The song 'I want it that way' by the Backstreet Boys is back in this chapter, go listen to it while reading to set the romantic mood ;)

"So this is what girls do when they hang out?" Mitchie asks, biting in a cookie as I finish curling her long brown hair.

"I don't really know... I don't really hang out with friends outside of school, so..." I half-smile.

She shrugs. "I don't know either, all my friends are boys! I've always been a tomboy!"

"I've always been a nerd!" I laugh.

"Well, I'm glad to hang out with you! Boys are nice, but sometimes they can be really tiring!" she jokes, putting the last bite of her cookie in her mouth before standing up now that I've put the final touches to her hair.

"Yeah, but we can't live without them!" I shrug, giggling as my mind is already wandering to tenebrous eyes and smooth lips that I can never get enough of. Though my mind doesn't get to go too far as the door opens.

"Oh! You're so beautiful, girls!" My Mom barges in my room, a camera in her hands. "Let me take a pic!"

"Mom, you know there will be a photographer at the dance!" I complain, but I'm unable to put down my smile in front of her eyes shining with emotion.

"You're gonna be turning heads tonight!" She grins, taking a thousand-and-first picture.

I wink knowingly at Mitchie.

"Thank you for inviting me tonight... to get ready and for the ball," Mitchie whispers to me when my Mom is already exiting the room, probably searching for her phone to take more pictures.

"It's nothing! And it's more fun to get ready with a friend!" I smile back, looking at her.

Her long brown hair, usually in a ponytail, is arranged in a waterfall of curls, and her Latina curves are hugged by a beige tight dress. I must admit I'm kinda proud of me on my Cupid mission, not for her makeover – she is already gorgeous, and I've just helped her with the hair and makeup – but for suggesting Josh and her to come to the ball, since former students can come too, and it's the first step in my little mission. They go as friends, yet I'm sure they'll return as more.

"Your knights in shining armors are here!" My Mom comes back in my room, a twinkle in her hazel-green eyes.

Our dark knights... The baddest bad boys of the town waiting for us downstairs, if my Dad knew this, he would probably have a heart attack and get enraged! Luckily, he is still at work right now, and my Mom has told me to not worry for tonight because she's got my back. I'm still a little concerned, yet actually, there is so much bustle in my stomach for tonight that it isn't my main preoccupation.

 "I don't know if it's a good idea..." Mitchie winces, pulling me out of my nervousness as her own anxious eyes are staring at the mirror.

"Don't worry, you're stunning! When Josh will see you, he will fall at your feet!"

"I don't know... You know he's a player. He dates a new girl every week, I–"

"Maybe because he hasn't found the right one. He's already crazy about you, and he just needs a little help to realize it!" I offer her a confident smile to reassure her a little.

Though inside, I'm as apprehensive as her. I'm not used to dances and parties, and all those social gatherings are nerve-racking for a shy, clumsy girl like me, especially in high heels! Yet I also have this thrilling nervousness that makes my stomach flutter with butterflies just with the thought of being with Alex.

I look one last time at my reflection in the mirror. My dress, as red as the rose Alex has offered me, is short yet not too much, with a nice low-cut neckline highlighting my D-cups, which I've inherited from my Mom – one of the only parts of my body I like. My lips are crimson too, and my eyes are contrasting them with a discreet smoky effect – thanks the Youtube tutorial! Finally, my hair is pulled back in a low romantic side bun. Sliding my fingers along each detail, I realize one thing: I'm ready.

"You're a beautiful woman, my precious little baby." My Mom appears behind me, her voice full of emotions like her eyes, which I can see glistening in the mirror.

I turn around to hug her.

"Thank you... for everything. You're the best Mom," I whisper from the bottom of my heart, the warmth of her embrace offering me the last bit of assurance I've needed to really feel ready.

"Be careful and have fun!" She smiles, letting me go.

I grab Mitchie's arm and link it with mine. "Ready?"

I take a big breath, and luckily, because when I catch sight of Alex standing at the bottom of the stairs, I lose my breath. If seeing him in his black leather jacket is already a sight, seeing him in a tuxedo is a sight from another world; it's breath-taking. The elegant black fabric letting guess his strong arms underneath doesn't take anything away from his dangerous, dark aura, only making it more mysterious and complex, thus suiting him perfectly. Yet my breath gets really knocked out of my chest when I meet his gaze. His tenebrous eyes are fixed on me, shining in a way that makes my heart jump out of my chest, caught up by their gleaming darkness.

I don't even know how I keep standing; my legs like jelly, I walk hypnotized by his penetrating stare.

I almost stumble when I arrive in front of him, his warm arms catching me.

"Wow!! You're... Wow!" He smiles, his gaze running up and down my body one more time.

"Thanks, you're pretty wow too!" I whisper breathless, my cheeks probably as red as my dress under his burning gaze.

"You're the most beautiful and intoxicating rose." He holds out the most magnificent rose I've ever seen before me. Its velvet petals are a mix of white and red, a combination of passion and purity, like the fusion of heaven and hell.

I'm left in awe, even more as he leans closer, sliding the rose in my bun. His gentle touch in my hair and his hot breath on my neck are sending shivers down my spine, and like the flower, inside my chest, I'm a mix of floating ethereally and blazing intensely.

"This rose made me think of you: unique, deviously innocent and delicately powerful."

With these words rasped in my ear, my whole body melts like lava.

"Aw! Let me take a pic!"

I jump, remembering we're not alone. In a trance from the moment I've crossed Alex's gaze, I've forgotten the world around us, once again.

I've even forgotten to watch Josh's reaction to Mitchie's appearance, though they're still staring at each other in silence, and they look in a daze too, the camera flashes finally pulling them out of it.

"Mom! We don't have time!" I groan, coming back fully to reality when I see the time.

"Just a quick pic!" she pleads and takes a few more photos to add to the thousands she already has.

As I give a rapid glance beside me between two flashes, I see Josh has still his eyes glued to Mitchie. My Cupid plan is working.

"The light is green!" Alex shakes his brother who is staring at Mitchie. "It seems you're distracted too, bro!" he mocks as Josh starts the car, focusing back on the road.

Though Josh doesn't even reply, too dumbfounded; I swear he hasn't closed his mouth since Mitchie has walked down the stairs.

"I could also call you Miss Cupid Cutie," Alex whispers in my ear, the city lights passing by reflecting in his sparkling tenebrous eyes.

"I'm multi-talented..." I smirk.

"I know, I know, and I'd love to see more of your hidden talents..." he breathes on my neck, kissing me slowly and sending tingling butterflies in my stomach – one of his many talents.

But as I feel myself slipping from reality in a swarm of flapping wings, something catches my eye, and I return to the reality of the back of this old car.

"What do you have here?" I point to the blood mark hidden behind a curl on his forehead. "Did you have a street fight planned?" I furrow my eyebrows, stopping Alex's kisses and looking at the scar more closely.

My throat is already tightening as the memories of Alex's getting knocked down on the ground flash too vividly in my mind.

"It was not planned. It's the bastard leader from this other gang. He always tries to step on our toes," he explains, his jaw tensing. "But we taught him a nice lesson this time! He won't come back anytime soon, I think." His smirk soothes his features, as well as the tensions in my chest.

"That's really nothing." He offers me a reassuring smile as I slide softly a finger on the mark.

"Did you get hurt somewhere else?"

"No, don't worry! But if you want you can check!" He grins deviously, and my fingers hesitate for a second, tingling to drift lower.

But finally, I just reply with a shy smile and another question knotting my stomach. "And when is your next street fight?"

"Friday. The day of the deadline for your novel contest, right?" He lifts an eyebrow, a sparkle in his dark eyes under.

"Yes, I'm gonna send the entry on Monday, first thing." I smile, his thoughtful support lighting a warm courage in my chest.

"You better..." he murmurs on my lips, backing his threat with a sinfully convincing kiss.

***

"Oh! Elena!" Judy's voice startles me as I'm checking my appearance in the mirror.

"Hey, Judy!" I smile. "How are you?"

"Fine! I still haven't got the opportunity to tell you, but you look hella hot tonight! We don't recognize the nerd!" she cheers, looking once again up and down at my red dress. "And with Alex, you're forming the hottest couple! I'm sure you're gonna be the queen and the king of the night!" She winks.

I smile, my heart jumping just thinking of him. I'm really spending an amazing night, talking, dancing, kissing..., just being with Alex.

With him, I'm not the nerd, the queen, or anything else; I don't have to worry about who I am. I'm just myself. All my insecurities and stress for tonight have flown away the moment I've met his eyes, and now I'm just floating in a warm daze.

"Thanks, you're really beautiful too!" I reply, glad to be met by her smile, which is slowly finding back its brightness with the weeks passing by. "And I'm sure you'll find a nice guy to treat you like a queen too," I add, thinking of a particular someone who has had his eyes on her petite silhouette wrapped in a light blue dress all night. "You deserve it."

She smiles shyly in return, and I don't know what to say in the meaningful silence. Though I realize there is nothing to say when a herd of giggling girls, who probably haven't only drunk alcohol-free punch, enters the bathroom and breaks the heavy silence.

I recognize some of Judy's friends. They all pounce on Judy, and I escape silently, going back to the ballroom, not at ease with popular giddy girls, and eager to go back to Alex.

Stepping back inside the wide, crowded room, I immediately scan the surroundings for the one silhouette always attracting my eyes. Yet except for people in fancy outfits everywhere, balloons, fairy lights, and other decorations that are reminding cheaply of a snow landscape, there is nothing that catches my eye or my heart.

So I join Josh who is standing near the buffet, staring in Mitchie's direction.

"Do you know where's Alex?"

"He'll be right back," he replies quickly, casting glances at Mitchie.

Though looking more closely, the glances seem more like death glares at the guys surrounding Mitchie with attentions.

"Are you alright? Something's bothering you?" I smile knowingly, peeking obviously in Mitchie's direction.

"No, I'm fine." He shrugs, looking around.

I'm about to suggest him some Cupid advice when I hear the first chords of a song I know very well. My mouth is left hanging open as 'I want it that way' by the Backstreet Boys starts playing. A tap on my shoulder following almost immediately widens the O of my lips before it turns into a big smile when I turn around.

"Can I have this dance?" My dark knight in shining armor is holding out his hand for me.

There my heart is caught, along with my breath and my voice, so I take his hand, unable to form words.

He leads me to the dancefloor, pulling me to his strong chest as his warm arms are engulfing my hips. So close to him, I forget the world around. There is just Alex and me, dancing and swaying in our own little universe. His heartbeat resonating against my ear is adding rhythm to the melodious tune I know so well... He's remembered.

My heart soars in this exact moment of bliss, and I realize it: I'm in love with Alex Carter. It's been a while I think, and I can't turn a blind eye anymore; I'm madly in love with Alex.

The realization is hitting me, not scaring me though because I trust Alex. A warm, bright feeling expands from my heart, my love ready to come to light.

I look up to meet Alex's eyes burning their way into my soul, and I get lost in their intensity of brown and hazel, attracted by their darkness and hypnotized by their light. The words coming from my heart get stuck in my dry mouth.

His smooth lips settle tenderly on mine, taking the words from my mouth in an intense kiss and turning them into butterflies in my heart.

The whistling of a mic breaks off my wordless declaration.

The education counselor, who is struggling with her mic, brings the silence in the wide room.

"This is the moment you've all been waiting for," she announces, looking back at the Arts teacher who is holding two crowns.

"How about we get away?" I whisper to Alex.

His eyes find mine again, a sparkle lightening their darkness. "You read my mind!"

So... Elena is in love with Alex, what a revelation?! I know, they're slow on the uptake, but they're so cute! :)

And speaking of slow on the uptake and cute, what do you think of Josh and Mitchie? :)

Let me know what you think and vote if you like this chapter! :)

Your help and feedbacks are always more than welcome! :)

PS: You can see a pic of Elena's dress in the header, do you like it? ;)