Chapter Text
Prom. In a school as completely dysfunctional as Paper School, Prom night could mean literally anything to anyone. To Edward and his fellow bullies, it was often a night where everyone would fall victims to their cruel pranks and tricks. Edward has been counting down the days since the beginning of the month...
Unfortunately, it seemed fate had different plans this year. As it turned out, Oliver, the eldest of the bullies (and the sole "student" that wasn't actually a student) was actually planning on unironically attending prom with the eldritch monstrosity that haunts this school and happens to be his girlfriend. Great. Well, at least Zip would still be around to- nevermind, scratch that, she's caught a pretty bad flu. She'd have to stay home for at least a week... And miss out on Prom night.
... So this is a solo mission for Edward. He has to ruin Prom for everyone else... By himself... And also likely avoid ruining it for Oliver and Alice, considering how dangerous Alice gets when she's mad. There was hurdles upon hurdles for Edward to go over... Maybe he could at least ask Oliver for advice... Yeah, Edward will go and do that.
Monday, May 12th, 11:00 AM
Lunchroom
Oliver lounged around the lunch table, going through posts on some social media app. Lunch was... Uneventful right now, and Oliver really itched to do something fun... Maybe he should give his princess a visit, or...
Oliver's thoughts are interrupted by the appearance of Edward, his lunch tray landing on the circular table with a clink. Oliver gave that shit-eating grin he always gave to everyone whenever they seemed troubled. "Something on your mind, squirt?" Oliver asked, genuinely curious despite his teasing tone.
"... Eh, kinda," Edward said, giving a shrug as though he wasn't understating it. "Prom's coming up soon and with you and Zip out of the picture, I'm not sure how to wreak havoc alone."
"Hmm..." Oliver rubbed the slight stubble on his chin, pretending to think. "... You plan on going to Prom alone, then?"
"... Yeah?"
Oliver snorted, giving Edward a light chuckle before speaking again. "Well, the first issue is that you're going to Prom alone. When they see you, who have wronged many a student before, without anybody to call a partner at fucking prom night, they're gonna eat you alive!"
Edward exhaled, before taking a drink of the chocolate milk from his tray. He hadn't thought about that... "... So you want me to just... Ask someone to prom?"
"Better that than going alone, hm?"
"... Guess so," Edward shrugged. "Who do I even bring, though? Zip is sick, and everyone else likely hates me."
"Ah, relax, Eddy." Oliver munched down on his sandwich, speaking while chewing like a heathen. "All you really gotta consider is how desperately they wanna experience prom and if they already got someone to go with..."
Oliver glanced around the lunch room, before spotting Lizzy and Petunia. "Take those two, for example." He discreetly pointed towards their direction, guiding Edward's gaze to the two popular girls. "They're likely going together, y'know. You can already cross them off the list, considering how close those two are and how they have to attend every fucking event."
"... Whaddya telling me this for, exactly?" Edward tilted his head, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm saying... Hold on..." Oliver paused to swallow his food, before continuing to speak. "As I was saying, you don't have to like who you're going with... And they don't have to like you either. They just have to be desperate enough for a date and willing to go with you.
"It's all about taking that initiative, Eddy. You gotta grab somebody by the reins and let them know you want them for prom. You've got charm, don't you?" Oliver leaned forward, his eyes meeting Edward's. "... Think of anyone desperate enough for a date to prom. Anyone at all."
Edward pauses, taking another sip of his chocolate milk. Realistically speaking, who could he score a prom night with? Who'd be desperate enough for a date? His first thoughts went to Riley... But then he saw the potholes and hurdles. Riley was obsessively into Oliver, and considering he was already going with Alice, Riley was likely just not going to attend at all, instead opting to wallow in her room or something... Whatever the case, Riley was out of the question.
His second guess was Ruby. She was a robot that wanted to learn human things, he was a decent mechanic and a... Moderately okay partner, they could probably score it out... But then he recalled her friend group. Sure, Riley was, once again, out of the picture, but she still had Skell as an option, alongside any other pals she hung out with, like Kevin or... Something. Either way, Edward was likely a last choice for Ruby, especially with his bullying history. She wasn't the ideal target for an invitation.
Edward needed someone desperate. Someone who needed anyone to come to prom with, even if it was him... Even if he was one of the relentless bullies.
... Abbie.
Abbie was a solid choice, Edward admits. Even as a prime target of the bully trio's antics, he had a bad habit of falling for anyone with a good-looking face. Edward liked to imagine he looked good, so he had that going for him... Another factor in his favor lied in the rest of his friend group. Lana and Bubble are... Probably not coming to prom. Lana wasn't exactly one for huge events like this and Bubble would probably be too anxious. There's also Engel and Claire, but they were definitely coming as a duo together, and that left Abbie alone, a lovesick, desperate thing that would want to experience the event that is prom night.
"... You think Abbie would be against going to Prom?" Edward asks. He could see Oliver's smile growing wider.
"Hmm... You've got a good shot with that idiot." Oliver snickered. "... Ain't you both dudes, though? Would you be fine with the attention that gives?"
"... W-We could be going as a platonic thing, like Lizzy and Petunia or whatever!"
"..."
"..."
"... Like Lizzy and Petunia?"
"... Okay, bad example... Like, uh... Kevin and Cubbie or something." Edward scoffed, taking yet another sip of his chocolate milk, before crushing the carton in his hand.
"... Well, better than your last example." Oliver chuckled, leaning back around the chair he sat on. "Well, homosexuality aside, you're onto something with that guy. I think he's your best bet to making yourself not seem like a loser at prom."
"... Yeah, yeah, thanks, jackass."
Oliver laughed a wheezy laugh. "You're welcome, Eddy. Lemme know if you need anything else."
Monday, May 12th, 6:30 AM
Earlier Today, at the House in the Forest
Aiden was out back of the house, chopping wood with her trusty axe. She had really good hearing, and she could hear her younger brother from inside the wooden house walk down the stairs. She was used to hearing it by now after a few years, after she took in Abbie when their father had disappeared.
She decided to stop working for now, and go back inside to greet Abbie. When she came in through the backdoor, she spotted Abbie sitting at the kitchen table, eating a bowl of cereal. "Good morning," She spoke, monotonous as ever.
"... Morning..." Abbie replied weakly. He seemed... Nervous. Aiden caught onto it.
"Are you alright?"
"... Yeah."
Aiden squinted at Abbie. She knew him better than that.
"... Okay, kind of..." Abbie looked to the side as he took a bite of the cinnamon toast crunch. "I'm just... P-prom is coming up."
"Prom?"
"... Yeah, prom, it's... Coming in a week..."
Aiden paused, before sitting down on the chair next to Abbie's with a thump. Even when sitting, Aiden's height was oddly intimidating, even with her lack of malice in this moment. "Explain prom to me."
Abbie's cheeks flushed a light pink. "... W-Well, prom is an event at school that you go to with a partner, and... Uh... Dance..."
"... Hm." Aiden paused once again. Aiden never really was one for romance, but she knew Abbie was a bit of a lovesick teen. She recalled him talking about his friends a little longer than necessary and how comparatively happy he was when he waved at students who recognized him at that one parent-teacher conference she went to.
... So what should she say?
"... Do you plan to go?" Aiden already knew the answer, but it never hurts to ask.
"... Yeah..." Abbie seemed a bit flustered at his own answer.
"Who do you plan on going with?"
"... I don't know."
"... Any contenders?"
"... Well, either they're already taken or they're not going either way..."
"I see." Aiden reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a half-empty pack of cigarettes and a lighter. She lit one of them up and put one between her lips. "... Do you know anybody who'd be willing to go with you?"
"I-I can't just ask somebody to go to prom with me!"
"You can." Aiden looked directly at Abbie, leaning forward as she spoke more. "You want to go to this 'prom', yes?"
Abbie paused, his eyes widened marginally at the intimidating closeness. "... Y-Yes...?"
"And you want to bring someone to prom, yes?"
"... Yes."
"Then you need to be more confident." Aiden turned away for a moment to blow smoke, before turning to Abbie again. "Let your potential partner know exactly who you are. Let them see you for who you are."
"... And what if they don't like it...?"
"Then you find someone who does. You have friends who like you for who you are, what's stopping your potential partners from liking you?"
Abbie glanced to the side. "... A-Alright... I'll try to be confident."
"You will be confident. I know that." Aiden doesn't smile a lot, but Abbie felt as though she would've done so if she did. At least a small tug on the lips. "... Get ready for school. You leave in twenty minutes."
"Y-yes, Aiden!" Abbie hastened his cereal-eating process to the point where he almost choked.