I walk toward the rose-filled kitchen and audibly gag at the sight of my father kissing my mother.

They pull apart and take in my disgust.

"Thank you for that warm greeting, Alison," my mother rolls her eyes.

"To my other valentine," my father offers me a chocolate rose.

"You can keep that."

"Alison," my mother scoffs.

"It's alright, darling. She's not in the Valentine's spirit."

"She loves Valentine's Day," she argues.

"And she'll celebrate with her friends tonight, she's saving her energy," he kisses her forehead, "let's not pester her."

"You're too easy on her. She's been very rude lately, Dalton."

"Angst, she'll mature out of it."

She looks at me skeptically, sliding a box across the counter. "Here's your mask. If you're upset because you don't have a date tonight, my friend Joyce has a nice son-"

"I'm not dating boys my age anymore. Girls mature faster, yes? So why should we have to date below our maturity level?"

"I'm not sure I like how that sounds," my dad crosses his arms.

"I thought you, if anyone, would."

"Pardon me?"

"I like men in their mid-twenties," I smirk. "What do you like?"

"I'd like my daughter to refrain from pursuing illegal relationships with predators."

"Alex is not a predator."

"Alex?"

"Who is this Alex?" My mother questions.

"I have an appointment. I don't want to be late," I leave them there with their concern.

"Alison," my dad calls for me as I'm walking toward the door.

"Get her, Dalton."

He walks quickly behind me, attempting to catch me before I'm too far out of the door.

"Now, you wait right there-"

I look over my shoulder and scowl at him. "Are you really going to stop me?"

He cowers and steps back from the door. "Alison...please."

"Didn't think so."

"Are you sure you don't want to stay?" I say sadly to Aaron.

"Yeah, I've got stuff to do anyway. But I'll pick you up after?"

"Yeah," I almost open the door but hesitate and turn back to him. "And you're really cool with this? Because if not, I can just drop the stuff off-"

"I trust you...plus, if you're not there, they won't inhale the right way and it will be a waste."

"Right, inhale...right."

He laughs, "tell them deep breaths and not to swallow it, people do that sometimes."

"No swallowing. I don't think anyone's used to hearing that."

His eyebrows raise in surprise and he starts to laugh before playfully pushing me. "Get out of my car."

I laugh with him and finally step out."See ya...but I really wish you'd stay."

A smile forms on his face, "I'll make it up to you, love."

My face heats up, "Oh...okay...cool."

I close the door and wave goodbye one last time.

I know everyone's waiting for me...but I had barely knocked before Evan was opening up the door.

"...hey," I say taken aback by the quick response.

"Hey," he replies, looking over me to where Aaron is driving off. "Was that your guy?"

"Yeah, he says 'hi.'" Or let's pretend he did.

"Okay, they're in here," he motions me into his house. "My aunts gone for the weekend, so we don't have anything to worry about."

"Hello, kids, Merry Christmas," I kneel down onto the floor with them. "I brought trees."

"I took my dad's matches," Charlie said proudly.

"I have a lighter..."

"Yeah, well, just a precaution..."

"...Anyway," I narrow my eyes at him. "Matt rolled them for us, or— for me so I wouldn't embarrass myself trying."

"How many are we smoking?" Karlie asks when she sees there are three rolled.

"One, but you and Charlie both take one home since you guys paid for it."

"Oh, I can't take that home,"

"Me neither, I have a dog," Charlie says.

"Leave them," Evan shrugs, "come back whenever."

"Problem solved, now let's light this."

They watch intently as if I'm a professional. I put one end in my mouth and light the other side until it's burned enough to smoke.

"Deep breaths," I pass it to Evan first.

"Is it supposed to burn?"

Karlie goes next and coughs as soon as she puts it up to her mouth. Maybe this will be a waste...but it's not mine, so oh well. She takes small hits and continues to choke as she passes it to Charlie.

"Amateurs," I shake my head.

He takes one light drag and exhales. "Chicks cannot hold the smoke, that's what it is." He takes a longer drag and coughs harder than anyone else has.

"When do we stop?" Karlie asks.

"When my friends do it— they stop when it's gone," I shrug. This is why Aaron should have stayed...I barely have experience in this. Did our first hang out teach him nothing?

We take turns taking drags, passing it around in a circle until it's almost too small to hold. The room is so smoky, we see each other's faces through a fog— but I can still tell that they all sorta look like the chihuahua from the Ren and Stimpy show now.

"I'm breaking the fourth wall," Charlie says randomly.

"There isn't a fourth wall, Einstein," I reply.

"That's what you think...and the audience is laughing."

"That's just Karlie."

"My eyes are puffy," she said through a barely audible chortle. "I can feel it. I look so stupid right now," her hands cover her face and she laughs even harder.

Charlie gasps, "you look good...don't tell McKayla I said that though. She'll be jealous if she finds out."

"No, I swear, she won't," I assure him.

"We're going to get together. The audience told me so."

"He's talking to the voice in his head," Karlie hunches over laughing, "he's so stupid."

I glance to the side at Evan who's staring blankly at nothing. "...How do you feel?"

"Um..." he hesitated as he tries to figure out the answer. "I don't like it."

"Don't have anymore, then."

"Mhm."

I continue to watch him worriedly. He's breathing kind of heavy and is way more out of it than the rest of us.

"Evan..."

He gets up quickly and unsteadily rushes toward where I remember his room is.

I heard stories about people puking their guts out after smoking.

If I got him sick...

Karlie and Charlie continue laughing at the mere sight of each other. There's a chance they're not even high— they might just think they are.

"I'll be right back...you guys stay here."

They don't even notice me slip away.

Evan is laying in the bed, staring up and breathing uncontrollably.

"Hey..." I say softly.

"Yeah?"

"You're scaring me a little."

"I'm very scared," he tries to laugh it off.

"What's going on?"

"I don't know...it just— it feels scary."

"I think you're paranoid."

"Why? Why am I paranoid?"

I shrug, "it just happens to some people. You probably smoked too much for someone who has no tolerance."

"What do I do?"

"Wait until it passes...and remember that you can't overdose on weed."

"Right, that helps..." Evan sighs. "Can you stay in here, though?"

"Yeah, no problem."

"Can you get in the bed?"

"Sure." I walk over and sit at the edge.

"Can you get under the covers?"

"I— yeah, okay."

I move under the blankets with him and he shifts closer.

He lays his head on my chest, and I can feel his heart beating way faster than I've ever felt it race— and I've definitely felt it race. He closed his eyes and his body kept tensing and relaxing and tensing and relaxing again.

"How long until it stops?" He sounds so small.

"Soon..." I hold his head to me, "just sleep."

Danny rolls down the window, "We'll meet up after, yeah? Johnny's?"

"Yeah, no problem."

Ned slides back the van door, "The wife isn't going to want to spend Valentine's night in a burger joint with any of us."

"She got you tickets didn't she?"

"I thought you were supposed to-"

"Fuck no, I told you I didn't care."

He waves me off, and I continue walking up to the doors of the hotel.

"Mr. Leonardo," the doorman tips his hat to me as he lets me in.

"Thanks," I say in surprise.

You guys like me now? That's what's up.

"Ms. Heather is waiting for you," the desk lady motions for me to take the elevator, and I give her a thumbs up. "Happy Valentine's Day."

"Yeah, you too," I reply.

It's the suit...they respect me because of the suit.

Even the elevator attendant played nice when he let me up, smiling and everything as he moved out of my way.

Tonight is looking pretty great right now.

The doors part and I cautiously step out.

Where is everyone?

"Butterfly?"

"Hey," she smiles when she sees me...which is a nice response compared to my eyes ruining everything sacred with the way they roamed over her.

Well, fuck me.

"Damn, you look good."

"Come in," Heather grabs my hands, "I'm almost done."

"You're so pretty."

"Shush," she tries to hide her grin as she puts earrings on in the mirror.

"She is, isn't she?" Her dad walks out, "Shy to compliments, however."

"Hi, Mr. Blakely."

"Good evening, Leonardo."

"I won't have Heather out too late, I promise."

"Thank you for that reassurance."

"Done," Heather said in relief. "Goodbye," she quickly pulled me back into the elevator.

"He didn't glare at me. That's the first time he didn't glare at me."

"Progress."

I pull open my jacket, "it's the suit."

"You do look great in a suit," she smirks.

"Maybe I'll wear it more often."

We walk out into the lobby, and I notice people glancing— unlike the usual looks I get, these were the 'nothing out of the ordinary' kind. They think I belong here.

Ha.

"Oh, there's the limo," Heather points to where it's just pulled up.

"You rented a limo?"

"It's ours," she starts walking toward it.

"You own a limo, that makes sense."

The driver nods at us before opening the door to the backseat.

"Thank you," Heather says politely as she climbs in.

I follow after her, and he closes the door behind us.

"Do you ever have an urge to open or close the door yourself?"

"No," she says without hesitation, and I laugh to myself.

"Want something sweet?" I take a box of candy hearts out of my pocket and shake it. "A little tradition."

"This is tradition?" She teases.

"Since I was in kindergarten." I pour a couple into my hand, picking one up and showing it to her, "be mine?"

"I will," Heather smiles and lets me slide it past her lips.

"Kiss me?" I show her another one.

"Yes," she leans in, and I put the candy on my tongue.

Her arms happily hook behind my neck and we kiss, the candy melting back and forth on our tongues. I moan while still pressed to her lips when she grips my hair, and we move against each other heatedly, completely taking advantage of the privacy in the backseat of this limo.

She bites my bottom lip gently before pulling away.

"Oh, no," Heather laughs and starts wiping my mouth, "I got lipstick all over you."

"That's okay, it'll make the pictures more interesting."

"You want pictures?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't I?"

"Be careful, I'll start to think you actually want to go to the masquerade."

I jokingly roll my eyes and sigh, "I am kinda excited."

"You?" She says in shock, "the one who was all 'you're making me go to that, huh?'"

"I didn't think I'd want to."

"What convinced you?"

"You."

"Come on," Natalia pleads. "You're going to miss out on the fun if you're here all night. How is Tony supposed to feel?"

I couldn't bear to admit that he turned me down. I mean, look at him.

"He knows how important this is to me. I worked really hard on it, I'm not quitting now. I can dance with him after."

"But, I'm not even sure the blind heart dates are a good idea anymore. So many people are going to show up and no one will be there."

"That's apart of the fun..." I smile, "that's Valentine's Day."

"Okay, Audrey," Natalia says disappointedly before heading back to where Alison is. They seem to be getting along surprisingly well.

Natalia is like an expensive French perfume compared to Alison's value mart brand but...

Opposites attract.

Heather walks in laughing, holding hands with Leo.

"Welcome," I said halfheartedly.

"Here," she hands me their tickets.

"Go in, I guess," I direct them through the door but stop Heather before she can pass me. "He doesn't clean up so bad..." I put a heart card in her hand, "but that changes nothing." Hookup with someone else, for the love of God, this isn't funny anymore.

They exchange weird looks and side-eye me as they enter the ballroom.

Suit yourself. You can lead a horse to water, they say.

A few more people come by, I take their tickets, and give them hearts. If they come as a couple— I only give one of them a heart. Let's see who their loyalty lies with.

"Ethan!" I hear as I'm directing students in. "Number 22!" Logan Manning approaches him to do their handshake slash hug slash fist bump slash stupid 'bro' filled testosterone display they feel inclined to do whenever they smell the sweat on one another.

...he came with the Addington Print driveler? He's such a loser.

"Hello, Audrey,"

"Newspaper girl?" I use my hand to cover the escaping laughs. "Has it really come to this?"

He raises an eyebrow at me, "come to what, Michaels? Ticket checking because you're alone."

"Maybe we can talk later," Natalie smirks, "I'm considering a piece on the pros and cons of showing up stag."

"Bitch..."

I will bury the school newspaper and dead her career as a wannabe publicist.

"Hi, is it too late to buy a tic-"

"Oh, my god, would you leave me alone?" I huff and walk away from the ticket table, heading toward the drinks, instead.

I pour myself a cup of the unfortunately unspiked punch...and question why I didn't just ask someone else to be my date tonight. Why did I assume Natalia wouldn't notice if I stayed with her the whole time?

Always the bridesmaid...never the bride.

Who needs a husband anyway? Choosing between divorce or diamonds is too easy.

Who wants to dance anyway?

I watch the pairs pressed together and spinning to the soft songs I made the band play.

Tony intertwines his fingers with Brenda's, and she melts like ice cream.

He twirls her, and she comes right back to him. I bet that makes him feel so great, an obedient little mouse.

We make eye contact...briefly. I pretend to be busy— busy with the punch I already have a cup of.

At least the song is ending.

I'll go home.

I'm sorry I left early— I just wasn't feeling well. It must've been something I ate-

"Audrey."

I glance over and then look away again.

"Tony."

"Do you want to dance?"

You're asking me...

"What about Brenda?"

He shrugs, "we danced already."

Tony holds his hand out...and it feels like I'm giving up power when I give him mine— but they're playing another slow song, and for once, I'd like to slow dance.

He holds my waist and looks at me differently from the way he used to, more confidently and less like the lapdog who would lick my heels. I can't tell whether or not that's a good thing and despite it...

Ethan shakes his head when he sees us, disappointedly eyeing Tony and making a whipping motion with his hand.

"Thanks for this," I say quietly. "I probably don't deserve it."

"Even so, when have I ever been able to leave you alone?"

When have I let you?

I lift up until my lips are close enough to kiss him, and they do— shortly. I leave room for him to do it again if he wants, and he doesn't...

"What was that for?" Tony asks.

"Just because."

I lean my head against his shoulder, trying to find comfort in the warmth of his body.

"You have to stop being so mean to me."

"I know," I say lowly, still resting on him, watching everyone around us softly sway— and watching Natalia and Alison hold each other like we are.

"This is a terrible rendition of Aerosmith."

Heather laughs, "it's not so bad."

"No," I admit, "it could be worse." This could've been another dance we weren't actually together for. That would be worse.

They can turn all the great rock ballads into dream pop, and I'll still smile at the fact that we're finally dancing— to music, in front of people. It's something I didn't realize I wanted.

My face stays close to hers while our eyes hold us here, and I can tell my heart really likes this because it's going fast in that good way that makes me feel excited and woozy and all that nice stuff.

But then the music stops and the lights go out...

We pull apart, but I find her hand and hold it tight.

The lights on the stage come back on, and

Trevor stands there in an all-red suit with no shirt underneath.

"Pardon the interruption, my friends. I'll let you get back to your dancing momentarily." He smiles, "I just want to crown our king and queen while they still have time to celebrate." Trevor takes out the cards with the winners on them. "I don't think anyone will be surprised when we crown our king, he was the only decent candidate since my name was left out—give a hand to my friend, your choice...Ethan Carey."

The crowd cheers and applauds while a light finds Ethan in the audience.

"Congratulations, brother," Trevor claps as well. "But, let's get to the real treat. All of the nominees for queen were particularly lovely. If it were up to me, every one of them would win...but that's not how this works. The one, true Sweethearts queen is— Hazel Forester."

There's a squeal from the crowd that lets us know where she is before the light does— a screech that defies science. She runs onto the stage giddily applauding herself.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you," she beams.

"Thank you, you're very...very nice," Trevor stares at her ass as she's crowned, "we would love to see the king and queen dance, but the king has a queen in the crowd and one at home, so I offer myself. What do you say?"

"Okay," Hazel nods.

"Perfect. Now that that's done..." Trevor smirks and his eyes shift up for a moment. Music starts to play over the loudspeaker...that one hit by Bow Wow Wow, to be exact.

Heather whispers over to me, "do you want to go somewhere else?"

I nod, "sounds good."

Trevor gets back on the microphone, "so, who wants candy?"

Condoms fall from the ceiling onto us like confetti.

I catch one in my hand, "does this happen at every dance this school has?"

She takes the condom from me, "it's flavored?"

"He did say candy."

Heather smirks and slips it into my pocket before taking the heart note out.

"Come on," she pulls me through the door.