I scream in horror and stretch out my arms as much as I can until they can cover at least a portion of my exposed ass-cheeks.

"You couldn't knock?!"

"Nobody told me she was in here! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."

I hear footsteps hurrying out as Yves continues to back right out of the room. My skin is ablaze. How the hell did I end up letting Yves see my bare backside?

"Fuck!"

I cuss as Aden lets me go.

"He'll get over it. Your dresses arrived. Pick one then tell the people outside you need your makeup done."

I ignore his insensitivity.

"Why would they listen to me?"

He slips on a shirt but remains in his towel and kisses my forehead before heading out, only narrowly remembering to comment.

"They all know you're my date tonight; they'll listen. Gotta go."

And the door shuts.

I sigh and go see what dress I want to wear. I wind up picking a very short white dress with a Grecian neckline cinched with a silver metal piece. At least it completely covers most of the scars on my back, unlike all the other dresses in the line-up. They come with a gorgeous pair of pointy double ankle-strap silver heels.

I head out and sure enough, three people rush to me to do my makeup and hair. They straighten my hair, part it in the middle and shove a lifting comb beneath my crown hair before clinching the two-side part beneath the comb.

By the time they're done, makeup is also done - including the spray they apply to any exposed portions of the back of my body. I heard the makeup artist saying he wanted a minimalist look with a bold lip which reminded me of Cecil.

The mirror shows me the delicately placed mascara, dark eyeliner and glittery silver eyeshadow complimenting the heavy fuchsia lipstick. The hairstyle adds the star-quality that was missing with the simple dress and makeup.

I look amazing. I go back to the room to put on Aden's necklace. Just as I'm checking myself out in the full-length mirror for the last time, Yves walks in.

"Oh, don't you look good."

He's managed to slick back his usual spikes into something presentable and formal. The hairstyle goes beautifully with his grey suit and lilac shirt. I don't turn but see through the mirror that he's blushing.

"You ready?"

"Almost. Just checking for anything out of place."

"I'm sorry about earlier. I should have knocked."

"It's alright." I smile through the mirror, reassuring him. "Not a big deal."

He relaxes as I suspected he would. It's like Nancy used to tell me about Olive: if I react to any accident she has with surprise, she'll always cry. Thanks to that advice, Olive can now fall, and even skin her knee, but get up and continue walking without flinching.

"Okay, I'm done. Now for the back." I strain to look over my shoulder to check that my dress is clean, and my legs still look great in the dress since that's why I chose it.
"Do I look good? I'm starting to think my ass looks too big in this."

"Don't worry, you've got a great ass."
He blushes profusely once he realises what he's said as I giggle.

I swat it playfully before exiting the room.

"Yes, I do."

Yves leads me to where the guys are already doing pre-party interviews. Once they finish the fifth and final one, Aden appears and grins wolfishly. But before he can get to me, someone grabs his arm and whispers in his ear. Aden nods then proceeds towards me unphased.

"You look dazzling. The only reason I'm not kissing those delectable lips right now is because of that lipstick."

I heat. I love his flirtations.

"And the only reason I'm not dragging you upstairs is because I'd probably end up being sued by the patrons of this party."

I pretend to fix his white lapels, smiling slightly. He looks so dapper in his dark blue suit with gold details and the incredible blow-out he was given.

"We're on in twenty minutes."

"We're on?"

"We'll walk the carpet, take pictures."

I freeze as he fidgets with his cufflinks. I cannot be spotted next to him. If the public knows he's dating me, they'll crucify me for winning the Lune Quartz scholarship. No, I can't let that happen.

"Uh, how much is this event going to be broadcast?"

Aden catches my expression.

"Or I could go in with the guys. None of them have dates anyway."

"No, I don't want to inconvenience the organisers-"

"Okay. I'm glad. It's going to be great."

"Wait. No, I can't. We shouldn't. It's a bad idea, okay? I'm sorry."

"Hey, relax. I'm not mad if you're concerned with your safety and privacy, alright? I'll handle this."

His words reassure me, but his frown does not. He begins to march off, but I pull at his sleeve.

"Thank you." I say shyly.

"I'm sure Yves would be happy to walk you in. I'll meet you inside?"

"Yeah."

I nod as he pecks my cheek and heads off. I'm again in awe of how understanding Aden is, no matter how inconvenient it is for him, like when he caught a bus to Cleveland to come see me.

He's stopped at the door by a guy with a huge camera. I would've thought he's a paparazzo if he and Aden weren't whispering to each other. But even as I trust whoever Aden trusts, I don't like the annoyed look the guy gives me. He hasn't even met me. What's he got to be upset about? I only relax when they part ways. He was giving me such bad vibes.

Eventually, I watch all the guys walk in together. The crowd goes wild for the full five minutes that they're on the carpet.

Yves and I, along with some other crew walk in a few minutes after them.

No one even pays us any mind - much less take a picture. If only they knew that they could be getting the exclusive shot of Aden Arrington's current girlfriend.

Once I go in, Aden comes looking for me, catching the attention of several people in the venue when he leads me out onto a balcony to kiss me immediately.

"I asked, and they told me your lipstick is kiss-proof."

"Aden."

I say, but I still drape myself on his shoulders and pin my lips to his, savouring him in the breezy night.

I've long dreamt of being in his arms like this. I love him, and I want to tell him so with my body.

I press us together and coax my way into his mouth. Its warmth is divine to me. His hands skate everywhere, making me sigh in his arms with fulfilment. Is there anything more romantic?

I step back when I've had enough as he grins goofily, satisfied.

"You know, we never really talked about what happened in the car." I say after a while. "I don't want any ugliness between us."

"I know what it looked like when I told you to let go of the phone, but I wanted to tell you myself instead of you finding out like that."

"Okay, so tell me."

He sighs tiredly.

"Hanna is my friend, I promise. I met her when we first moved to Rome. I don't see her much but I'm very fond of her. I'm sure you would like her too. She's very funny and cool."

"Still doesn't explain why she was double, triple, quadruple texting you."

"McKay." He makes a face when he sees that his warning means nothing to me. "Fine, she wants to know if we're going to meet when I go say bye to my mother next weekend."

"Okay."

"It's like with you and Zeke; I know he's a friend. But Princess, I don't like being controlled."

"Good, because I don't like controlling you."

"I know what I'm doing. Please treat me like the autonomous adult that I am."

"Then don't give me any reason not to."

Aden rolls his eyes.

"You're going to continue thinking you're right, aren't you?"

"Would you show me your phone right now if I asked to see it?"

He slips his hand in his pocket and puts the phone in my palm. I shove it back.

"Don't hide things from me; and that includes stuff about your life. I felt really stupid when Yves commented on your father and I realised I knew nothing about your relationship with him or his friend."

"Another time, alright?"

I nod, taking his arms and putting them around my waist. His green eyes shine.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

I put my head on his chest, listening to his heart and watching the New York sky line. I'm certain of his love now. I'm certain of mine. That's why I finally told him how I feel. He deserves to know.

I continue to stare out when he leaves to go mingle inside. It's such a beautiful night with such a stunning view. I just want to be here, present, a few minutes more.

Eventually I go back inside. I never expected to find the scene I walk into. Aden is talking to somebody - but not just anybody. That somebody's name is Brighid Temani.

A sense of calm settles on me. It's time to see if Aden is serious about not doing anything that would give me reason to be angry with him.