With an hour of the night's social events already winding down, there's been some wear and tear on the glamour of the Venetian sunset. Some students who forgot their masquerade masks appear to have taken them from the table decorations, and others have simply given up the ghost early and left theirs on one of the many clothed tables.

Overall, though, the mood has been maintained, and thus far no fire hazards have sparked into actual fires via knocked over candles. The gym is still done up in a flurry of deep, warm colors -- royal blues, purples, rich oranges and heavy reds. There are streamers, balloons, and crescent moons all floating around and hanging near the ceiling to complete the setting.

There's still plenty of food and punch to go around, laid out in a table off to the side, and people seem to be slowly gravitating toward the dance floor in pursuit of the throbbing beat of familiar music. Off in a corner, a photographer is setting up -- ready to take everyone's picture with the promise that he'll be there most of the night. With the stirring of rumors that the punch may have already been spiked, Principal Snyder has begun to make his rounds in an attempt to remind students that, after all, this is a school-sponsored event and certain behavior will simply not be tolerated.

After all, it's still early, and there's plenty of trouble to still be made.

Promptly at 8:00 PM, the gym dooms are propped open by over-eager Student Council volunteers and faculty volunteers, revealing a glance at the final product of this year's Prom Committee.   The gym has been entirely transformed (well... more or less) into a romantic display of deep colors: crimson red, rich orange, royal blues and purples, all creating an attempt at a Venetian atmosphere of sorts.  The lights are dimmed, and small votive candles sit on each table, just asking to set the nice tablecloths aflame by accident or design.  In stark contrast to the teenage recreation of 'classical elegance', popular music of today throbs through the air, prompting scowls from some of the more finely aged teachers.

A fine array of finger foods designed to hit the sweet tooth are laid out on little trays by the punchbowls alongside the far wall, and decorative masks hang from the front of the table. Random flower petals, streamers, balloons, and hanging crescent moons complete the feeling of 'prom', even if they don't particularly seem to accent the theme whatsoever.

The atmosphere however, is charged with excitement. It's prom and anything could and probably will happen. The night is young.