" and the other verbal signs of approval from the guys not only at Shelby's table but at ones nearby. She was Shelby Wright, who at this moment in time had the best boyfriend in history, if that's even what they were calling themselves at this point, and didn't care what anyone thought of her.

Until the whistle blew.

Loud and piercing, it ended the kiss far too quickly, although it had lasted rather long to begin with. She pulled away reluctantly as the yelling tones of Mr. Donnelly, one of the teachers in charge of discipline, reached her. "Hey! You over there! This is not an episode of Gossip Girl, we don't condone things like that in our lunchroom! You hear me? Shelby Wright, is that you?"

"Dear God, who gave that man a whistle?" Shelby whispered, leaning her forehead against Preston's, meeting his eyes playfully. There was a rough tap at her shoulder, and she looked up at Donnelly. "Are you two finished?"

[Elda Forever]

Preston Brailsford

"What I'm trying to say in short, Shelby Wright, is 'will you go to prom with me'?"

At first, he got no answer, but inwardly, he didn't doubt what his reply would be. He knew Shelby enough by now to know she was just trying to process her thoughts and his actions. Eventually, she smiled, gave a little nod and said, "Okay. I will." His jubilations were unbridled as he slid across the table to sit down next to her, knocking friends and potential male options who were likely very upset they hadn't asked sooner. His arm wrapped around Shelby and she leaned into him, much more demure in her happiness than he could ever stand to be.

"Woohoo! She says yes!" was Preston's celebratory cry. A couple of tables burst into applause, and Shelby rolled her eyes just as he pulled her into a kiss, deciding he definitely deserved it for choosing such a quirky – yet corny – way to pop the question to her. Plus, because she'd said yes like that, he was fairly sure he'd won her over enough for kisses like this. Delighted squeals rose up around them, making it a challenge not to grin hugely in the middle of her kiss. He prided himself on her positive reaction, deciding that despite her shyness, Shelby Wright was in no way as cold and collected as she would like to prove herself to be. Their interruption was a harsh whistle that made Preston wince.

Still with his hands behind Shelby and holding her to him, he slowly raised his face to see Mr. Donnelly, a disapproving frown on the man's face. "Hey! You over there! This is not an episode of Gossip Girl, we don't condone things like that in our lunchroom! You hear me? Shelby Wright, is that you?"

“Ah, Mr. Donnelly!” he called back, flashing the man a winning smile, “She just agreed to go to prom with me, so we were hoping for a teensy exception for the sake of a guy's hard work over the last few weeks. Like a fantastic sticker or something. We're...We're almost done, I promise!” He was fairly sure that wouldn't get him anywhere, but it gave him a moment to turn and meet Shelby's eyes for a moment before he had to release her.

"Dear God, who gave that man a whistle?" Shelby whispered, leaning her forehead against Preston's, meeting his eyes playfully. He snorted, remembering the attitude in her that he found utterly endearing. It was also nice to hear she was as against the interruption as he was. But it didn't take long for Donnelly to head over and give them a firmer warning, though. "Are you two finished?"

Yes, sir!” he gave a hearty salute, pulling away from Shelby and fixing his jacket, adjusting the disheveled messenger bag on his shoulder. “I appreciate your patience sir, in all due seriousness.” To Shelby, he winked and told her, “See ya later, babe.” And headed out of the cafeteria at a speedy walk that had a lot more bounce in it than when he'd entered the room. Once in the hallway, he did another little victory dance and told the nearest guy - “Shelby Wright is mine, so don't even think about it, man!” He ignored the skeptical look from the nerdy-looking guy and continued on his way, laughing uncontrollably to himself as he realized his cheeks were going to hurt by the end of the day.

Preston is done here. :3

[The Phantom of Paris]

Shelby Wright

A thousand years seemed to pass between his question and Shelby's response. If she hadn't wanted to go to prom before this, she definitely wanted to go now...but it was more than that. It wasn't that she wanted to go to prom. It was that she wanted to go with him. Somehow, through it all, he hadn't given up when everyone else had--and even better, he hadn't tried to change who she was at all. All the rest of them--all of her friends, Erin, Cassie, Yukito...they had acted as though Shelby had done something wrong that needed to be fixed, and that they were just the people to do the fixing. Preston hadn't done that, but somehow he'd fixed her all the same. He'd broken through the barricade that she'd put around herself for months to what was hiding behind. And he didn't seem to mind what he'd found beyond that barricade. They were so different, sure, but maybe that's what made them work.

"Okay. I will," she promised, causing Preston and several other nearby groups of people to go into celebratory mode. Preston immediately sat down next to her, throwing an arm over her shoulders with a jubilant cry of, "Woohoo! She says yes!"

Shelby rolled her eyes just as he kissed her enthusiastically, a kiss which she returned with no regard for the people around her or whether or not she would get in trouble. Which they promptly did, far too soon for either of their liking, the sound of the whistle blast cutting through all other noise in the cafeteria. "Hey! You over there! This is not an episode of Gossip Girl, we don't condone things like that in our lunchroom! You hear me? Shelby Wright, is that you?"

Luckily, Preston saved her from having to answer this embarrassing question, but Shelby could still feel the disappointment emanating from her teacher. Understandable, too, after all Shelby had put the administration through--straight A student starts skipping and failing everything, takes summer school and bounces back again, only to get caught making out in full view of the entire student body. I guess they all must be wondering where they went wrong with me, huh?

Still, she didn't care. Not at this moment.

“Ah, Mr. Donnelly!” Preston greeted him with a grin. “She just agreed to go to prom with me, so we were hoping for a teensy exception for the sake of a guy's hard work over the last few weeks. Like a fantastic sticker or something. We're...We're almost done, I promise!” He turned back to Shelby for a moment, and she leaned forward enough for their foreheads to touch gently. "Dear God, who gave that man a whistle?"

"Are you two finished?" Donnelly's tone was much more stern now, almost angry. Shelby nodded, pulling away from Preston reluctantly. Preston gave the teacher a happy salute. Yes, sir! “I appreciate your patience sir, in all due seriousness.” He turned to Shelby with a wink. “See ya later, babe.”

"Hey, Mustang!" she called after him. "Don't call me babe!" She smiled at him. "See ya."

"Shelby, you totally got busted by Don-Don!" one of the guys at their table called out, eager to tease. The others murmured their ascent, their eyes lit up with humor as they watched Shelby. She wondered if she looked different in their eyes now.

"Yeah, I guess I did," she said, standing up and gathering her things. "I've gotta get going. See you around."

Shelby has left the cafeteria-thing!

[Elda Forever]

OOC: Planned Presby here! ^_^ BIC:

Preston Brailsford

The roar of the crowd rose to earsplitting as the basketball slipped through the hoop on the opposite end of the court. Preston raised his arms in victory and joined in the general cacophony with a roar of his own, hardly hearing the announcer detailing the newest win for their home team. His bangs stuck to his forehead beneath a think layer of sweat, but he looked through the fuzzy blond hair that pressed into his eyes for Shelby's familiar eyes and giving her a cheeky, crooked grin before raising another fist to the air. He raced over to her side, still high off the adrenaline rush from the game. He was the point guard for their team, and as such, he could proudly take care in celebration for the wonderful plays they'd pulled off in the final quarter. It had gone so smoothly, and he chuckled in gratification before pulling Shelby to him gruffly, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into an excited kiss.

“We won!” He crooned, lifting her tiny frame off the ground and spinning carefully around with her held up in his arms. “You have to come celebrate with us! Peters has his own apartment now, so he invited us over for a victory party. Wait for me while I get cleaned up?” He spoke fast and in a hoarse voice from the night's exercise, his smile upturned and stretching from one ear to the other. Then, his smile began to falter as though he'd already been given a negative to his next question, "You don't have anything else planned, do you?"

[The Phantom of Paris]

Shelby Wright

Shelby felt the entire crowd tense as they watched the basketball soar through the air, suspending there in what seemed to be slow-motion for a moment. Her eyes widened as she watched it fly towards the basket, the shot that would decide the game. Come on...come on... Then it soared through the basket and Shelby leapt to her feet with the rest of the ecstatic spectators, her voice among the loudest as she watched her boyfriend across the basketball court. She jumped up and down as she was pulled into hugs by Corinna, Jason, and the rest of her friends that were seated nearby, unable to contain her excited laughter. It had been a close game, one that had had Shelby on the edge of her seat the entire time, but Preston and the rest of the team had done it. Another game won, another game that put the Falcons that much closer to the championship game. And Shelby, who in the majority of her now-seventeen years of existence had never showed the slightest interest in basketball or any sport, was prepared to be there for every minute of it.

As her friends celebrated next to her, Shelby's eyes sought Preston's down on the court, and she quickly made her way down the steps of the bleachers, pushing past the crowd to join him on the wooden floor of the gym. She didn't even have time to say anything to him before he swept her up in his arms. He was sweaty and out of breath, but Shelby barely cared as he pressed his lips to hers in a kiss that served to make her just as breathless as he was.

“We won!” He cried, lifting her easily up off the ground and spinning her around. Shelby flashed him a newly braces-less grin as he set her down--the troublesome orthodontia that had plagued her for over three years having been finally removed two days before. "I think I puzzled that out," she said with a chuckle. "You did great. Really great." She leaned into him for another kiss before she could stop herself, smiling as she did so.

“You have to come celebrate with us!" Preston said quickly, his enthusiasm proving to be slightly contagious as he spoke. "Peters has his own apartment now, so he invited us over for a victory party. Wait for me while I get cleaned up? You don't have anything else planned, do you?" he tacked on after a moment, as if he was unsure if Shelby had spontaneously developed a social life in the few hours since they'd last spoken.

"Oh, I don't know..." she said playfully, checking an imaginary schedule. "I've got a pretty strict Friday-night hermit routine, you know, and it would be a shame to break up the ritual...but, I might be able to make an exception just for you." She rolled her eyes, shaking her head as she reached up to put her arms around his neck. "Come on, you should know me well enough to know I never have plans with anyone except you. I'm textbook antisocial. I'd love to go. You go get changed, and I'll check with the parental units and make sure it's okay."

[Elda Forever]

Preston Brailsford

“You have to come celebrate with us!" Preston said quickly, breathless and eager for celebration. "Peters has his own apartment now, so he invited us over for a victory party. Wait for me while I get cleaned up? You don't have anything else planned, do you?"

"Oh, I don't know..." she said playfully, checking an imaginary schedule, her smile brighter and wider after having her braces removed. When she'd taken them off, Preston had informed her she'd been gorgeous before, but that 'at least now kissing will be easier.' He smirked at the memory, as well as her tease. "I've got a pretty strict Friday-night hermit routine, you know, and it would be a shame to break up the ritual...but, I might be able to make an exception just for you." She rolled her eyes, shaking her head as she reached up to put her arms around his neck. "Come on, you should know me well enough to know I never have plans with anyone except you. I'm textbook antisocial. I'd love to go. You go get changed, and I'll check with the parental units and make sure it's okay."

"Hey, I'm not going to just assume my beautiful girl doesn't have other demands on her time." He gave her a kiss, "I'm glad you can come, though. I'll see you in a few." He gave another parting peck on the cheek, a little sorry to have embraced her while being so sweaty, then raced off to the showers. When he got back, his hair still wet and matted but feeling cooler and much cleaner, he sauntered over to her side and slipped a possessive arm around her waist, leading her to the car. He chatted with her back and forth over the newer 3 Doors Down album about the game and this and that, his voice booming with happiness on the short trip to Peters' house. When they pulled into an empty spot on the street, he got out of the car and wrapped a possessive arm around her waist while they strode through the scattered groups out on the front lawn, the party already in progress. "So what did the parental units have to say?"

[The Phantom of Paris]

Shelby Wright

"You don't have anything else planned, do you?"

He seemed so genuinely worried about this that she couldn't help teasing him a bit. Come on, Mustang. It's me we're talking about. Do I ever have plans? "Oh, I don't know..." she said playfully, drawing out her words with a smirk. "I've got a pretty strict Friday-night hermit routine, you know, and it would be a shame to break up the ritual..." As it stood, the only 'plans' she had made for after the basketball game had consisted of kissing Preston and heading home to read their assigned book for AP English. Not exactly what I would call pressing social engagements. "...but, I might be able to make an exception just for you. Come on, you should know me well enough to know I never have plans with anyone except you. I'm textbook antisocial. I'd love to go. You go get changed, and I'll check with the parental units and make sure it's okay."

"Hey, I'm not going to just assume my beautiful girl doesn't have other demands on her time," was his reply, followed up by yet another kiss. She heard one of her friends give a teasing shout behind them, but chose to ignore it as she always did. She didn't know why they all seemed to get a kick out of making fun of them for PDA. "I'm glad you can come, though. I'll see you in a few." He gave another a brief kiss on the cheek before disappearing off to the locker rooms. Shelby chuckled a bit, taking out her cell phone to ask permission to go to the after-party. After hanging up, she chatted with her friends for a few minutes, bidding them all goodbye and sitting down on the bleachers to wait. She was deeply absorbed in her book when Preston reappeared by her side again. She looked up, slightly startled, but her face relaxed when she saw that it was only him, hair still wet and face beaming at her. "You scared me! Ready to go?"

He slipped an arm around her waist as they walked out of the gym and over to the parking lot, giving her an excited firsthand account of the game. The ride to the party didn't take long, and before Shelby knew it they were there. His arm came around her waist again and she leaned his head on her shoulder, smiling and waving shyly to various other team members, cheerleaders, and others who were either girlfriends of players like her or just there for the fun of it. "So what did the parental units have to say?" he asked as they neared the front door.

Shelby gave a soft sigh, her pace slowing as they walked. "To be honest, I don't think they really cared that much. They're a bit preoccupied with the baby and the fire and stuff, you know? They just told me to be home at a decent hour, try not to wake up Chloe when I get in, stuff like that." She gave a little shrug. "I guess in a way it's a good thing, right? It shows that they trust us, for what it's worth."

[Elda Forever]

Preston Brailsford

Preston's hand snaked around her waist, possessively connecting her to his hip as they wandered into the party. Most of the team was here, talking and laughing, and the majority of the cheerleaders, as well as close friends of the former. The front door sat wide open, and they headed for it together as Preston asked, “So, what did the parental units have to say?”

Shelby gave a soft sigh, her pace slowing as they walked. "To be honest, I don't think they really cared that much. They're a bit preoccupied with the baby and the fire and stuff, you know? They just told me to be home at a decent hour, try not to wake up Chloe when I get in, stuff like that."*

He looked at her curiously, then said with delicacy, “And are you okay with that?” Preston knew that the neglect from her mother had hurt Shelby, making her feel pretty rotten about her self-worth, but he was hoping to prove to her his own thoughts on that front.

She gave a little shrug. "I guess in a way it's a good thing, right? It shows that they trust us, for what it's worth."

As she said that they stepped over the threshold, and a sudden yelp was their only warning before a young boy about their age tumbled down the stairs, going head over heels and landing on his back at their feet. For a moment, he stared up at them wildly, eyes distant and surprised, then he started to laugh hysterically, holding up his now empty cup. Preston, quickly gauging the situation, playfully poked the boy's stomach with his foot, laughing and leading Shelby past him and on down the hall. To her, he chuckled, “Timothy Gale...always a little too ambitious. He gets started too early and then misses the second half of the party. Hahaha...You hungry? Thirsty? There's cheese here..” They had reached a table with a large punch bowl and several platters of snacks. Preston looked dubiously at the bowl of chips, watched several people wander by and grab handfuls, following the action by wiping their hands on their jeans or shirt. “Never eat out of a community bowl of chips, Ed,” he told her, searching behind the table for one of the unopened bags, “You might as well lick the nearest toilet bowl.” He smiled at her, and held out the bag for her to take, “And here, that is ki-i-ind of a big deal. Haha..” He grabbed himself one of the beers laying out in a bowl of ice on the table and opened it.

”Hey, Brailsfo-o-ord!” shouted a familiar voice, and Preston looked up with a smile, accepting the slap on his shoulder as greeting and returning the favor. ”We were pretty hot out there tonight, eh? Smoking the floor with our skeelz!” Preston just smiled and nodded, giving the boy a high five with his free hand.

“Well, what can you say? Hey, Peters, I'd like to introduce you to my girlfriend Shelby,” To Shelby, he wrapped his now free arm around her waist and said, “Shel, this is Chuck Peters, the life-slash-host of the party and - usually - the end of it,” he leaned closer and stage-whispered, “And he thinks because he's got a tan that he's gangsta, but at heart he's just a wussy ol' white boy like me.”

Chuck gave a grin, white teeth standing out against his brown skin as he sent them a 'gangster' sign, “Dude, you cain't deny dis!” And he flexed his arms, the well-worked for muscles popping up to 'Ooh's and 'Aah's surrounding, along with ripples of laughter. Preston laughed, nearly spitting out his drink in the process.

“Whatever you say, Chuck, whatever you say.. Hey, now where's your girl at, anyways? Did she hear back from UNO?” Immediately this caused Chuck to spazz, gushing about how she was so excited to get in, and he had to go find her right now. Preston turned back to Shelby, took another drink, and grinned, laughing as he told her, “He'll forget we were here once he finds her. He's crazy about that girl.."

[The Phantom of Paris]

Shelby Wright

They just told me to be home at a decent hour, try not to wake up Chloe when I get in, stuff like that." She could feel his eyes on her as they walked, brimming over with questions that thankfully, he had the tact not to ask. Shelby was in no mood to drag up all her issues with her family that had arisen since the fire. She still adored her baby half-sister, but...the fire had complicated things. Staying with Ilaria's brother and his family was getting out of control. She was sick of sleeping on a cot in Grace's room. She was sick of crowding eight people, three of which were below the age of ten, into one tiny little house. She was sick of the extra chores, sick of doing dishes every night, sick of never having a single moment to herself. Some nights it was all she could do not to just run out the door and stay with Cassie--the thought of sneaking out into Preston's house had even crossed her mind once or twice. But that wasn't the only thing that got to her these days...she hated the fact that, no matter what she did, there was always something to distract her father and stepmom from the fact that sometimes she wanted them to worry about her, too.

“And are you okay with that?”

Shelby gave a shrug, not wanting to answer honestly. The truth was she wasn't, but she didn't know whether telling him that now would be the best idea--she definitely knew it wouldn't make a bit of difference. Not being okay with the way she was being neglected yet again wouldn't change anything. Her father's house had burned down. Her mother was in jail for driving while intoxicated. Her home life, once again, was crumbling. These were the facts.

"I guess in a way it's a good thing, right?" she finally voiced. "It shows that they trust us, for what it's worth."

They stepped inside the little house and were immediately bombarded by the sights and sounds of the party--kids talking over each other, loud club music playing from a stereo, and a drunken kid falling down the stairs, laughing as if it was the most hilarious thing in the world. Shelby raised her eyebrows at him, her face a mask of disapproval and alarm as she shot Preston a look. He gave the drunk moron a gentle kick before leading Shelby away. Good riddance. “Timothy Gale..." Preston said by way of explanation. "Always a little too ambitious. He gets started too early and then misses the second half of the party. Hahaha..."

Oh yeah. Hilarious.She looked back once at the kid, still sprawled in a heap at the foot of the stairs. "Charming," she remarked.

"You hungry? Thirsty? There's cheese here..Never eat out of a community bowl of chips, Ed.” She chuckled at the recent nickname, rolling her eyes as she watched him reach for a still-unopened bag. She took it with a smile and ripped it open, popping a few into her mouth before offering the bag to him.“You might as well lick the nearest toilet bowl.” He smiled at her, and held out the bag for her to take, “And here, that is ki-i-ind of a big deal. Haha..”

Shelby looked around for some sort of beverage that wouldn't lead her to make mistakes she would regret for the next thirty years, but, as she had feared, there wasn't a lot of selection. Finally, she found a still-untouched six-pack of Diet Coke and got one out, opening it and taking a big sip of the fizzy drink.

”Hey, Brailsfo-o-ord! We were pretty hot out there tonight, eh? Smoking the floor with our skeelz!” She gave another roll of her eyes at the sound of one of Preston's teammates trying to be cool. I will never understand the mentality of high school athletes, I swear. She turned back to her boyfriend, a smile on her face as she prepared herself to be introduced to another dorky jock who wouldn't remember her name after five minutes, when she froze, her sea-green gaze locked onto the drink in Preston's hand.

It was a beer.

She bit down on the inside of her cheek to keep herself from calling him out right there. Was he serious? Drinking at a high school party was stupid enough, but had he forgotten how anti-alcohol Shelby had become lately? Sure, she wasn't one of those kids who volunteered on the weekends to give talks about staying "above the influence," or whatever, but...she just didn't approve of it anymore. It was disgusting and stupid and could lead to so many different ways of permanently screwing up your life. So what possible excuse could Preston have for drinking?

“Well, what can you say? Hey, Peters, I'd like to introduce you to my girlfriend Shelby." His arm came around her waist again, anchoring her to him as if she were a trophy or an accessory instead of a human being. “Shel, this is Chuck Peters, the life-slash-host of the party and - usually - the end of it. And he thinks because he's got a tan that he's gangsta, but at heart he's just a wussy ol' white boy like me.” Shelby gave a smile and a little wave, about to say hello when 'Peters' interrupted her.

“Dude, you cain't deny dis!” came the wannabe-gangster reply, accompanied by a flex of his arms and general stupidity from the entire crowd, who seemed to think the whole thing was funnier than an episode of Saturday Night Live. Even Shelby had to chuckle when Preston practically choked on his drink before she remembered she was supposed to be upset with him.

“Whatever you say, Chuck, whatever you say.. Hey, now where's your girl at, anyways? Did she hear back from UNO?” At this, Chuck launched into a tirade about his girlfriend, UNO, and other things that Shelby didn't really pay much attention to before vanishing into the growing crowd. Shelby shook her head. "Someone's still got an adrenaline rush from the game."

And maybe a rush of some other things, too.

“He'll forget we were here once he finds her. He's crazy about that girl.." Preston brought his drink to his lips again, and Shelby forced herself to look anywhere else but at the offending can. "Yeah..." she said softly, taking a pointed sip of her soda. She forced her face to relax a bit, not wanting to yell at him in front of the entire party and hoping that just maybe, changing the subject would make him forget about the idiotic mistake he was making by drinking. "Hey, what about you? We haven't really talked about it, but have you thought about college yet at all? You are a senior, after all..."

[Elda Forever]

Preston Brailsford

Chuck didn't take much to get distracted, and when he'd raced off to find his beloved girlfriend, Preston gave a little chuckle, looking over to see Shelby shaking her head in disbelief. He was once again reminded of how different parties had been their whole lives. Shelby was probably used to expensive food and wine, not toilet-potato-chip-bowls and cheap cans of soft drinks. "Someone's still got an adrenaline rush from the game."

“He'll forget we were here once he finds her. He's crazy about that girl.." Preston took another drink, wondering if he did the same about Shelby. He was pretty crazy about her, too. But he didn't want to cheapen her by throwing her in other people's faces, either. Shelby wasn't that kind of girl..

"Yeah..." she said softly, before taking a drink herself. "Hey, what about you? We haven't really talked about it, but have you thought about college yet at all? You are a senior, after all..."

“Hmm? College?” Preston turned, collecting some of the cheese slices that were laid out so he didn't have to look her in the eyes. “I haven't thought too much about it...I still have time, after all. I'll probably just end up going to UNO or something...” He paused, preoccupying himself by bending the cheese as many times as possible and adding quietly, “Though I guess it would be better if I go a bit farther away...” He ate his cheese offering her a smile. “What about you? You're going to find a fabulous film school, right? So you can hone your fabulous talents?”

[The Phantom of Paris]

Shelby Wright

"Hey, what about you?" she asked, desperately trying to keep her boyfriend's mind off the can of mistakes he was currently holding. She had been putting off talking about college with him for a while now, the deadline of his graduation in May hanging over her head like a ticking time bomb. Shelby didn't want to admit how much she was dreading the end of this school year, when Preston would go off and enter the real world, and she'd become a senior, one year away from doing the same thing herself. So she'd pushed her anxieties about the future into the back of her mind, burying it under school work and basketball games and time with her family and kisses, using her everyday life to make her forget about what lay ahead. Now, though, it seemed like it was now or never if she wanted to keep him engaged enough in conversation to forget about the beer in his hand.

"We haven't really talked about it, but have you thought about college yet at all?" she continued, looking up at him. "You are a senior, after all..."

Maybe it was her imagination, but she didn't like the way Preston seemed to shirk away from her, the words of her question hanging in the air. “Hmm? College?”

Shelby chuckled slightly. "Yeah, you know, that institution of higher knowledge you go to after high school to learn some sort of skills that you'll later use in the real world?"

“I haven't thought too much about it...I still have time, after all."

Shelby frowned, watching as Preston industriously avoided her eyes. "You don't have a ton of time," she reminded him gently. "It's February of your senior year."

"I'll probably just end up going to UNO or something...” Shelby gave a little nod, her frown softening. "There's nothing wrong with that," she said. "Cassie goes there..."

He paused, preoccupying himself by bending the cheese as many times as possible and adding quietly, “Though I guess it would be better if I go a bit farther away...What about you? You're going to find a fabulous film school, right? So you can hone your fabulous talents?”

She blinked at him in surprise, looking down shyly. "I wouldn't say fabulous..." she began, "And I still have some time yet. I'm only a junior and most people start applying August and September of their junior year. But I'm considering a few places...Tulane would be nice, since it's in the city and still close to home in case they need me to help with the baby or whatever, and I liked the vibe I got when I visited, but I don't know if they have the kind of program I'm looking for. And, um..." she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear as she looked up at him again. "I actually have an interview scheduled soon for this other school that has a fantastic film program. I haven't visited it yet, they're coming to meet me, and the interview's just a preliminary thing, to show them some of my work and ask them questions about their program--just let them get to know me a little, you know? It's a really good school, from what I've seen. It's called Columbia College...It's in Chicago."

[Elda Forever]

Preston Brailsford

“I haven't thought too much about it...I still have time, after all,” he said nonchalantly, not looking her way.

"You don't have a ton of time," she told him gently. "It's February of your senior year."

He gave a shrug, taking a chance to glance over at her and seeing the disappointed look on her face. "I'll probably just end up going to UNO or something...”

Shelby gave a little nod, looking as though she would at least deal with that decision. "There's nothing wrong with that, Cassie goes there..."

His focus fell onto playing with a slice of cheese he had, hesitant before he added, “Though I guess it would be better if I go a bit farther away...What about you? You're going to find a fabulous film school, right? So you can hone your fabulous talents?”

She blinked at him in surprise, looking down shyly. "I wouldn't say fabulous... And I still have some time yet. I'm only a junior and most people start applying August and September of their junior year. But I'm considering a few places...Tulane would be nice, since it's in the city and still close to home in case they need me to help with the baby or whatever, and I liked the vibe I got when I visited, but I don't know if they have the kind of program I'm looking for. And, um..." she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear as she looked up at him again. And what? He wasn't disappointed in her answers so far, not a doubt in his mind that she could get into any school she was considering. That she would get into a fabulous school and do a wonderful job at whatever she wanted to do, with the freedom to choose and the money to get there and the drive to succeed.

"I actually have an interview scheduled soon for this other school that has a fantastic film program. I haven't visited it yet, they're coming to meet me, and the interview's just a preliminary thing, to show them some of my work and ask them questions about their program--just let them get to know me a little, you know? It's a really good school, from what I've seen. It's called Columbia College...It's in Chicago."

He didn't comment on that, his face cool and composed, though inside he felt like someone had just given his lungs a good squeeze with both hands. The sheer idea of the distance made him feel like she was giving him one of those painful ultimatums. But he just lifted both eyebrows as though interested, letting out a happy, “Hmm?” as he took another drink, setting the can on the table as he took a step away from it, not quite facing her but looking her way, his hands in his pockets as he cleared his throat heavily. “It sounds like a really great place for you to be, Shel..And they're coming to see you from Chicago? Wow..that's pretty fantastic! I bet once they see your stuff they'll just be wowed.” He leaned forward and gave her cheek a kiss, smiling at her.