Andrew

I wiped my sweaty palms on my pants as I trudged up the (many) stairs that led up to Victorias mansion of a house.

It still baffled me how she went to our public school when she had the money to attend any fancy prep school anywhere.

She would fit in perfectly with whatever snobby, stuck up, thinks that they're higher than God clique they had there.

'Well that was mean' my inner self criticized making me wince. I hated when I seemed mean. I used to be mean... those were some dark times for me.

I guess I was still pretty salty about what happened the day I asked Victoria to go to the dance...

I shook like a leaf as my friends nudged me to go up to Victora and make a move.

"Come on!" Dexter pestered me along with all the other guys.

"Its literally now or never. Unless you plan to go alone because bro, I'm sorry but I'm not gonna be sticking by you that day. You already know I have a date."

I wiggled my eyebrows at him. "Yeah, with Piper from the drama club."

All the guys ooooh-ed and teased him by yelling "Diper" (sounds like diaper) for the entire caf to hear but he just shoved them all off, rolled his shamrock green eyes while muttering "whatever." even though his sun-kissed skin had turned a bright shade of pink.

Then, being the wonderful friend that he is, he said: "Stay on task guys, this is about Andie over here."

I mean, way to throw me under the bus Dex!

Sighing, I ran a hand through my unruly set of curls. "I don't know guys..." I started. "Maybe this is a bad idea..." as thoughts of Cass's beautiful smile crossed my mind. I never told the guys about my thing for her because I had no clue how they would react.

'Don't think about her' my brain ordered. 'she has a date. It's too late. You're too late.' I frowned at that.

Dexter gave me one of his famous looks, this time it was an are-you-serious-right-now one. "Dude!" he cried. "You've already planned everything out. You can't just chicken out now!"

I inhaled deeply to calm my nerves and put on a determined smile. "Ok. I think I'm ready now."

The dudes cheered and slapped my back as Dexter led me over to the table where Victoria and her friends always sat.

They were in a heated debate about diets or something when Victoria decided to finally acknowledge my presence and (like always) started checking me out.

I gave Dex a pleading look from over my shoulder. I was ready to chicken out now.

He just smirked and shook his head at me. His shaggy, almond brown, hair bobbing with him.

And, to make matters worse, he cleared his throat and said to the entire cafeteria "LISTEN UP!" His voice boomed through the room, silencing everyone. "My friend over here has something to say to his girlfriend. Take it away Andrew."

I glared at him. 'I need new friends' I thought and made a mental note of it in my imaginary to-do list.

She raised an eyebrow at me clearly amused at everything that was going on and I smiled gingerly back at her in response.

'Just pretend she's Cass' my subconscious told me. Pretend she's Cass? That I could do!

I imagined that it wasn't Victoria sitting cross-legged in front of me in the Caf but Cass listening intently to what I was saying in chemistry and the words poured out of my mouth like honey.

"Victoria, the moment I met you, you took my breath away and I knew we just had to be together. That we were meant to be. And I thought I had everything figured out but whenever I was around you, nothing made sense. My heart raced, I got tongue twisted, I thought about you all the time. I had never felt this way with anyone. I was convinced that I was being crazy but then I realized that it wasn't me going insane, but me realizing that I had feelings for you. Victoria, whenever I'm around you, you make me want to be the best version of myself ever. So please, make me the happiest guy alive and go to the snowflake dance with me?"

At that, everyone in the cafeteria went "Awwwww!" and at the same time, I pulled out a small, heart-shaped box out of my pocket and carefully opened it for her (and everyone else) to see.

Inside layed a gold plated necklace with Victoria's name engraved in it.

Practically the entire student body gasped in awe at the beauty of the necklace. I even heard a few "whoa's" from the crowd that had started to surround us.

Everyone seemed to like the necklace... except the person that it was for.

Unlike the rest of the crowd, when I opened the box her bright smile twisted down into an unsatisfied frown.

"What is that" she fretted.

I let out a nervous chuckle. I had a bad premonition that this was not going to end well.

"Um..." I looked down at the floor as heat rose to my cheeks. I didn't know if it was from liking Victoria or from being embarrassed by her. "It's the necklace I got you."

She crinkled her nose at me. " Yeah, for poor people maybe."

Everyone in the room went "OOOOOOOOHHHHHHH!!!!" As if this were some diss battle, just like the immature idiots that they were.

I gave her a baffled expression. "This isn't a necklace for poor people and-" but she cut me off before I could even finish my protest.

"Um, yes it is. I mean, just look at it." As she gestured to the necklace. "It's practically just cheap plastic painted gold with a phoney diamond inside. Literally, anyone could buy it at the dollar store. I wouldn't be caught dead in that."

At this point, I was beyond frustrated. I scoffed at her. "Victoria, I don't think you know what you're talking about. This is an 18-carat gold plated necklace. It cost my entire allowance!"

Her hard eyes turned soft at the last part. Then she spoke to me in a sickly, sweet voice "Aww you're entire allowance? I must not be donating enough to charity then."

And the Cafeteria went wild. What sounded like millions of "BUUUURRRNNNNSSSSS!!!" Echoed through the room and laughter filled the air.

My jaw clenched. "You know what, whatever! I shouldn't have even done this in the first place." And I started walking away with the heart-shaped box in hand.

From behind me, I heard her whine "Don't yell at me, I'm your girlfriend!"

I whipped my head around and was just about to tell her off when I remembered what Dexter had said to me earlier "Unless you plan to go alone because bro, I'm sorry but I'm not gonna be sticking by you that day."

I believed him. All the other guys had dates and it would be weird for me to be the only one without one.

While walking back to Victoria's table I closed my eyes and exhaled slowly to defuse the bomb that was my annoyance with her at that moment.

I slipped her hands in mine, putting the necklace down on the table, and stared deeply into her eyes.

"Look, I'm sorry for yelling at you, it's just it took me a lot to get the necklace and I had hoped you would like it. Please Victoria, be my date to the dance?"

She tried to keep her serious persona but I could tell she was struggling to hold back her wide grin.

I watched her intently and she returned my gaze with a sly smirk. "Hmmm... I don't know... I'll let the crowd decide!" And turned to the huddled group of kids around us.

"Who thinks that I should go to The Snowflake Dance with Andrew?"

A multitude of cheers erupted throughout the cafeteria, so loud that I was surprised I didn't go deaf right then and there.

Victoria then glanced over to her 2 friends for their approval. Allison and Scarlette looked at each other as if they had their own secret language that only the two of them could understand before smiling back at Victoria, a yes from their end.

Ever so subtly, Victoria leaned towards my ear and whispered to me "Got to give the people what they want, don't we?" Before moving back and saying (more like squealing) "Andrew Miller, I would be honoured to be your date to the dance!" She threw her arms around my neck and lightly kissed my cheek for everyone to see.

I walked back to the rest of the guys at our table who were howling with laughter still.

The last thing I remembered from that day was Dexter coming up behind me, wiping a stray tear from his eyes and saying, "That, my friend, was hilarious!"

When I had finally reached Victoria's door, my hand hovered over it, debating if I should actually knock or not. I mean, after what happened in the cafeteria, I was still unsure about how today would actually go.

I finally decided I would and rapped on the door 3 times.

It immediately swung open and behind it stood a very annoyed Victoria (though I wasn't surprised, it was just her faces natural resting position).

She was wearing a tight, knee-length, gold, shimmery pencil skirt, a fuzzy white shirt to go with it and gold heels to top the outfit off.

I was about to compliment her when something had caught my attention.

On Victoria's neck layed a very familiar pendant, it was the necklace I had gotten her when I asked her to come with me to the dance!

I had thought that I had left it on the caf table but I guess she kept it.

I smirked at her.

"Hey, Victoria! I like your necklace, it looks familiar."

She glanced down at her chest.

"Oh, this old thing?" She rolled her eyes dramatically at me. "It's nothing."

I held back a chuckle "That's literary the necklace I got you a couple of weeks ago that you called poor."

She tapped her chin quizzically as if this entire conversation was baffling her.

"Hmm... I don't think I remember that..." she paused for a second. "And for the record, it isn't poor, it's an 18-carat gold plated necklace that cost a certain someone's entire allowance." She sniggered at me and I actually laughed at the last part.

It was rare for Victoria to act like a regular human being and when she did, I have to admit, it was nice.

After I finished laughing I asked her "Let's go?"

She beamed "I'd love to." And linked her arm in mine.

We were almost back on the ground and Victoria was ranting about what kind of grand entrance we should make as we arrived at the dance when a sleek black Mercedes Benz with tinted black windows pulled up into her driveway.

She frowned as she looked up at me. "You didn't tell me someone else was coming. I thought it would just be you and me in the car with Alfred as our chauffeur."

Surprisingly though, I was just as perplexed as she was about all this too. "I didn't know anyone else would show up..."

We stood there watching the car before I turned to her and asked "did you invite anyone? Maybe it's Allison or Scarlette?"

She looked at me with an are-you-stupid expression and exclaimed: "No, they're with their own guys." And went back to examining the car, trying to figure out who was inside.

Just then the window abruptly rolled down, startling us both, but luckily it wasn't some crazy kidnapper who intended to hold me and Victoria for ransom, but our friends that were a few years older than us, Hunter and Kennedy.

Hunter stuck his head out of the window and yelled, "Are you guys coming in or what?"

I let out a huge breath of relief "dude, don't scare me like that!" And, by habit, reached up for my hair to calm my rattled nerves.

He gave me a cocky grin before batting his eyelashes all innocent-like while asking, "like what?" Then belting out a huge laugh he said, "come on let's get going."

And I was about to protest that we already had a ride but before I could speak, Victoria squealed, "IS KENNEDY IN THERE?!?!?!"

The second window rolled down revealing Kennedy sitting inside, looking as cool as ever. "Sure am!" She chirped.

Victoria then let out the most ear-piercing scream known to mankind "EEEEEEEEEEIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIKKKKKKKKK KENNY!!" And raced over to the car, swinging the door open and enveloping her into a huge hug.

Kennedy chuckled and hugged her back "Hey, Vic!" They were acting as if it were some big family reunion.

I knew why though.

Kennedy was the reason that Victoria acted the way she did. While Victoria acted as if she towered over everyone else, she practically worshiped the ground Kennedy walked on. Kennedy was like the big sister Victoria never had and I was the only one who realized this because I hung out with Victoria so much.

When Victoria pulled away from the hug and looked back to me she hissed at me "ANDREW! Let's go."

I looked back at her, dumbfounded.

"But I thought-"

"Ah ah ah ah ah!" She said to shut me up. "No one cares about what you thought, now get in the car!" Victoria ordered.

'This is harassment!' I thought to myself but kept quiet did as I was commanded.

This was going to be a long night.

♡♡♡

Everything had started off normal, some small talk every now and then until things took a turn for the worst.

At one point during the drive, Hunter, with one hand on the steering wheel, opened the glove compartment and inside were all types of alcohol, from Vodka to Whiskey.

"You guys thirty or something?" He asked while glancing up at the rear-view mirror.

I and Victoria exchanged looks.

'Doesn't he know we're 15? We can't drink!' I exclaimed to myself until he realized what he had said.

"Oh sorry," he chuckled to himself "I forgot you guys were 15 and not 18 like us, I mean, on the contrary, I started drinking at 14 and a half, but you do you am I right?"

I was about to say "14, are you serious?!?" When Victoria piped up "When did Kennedy start to drink?"

Kennedy answered for herself "At 16. But it's ok if you don't want to drink." She turned to Hunter "Pass me the Vodka!"

Victoria looked at Hunter, then Kennedy and finally, at me. She put on a brave smile before she blurted out hurriedly, "I'll have whatever Kennedy's having!"

I gulped. I could practically see all the red lights going off in my mind when I squeaked "Victoria, can I talk to you?"

As an answer, she scooted closer to me and I whisper-yelled at her "What are you doing?!?"

She looked down at the floor, I think she was... scared? "I... I don't know" she stammered. Then, as if this entire conversation never happened, she grinned at Hunter and Kennedy. "Pass out the shots!"

There was a round of whoops and glass clinking and drink pouring and while all this was happening I watched them all like a sad, lost puppy.

This was bad. Very very bad.

♡♡♡

The smell of alcohol poured out of the car and into the cool night sky as 1 by 1, the 3 stumbled out of the car with me coming out last and actually walking like a normal human being.

They were all so drunk; when it was Victoria's turn to come out of the car she tripped over her own feet and almost twisted her ankle! I caught her just in time though.

"Steady..." I cautioned her as I practically picked her off the ground to stand her upright.

She giggled flirtatiously and caressed my muscles "Oooohhhhhh you're strong! I like strong guys." And burst out laughing like that was the funny thing ever.

I blushed at her 'compliment' despite myself. "Umm...thanks?" I mumbled. "Let's go inside, ok?"

She started to play with my hair "Baby," her words were slurred "Do we have to? I'm sure we can have plenty of fun out here." As she wiggled her eyebrows at me like a 5-year-old.

I nodded slowly, too weirded out for words and patted her head like she was a dog "Suuuurrrrrrreeeeeeeeeee. Hey, why don't you go talk to Kennedy? I'm sure she'll have some great words of wisdom for you like always. I'm going... to the bathroom. See you later."

Victoria gave me a dorky smile "Ok!" Then she spun around to fast and stumbled again but regained her balance on her own.

"Oh, Kenny!" She called out into the air and a couple of seconds later, she got an equally slurred "Over here!" From somewhere on the school grounds.

She turned her attention back on me "I found her! Bye, boo!"

'Boo?' I thought to myself. 'Since when?'

I was jerked out of my thoughts when I realized that Victoria was leaning in, attempting to kiss me.

And I really didn't want her beer breath on me so I quickly maneuvered my way out of the situation and kissed her head instead.

Victoria gave me one last look before running off to find Kennedy and I went into the school.

Pushing past the many bodies that had filled the gym/dancefloor I finally got to the exit doors and quickly shut them behind me.

And once that was done I wandered through the empty halls, replaying what had just gone down in my head.

My feet had led me to the back door without me realizing it and I assumed that this was just the place that I was meant to be at the moment.

I opened them slowly and instantly noticed the bench that sat, untouched there.

I shuffled my way over, carefully sat down and took in my surroundings.

From here you could see the stars really well.

I studied the sky for what felt like forever until a familiar tiny voice intruded into my train of thought.

"Andrew...?" I heard from behind me and I turned around to see who it was.

It was a tiny girl, who had curled, light brownish hair and mesmerizing hazel eyes.

And she was pretty but you wanna know what really made her look sensational?

The fact that she was my weird and quirky Cass.

...

I think.

Just to be sure I asked the girl, "Cassandra?"

"Hi!" she gushed while waving at me.

Still feeling blown away I told her "Whoa... you look beautiful... gorgeous even..."

Looking up at me she said, hopefully, "Really? You think I'm beautiful?"

I smiled at her "Always."

We talked to each other like we usually did, but then I had an epiphany!

"I have an idea!" I said suddenly before I took out my phone and going into the music app, started scrolling for a song.

Knowing how curious my Cass was, I wasn't surprised when she asked me "What is it?" Trying to peek at my phone screen. As an attempt to keep her away I hissed like a child "NO PEEKING" making her laugh. I think that was my favourite sound in the world, her laugh.

A couple of seconds went by before I found the song I was looking for, Love You Anymore by Michael Bublé.

I set my phone volume to full blast, clicked play, stood up and put my phone face down on the bench.

I stretched my hand out to Cassandra as the fateful words flowed out of my mouth.

"Cassandra Kivetsky, would dance with me?"

I had never seen a person smile that much. She giggled and stepped in a bit closer to me. "It would be my pleasure." And took my hand.

Instantly, I pulled her into me and locked my eyes on hers.

We danced to the music and talked some more until she asked the question that would change our relationship forever.

"Do you like me?"

And putting everything into context I realized that, no I didn't like her,

I loved her.

I'm sure my face gave it away before I answered "Yeah... Do you like me?"

She was silent before she answered carefully "I don't know."

I tried not to let my disappointment show.

"What do you mean 'you don't know'?"

"I'm afraid," she admitted

I leaned my head down and whispered to her in a low, husky voice "Afraid of what Cassandra?"

She gulped. "Loving you."

I smiled at her. "Well don't be." And the song ended.

For the finishing touch, I spun her around and dipped her.

We stood there, lost in each other's eyes and everything around us froze.

My eyes unconsciously darted down to her lips and it was then that I realized that I was screwed.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and leaned in.

Finally my lips brushed against hers. Once. Twice. Three times.

And I would have kissed her forever if she hadn't pulled away to yelp when I picked her off the ground.

Laughing, I spun her around and when I placed her back on the ground she hugged me tightly.

"Thank you." She mumbled into my chest.

And while stroking the top of Cassandra's head I realized that this was where I belonged

That I and Cassandra belonged.