Lord Botetourt High School students gather in a hallway during "An Enchanted Evening," the Daleville school's 50th homecoming dance held Oct. 10.

An olfactory cocktail of body sprays, colognes and perfumes began to permeate the hallway.

"Should we go in now or what?" That question could be overheard bouncing around groups of teenagers in evening wear.

At 7:47 p.m., a line of Lord Botetourt High School students began to snake through the hallway toward the gymnasium for the Daleville school's 50th homecoming dance, "An Enchanted Evening."

Pillars made from white cardboard adorned with red sashes lined the hallway. The walls were covered with butcher paper painted to mimic a castle facade. A string of white lights on both sides of the hallway lead to the entrance of the gymnasium, where hip-hop dance hits were being played by two men and a laptop connected to speakers.

A girl wearing a silver dress, cradled by her date, greeted her smiling friends, each dressed in navy and metallic pink gowns, with a hug and: "Oh my God, you look so cute." The hugs did not smear their makeup, but their grins did get wider. After a few more complimentary exchanges, they went their separate ways down the hall to connect with fellow classmates.

With the dance in full swing by 8:58 p.m., several students still remained in the hallway. One couple could be seen stealing a kiss near the drinking fountain while pairs chatted near the doors to the gym, happily greeting those who entered the hallway.

As Eric Clapton's slow dance ballad "Wonderful Tonight" hummed into the hallway, plans for after homecoming were being finalized by friends at 10:06 p.m. With the dance winding down, groups of dates began exiting to the hallway to start their goodbyes and to start their night after the enchanted evening.