.

"Gabs are you ready?" Felix knocks on the door of my room. "Kane is here."

I stand in the mirror looking at myself. Sydney outdid herself. I've never looked more girly in my life. Not in a bad way either, I just am not used to seeing myself look more like a woman... I guess. The dark red dress is perfect and the makeup is on lightly, doing nothing other than highlighting my features that were already there. My hair has maintained its shape with the low messy bun off to one side. I have in studded diamond earrings that I received for my eighteenth birthday, but thought I would never wear, and a few bangle bracelets to match in place of my rubber bands.

"I'll be down in a minute" I tell my door.

I take one last glance in the mirror, put on my shoes and make my way downstairs, my dress flows with me as I walk.

I find my parents, Sydney, Felix, Courtney and Kane all standing in the living room as my mother snaps pictures like a mad woman. Everyone is smiling, laughing, hugging, the way prom night should be.

"Holy shit Gabs" Kane's mouth hangs open as he eyes the dress for the first time. My cheeks flush as his eyes wander over me, finding their resting place on my own.

He looks gorgeous in black dress pants, a black button down dress shirt and a dark red tie. He must have called and asked what I was wearing because I never told him.

"Right?! I do amazing work" Sydney laughs aloud and I smack her in the arm.

I look back to Kane and force a smile.

"Hey Gabby" Courtney says awkwardly. I haven't really spoken to her since the day Jax told me what he did for her. I don't want her to feel any different around me just because I know. It doesn't change how I view her in any way, it wasn't her fault.

"Hey Courtney" I smile big at her. "You look beautiful."

Her blonde hair is pinned back and she has on a long poofy silver dress with purple sequins around the top. She really did look stunning.

Her hesitation towards me lifts and a smile comes to her own face. "So do you."

"Okay! A few more pictures and then you can go over to Courtney's house and allow her mom to do the same!" My mom begins to push us all together in the corner of our large living room.

I look up to my dad. I'm not supposed to go anywhere near the Parker house, and honestly tonight I'm not sure I want to. My dad glares at my mother but turns to me with a nod, telling me it's fine for tonight. Of all the nights...

Kane's arm wraps around my waist as the flashes keep occurring. This lasts until we are practically blind and then we are shoved out the door for round two.

Courtney and I walk ahead of the guys purposefully so we can talk out of earshot.

"Is he home?" I whisper to her and hold my breath.

"Of course he is, he has nowhere else to go..." she gives me a side glance. "Are you two not talking anymore because of what he did?"

"No." I shake my head. "I agree with what he did Court, that is not a problem at all. If you need to talk about it I'm here, if you don't we will never speak of it. As for Jax, he ended it. I don't blame him, my dad can make his life a living hell."

Her previous smile diminishes. "That's too bad. He actually seemed happy for once."

She swings the door open before I can even ask what she means by that comment. Immediately we are bombarded by her parents fussing about how amazing we all look. Courtney's eyes just continue to roll as her mom fusses over her hair.

"Mom!" She groans as she is attacked with hairspray. "Mom please stop!" Courtney's arms are shooing her mother away as I laugh.

"Need some Gabby?" She holds up the hairspray can.

"No thank you Mrs. Parker, my sister tried to kill me with it earlier, this hair isn't going anywhere."

She smiles sweetly and goes back to fussing over her only daughter as I laugh. Courtney admits defeat, placing her head down with her hands over face to mask the fumes of the hairspray.

Courtney's parents were very kind every time I had been here, or in the yard with Court. Of course I wasn't allowed in their home by my father but I think hey must have known that. Her mom always made you feel like another daughter, fussing over me just as she did Courtney. Her dad loved telling jokes, which I was sure he only knew a handful because I had heard the same one about a brunette, a fisherman and a priest in a bar about five times. I always made sure to laugh as though it was the first time I'd heard it.

Kane's arm stays snaked around my waist as they begin snapping pictures, first of just Felix and Courtney. Courtney looks ridiculously happy standing with Felix. I make a mental note to ask what my brother's intentions are with her after tonight. I'm assuming he doesn't know about Courtney's past, and I won't be telling him, but I don't want him to mess with her either.

Kane's grip on me tightens. My head lifts to him, but he's not looking at me. His eyes are fixated towards the kitchen, his jaw clenched. My eyes draw to what he's looking at to see it's not a what but a who, Jax. He's staring directly at me.

Our eyes meet, his full of genuine surprise that I am standing in his living room right now. I feel awkward, suddenly wishing I wouldn't have swapped my rubber bands for the bangled bracelets on my wrist. This is the guy that I cried over all week and I'm standing here in his house with Kane's arm placed tightly around my waist.

"Books" he nods with wide eyes.

"Alfie" I force a smile at him and then avert my eyes back to Kane. He looks into my eyes almost as if he wants to kiss me right here in this room just to piss off the man in the kitchen. I look away from both of them, towards Felix and Courtney.

Get me out of here.

"Jackson come stand next to your sister for a photo" his mom calls out to him. Her hand waves him forward eagerly.

He rolls his eyes and obeys his mother's wishes. You can tell he is older than Courtney and has learned not to fight with his mother's orders. He stands next to Courtney as more flashes occur. They end once Jax is holding his hands up to his eyes from being blinded. "Jesus Ma, that's plenty."

She grabs her son's arm, moving him out of the shot and begins shoving Kane, Felix and I back into frame for our group photos. I can't count the number of squares I'm seeing as I blink.

And I thought my mom was terrible when it came to photos...

Jax stands off to the side of the room, watching the show as we all begin squirming at the flashing lights. I attempt to look away to save my 20/20 eyesight and again his eyes meet mine. My stomach does a summersault as he eyes my dress slowly. He stops and smiles, shaking his head with laughter when he finally reaches the floor and sees my dark red chucks. His eyes fly back up to mine as I give a little chuckle myself, only he would understand my need to wear them tonight. I needed a bit of me to stay the same, no way I was leaving the house without them.

The grip on my waist gets tighter as Kane apparently notices our little interaction. I look back up to Kane just as he leans down and lands his lips upon mine. It startled me at first, but my lips move with his. It's short and sweet. As I pull away, all I can think is that it was a great kiss, but it was nothing compared to the first kiss I shared with the tattooed man currently watching us.

Kane watches me intensely as I pull away. His lips turn up to a grin, "Wanted to do that for years..."

I give a half smile, I feel bad because I too wanted to do that for years. And for how long I've wanted him, now I don't.

I look away from him towards Jax, only he's not there anymore. My eyes fly around the room as flashes keep occurring. I spot him in the hallway, walking into his room and slamming his door. My gut twists.

Kane brings his head down close to my ear to whisper. "He's not a Luxberg-Lifer like us Gabs. Let him go."

I swallow hard turning back to Kane. Suddenly I don't want to be a Luxberg-Lifer anymore.

<><><>

We eat delicious fried food at Kane's and then make our way to the dance being held in the high school gym. There are about a hundred people packed into the small space. Grades nine through twelve were able to attend. I had attended all the homecoming dances, but this was my first prom.

The decorations are perfect. The theme this year was red carpet events. As we enter the gym we are put on a red carpet, roped off with teachers taking pictures as if they were photographers or paparazzi. Kane holds my hand, interlocking our fingers as we walk the carpet. Felix and Courtney follow close behind.

As we get past the flashes, a hand grabs my arm and pulls me back. I turn and see Morgan standing behind me in a short black dress. Kane releases my hand giving me a peck on the cheek. "I'm going to go talk to coach Timmerman, be right back Gabs."

I watch Kane walk away and turn my attention back to Morgan.

"I thought you couldn't come?" she looks at me angrily. I suppose I should have phoned her, I honestly didn't think about it. My mind has been all over this week.

"I couldn't. Kane asked my dad a few days ago and here I am" I throw my hands up. "Who brought you?"

"Mike" she rolls her eyes.

"Where's Cole?"

"Somewhere with Natalie" she shrugs and crosses her arms.

I feel so bad for her. She has loved Cole our entire lives and the boy just doesn't get it. He has to know and he won't let on. I've tried to pry as to who he likes but the boy doesn't budge. The fact that he asked Natalie Duggen did not help. Morgan looks furious.

"He will realize he loves you someday Morgan" I sigh to my best friend. "You should tell him..."

"I shouldn't have to." She says angrily. "So you and Kane finally, huh?"

I look back at Kane who is talking to Felix and their old football coach. He looks over to me and smiles. I turn back to Morgan, "I guess."

"You don't like him now?" she asks with her eyebrow cocked upwards.

"No she likes my brother" Courtney joins us.

My eyes meet hers and I say nothing. I do like him, but I'm not confirming that to her. She warned me, I didn't listen.

"Right?" she asks. Her face says she knows I do. She doesn't look mad, or upset like I thought she would though. It's almost as if she wants me to like him now.

"He ended it. It's done." I shrug. "He doesn't like me anyways. He told me it would never come to anything and it didn't."

"Yeah sure... that's why he was pissed that Kane kissed you..." she rolls her eyes.

"You were dating her brother?" Morgan's eyes are huge. Suddenly I realize just how long I've been grounded, my friends know nothing about Jax. "I know you guys kissed at the party but I thought it was just to piss of Tyler..."

"No. We just fooled around. That's all he does until he gets bored and ends it. So now I have Kane and here we are."

Both girls look at me puzzled and I look away, telling them I'd like to end this discussion. It's my fault, I knew what I was getting into, it ended as he said it would. I'm here with Kane and I need to put my focus on him.

Morgan and Courtney begin discussing Cole, and how much of a 'dick' he's being while I walk back to Kane.

The gym is loud and multicolored lights spin around the room from the DJ booth. There are tables set up to one side of the gym and there is a snack bar with punch.

"You ready to dance with me Miss Brooks?" Kane smiles big, turning his full attention to me and away from their football conversation.

"Sure" I nod and he takes my hand in his.

We walk to the dance floor and he spins me into his arms so that I land against his chest as I laugh. I wrap my arms around his neck and we begin to sway.

"You look amazing Gabs" he sets his forehead against mine as we dance.

"Thanks" I give him a smile.

He pecks his lips against mine in a tiny kiss and we dance like this for a good hour. Part of me thinks I could like him again if Jax wasn't around and currently on my mind. Kane has always been sweet with me.

"Thank you for taking me to my prom Kane."

"No way was I missing this opportunity. I should have asked you out a long time ago, that's my fault."

His facial expression changes and once again I see that hurt behind his eyes. I slept with Tyler.

"Kane I'm sorry about Tyl-"

"Don't Gabs. Just don't." He closes his eyes and pressed his lips to mine. This time I try kissing him back, taking over the kiss. His lips smile against mine.

I could like him again, I really could.

<><><>

We dance half the night away before Kane takes my hand and we find the punch. We each take a clear cup filled with pink punch and as I hold it to my nose I smell the vodka.

"Hell no" I set it back down on the table.

Kane laughs and downs the entire contents of his cup quickly. "All four years I went here it was spiked. Good times. You can drink it, I'll get you home safe and won't tell your dad..."

"No thanks" I roll my eyes. No way am I drinking anything tonight. I am staying sober. The more I think about the night at the lake the more I never want to drink again.

"How about that dance?" I feel a face close to me and I whip my body around to see Tyler. His body is close to mine and swiftly move closer to Kane.

"No."

"Tyler did you spike this?" Kane points to the large bowl of pink punch.

"I have no idea what you're talking about..." he laughs in a way that tells his brother that yes, he in fact did spike the prom punch.

"You used too much dumbass, the teachers are about to smell it on every kid in here."

Kane tosses his cup into the trash and picks up another. I think it's going to be me getting Kane home safe tonight. He will likely just crash in Felix's room.

Tyler's eyes find mine and a big grin appears. "I have other drinks besides vodka Gabby, want to place an order? Something with cherries?"

"Go fuck yourself." I give him a fake smile.

"Why do that when I can get it from you? Doesn't take much to get into your pants. Drink up buttercup..."

"Tyler enough" Kane grabs my hand, interlocking our fingers.

My Tyler-filled anxiety begins to set in. I begin to feel uneasy. I seriously can't believe I slept with him. I liked Kane so much, how could I do it? Nothing about Tyler made me like him. I didn't find him attractive, he's a jerk, he's creepy, he's annoying... I could go on and on. I liked Kane.

"What? Don't you want to know what turns on your girlfriend Kane?"

I know I'm ready to cry. I can feel it. There is a knot the size of a baseball in my throat. I squeeze Kane's hand harder in an attempt to tell him I'm uncomfortable.

"So how about a drink Gabby?" he continues to stare at me. "Or I'll take that dance my brother promised me..."

Kane told Tyler I would dance with him? Pretty sure that's my choice and it's a hard pass...

"I'm not dancing with you and I'm not drinking with you ever again" I mutter.

He picks up a cup and wraps his arm around me. "Just one Gabs?"

Suddenly I have deja vu. He has said that too me before, it had to be the night of the lake. I smack the glass out of his hand, almost like a reflex sending the cup flying and I push him away from me as hard as I can.

"Jesus Gabby! Joking!" Tyler yells. He's looking at me like I'm crazy.

Kane releases my fingers, grabbing my arm and pulls me away from his brother. "What the hell Gabby? Just ignore him. Don't bring attention to the punch."

"Seriously? Were you going to just stand there and watch him grab me like that?" I yell to Kane.

"He was joking Gabby..."

"Yeah, because joking about getting me black out drunk and losing my virginity to him at the lake is how I wanted to spend tonight. Your brother has a hard time taking no for an answer. Keep him away from me."

"What is with you two? He was joking... let it go..." he takes another cup. "It's not like he hasn't touched you before..."

As soon as he says it my body sinks. Apparently both of them will never let me live it down.

I close my eyes as the anger in me rises. "Kane... I'm going home."

I begin to walk away and he grabs my arm pulling me back.

"Don't go. I'm sorry."

I stand looking at the guy who was always so nice to me. Suddenly I realize just how similar to his brother he is. I found none of the 'joking' funny. I almost feel as if he is punishing me for sleeping with Tyler in the first place. I ruined the possibility of Gabby and Kane.

"I'm not okay with your brother touching me. It's not a joke to me. You are still mad at me for something that I don't remember and it's not fair. I hate him. I wasn't dating you then and I'm not now... you don't get to be mad about it."

He glares at me. "Is this about my brother or is that about the fact that you are hung up on thug?"

I let out a sigh, knowing thug is referring to Jax, who has nothing to do with this situation. Kane's jealous side has officially become a turnoff for me.

"This has nothing to do with Jax. I'm not dating him either. I'm not dating Tyler, not dating Jax, not dating you. Have a good night."

I walk away from him to find Felix as quickly as I can. I find him with Courtney and tug on his arm, pulling him away her as she dances happily.

"I'm going home."

"What? Why?" he looks around the room. "Where's Kane?"

"He's being an ass because I had sex with Tyler. Tyler's rubbing it in his face and Kane is rubbing it in mine. As much I love standing around my senior prom talking about my virginity mistake, I'd rather not..."

"Gabby..." he sighs. His look says he's already fed up with me tonight. He's going to have to calm down a pissed off Kane and he knows it.

Apparently I'm just disappointing everyone tonight.

"Have you seen mom and dad?" I look around the room. "I don't want them thinking I ran off to avoid being grounded. I'm just going to go home to Syd."

My mom always signed up to chaperone and brought dad along with to scare the kids into behaving. It never worked because they treated it like date night, a way to relive their youth. He would take her out to dinner first and everything. If my dad was here to be intimidating he was doing a poor job, because he was missing the spiked punch bowl.

Felix points to them on the dance floor and walks back to his date. My parents are dancing along to the music like everyone else in the room. I tug on my dad's shirt and he bends down close to me so he can hear me over the loud music.

"I'm going home. Kane and Tyler are being assholes."

My dad rolls his eyes. "Gabby you wanted out, you're out. Enjoy your dance..."

"I'm going home. I'd rather hang out with Syd all night then stay here" I nod to him.

He laughs at this, he knows we never get along. "Then you must really want to go home."

I shrug.

He presses his lips together, I know he wants to keep tabs on me. I'm still grounded after all. "Okay, I will see you at home."