Homecoming was here, and I knew I would not go. I knew no one would ask me. They never did. I didn't want to make Antonio feel obligated to take me. He's my friend, but he probably has a date.

I walked into my puzzle room, and he was waiting for me. I took a seat and started working on the puzzle.

"So, I was thinking," he said.

"About?" I said as I placed a puzzle piece in its place.

"If you would like to go to homecoming with me," he said casually.

I looked at him blankly.

"Unless you already have a date," he shrugged.

"No, I don't have a date. You want to take me to dance?" It surprised me.

"Sure, why not?" he smiled.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"

I furrowed my brows in confusion. "Because no one asked me before."

"Then I guess there is a first time for everything, isn't there?" He smiled, and I smiled back.

I went back to the puzzle as I smiled. I was going to my first dance ever.

At lunch, we all talked about homecoming. The guys explained to me about it. They also talked about sitting together at homecoming and dancing. I couldn't wait. I had been practicing to show Antonio I got better at it.

When I got home, I told Luke and Cole, and they were happy for me. When Mom and Dad got back, I told them. It thrilled them for me. Mom even told me she would buy me a unique dress and shoes for it. Dad said I would look like a princess.

I was excited. Well, that's what my parents said the feeling is. So, I'll go with it.

All week we talked about homecoming. I asked a lot of questions, and Antonio answered all of them. I even told him I was getting a dress and shoes. He told me he was happy for me.

On the day of homecoming, Mom took me shopping, and I got a purple dress and shoes. Purple was my favorite color. You take red and blue and mix it; then you get purple.

Later on, she helped me get ready and helped me with my hair. I didn't want makeup. She said I didn't need it. I didn't like how makeup felt. It bothered me.

Once I finish getting ready, we came down, and Dad and my brothers whistled at me.

"Why are you whistling?" I asked them.

"Because you always whistle at a beautiful girl," Dad explained.

"Oh, then whistle away," I told them as they whistled again.

Dad took pictures of me while I waited for Antonio to arrive. Then I watched out the window, waiting for him to arrive. It got later and later.

I turned to them. "Antonio's running late, and he told me he would be here."

They looked at me. I turned back to the window. I waited, and then I looked at the clock. It was eight o'clock, and the dance had already started. I waited.

Then I looked, and it was eight-thirty. I furrowed my brows.

I turned around. "Did I misunderstand?"

"I don't think so, hun," Mom said to me.

"He's not coming, is he?" I asked them. They all looked at me. Why wouldn't he come? He asked me, so that meant he was coming. Right?

I didn't understand.

They looked at me as I stood there. I got a pretty dress and shoes.

Then I saw Cole walk over and grab his coat. "Rain, let's go."

"What?" I asked him.

"You're going to that dance," he said. I smiled as I walked over and put on my coat. We left. I get to go to the dance.

Shit, I was late. Rain probably thinks I'm not coming. I walked up and knocked on the door.

Her dad opened it and looked at me. "I'm sorry. I went out to my car, and it had a flat. My dad and I had a hard time getting the lug nuts off. Please tell me Rain isn't upset."

"Rain isn't here," Colton said.

Shit.

"I think if you make it to the dance, you might catch her," he said with a slight smile.

"Thanks," I said, turning around and running to my car. I pulled out and drove to the dance. I almost got pulled over by the cops. Yeah, I didn't need that.

I pulled up to the dance and got out of the car. I ran inside and looked around. Where was she? Then I saw her. She was with Cole.

I walked over to her. When I reached her, she said, "You're late."

"I know, and I'm sorry. I had a flat tire," I apologized.

"I almost missed the dance," she crossed her arms.

"I know, and I swear, I'm sorry."

"Well, you need to call if you will be late," she said emphatically.

"I promise to call you if I will ever be late," I pleaded with her. Cole was trying not to laugh. "How about we danced?" I suggested as I held out my hand.

"If you insist," she sighed as she took my hand. I led her to the dance floor. I took her, and she placed her other hand on my shoulder. I put my hand on her lower back. Then we moved. As we danced, she looked at her feet.

"Rain, what are you doing?" I asked her.

"I'm counting. That's what the instructions said to do," Rain said as she looked at her feet.

"Look at me," I said as she lifted her head, "follow my lead."

We moved as the song played. Then I pulled her close to me as I held her. She laid her head on my chest. That's all it took for me to realize I didn't just like Rain, but I fell for her.

I held her as we danced. It felt so right and natural. To me, Rain had all the qualities I wanted in someone. She was smart, funny, honest, and a beautiful soul. She radiates beauty because of it. It just took them pairing me with her to see it.

At that moment, I was glad they introduced me to her. As we danced, Cole walked over and whispered in her ear. She nodded, and he turned, then walked away.

He left her for me to take home. That was fine with me. It gave us more time to dance.

We spent most of the dance having fun. I didn't care what I looked like; I was having a lot of fun. She laughed and smiled a lot. That made me happy.

Towards the end of the dance, I took her home. When we arrived, I walked her to her door. She turned to me. "Thank you, Antonio. I had fun."

"I had a blast," I smiled.

"I will go now," she announced.

"Wait, there's something I want to do," I said, stopping her.

"What?" She looked at me, confused.

"This," I said as I gently placed my hands on her face. I leaned in and brushed my lips against hers. She tensed, then pressed her lips to mine. I think she understands what I was doing.

I kissed her and deepened it. Her lips were so soft, and at first, she wasn't sure what she was doing but followed my lead. I moved my hands from her face to around her back as she placed her arms around my neck.

We stood there for what seemed like forever, kissing. I have never felt like this with anyone. With Rain, it felt like something awoke inside of me. That's when I realized I fell not only for her, but I entered her world.

It was a world of amazement and wonder. I wanted to be part of Rain's world.

We stopped kissing as I placed my forehead against hers. "That was amazing."

"Was I good?" She asked me.

"You were terrific. I like you a lot of Rain. You make me a better person. I want to be a part of your world, if you let me," I said to her.

"I would like that because I like your hugs and I enjoy kissing. It's fun," Rain said, causing me to chuckle as I kissed her again. She smiled against my lips, and for me, that was enough.

I couldn't wait to be a part of her world. I had a feeling it would be beautiful.