The ride from Tyler turned into fairly regular rides for that month. To be fair, Gavin, Laura, and James were usually there too. Elle started popping over to the Masons a couple of times a week too so that we could do homework together. I wasn't exactly a welcome face at her house right now. I knew it had to be hard for Elle. She didn't want to choose between hanging out with me and Ari. Aaron was caught in the middle too.

Ari had all but shut me out. The one class period we had alone together, he traded seats with a kid on the other side of the room. We bumped into each other a few times around campus but I barely got a hi before he would walk past me.

I was butt hurt to say the least, and the only time I could get my mind off of it was when I was keeping busy.

My heart was healing though. I slowly stopped thinking of the fact I was dying to talk to Ari and felt myself growing used to the ache in my chest. It had been a month getting closer to two since we had split and Valentine's Day was around the corner.

During those weeks I had hung out with my family a lot more. I had grown closer with friends like Miri, Danny, Ryan, and, Jensen. I had become so close to Ari when I moved here that he had become a part of my identity. I had finally started standing on my own two feet like I had always wanted.

The school was having a dance and I was actually looking forward to going. It was a normal high school event that a normal teenager could participate in. It felt nice to do something fun for once. Elle and I were making plans at my house when the doorbell rang. I answered and found Tyler on my doorstep.

"Hey Ty, what's up?"

He looked uncomfortable and unsure of himself. I looked at him quizzically and he seemed to think of how to phrase his words.

"Alex can I ask you something?"

"Um sure?"

He shifted weight from one foot to the other, "I just wanted to know who you were going to the dance with?"

Oh.

"I'm going with the whole group."

"Well would you want to ride in with me?"

"I would be okay with that."

He looked up, "Cool."

"I'm with Elle right now but text me later and we can talk."

He smiled, "will do."

I shut the door and faced Elle. She was actually smiling. I thought for sure out of solidarity to her brother she would have hit me.

"What is it?"

"I win the pot!"

Now I was confused, "What pot?"

"A bunch of us had a pot going on how long it would take before he asked you out and it fell on my day!."

My mouth hung open, "Elle you're terrible. That was not a date invitation. That was just an offer for a ride."

"Still counts."

I rolled my eyes. "How much did you win?"

"Two hundred dollars!"

"You owe me some of that."

"Oh I'll give you fifty." We both laughed and negotiated my portion. Then the subject of Ari came up.

"So is Ari going to the dance?"

She smiled, "You know you almost went a whole week without asking about him."

"Fuck. Sorry."

"It's fine. I mean I think it's all cooled down enough that you would be safe in seeing where his head was. At least just talk to him."

"Really? I mean I'm scared Elle. He won't even look at me at school."

"Doesn't stop him from asking about you."

"Elle do you think we can actually go back to the way it was before? At least on a friendship level? He obviously is done with me otherwise."

She cackled slightly. "Alex, he isn't done with you. He's just being a stubborn jackass."

Tyler called me later that night and we talked about the color of my dress and the color of his suit. He told me Running With Scissors was playing at the dance.

"Are you sure you just need a ride to the dance? We could go just as friends?"

"A platonic date? Tyler who would believe that?"

"Who cares what people think? Or are you just worried about what Ari will think?"

"Would it be pathetic if I said I still care about what he thinks?"

He laughed, "I get it. You still like the dude."

"I'm just not ready to go on a date with someone else, even just as friends."

We hung up a few minutes later and I got ready for bed. Laura called me right as I was falling asleep for details about my dress. Gavin had heard about Tyler's offer for the platonic date and she wanted to know exactly what happened. That kept me up for another half hour.

"It is no big deal Laura he just wanted to go as friends."

"But he likes you Alex. You could totally make it work with Tyler."

"I don't want to even think about the backlash I would get from Ari and Brenna about that."

"Tyler has been nice and thoughtful and patient. Who cares what those assholes think?"

"Tyler was also a major factor in my split from Ari. I can't just let that go. It's still in the back of my mind when we hang out."

"Just think about it. It would be so awesome if you dated a Mason. We could go on double dates!"

I placated Laura and told her I would think about it.
I got to school super early thanks to Dylan. After practice I showered and went to where everyone usually hung out in the mornings. Tyler was talking to Aaron and then Aaron left to find to Elle.

He smiled wide when he saw me, "Hey, Harrison."

"Hey. Did you finish your English reading?" We were now covering The Picture of Dorian Gray.

"Yep, that dude is a total Narcissist."

"I think that's that point, Ty."

He rolled his eyes, "So do you want to hang out today after school and read the next set of chapters with me?"

"Sure, sounds like a plan. I have practice until six though."

"I'll pick you up."

"Great. See you in English." He nodded and I walked away to find Elle. She was with Aaron and Ari.

That made me nervous. I slowly walked in their direction and Elle waved me over. Ari looked friendly enough today.

I smiled nervously, "Hey guys, what's up?"

Ari rolled his eyes, "Elle is trying to make me go to the dance."

I giggled, "Elle why waste your breath? You know he can't stand anything school sponsored."

She pouted, "Neither can I, but I am going."

Ari looked over at me and smirked, "Are you going?"

I saw Elle's eyes widen as big as I was trying to keep mine from getting, "Yeah, I mean I was planning on it."

"Are you going with anyone?"

My throat felt dry. This was not the topic I would have chosen for our first real conversation in over a month.

"I'm getting a ride Tyler."

Elle looked nervous. I felt like I wanted to puke.

Ari's smirk grew into a full blown smile, "You two look like you're going to shit your pants. Relax I already heard from Brenna that you are getting a ride with him. She thought it was a date though."

I shook my head no, "I told him I wasn't ready to date."

He looked at Elle and Aaron pointedly. They promptly excused themselves.

I looked back up at Ari. He shrugged, "I fucked up. I've been too prideful to talk to you but I know I fucked up. I'm sorry Alex. You didn't deserve that."

I shrugged, "Thanks for the apology."

"You seem happier. Looks like you're getting out and hanging out with more people. Doing your own thing. That's what you wanted, right?"

"You look healthier."

"Meds are working. Started stabilizing more."

I walked alongside Ari and he dropped me off at my first period before heading for his own class.

I walked in and found Miri sitting there with a curious look on her face.

"You are Ari are talking again?"

"We had a whole five minute conversation."

"And what did he say?"

"Brenna told him about me going to the dance with Tyler."

Her face perked up then, "So you are going with him?"

"Technically I am just getting a ride from him."

She smirked and let it drop.

Somehow I had managed to have a pleasant conversation with both Ari and Tyler in one morning. I was waiting for the world to explode around me.The night of the Valentine's Dance was here and I was hesitantly excited. Tyler was picking me up at seven. Elle and Laura would be getting here at four to get ready. We were all riding with the Mason's so it made sense. I still refused to say I was Tyler's date.

Tyler's band was playing an hour long set from 8-9 but otherwise I would have a dance partner. Ari had been adamant that he wasn't touching this dance with a ten foot pole and that eased my anxiety a bit. I still did not know how to navigate the world with him in it but not mine. I didn't know how to feel about Tyler either. He was starting to grow on me and I hated to admit it. If I did, I would have to admit that I was moving on from Ari and the thought of that made the ache in my chest open like a fresh wound.

Jensen picked me up that morning for us to go get our nails done. She was going with Declan and a couple of her other friends from cross country tonight. She got a French Manicure with little red hearts on the ring fingers. I got a sparkly deep red gel set. We sat talking about our plans for the dance while getting pedicures.

"God I am nervous. Declan's ex has been making life crazy for us the last few weeks. She finally figured out we were dating and has been super passive aggressive. She's best friends with Declan's step sister so that doesn't help."

"Which ex?"

"Nina Flores."

I started to cackle. "Nina is just a bitch. I doubt it has much to do with you.

"Well Annie and her really wanted Declan to ask her to the dance and when it became clear that he already had a date... they got bitchy real fast."

"Just ignore them."

We headed next to the hair salon. Jensen had an aunt who did hair so we got a good price for some updos. I chose to leave half my hair down and the other half was braided into an intricate design.

Jensen dropped me off right as Laura and Elle were walking up to my driveway.

They gushed over my hair and nails. We headed inside and Laura got all of her makeup laid out. I was trusting her not to make me look like a clown.

We were putting the final touches on our looks when the doorbell rang. We checked ourselves in the mirror before we went downstairs. Laura was in a hot pink mini dress with silver heels. Elle stuck to black. It had a high collar with lace but was strapless. I chose a deep red dress that had straps off the shoulder and came to my mid thigh. I skipped the heels for a pair of white sneakers. Laura was not a fan but Elle loved the look.

We looked hot. We took a couple of photos before the doorbell rang again.

So impatient.

We headed downstairs and Laura led the way to the door.

All of the boys matched their date.

Crap.

Tyler's tie matched me perfectly. He even wore white sneakers too. This was a date and there wasn't really a way to deny it at this point.

Tyler's eyes lit up when he saw me. He pulled me in for a hug and I felt him kiss the top of my head. It made me blush.

"You look great Lex."

I blushed harder, "Thanks. You too."

"You ready to go?"

We all piled into Tyler's truck and headed out.