we're slow dancing in a burning room - OPEN

[BENJAMIN JAMES CHARLESTON]

This being the end of the year formal dance for Rosewood, Dean Charleston knew he was expected to attend... but he wasn't going to be there on time. He had dinner plans with his kids first, then they would all be attending. He knew that Abigail had a boy and some friends she was going to meet up with at the dance and same for Andrew, he too was meeting up with from friends. He had no idea who he would spend the next few hours with, but he wasn't happy that it couldn't be Melody. He would have loved to have her on his arm all night.

He drove up to the school, parking in his reserved spot. He could hear the music coming from the sports complex. Ben opened his door and before he could even say anything to them, both kids were out of the back seat and hundreds of feet away from him already. "Have a nice time" he said in a normal tone, knowing they couldn't hear him. He rolled his eyes, closed the car door and made his own way into the building.

He walked into the large room, built for sports like basketball and volleyball and was happy to see that the committee had done a fantastic time decorating. He always enjoyed this time of year, but this year was going to be especially difficult since the kid's Mom changed her plans for the holidays and so he doesn't even get to see them until 5pm on Christmas Day. He shoved his hands into his pants pockets and started his rounds. He nodded to teachers, said hello to parents and students and then found a glass of punch to savor while trying to decide whether or not to break up this one couple near by that was dancing a little too crudely.

[EMILIE GRACE BENNETT]

Outfit~ www.polyvore.com/untitled_93/set?id=49622975

Papers were graded and grades were entered into her grade book. Now Emilie could get on that dress she had been saving and go to the Christmas Ball at Rosewood Academy. She slipped it on, zipped it up in the back, and applied on her makeup after she did her hair. She made sure that Jake was fed and had plenty of water before she left for the evening. She grabbed a pair of flats incase her heels started to kill her feet. Most likely it was going to happen, but she always brought along a spare pair of shoes.

She got to the school and walked in. As she crossed the parking lot, some of her students greeted her, and she smiled. She had taught some of these students since they were sophomores and now they were seniors. It made her smile to see how mature they had grown up to be. She walked inside, and presented her ticket at the table and walked inside. The music filled her ears even as she was walking through the door, but now she could hear the words. If the dean had his way it would be no rap or no trashy music. Well, he and the student council came to a compromise. She walked around and watched the students dancing, and she got a glass of punch. Spotting the dean, she walked over to him and stood next to him. " Good evening Dean Charleston," she said and took a sip of her punch.

[callieautumnsmith]

Callie's coco brown eyes flinched as she put on some mascara, knowing she was going to be extremely late if she didn't hurry. Her outfit was ready, sleek, red dress with a black necklace that her mother had given to her when she was younger. She looked in the Mirror. She looked great, if she did say so herself. Suddenly, she heard her phone ring.

"Hello, um, hi, Ella. What's up? I can only talk for a few seconds."she asked, almost falling over to grab her dark red lipstick that matched her hair color on the highest shelf of her room. "Um, miss ya to, but kinda busy. Ya know, the Christmas ball? Raising money? Oh wait..that was Gab I told. Well, TTYL."she said, hanging up, applying her lipstick. She was ready to go.

Walking out of her room, she strutted into the ballroom. Her makeup was fabulous as always, but tonight she had done something extra special. "Hello, Dean Charles. Miss(Mrs.?) Bennett."she said, excited to see them both here, even if they were adults. She looked up, her red ponytail bobbing. "What is this raising money for again?"she said, trying not to be too "Chicago Girl" on them, most adults found that side of her too loud, and too sassy. "Never mind that.."she thought.