"Ms. Chivers," I smile as I walk into her class. She's a weird lady who reminds me of the teacher from "The Magic School Bus," but she's really into sci-fi and that's all that matters.

"Zach!" She says in excitement, "come in, come in— I want to show you something."

She reaches behind her desk, and I stand there confused when she takes out a tank full of water.

My eyes squint to look through the glass but nothing is there...

"What is this, Ms. Chivers?"

"Ah— they're hiding," she sighs before tapping the glass a few times until I see specks of whitish-yellow creatures emerging from behind rocks.

I back away quickly, suddenly I'm in a scene from "Invasion of the Body Snatchers."

"Don't be scared, Zachary," she laughs at my reaction. "They can't harm you...from in there."

"Do you know what they are?"

"Well...not yet. I ordered one out of a magazine, and the next day...there were three...and then five...and now I have eight of these little beauties."

Jesus Christ, Ms. Chivers.

Her phone begins to ring behind her and she groans in annoyance before picking it up with a smile. I tune out her conversation and distract myself by staring at her unknown species of pets. Evan would love this...

"I have to make a brief trip to the office, Zachary, but feel free to stay," she says quickly as she grabs her bag and planner off of her desk and rushes toward the door, "Oh-" She stops and turns to me, "Don't put your fingers in the water...they don't like that very much."

I laugh to myself once she leaves. I wonder if she'll let me have one if I ask...my mom would freak, but Leo might keep it for me if I beg him enough. I'm pretty sure he had a fish once, but when it died, he never got another one. He doesn't like being responsible for anyone other than himself, but he's good at it. He takes care of me when I don't ever ask him to.

"Zach?" My head turns toward the door when I hear my name.

"Hey," I say simply and refocus my attention back on the tank. Karlie Clemmons, she's in my art history elective class. I usually sleep through the whole hour and then she lets me copy her work. We're both passing.

"What are you still doing here? Don't you take the bus?" She walks into the room and stands next to me.

"No, I take the train home. I'm just waiting here for a bit," I shrug. "Why are you here?" I return her question so that she won't ask why I'm waiting.

I didn't feel like being hit today. Evan had baseball practice, so I couldn't walk with him.

"Art club," Karlie says in response.

"You're really into that stuff, huh?" I was put in the class by force, Karlie probably chose it.

"Duh," she laughs and I don't say anything back. We're not friends, really. I'd rather sit in silence to kill time than struggle to make small talk. "What are you into?"

"This," I nod toward the tank, "science, I guess."

"Aliens," She teases and points toward my 'Laserblast' shirt.

"Yeah...I guess," I shy away from her discreet judgment.

"Well," She starts again, "Some friends and I were planning to go to the movies this weekend. Maybe there's some sort of alien invasion movie playing...you should come."

I glance at her skeptically, "There's not."

"Oh..." her voice goes shallow, "some other time then..."

"Ethan," I sigh at the sound of Audrey's voice, "Poor thing, we missed you at my All Hallow's Eve party."

"Funny...seeing as though I wasn't invited," I respond nonchalantly.

"Yes, well, we were in costume. It's not like anyone would have noticed you if you snuck in somehow."

"And yet, you noticed that I wasn't there...out of all your guests."

The smirk on her face vanished and was replaced with the light stain of embarrassment.

Audrey rolled her eyes at my comment and then smiled at the boy who came trailing behind her, "Oh, there you are," she kisses him on the cheek, "what took you so long?"

"I can't walk as fast as you while I'm holding all of your bags," he places two on the floor, but still seems to be holding three in each hand.

"Ethan, you know Landon, don't you?" She asks kindly, meaning to take it the opposite.

I glance over him again and realize he does look familiar..."You play for Brownstone," I speak directly to him.

"Yeah," He nods confidently as if Brownstone is something to be proud of. They have three good players at the most, and he's not even one of them.

I chuckle, if she wanted to make me jealous, she could have at least recruited the most valuable player. "I'm assuming he's your date tonight."

"Yes, actually, he'll be the most handsome guy there," Audrey gazes adoringly at him.

"In that case, I hope you two have a great time. You make a lovely couple."

"We do, don't we?" She asks rhetorically. "It's too bad you're going alone, I'd suggest you come with us, but I wouldn't want you to feel like the third wheel."

"Ah-" I smirk, "I wouldn't dream of intruding...besides, I want to be with the most beautiful girl there." Her eyes begin to narrow into a glare, "I think I'll give Alison a call."

Audrey's jaw clenches and she looks as if she's ready to bite my head off. "That would be great...if she wasn't already going with Trevor."

"Dear, hurry down, your ride is here," My mother's voice shrills through the house.

I huff before putting the last pin in my hair. You'd think we pay him enough to have patience.

I hold my dress up at the sides as I slowly descend the stairs. "Why is he so early, mother-" I stop speaking when I see her standing with Jace.

"Did you not set a time?" She questions with a furrowed brow.

"That's my fault, Mrs. Blakely," Jace says apologetically, probably taking the hint that I didn't inform her on our breakup. So much happened at that time that I just simply suppressed it...it's not like she would care anyway. "I wanted to surprise her..."

"Well, it worked," I cross my arms. "Shall we?"

A look of amazement fans across Jace's face, but he gratefully takes my hand in his as we approach the elevator.

Silence hovers over us, but I can feel him glancing over at me. "Why did you come here, Jace?"

"Because...I still love you, I will always love you, Heather."

I shake my head in disbelief, "you don't act like you love me."

"I've made mistakes...I know that, but I don't like being without you. And, I couldn't go to this stupid ball unless you were there with me...it wouldn't be worth it. I miss you," He intertwined our fingers. "I will be better now, I promise."

"Okay," I say plainly and unmoved. I love words, but they are nothing when you don't mean them, and after all— promises are meant to be broken. The elevator continues to go down until it opens into the lobby. Edna is off this week due to personal business, but there is no one manning the door either. "Who let you in?" I ask Jace as I look around for Gustav.

"Are you ready?" He ignores my question, "close your eyes." He covers them with his hands and guides me forward.

"Jace," I sigh, "what is this about?"

"...surprise," my eyes open and immediately set on a fantasy-like horse-drawn carriage. Quite possibly right out of Cinderella itself.

"You remembered?" I stare in awe.

On my fifth birthday, I was devastated because my father's flight was delayed the day before and he wasn't going to be able to make it to my party. I cried the whole morning, and my mother complained that I was getting tears on my nice dress. Anyway, I was familiar with my dad's driver and expected to see the car when we left the building, but instead, there was a golden carriage...and my father inside of it. I must have told Jace this story twice over the span of three years, he never seemed to be amused by it...

"Of course, I remembered," Jace said in response, "it wasn't easy to find, though. The businessman that owned it, retired 7 years ago. He doesn't do carriage rides anymore."

"Then how did you-"

"He bought the chariot, Ms. Heather." Gustav smiled as he opened the door, taking my hand and helping me into the carriage.

"Thank you," I smiled at him, "and thank you," I turn to Jace as he slides in next to me on the other side. "I've missed you too..."

He smirked, "I knew it."

Jace moved in closer to me, leaning in and pressing his lips to mine. I laughed and pushed him back as the carriage began to pick up speed.

Maybe things will be better.

He held my hand the whole way there, carried me in bridal style, and didn't leave my side when he saw how uncomfortable I was when Audrey spotted me.

"Don't mind her," Jace whispered into my ear. "I heard she's going crazy without you."

"I can imagine."

"Would you like a drin-" his sentence was cut short by the sound of someone yelling.

"I should've known you were a snake!" Ethan rushes at Trevor, shoving him back and away from Alison. "This was your plan all along, huh?" He shoved him again.

Jace quickly ran over and pulled Ethan back while someone else grabbed Trevor.

"Watch yourself, Carey. Remember who you're messing with," Trevor threatens.

"Right," Ethan nods with a devious smile. "I'm messing with the guy who bet me a sports car if I could get pictures of Alison Sinclair without all her clothes on."

"Stop it, man," Jace sighed in frustration

Alison looked petrified as everyone gasped and whispered about her. Her glossy eyes scanned over Trevor before she gathered her dress and hurried out of the room. Trevor tried to run after her, but Audrey pushed him back.

"You're an asshole," She spat before chasing after Alison herself.

The atmosphere fell silent. Music was playing, of course, and the lights were still sparkling. Yet, everyone was too busy staring in shock at the boys who just disrupted the entire ball.

Ethan shrugged off Jace's grip, "to hell with both of you...fucking traitors," he scowled at them before finally walking out.

I head over to where Jace is standing, "What was all of that?"

"One tangled mess of a love triangle," he shakes his head before putting his arm over my shoulder.

"...the pictures," I pull away from him, "you knew...this whole time, didn't you?"

"Heather...can we not get into this, please?"

"You knew about the bet..." I could kill him right now.

My fight with Ali...Audrey...him, it could have all been avoided if he would have just said something.

"Technically...it was a dare."

I scoff in disbelief, "that's really all you have to say for yourself?"

...And the fairytale ends.

"Just put the fucking shirt on and tie the damn tie," Danny huffed.

"I'm not going!" I say for the millionth time.

"Then what did I swipe all these tickets for?" He asks in frustration.

"Hell, I want to know too," I shrug. "Take Val and tell me about it later."

"Is it because you don't want to go solo? Because we can get you a girl, take your pick."

"No, Danny, I don't want to go because it's a fucking ball full of rich kids dancing in their thousand dollar shoes to goddamn Hanson or something."

Danny snickered at the thought, "well, so what? Go anyway, spike the punch and switch the tapes." I shake my head in refusal. "Come on. I'll pick up Mandy," he offers and I furrow my eyebrows. "She told Val about almost getting with you last week," he answers the question I didn't have to ask, but then he smirks..."she also told her that you've got a thing for the rich girl."

I scoff, "like hell I do."

"You like Heather," Danny teases as he tries to put on his tie without looking.

"No, I don't, and I told Amanda that when she asked," I say defensively, "so shut up or I won't go to the stupid fall dance and you'll be stuck with Val and hundreds of central pricks."

"If I knew that was all it took to make you get off your ass, I would've mentioned it 15 minutes ago."

"Yeah, whatever," I pull my t-shirt over my head and toss it into the bin in my closet before picking up a clean button-up. "If you stay longer than an hour, I'm leaving without you."

"Mhm, sure— just put your shoes on and meet me out in the van," he starts heading for the front door, "and don't put on those fucking sneakers!"

I sigh and put my sneakers back on the ground and sift through my closet for the leather shoes I haven't worn in two years.

"Man, you're lucky you're my best friend," I say to myself as I stand up, grab my jacket, and head out the door.

I contemplate going back inside as soon as I see Danny and Val arguing in the van. I almost forgot he said she was waiting.

I proceed into the backseat of the van, anyway, despite my entire body screaming for me to go back inside.

"You!" Val turns to me, "I hope you know Cherry is pissed at you."

I scoff, "what'd I do to her?"

"You told her you weren't looking for a relationship and then you go out and get all kissy-faced with that Heather girl!"

"This again," I roll my eyes.

"How could you do this to her?"

"Look, Valentina," I speak through gritted teeth, "Cherry and I were fuck buddies until she got too attached. I never said I liked her...and even if I was with Heather, which I'm not, it would be none of Cherry's red-haired business."

"Asshole," Val scowled before turning around in her seat.

Why is my love life so important to everyone except me? I don't even have one. I'm going to this dance alone.

I should have brought Matt so I'd have someone to escape with. Jordan will be there, but he's bound to have his new girl with him. I'm too irritated to call Amanda now...

Danny must have noticed my backseat seething because he turned up the music before I had a chance to snap on his beloved Valentina. I guess Alice in Chains was loud enough to force out the tension for the rest of the ride.

And, still, I was the first one out of the van.

"Ticket?" A girl with hair curled at the sides of her face and a bright red bow topping it off eyes us with distaste.

You made yourself look like Shirley Temple on purpose, but you're judging me?

"I've got it," Danny reaches pass to hand her the tickets.

I chuckle at her disappointment when she has to let us in.

"Even worse," I say to myself when I hear the music.

80's love songs? Kill me slowly...that would be better than this.

My eyes shift from the centrals at the center of the floor, probably laughing and chatting about how many carats are in their jewelry, to where Val and Danny stand out like a sore thumb.

She hasn't mastered tailoring, and yet she hemmed her own dress. It shows.

Danny's suit is a hand-me-down from his dad. It shows.

My suit doesn't fit anymore, hence the collared shirt and dark jeans.

We should've gone to Chester's school dance. They don't wear ball gowns because they're normal.

I shake my head in annoyance and walk right back out of the doors...

Why did I agree to come he-

"Heather?" I furrow my eyebrows when I see her sitting at the bottom of the steps, the tail of her dress cascading over the stone like wine. She turns around and smiles out of courtesy. "You know the dance is inside, right?"

"Yes, I left..."

"Oh," I walk down the steps until I reach her. "Any reason why?" I sit next to her, and she gives me a sad glance. "Come on, you can tell me. I know you didn't go through the trouble of getting dressed up all nice just to wait out here in the cold."

Heather sighs, "it's Jace...he's just," she shakes her head..."they're all just-"

"Too much?"

"Way too much..." She admits, "like they usually are. Maybe one day, I'll get used to it."

"Maybe one day, you'll realize you don't have to." I nudge her. With friends like that, who needs friends?

"Because I'm "better than that," Heather says mockingly.

"Exactly," I say, unfazed. "You are."

"Well, Leo..." She playfully rolls her eyes. "Clearly not by much...and even after all of the trouble, I didn't even get to dance."

"Well, Heather," I mock. "Take my hand."

She tilts her head and narrows her eyes, practically breathing out skepticism.

Yet, her hand finds mine anyway.

I help her up off of the stairs and down onto the pavement. The music was almost completely inaudible from where we were. But, still, I put her hands on my shoulders and my hands on her waist...

She laughs as we sway side to side, and I wonder if she can tell I've never done this before.

...though, my mind seems to blank when she lays her head on my shoulder.

"...I can spin you, if you want," I offer.

"No," she says quietly, "this is good."

What. The. Fuck. Is. Happening?

"Okay," I nod...and hold her tighter, imagining that "R.E.M." might be playing somewhere. Michael Stipe in my head, urging me to say: "You will be mine."

This is weird...

Let it be over.

This is the longest song I've never heard...but I keep moving.

My eyes close for a moment as if that might wake me from some dream I can't explain and won't remember two seconds from now. Yet, when they open again, Heather doesn't disappear and her hold on me doesn't falter.

"Do you want to leave?" Heather asks, not lifting her head or stopping the swaying.

"...with you?" I say breathlessly.

God, what have I gotten myself into?

"I can have my driver take you home."

Oh.

"Sure..." I agree hesitantly.

She pulls away.

Oh.

"He's been here for half an hour already. I just couldn't leave in a bad mood," she confesses.

"Glad I could help," I shrug.

Heather smiles and shakes her head in amusement before taking my hand and leading me to the shiny black car I've known her to travel in.

The driver doesn't make eye contact or say anything at all...but then again, neither does Heather.

Instead, she lays her head on me again.

"Take him home," she mutters before her eyes flutter closed.

She's on me, but I feel like I can't touch her. What if she's cold? I want to cover her up, but I don't have anything. I assume I'm a sad excuse for a pillow. I hope she's not uncomfortable. She was at the ball longer than I was, no wonder she's tired. I hate that I'll wake her up when I have to leave...

I hate that I'll have to leave.

The car comes to a stop, and Heather moves without me asking her to. She wasn't asleep.

"Goodnight," I nod to her.

"Wait-" she stops me before I open the door. I watch as she takes a fake rose out of her hair. "Here," she places it in my hand, the stem not long enough to grip. "I would've gotten you a corsage if I knew that you'd be my date tonight," Heather says jokingly. "Goodnight, Leo."

I give her a small smile before stepping out and shutting the door behind me. She waves and I stand there as the car pulls off with her in it...

Fucking hell.

I like her, don't I?