(Madison's dress on top)

| LEXI MICHAELSON |

I just finished telling Madison about the whole dilemma including me and Blake and she glared at me the whole time I was telling her.

"You should have told him, you know?" Sighing, Madison dropped the bean bag on the floor and played the stereo, keeping the volume at low.

"Shoulda, coulda, woulda..." I shook my head. "They always bring regrets. I should have told him but what's the matter? I would have to distance from him, my dad is never going to approve of us."

"How are you so sure?" Madison side-smiled at me and I was silenced. "Really, you don't know. You don't know if you guys would even end up together. Give him a chance, girl."

I just let out a deep breath. "I... don't want to disappoint my parents." I smiled weakly. "Honestly, everything's going fine at home, why would I want to disturb that environment by doing that?"

She glared at me. "Eres un cobarde."

I narrowed my eyes. "Say it to my face."

She narrowed hers, too. "I already did."

I rolled my eyes. "I hate you."

She rolled hers, too. "I hate you, too."

***

Leaving Madison's place to go to mine brought some sort of stress over me. I didn't know whether it was stress or exhaustion. But whatever it was, I was determined to leave it behind and try to stay happy for today. Thinking about today's dance brought an instant smile on my lips and a glow on my face. The weather was also kind; cloudy and breezy with soft sunshine to lighten up the whole town with a soft glow.

Today, my mother was kind enough to welcome me home and offer me a little smile. I politely smiled back and went up to my room, straight, and threw my bags on the bed and sat down with a huff. Someone knocked on my door at the moment and I called for them to come in. My dad's face appeared and I grinned.

"Dad! How's my new hair?" I wriggled my hair side to side and chuckled like a little girl.

"You look good!" Dad said. I stopped once I saw mom enter the room, quietly.

"Mom..." I nodded her way and sat down back on the bed in front of Dad to show him the dress. "This is the dress I bought. How is it? Guess the price!"

"This is beautiful!" Mom gushed.

"Hmm, price should be... two hundred pounds?" Dad guessed.

"You were close. Two hundred and fifty pounds." I giggled.

"Try it on." Mom smiled at me. I looked at her, if she was joking. "Really, put it on. The time for your party is close, your date will be here in forty five minutes."

I checked the time and gasped. "Oh my God! Mom! Can you please help me?"

"Of course. Here, I'll do your makeup and hair?" She suggested.

I shook my head. "My hair's already done. You just have to do my make up." I brought out the makeup bag and handed it to her.

"I'll leave you two to it." Dad chuckled and left my room.

"Let's get ready." Me and mom said in unison and giggled.

***

My dress was on, my makeup was done, my heels were on, and I was sitting in front of my date and father chatting calmly. I never knew Vincent would be this type of gentleman. But still, watching my dad's a little bit sour expression scared me. The thing that was annoying me to the limit was my cousins. All three of them were behind the kitchen wall, peeking over here as if Vincent was some sort of desert waiting to be devoured. It was pathetic.

Earlier when Vince arrived and I opened the door, I practically gawked at him. He was looking so dashing and handsome in his Black tuxedo and styled up hair. I started admiring him.

All of a sudden, my dad stood up with Vince and nodded his head. "Get her back before eleven."

Vince smiled at him and walked over to me. "Let's go?" He said.

Mom emerged from the kitchen with a phone in hand. "Pictures!"

I smiled and stood closer for the picture. Mom snapped the picture and we walked to the door. "Bye mom and dad! I'll be home by eleven."

When we got seated in Vince's car, he smiled at me and moved closer, and whispered. "You look stunning in that dress, Rosie."

My heart raced. "I... um, y- yeah I... thank you. Thank you."

He kissed my cheek, got back on his seat, turned on the car and we drove off to our destination.

The car ride was silent and a bit awkward. Silent, because none of us said a word and awkward because his hand was on my thigh. I'm not used to having a guy's hand on my thigh, very close to the private area. But I didn't say anything about it, mostly because I didn't know what to say or how to say it. But when we stopped at the venue, he turned the car engine off and looked at me. "Here we are."

I smiled and waited for him to unlock the car so we can get out. "Uh..."

"Let's go." We both got out and just when we were about to enter the banquet, I gasped when I saw Blake standing there and talking to a teacher. He looked so handsome wearing a black tux and hair styled in a quiff. I felt Vince's grip on my waist get a bit tightened as he pulled me towards him. "Blake, hey man. How's it going?"

Blake turned around and his eyes twinkled when he saw who was with Vince. "Hey." I blushed when his eyes raked down and up my body. And it was cliché to say but I felt insecure under his stare. He bit his lip and smiled again. "It's all good. Now that you guys are here, it's all good."

"Uh... Madison, is she here?" I asked him. "Have you seen her?"

"Oh! Yeah. She just... Went there." Blake excused the teacher and walked with us inside the banquet.

He was distracted.

The decorations were beautiful. There were streamers hanging nicely of black and gold colours and grey balloons were either on floor or hanging from the ceilings. Tablecloths were of white colours along with the chairs with a big black bow on the back of chairs. Neon lights were glowing on the walls only and the dance floor was already set and lit. A few people and teachers from the university were dancing and drinking already. It was a pleasing sight.

"Gosh, this all is just... So beautiful." I muttered out and both of the boys walking on either side of me smiled at me.

"Like you." Vince said at the same time as Blake murmured,

"Like you." I just chuckled and shook my head.

I recognized Madison dancing on the dance floor with someone I didn't know, so I excused myself from the boys and approached her. She looked really gorgeous with the dress she bought and sparkly silver jewelry with her hair styled in to a flowy bun. I called her name and she acknowledged me with a hug and a squeal. After a few compliments, we searched the table where Blake and Vince were sitting and walked over to it.

After trying out some appetizers and different non-alcoholic drinks, I was buzzed and literally full. I often complained about being full but Vince would just smile and Blake would comment something like,

"Eat more. It will feel amazing, really."

At first, Blake's comment brought a frown on my face but I covered it up. I smiled and checked my phone. I furrowed my brows when I received a text message from someone from college asking about Madison's pool party. I literally had to ignore Blake's request of dancing with me in order to ask Madison.

"Hey, Mads!" I shouted over loud music. "You're throwing a party, a pool party specifically?"

"Oh! Yeah. I forgot to ask you guys. Um... Blake, Vince, would you guys like to come to my pool party on Sunday? I would really like for you two to come." Madison smiled.

"And me?" I asked jokingly. "You forgot to ask me."

'There's no need to ask you." Madison hugged me and said when she pulled away. "You, my friend, are the co-host of the party, along with me."

***

I'm so happy todayyyy! Idk why, but YAAAY. Okay, phew.
Comment on your favourite part and vote if you liked this chapter! It helps, really!
Later,
-F. xx