I leaned across the car and pushed his door open. “Come on,” I said. “You’ll see.”
We both hopped out of the car, and right on time for once in his life, Mars steered his truck into the lot. He rolled across the pavement, then turned a slow circle around Clark and me before he parked and jumped out, the lights still shining across the night.
“Oh wow,” Clark gasped on seeing him.
“Wow is right,” I growled.
Mars stuck his hands in his pockets and strolled our way. He was wearing an old blue suit, with a light checkered pattern and a skinny purple tie that somehow matched perfectly. His hair was slicked back, and he had a small box in his hands.
It was funny. The suit was too short, riding up above his ankles and his wrists, and the tie was awkwardly swinging back and forth. But somehow, he had never looked so handsome.
“A king and a prince,” Mars said, opening the box. “What more could a guy want?”
Clark turned to me with a funny look on his face, then back to Mars. “Okay, now I’m really confused.”
Mars pulled a small purple flower out of the box, with tiny white flowers gathered at its base, then stepped forward. “Clarkle,” he said. “Will you go to the prom with us?”
“The prom?”
“The North Hill Convention Center,” I said, gesturing to the building. “It’s where our high school prom would have been, if you and I had stuck around.”
Clark’s mouth dropped open. He looked between Mars and me a few times, and then Mars reached out, pinning the flower to Clark’s sweater, right beside my primrose.
“What do you think?” I said. “It’s not the same as actually going to prom—”
“Or attending high school,” Mars pointed out.
I turned my hands up, hoping the date would land right. “But we thought later was better than never. Maybe even replace a shitty memory with a decent one?”
Clark turned in a slow circle, looking across the abandoned parking lot, over the wooded hills, and then up to the moon and the night sky. When he finally turned back to us, he had a dreamy, distant look on his face. “It’s perfect,” he said softly.
A thrill shot up my spine. I wanted to pump my fist in the air, I was so happy to have read the situation right and actually done something that pleased both Mars and Clark. “Fucking perfect,” I agreed. “You ready for a dance?”
“A dance?” Clark asked.
“I know there’s not a band, or a photo booth, or a punch bowl for Mars to spike, but we can still have a little prom fun.” I leaned back into the car, then flipped the keys that I had left in the ignition. “We even figured out the perfect song.”
“Wait!” Mars interrupted. “We’re not ready yet!”
I turned back, uncertain what we could have missed, and watched as Mars pulled a second flower from the box in his hands. “I can’t go pinning a flower on only one of my dates,” he teased. “What will the other students say in school on Monday?”
I grinned, then straightened my back and pulled aside my jacket so Mars could pin the flower to my shirt. “Thanks, babe,” I said, brushing a kiss across his lips. “Those cheerleaders are going to be jealous.”
Mars leaned into my car and began to fiddle with the stereo, and I turned back to Clark. He was toeing the pavement with a big smile on his face and looking as adorable and delicious as ever.
“Where would I be without you?” I said quietly.
Clark blinked a few times and tilted his head to the side. “Still spinning around the sun, I guess,” he said, just as softly.
With a squeal, the stereo kicked on in my car, and Mars popped back out. Guitar strumming hummed across the parking lot, and the familiar riffs and chords sang through the night until an electric guitar and cymbals crashed in. Mars jumped into position, then pumped his fist in the air. “There’s nothing left to do tonight but go crazy on you!” he sang out. “Crazy on you, let me go crazy!”
Clark erupted in hysterical laughter, then pumped his fist in the air. “Crazy on you!” he sang along.
It was just like when we all danced together in the apartment. The rest of the world disappeared, and the song washed over us. I bounced my head back and forth, grinding my hips and thrusting my fist out while Mars and Clark threw their arms around each other, screaming the lyrics toward the moon.
I panted and laughed, trying to sing along even when Mars leapt into my arms and Clark threw his arms around my side. The song got louder and faster, and the guitar screeched while the singer howled. All three of us wrapped our arms around each other, jumping around and singing, pounding our feet and dripping sweat.
So much better than any fucking prom could have been.
The song ended, and we all fell against my car, sucking in night air to catch our breath. Mars curled up against my chest, and when Clark joined him, they kissed, pressed up tight against me. I stroked the back of Clark’s head and felt the thrill of their embrace, warming my body.
“Another song?” I asked when the moment passed.
Clark placed his hands on my chest, then made a soft purring sound I hadn’t heard before. “Maybe,” he said. “But maybe I’m ready for what comes next?”
“Oh yeah?” Mars asked, growling the words.
Clark bit down on his lip. “After-prom party?”
