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“I can’t believe we pulled it off!” Tyquan ran up and hugged Hailey.

We sure did!

“Seriously! It was amazing!” Tyquan continued. Andy and Emilio joined in, wrapping her up before JT embraced the entire group.

“You were a star, Hailey!” Tyquan pulled away and winked. “And I would know what it’s like to be a star.”

“Boys!” she shouted, unable to hold back the tears in her eyes. “You were amazing, too! I am so proud of all of you.”

My boys were fantastic!

“Thanks for everything, Hailey.” JT hugged her again. The others were now engaged in a round of high fives and fist bumps. “You really were amazing, and you look so beautiful in that dress.”

Aww, JT!

Her face was getting hot, and she smoothed the golden gown draped over her body.

The flowing satin dress that she now wore had initially intimidated her. It was meant for a princess, and Hailey had never felt like one. However, the moment Gunner’s deep green eyes had locked on her when she walked out for the dance, she knew she belonged in it.

“Hailey!” Juliana’s voice broke in behind her. “You were stunning, amazing, wonderful!”

A chorus of giggling laughter erupted as Hailey twirled around. Brad and Bridgette joined her best friend, and the trio sprinted toward her.

“Bridgette.” Hailey jumped over and hugged her. “Your voice is amazing, and you were so wonderful tonight!”

Bridgette blushed, a tear in her eye as she hugged Hailey back.

“Coming from you, Hailey, that means the world.”

Brad grabbed them both and screamed. “It was so wonderful!”

So wonderful.

Hailey could not help but beam as she looked at the group. Eight months ago, she had been an outcast with no friends. Her world had appeared to be crumbling, and she had consistently felt a heavy sadness that she could do nothing about.

Now, as they all stood together in the hallway, which would soon be overrun with spectators, she could not help but feel a new, bittersweet sadness.

I am going to miss this so much.

Bridgette and Brad would be going to college an hour north of South Mountain. While Hailey had never heard of the school, she was sure the decision had something to do with Emilio playing football up that way next year. Andy and Juliana, who were currently rubbing noses while Emilio rolled his eyes, would be off to Pittsburgh, and Hailey was already excited to go visit and see a brand-new city. JT, who was slapping hands with Tyquan, had settled on NYU. Hailey was over the moon that he would be majoring in theatre when he arrived .

Tyquan, meanwhile, would be on his way to State College, and Hailey already had plans to be at every game he played in the large stadium that awaited him.

“Everyone!” Ms. Summers stood, arms outstretched, in the middle of the hallway. “We need to head to the main entrance of the auditorium so you can walk in for your curtain calls. Remember, you will head right to the stage and prepare for the last dance! A little surprise for our fans!”

One last dance.

“Hailey.” Ms. Summers pulled her aside. “Thank you for all you have done. For me, and, well, for all of us.” Her hug was full of warmth. “This truly was a magical night.”

Absolutely magical.

Hailey gave a final squeeze. Her teacher headed for the door that would lead them down the center of the auditorium.

“Hailey!” She felt her body lurch forward from an impact.

Peyton!

“Hailey, you look so beautiful in that dress, and you were amazing out on that stage!” Peyton’s eyes shimmered in the light of the hallway. “The dance…I cried the entire time.”

Oh, Peyton.

She grabbed the young girl and held her in a long embrace.

Peyton had become like another sister to her over the last few months. But the fact that she had convinced Melissa to help with the cheerleading team next year was the real reason why Hailey squeezed even tighter before letting go.

“You girls were amazing!” Hailey waved to the other cheerleaders, who were skipping up the hallway. “I am so glad you joined this year.”

“We wouldn’t have, if not for you. But I am so glad we did. It was so much fun! Thanks, Hailey!” Peyton took a second to giggle with her friends before she peeked back at the end of the hallway. “He, umm, he’s already at the main entrance.” Peyton leaned in close and whispered. “I think he’s waiting for you.”

Gunner.

The young cheerleaders immediately ran to join the other cast members by the door.

Right.

Hailey took a deep breath, steadying herself before beginning her walk to meet her co-star.

I wonder…

She found him just around the corner, standing by the trophy case.

Gunner.

She was struck again by how handsome he was in his blue tuxedo coat, the yellow lining contrasting brilliantly with the white shirt underneath.

“Hey,” she said softly to his back, “you thinking about the game?”

He jumped, and she heard him exhale. The runner-up trophy was front and center.

The last play of that game felt like it took an hour, and Hailey could still see the boys lying on the field in defeat. The image of the other team celebrating next to them had replayed in her head the entire drive home.

However, in time, it had faded. What remained was the image of her father and Gunner---the way they embraced tightly after the play, the way they seemed frozen, immune to the worries of those around them. It was a moment that she would never forget. She knew that whenever she was going through a tough time, that image would help her. She knew she would hold on to it for the rest of her life.

“Actually…” He turned.

He’s smiling!

“I wasn’t.”

She finally realized what he was really staring at. It was the picture of his father, the one he had been looking at all those months ago.

Oh, that smile, Gunner.

When his green eyes locked on her, she saw the strength that had pulled her in from the beginning.

“I was thinking about how happy he must be right now.”

He grabbed her hands, and the familiar butterflies began to flutter.

“He would have been so proud of you,” she whispered as they came close. “You were fantastic out there.”

The rustling of the other cast members was a mere backdrop. All she could focus on was Gunner’s face. His eyes held her still. He came even closer, cupping her face and putting his lips against hers.

I love this.

As he gripped her tighter, she felt her body weaken and fall into his arms.

“I held back a little on the stage. I hope that’s alright.”

She giggled and pulled him right up against her.

“I love you, Hailey.” The words floated from his mouth, melting her even more deeply into his arms. “You saved me. ”

He held her as if she might run away.

No, you saved me.

She grabbed his neck and pressed her forehead against his. Even now, after all these months together, she could not contain her emotions when they were this close.

“I love you too, Gunner.” His shoulders relaxed underneath her arms. “I would not pick anyone else to have this last dance with me.”

He smiled wide and picked her up, spinning her around as they laughed together.

“Hey! My two stars!” Ms. Summers yelled from around the corner. “It’s time. It’s time for your moment!”

Gunner slowly set her down, the bottom of her gown settling on the linoleum floor.

“You ready?” she asked softly as they made their way to the entrance.

“Yes.” He grabbed her hand. The two came to a stop just as the doors swung open in front of them.

The lights were directed right at where they would step in. The applause and music hit her before they even began to walk. While it was dimly lit, she could see all the faces from around town. Tony, his big Italian smile bright as he clapped hard. Todd and the Chen family, beaming. His daughter’s mouth hanging open. She found Gunner’s mom, who was wiping her eyes with the warmest look on her face. Finally, she saw her father and sister, who were smiling ear to ear. They had tears in their eyes, but this time, they were not from sadness or defeat. These were tears of joy, and as Hailey blinked, she felt one of her own roll down her cheek.

I am ready.

She looked up at Gunner, who had once chased her up to these very double doors. The same boy who had made her run through them crying, the same boy who had made her hate everything about this town.

Yet now, as she held his hand and stared at him, she saw the young man that she had begun to care for so much, the strong and caring young man that she was ready to take on the next chapter of her life with.

Moving to State College together would be tough; they would have good times and bad. Life was not a fairytale, and it did not end at the final dance. However, as the song began to play and the light moved with them, she knew. She knew that no matter what came their way, they would do it as one. It had started as a childish game, but they had found a strength together that neither knew they had.

“Let’s go have our moment.” He smiled and squeezed her hand, slowly leading her into the applause as her favorite song played on.