Like every year, Mr. Washington had allowed students to leave high school after their lunch break, canceling the afternoon's cultural and sporting activities. Still, a few hands were busy around the gym. A man supervised the unloading of a truck parked in front of the entrance, as many people in overalls swarmed inside, making endless trips back and forth between the back of the truck and the gymnasium.

As the spectacle set in, Mr. Washington could see it from his desk, a cup of coffee in his hand. The first week of class had been over a few hours ago, but he still hadn't finished his day. Despite the passing years, the evening that was brewing before his eyes was always a special moment for him. He had fond memories of the back-to-school balls he had attended as a teenager, and wished that the enchantment that surrounded this moment bringing together the whole high school would be present every year. All the more so for foreign students who were only passing through for one year, and who therefore had to be impressed.

* * *

As the day slowly began to wane, Thomas rose from his desk chair, then put away pen and notebook. He had just finished his homework and could now fully enjoy his first weekend off. Still, he was stressed out about what to expect tonight. Even though he had rubbed shoulders with a large number of high school students during that first week, from near or far, he was aware that tonight would be very different from the daily routine to which he was gradually starting to get used to. Tonight was the homecoming ball, also known as the homecoming ball, and it was certainly one of the most awaited moments of his schooling. For Junior Year students like him, it was the chance to attend a grandiose high school party, but for Thomas it was more than that. It was a way to touch his American dream a little more, to enjoy an evening that he had seen many through films. The only one, the end-of-year prom being reserved for final year students, the Senior Year.

Thomas opened his closet, and took out the outfit he had brought especially for the occasion. He grabbed a blue suit jacket, a white shirt with a bow tie, and pants the same blue as the jacket, and laid them all on his bed. At the same time, Tracy walked up the stairs and then entered Alicia's room. The latter, on the doorstep, spoke to Thomas.

— You have the whole bathroom to yourself, I've been there before.

Thomas thanked her and, as Alicia closed her bedroom door, opened the bathroom door, which he then turned the latch. He took a shower, brushed his teeth, then returned to his bedroom to change, where he would be most comfortable. He pulled on his pants, put on a belt, buttoned his shirt, and hung his jacket over his desk chair. He then walked back to the bathroom. He pulled a pot of styling paste from one of the drawers under his sink and opened it, then took a dab of the paste, warmed it in the palms of his hands, and brushed his hair with a few strokes. He then sprinkled the back of his neck and wrists with perfume and returned to his room. On the way, he heard a noise in Alicia's room, not knowing that it was the cause of the commotion. When he got to his room, he grabbed his untied bow tie and jacket and pulled it on as he walked down the stairs.

Sitting on the couch watching TV, James turned around at the sound of the stairs.

— Ready ? he asked Thomas

— Yes, but a little stressed, Thomas stammered lightly.

— Don't worry, you'll see it's gonna be great.

Tracy came out of Alicia's room and joined in the conversation.

— Alicia won't be very long.

— Ah women, James laughed.

She walked down the stairs and moved closer to Thomas.

— Oh, you are very elegant, she observed. But let me do this bow tie.

— I don't mind, he replied. Thank you.

As Tracy arranged a few final details on her shirt collar, a door sound was heard again upstairs. The slight creaking of the steps caught the attention of Thomas, James and Tracy who stared at the stairs. As Alicia descended, the flaps of a black dress appeared, floating above slightly visible ankles. Thomas was surprised to see his friend, whom he almost considered his sister, dressed in this fashion. She, who was quite used to wearing jeans and the burgundy red high school bomber jacket, looked resplendent in this outfit. Thomas took a few moments to observe him closely. The dress was quite loose, but tightened at the waist, with a wide strap and a low neckline.

— You are very pretty, assured Thomas.

— Thank you, she smiled. You're not bad either.

As Alicia looked away from Thomas, visibly troubled by the compliment she had just received, James reached for the car keys on the dining room table.

— By car, he exclaimed.

The whole family walked to the garage, where the 4x4 was waiting. Thomas opened one of the back doors and held it to gallantly let Alicia settle inside. Thomas' slightly ceremonial outfit made him grow wings, he felt confident dressed in that way. So much so that the fear he had felt a few minutes before was gradually fading. All that was left in his head was the excitement of a good night ahead.

Within minutes of leaving the house, Tracy, sitting in the front passenger seat, turned to the two teenagers in the back.

— I have a little something for you, she announced with a big smile. You should like it.

She then took out of her bag two small wooden boxes, of different sizes. She handed the small box to Thomas and the larger one to Alicia.

— Go ahead, open it, she indicated, quite happy with the surprise she had just made.

Thomas then lifted the lid of the box and saw a small buttonhole inside. He took it in hand and then glanced at Alicia, who opened her box at the same time. She took out a fabric bracelet adorned with a few flowers, the same one that decorated the buttonhole he had in his hand, a small begonia.

— Well, I know we do this for lovers more, Tracy continued. But this is your first time going to a party, Alicia, so with your dad we figured it was just circumstance.

— Thank you, replied Alicia, embarrassed.

— Thank you, adds Thomas, also embarrassed by this attention.

After a few seconds of hesitation, where a leaden silence settled in the car, Tracy made a remark, taken aback.

— So what are you waiting for?

The silence once broken, Alicia and Thomas bustled about adding this surprise gift to their outfit. Alicia slipped on her bracelet while Thomas adjusted the buttonhole to her jacket, not without difficulty.

— That's not really how it was supposed to be, but either.

Tracy then turned her head to look ahead. Approaching a large, illuminated building, the hitherto very silent James added enthusiastically:

— Here we are!