my prized possession

CHAPTER 14

We stayed quiet in the car for a while—neither of us could speak. It was Jackson who finally broke the silence.

“You look... beautiful,” he said, his voice soft, almost like he’d been holding it in.

I smiled shyly. “Thank you. But… Annabella was supposed to pick me up.”

He chuckled a little and nodded. “Yeah. She knew about this.”

I blinked in surprise. “She knew?”

He saw the confusion all over my face and quickly added, “Don’t be mad at her. I asked her not to tell you. I wanted it to be a surprise.”

I looked down and nodded slowly, still trying to process everything. Then another thought hit me hard.

“But… you were supposed to be in London,” I said. “What are you doing here?”

He leaned slightly toward me, his eyes locked with mine. “I couldn’t miss prom. It’s not just a girl’s dream, you know—it’s a guy’s dream too. And this…” he paused, taking a breath, “this was my chance to take you on a real date—even if it’s just prom.”

My heart twisted with mixed emotions. I didn’t know what to think. Part of me still remembered the way he once wanted to keep me in the shadows, just someone to kiss in the dark, a secret. And now he was here, dressed up, holding flowers, showing up in front of everyone.

What did he really want?

Was Annabella really okay with all this?

She had a lot to explain.

The car slowed and came to a stop in front of the school. I had never seen it this beautiful. Twinkling lights lined the entrance, a deep red carpet stretched from the sidewalk to the main doors, and students arrived in sleek tuxedos and glittering gowns.

Jackson stepped out first, then walked around and opened the door for me like some prince from a storybook. He stretched out his hand, and I placed mine in his. It felt warm, sure.

Hand in hand, we walked into the hall.

And just like that—everything stopped.

Heads turned.

Voices whispered.

Eyes followed.

Confused looks, dropped jaws, even a few envious stares.

But I didn’t care.

Because for once in my life, I wasn’t the invisible girl anymore. I wasn’t the background character or the girl people giggled about behind her back. I was here, with him—and this moment was mine.

The hall was stunning, decorated in soft golds, silvers, and deep blues. Balloons floated near the ceiling, and fairy lights wrapped around the walls, giving everything a soft, dreamy glow. Music played, laughter echoed, and memories were being made all around.

Jackson looked at me and smiled. “Are you ready?”

I nodded.

Because yes—ready or not, this was happening.

And I wasn’t going to let anything ruin it.

The music started playing, slow and romantic. Jackson turned to me and offered his hand. “May I have this dance?”

I nodded and slipped my hand into his. He led me to the dance floor where other couples swayed gently to the rhythm. The lights dimmed, and the soft glow from the fairy lights overhead gave the whole hall a magical feel. We moved slowly, his hand resting gently on my back, our steps in quiet sync.

I glanced around, searching for Annabella. I spotted her across the room, already dancing with someone and smiling brightly at me. She gave me a little nod—as if to say I told you so.

Then Jackson spoke.

“I want this.”

I blinked. “Want what?”

“This,” he said quietly, his eyes locked on mine. “This peace I feel with you. I want you.”

I wasn’t sure whether to smile, cry, or laugh out loud. My chest tightened with emotions I hadn’t even named yet. I just let him keep talking.

“I’ve missed you. So much,” he continued. “Your soft smile. That face you make when you’re confused. How you tap your fingers on the table when you're nervous… I missed everything about you. And I’m sorry I messed things up. I was stupid.”

I didn’t say anything right away. I let his words settle, sink deep into places I didn’t even know were still hurting. Was this real? Was I dreaming? Or had Jackson taken something that scrambled his brain?

Whatever it was, I didn’t want to ruin the moment. I wanted to feel it—the warmth of being wanted, the rush of being seen.

The song came to an end. He pulled away gently.

“Want a drink?” he asked.

I nodded. “Yes, please.”

As he made his way toward the refreshment table, I slipped off the dance floor and found my way to Annabella. She was grinning like a proud matchmaker.

“You!” I said, half accusing, half laughing. “Why didn’t you tell me what Jackson had planned?”

She shrugged, still smiling. “Because if I told you, you wouldn’t have been this speechless tonight. And that would’ve ruined the surprise.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Were you at my house earlier?”

“Nope,” she said with a giggle. “But I know you. I knew exactly how you’d react.”

“I thought you didn’t like him,” I admitted.

She smiled gently. “Let bygones be bygones. He really does care about you. And he’s sorry. That’s why I agreed to the plan.”

Then, as if the emotional talk was enough, she shifted gears. “By the way, that gown?” she said, dramatically gesturing at me. “You look amazing. And that makeup? Yeah, I know you didn’t do that.”

I laughed. “You’re right. My mom did it. I can barely draw my brows.”

Annabella snorted. “Well, you may not know makeup, but you sure know how to make heads turn.”

We both laughed.

Just then, Jackson returned with my drink. He handed it to me, flashing a soft smile.

“Thanks,” I said, accepting the glass.

Then he turned to Annabella. “Thank you—for giving me this chance.”

She raised a brow and said, half-jokingly, “Treat her right or I’ll haunt you.”

I raised my hand with a smirk. “Hello? I’m still standing right here.”

We all laughed together, and in that moment, I felt something settle inside me.

This night—my night—was going far better than I ever imagined.

The student body president caught everyone’s attention, his voice echoing over the buzzing hall. “And now,” he said, drawing out the suspense, “the Prom King and Queen of the 2025 session are… Annabella Knight and Jackson Cooker!”

The hall erupted in cheers.

I clapped, smiling from ear to ear. My best girl and the guy I liked—it was a perfect combination. Annabella’s eyes lit up as she walked to the stage, laughing in disbelief. Jackson followed her, his usual cool demeanor softened by surprise. The student body president crowned them, and flash after flash lit up the stage as pictures were taken.

The DJ played their song and they moved to the dance floor, laughing and swaying. Other students soon joined in, filling the room with motion and light.

Then, as the song ended, I noticed Jackson leaving the dance floor and walking back to the stage. What was he doing? He whispered something to the DJ, who handed him the microphone.

The crowd quieted.

“I want to make a speech,” Jackson said, his voice smooth but his eyes locked on me.

A hush fell. My heartbeat picked up.

“When I came into this school,” he began, “I was every girl’s dream. I was worshipped like a god—no shame in admitting it. And to be honest, it got to my head.”

There were chuckles from the crowd.

“But even with all the attention, I never really saw anyone… until her. One girl—the girl—stood out. Beautiful. Resilient. Smart. Powerful. Just one look from her, and I almost melted. She doesn’t even know how much control she has over me. Maybe that’s why I messed things up.”

He took a breath.

“I hurt her, and I paid the price by being far away from her. But now I’m back. Vanessa Parker, you are my sunshine in the dark. You may not be the prom queen, but you are my queen. My lifeline. My peace. And I stand here, with no shame, just love. In front of everyone who mocked you… who envied you… I ask—will you be my girlfriend?”

Oh. My. God.

My breath caught. Was this real?

The room was still. Every single person had their eyes on me.

I felt like running.

My palms were sweaty, my head spinning. This was everything I’d once dreamed of. But now, uncertainty whispered inside me. Do I really want this? What about Noah, the person who stirred something new in me?

Annabella rushed to my side. “Relax,” she whispered. “This is your dream.”

She was right.

This was the dream I’d held onto for so long—being Jackson’s girl. I couldn’t let doubt win now. Noah was just a passing infatuation. Jackson… Jackson was the real thing. He had to be.

So I took a deep breath and climbed the stage, my heels clicking against the wood. I looked at him—Jackson Cooke, Prom King, standing there with the whole school watching.

“Yes,” I said, my voice strong, “I’ll be your girlfriend.”

The hall exploded.

Applause, shouts, cheers. The DJ started up a new song, and we danced under the lights. Though I still have doubt in my heart but when Jackson pulled me close and kissed me, and I let him, all the doubt went away.

For that moment, I was exactly where I wanted to be.

This was the best prom ever.