Prom night. I look at myself in the mirror.  My tux is perfect. I tug on my red vest and straighten my red tie that will match Paris' gown. Paris. I so wish I were going to Prom with Brynn. Brynn. I miss her so much it hurts.

"Finn, the limo is here!" my mom calls up the steps. I come down and she smiles at me.

"Looking sharp, kiddo," my dad says coming to stand next to her.

I know they are putting up a front for me. I try and smile back. My mom hugs me. "Try and have a good time tonight, honey. I'm sure you'll hear about Brynn from Adam soon."

"Yeah," I say taking the corsage of red roses from my dad. It's been days and nothing.

"I'm proud of you kiddo. I know how hard things have been on you lately. But try and enjoy tonight. You deserve to have a little fun."

"Okay, I will. Thanks!" I give them both a smile though I know it's halfhearted. I'm grateful they aren't going all out, taking pictures and such. They just stand at the door and wave as I get in the limo. Once inside I give the driver the address to Paris' house.

We pull up outside and I get out, checking my phone for messages but there are none. I shove my phone back into my pocket and ring the doorbell. Mr. Brock opens the door.

"Finn Nash. Come on in. Paris is almost ready I'm sure. She's been up there quite a while." Mr. Brock shakes my hand and shuts the door behind me.

I step into the hall and his eyes narrow on me and I expect to get "the talk". Instead, he surprises me. "Finn, I can't say enough about how much I appreciate you doing this for my daughter. You've made her so happy and I owe you for that and more."

"More, Sir?" Now I'm thoroughly confused.

"Mike came clean. He told me it was him that started the fight and that you tried to end it. That you got yourself caught in the crossfire and when your Mom showed up that you took the fall so he doesn't lose his chance at the scholarship. I just feel bad that you are not going to get to play in the championship game."

"That wasn't your decision, Mr. Brock. So you aren't to blame and I'm set as far as scholarships, my grades have gotten me the money that I need. So no harm, no foul."

"You're a good kid, Finn and as long as you need a job you have one at my shop."

"Thank you, Sir."

"Take good care of my girl tonight. I'm trusting you."

"I will. I promise, Mr. Brock."

I hear someone coming and look towards the stairs. There Paris stood at the top, and she was a vision. The gown Paris chose was a perfect fit for her. She looked more fae like than ever. She could have just stepped out of Brynn's painting from Mid Summer's Night Dream. She just needed a pair of wings.

"Wow, Paris!" I help her down the last few steps. She's blushing and I so want to tease her but I'm too distracted by...

"Your hair!" She tucks a long blonde lock behind her ear and grins at me. "Yeah, quite a contrast huh?"

"I like your pixie cut. It suits you but this," I take a long lock between my fingertips. "You're stunning."

Her Dad comes up behind me and places a hand on my shoulder. "You are that little one and Finn here had best remember his promises or ..."

"I know Mr. Brock. You have nothing to fear from me. Your daughter is in good hands."

"She better be," her Dad says before giving her a kiss on the cheek.

I pull out the corsage of red roses and purple statice and place it on her wrist.

Her Dad hands her a boutonniere, which she is intently trying to pin on me. She only stuck me once but I bore the pain with a smile as her Dad snapped a photo. In her strappy heels, she's slightly closer to my height but I still bend down for her to make it a little bit easier. Paris looks nervous and I wonder why.

Her Dad takes a few more pictures and she triumphantly announces. "There, got it!" She looks so proud of this small accomplishment I can't help but grin at her.

"You ready?" I ask, holding out my elbow for her. She links her arm through mine and I lead her outside.

"Finn?!" she exclaims stunned and I smile at her.

"It's your prom Paris. If you only get this one night I would like it to be as perfect as could possibly be. I already know your settling for me."

"Yeah, settling," she scoffs. "Cause you're so boring and ugly to look at. Poor me."

I laugh and give her a hand inside. I take a seat across from her. I know if this were a real date I'd be sitting with her, but Adam's words ring in my head and I don't want to lead her on in any way.

We talk nonsense and before I know it we've arrived. I help Paris out of the limo and hold out my arm to her. More than one head turns to appreciate her as we enter the ballroom. Her hand is shaking slightly and I cover her hand with mine.

"Looks like I'm not the only one that appreciates the way you look tonight."

I see her glance around and I can tell she is definitely not used to this kind of attention. "I know I'll never forget the way you look tonight."

She looks at me and has almost a sad expression but shakes it off as she leads me to a table with her friends and introductions are made. "Sarah, Mark this is Finn Nash."

"Thanks for bringing our girl, Paris to hang with us, Finn. We never thought we'd see the day Mr. Brock would let it happen." Sarah grins and her date reaches out to shake my hand.

"Yeah, we should all double sometime."

"Oh were not..."I look at Paris, not sure exactly what to say since I'm not certain what she may have told her friends.

"We're friends, Mark and you know it!" Paris clarifies and I sigh a little in relief. Things would have become extremely awkward if she was expecting me to play the part of her date or boyfriend.

Mark smirks. "Can't blame a guy for trying to hook up his best girl's girl with a guy. Especially this guy." Mark points at me and I can't help but feel embarrassed, I guess I don't have to pretend... this is still awkward. I pull out a chair for Paris to have a seat.

"Would you care for something to drink?"

"Yes, please."

I disappear to the refreshment table and ask the volunteer standing behind it for soda and glass of water. This is harder than I thought. I feel terribly guilty for being here and yet I know I would have felt just as guilty if I chose not to come. If only I got word of Brynn. It would so ease my mind.

I come back and join Paris and her friends. Try and make the most of it, was my parents' advice and for Paris' sake, I decided to do just that.

"Here is to a fun evening," I clink my plastic cup with Paris'.

"A fun evening," Paris murmurs back taking a sip from her cup.

They served us a light fair as far as food since this was not as formal as the Senior Prom and once the tables were cleared the dance floor was opened.

I hold out my hand. "Shall we?" Paris giggles. "We shall."

Sarah and Mark join us as well. They are a lot of fun. Sarah and Paris laugh their butts off at Mark and I trying to do the various standard line dances. Neither of us seems to know our right from our left.

We are all quite spent when we return to the table again. Mark and I tell the girls we'll get them something to drink. As we walked towards the tables Mark glances over at me.

"So what's the deal between you and Paris anyway? It's pretty obvious you like her."

"I...uh... we're just friends." I reaffirm and he's giving me that "Yeah right" kind of look.

"Paris is a great girl, Mark but I'm dating someone else." That wasn't exactly the truth but close enough for an explanation to Mark.

"Oh." He looks away disappointed. "That sucks. I think you two would make a great couple."

"I'm sure she'll find someone way better than me." I counter.

"Yeah but you're the one she likes," Mark says grabbing two sodas from the table and I pause grabbing my soda and water. Damn it. Her friends think so too?

"So if you have someone why come here with Paris?"

"It was the only way she'd get to come," I say grabbing the drinks and heading back with him.

"So, this is some sort of pity date?" Mark asks and I can hear a slight edge to his voice.

"No. Look. I care a lot about Paris. I didn't want her to miss her prom. Her Dad would only let her come tonight if I took her. So I agreed."

"I am grateful you got her here, Finn but if you don't mind me saying I think it sucks at the same time. Paris deserves better."

I sigh. "I couldn't agree with you more."

"Good because then it won't come as a surprise if I tell you I'll break your legs if you hurt her."

I stop walking and he looks back and me and grins. "Guess I was wrong."

"Look, Mark. I appreciate you wanting to protect Sarah's best friend but I'm not here to take advantage of Paris. I'm here so that she gets to enjoy the prom, and beating up her best friend's date might really put a dampener on tonight's festivities don't you think?"

"I really want to not like you, Finn but I'm finding that hard to do," Mark tells me and we start walking back to the table.

"Glad to hear it. Let's keep it that way shall we."

We rejoin the girls who have their heads together and they quickly break apart. Paris looks like she just got caught stealing her favorite ice cream from the walk-in freezer again and I wonder if Sarah chose this moment to have a similar conversation with her BFF.

As I go to sit down I feel my phone vibrates in my pocket. I put it on silence since we were at the prom but I didn't want to turn it off in case Adam finally called. I feel it vibrate again and I know I can't answer it here. One I would never hear the person calling over the music and two it would just appear rude to be talking on my cell at the table so I excuse myself to the bathroom.

"Okay but hurry back. We got more dancing to do," Paris says with a brilliant smile.

"Will do," I tell her and make haste to the restroom. I pull out my phone as I'm walking and see Adam's number. I quickly swipe to answer it.

"Adam? Adam?! Is everything okay?"

"Finn?! I can barely hear you."

"Give me a second," I get to Men's Room and can finally hear again. "Can you hear me?"

"Yeah, I can hear you now. Where are you?"

"At the prom, remember?"

"SHIT!"

I'm immediately alarmed. "What is it? What's wrong? Did something happen with Gran?" Please let her be okay I silently pray.

"No, it's Brynn."

"Brynn!"

"Finn, you have to get to her. If you don't I'm afraid of what might happen. I can't... we can't lose her, Finn."

"Lose her?! Adam what are talking about? What's wrong with Brynn?"

"Gran doesn't know. She said Brynn seemed out of sorts and not herself when she came to visit, and when she called back later to check on her at home, her Dad freaked out because Brynn told him she was with her and if she's not there then where the hell is she?

Finn, I'd given up on Brynn calling me but the one time I couldn't answer my phone she called and left a message."

I have this sick feeling in my stomach. As Adam talks it only gets worse. "What did she say, Adam?"

That feeling plummets when Adam's voice breaks. "She... she called to tell me loved me and she called to tell me goodbye."

"GOODBYE!" I scream into the phone. "What the... ADAM what do I do? How do I get to her? Where would she go?" I am in full panic mode.

"I knew of a few places but I checked them out already. She's not there. Not at her mom's grave, the underpass by the river, all the places I check out I haven't found her or her car. I... I don't know where else to go."

"Can you meet me here at the prom? I don't have a car. I came in a limo."

"Yeah, I'm already on my way. Finn if she calls you. Don't let her hang up. Try and keep her talking, see if you can't find out where she may be."

"You really think she'll call me?"

"She stopped by her Grandmother's to say goodbye and tell her how much she loved her. She's called me. Finn I'd normally be the last guy to admit this but she loves you more than Gran or me. I can't imagine her not calling you unless she fears you'll talk her out of what I'm afraid she's planning to do."

"Of course I'd talk her out of it! Jesus! I'll meet you outside."

"I'll be there in less than 5 minutes."

I run outside and true to his word Adam pulls up in the parking lot. It was then I realized I never said a word to Paris about what was going on. "Damn it! Paris is still in there. I haven't explained. I don't have time to explain!" I run my fingers through my hair in frustration.

"Why the hell didn't I just say I couldn't go?!"

Adam gets out of his car and hands me his keys. "Brynn needs you, Finn. Not me. I'll explain things to Paris, but you have to go. The more time that passes the worse our chances of getting her back."

I take the keys from him. "Is there any other place you think she may go?"

Adam looked lost and shook his head no. "I checked every place I knew meant something to her unless there's a place... is there a place that is just special to you and her?"

I immediately think of a few possibilities. I jump in the car. "I'll call you the moment I know anything. I owe you."

"You can pay me back by finding Brynn and keeping her safe," Adam says, I nod and drive off, hoping Paris will forgive me and praying I get to Brynn before she does something stupid before she ends it all.