[002] → the one where justin wins • broadway prom (part i)
It was Tommy who encouraged Justin to run. After he, Ryan, and Garett had all gone up for prom queen, they seemed to be so in love with the prospect that they encouraged their non-Newsies friends to do it now. The ironic part this time around was the debate as to whether Justin should run for prom queen or prom king. As good natured as he was, the young man said he was happy to go for either, which of course didn't help the decision making process in any way.
Eventually, they decided on prom queen. That way, he'd be following in the footsteps of the three newsboys, which had been the way this idea started, in the first place. Everyone in the group is so excited that no progress is actually made until they stop chatting about how great it will be when he wins, and start discussing the logistics behind the whole thing.
Obviously, it's not too serious of a process. Still, they're determined to make it great for the fans and themselves. Brielle offers to film it when Adam insists he'll probably drop the camera from laughing too hard (this later proves to be a completely legitimate theory). Sadie's the one who comes up with the idea they all agree upon: a Miss Congeniality themed video. It's too great of a prospect for any of them to pass up - after all, who doesn't love Sandra Bullock?
Toby steps in for the show host, Sadie for the bitchy woman running the whole thing, and Adam for the fellow agent love interest. The girl who plays Nessa fills the role of the best friend, and other Wicked castmates fill in as fellow competitors. Brielle posts the final product after they all pitch in with the editing (no matter how inefficient that proves to be), and the views start to rise within the hour.
Every night at the stage door, fans excitedly swarm Justin and ask him all sorts of questions about it. What made him decide to do it? Does he think he'll win? How did he choose Miss Congeniality? Who choreographed the dance number? Did he think he was fierce enough to be named prom queen alongside the likes of Ryan and Garett?
The questions entertained him to no end, and he tried his best to answer every one of them while still maintaining some air of mystery. When Adam shows up at the stage door on Tuesday night, he's grilled anew, too, though he refuses to say much more than that he hopes Justin will win, especially since he's up against stiff competition.
Prom night comes and Justin and Adam get ready in their apartment. They don't match, per se, especially since Justin goes for a tie while his boyfriend chooses a bow tie (one of the many Justin's given him over the years), but they look pretty damn good together, and when they head over to Brielle's, where she and Sadie are almost done preparing, they comment on it, as well. Justin and Adam just chuckle and act as though their cheeks are not tinging a slight shade of pink.
As is to be expected, the party's just as fun as always. Maybe it's even a little better than in past years, though no one can quite pinpoint the reason, and no one really minds. What matters is that all of them are together and having way too much fun. King and queen announcements come, and soon enough, Justin is standing next to James Snyder, as the two of them are announced as the winners. They hug and laugh and pose for photographs, because James invites his wife to join them for some of the pictures, and Justin pulls Adam over (with some help from Brielle, who shoves with surprising force). Adam's a little overwhelmed with the amount of people looking at them, which is ironic since he acts in front of over a thousand people eight times per week, but Justin reaches over and gives his hand a squeeze, and he feels better.
Before they can go to the photo area, they have to dance. Technically, the king and queen are supposed to dance together, but no one can say no to Mr. and Mrs. Snyder having a dance together, and so after both couples dance, Justin and James simply put on a funny little jig thing that they make up on the spot. It's possible they've both had a little to drink and it shows, but everyone loves it, regardless. Or maybe that just makes it more entertaining. After a bunch of posing in front of the curtain with loads of props, James congratulates his fellow winner before explaining he has to duck out with his wife so they can get back to their son and the new baby.
The crowd of friends from college just gets rowdier after that, putting on all sorts of dances they made up together over the years when the right songs come on. Adam lifts Sadie like they're doing a rendition from Dirty Dancing, and Justin and Brielle do some fancy little wiggle they've amused people with since their junior year at NYU.
Eventually, early into the morning, the crowds start to disperse. Everyone heads back to Justin and Adam's apartment without really planning on it. When they wake in the morning, Brielle and Sadie are in Adam's bed, their hair and makeup still done, and no memory on their minds of getting out of their gowns and putting on t-shirts of his. Toby's sprawled out on the couch, while Adam and Justin are in the latter's bed. Apparently Adam decided while asleep that Justin would make for a good pillow, and when they wake up, Justin has a puppy on his chest and his boyfriend's head on his stomach. No one has any complaints, and they laugh sleepily together. Adam congratulates him again, and they make some remarks about getting coffee, but they both end up falling back asleep until there's a lazy knock at the door hours later, and Brielle's tired voice asks them whether or not they're alive.
