I like you a lot
Putting on my music while I'm watching the boys
So I do what you want
Singing soft grunge just to soak up the noise
Blue ribbons on ice
Playing their guitars, only one of my toys
'Cause I like you a lot
No holds barred, I've been sent to destroy, yeah

∞

No amount of Bambi smiles and teenaged-club-dancing can clear my head of Tim giving me that knowing look. I think he sees it. 

Does he? Does he see the monster I have to fight down? After all, Claire did tell him what she saw in the bathroom that day.

The more I think about it the more I realise I can probably use it to my advantage. 

In fact, I want him to know. I want him to think that I need his help sometimes. Then he'll never...go. He'll stay closer to me, like a shadow, always following me to make sure I get home safe.

Maybe I should thank that Claire girl.

Bambi's clammy hands are giving my neck a tug in order to bring my attention back to her. The music is too loud to hear over and the people around us are too close and too smelly, so I lean in and let her scream into the side of my head.

"Cole is watching you!" With something on the end.

Frowning, I draw away from her and glance around the room. Tim is nowhere to be seen, but I do see Brett and Jake on the sidelines. 

I follow their gaze to see that Cole is in fact seemingly stalking the floor, watching me like prey. I take it he wants to dive in and start dancing with me like we're in class.

Absolutely not. This isn't Glee or High School Musical.

When I turn back around Bambi isn't where she was before. I manage to catch the sight of her being dragged away by Aiden towards the photo booth. 

Uh, did she just abandon me?

Big brown eyes send panicked, apologetic looks and suddenly I feel stranded in a sea of sexually frustrated teenagers, me being the popular one to target for awkward snapchats and sweaty hugs.

I'm the wildebeest the herd left behind and they're all lions. Still not as hot as the wildebeest but a combined force it can not escape.

The King of the pack is making a beeline through the crowd, mounting an attempt at a hot smile on his face. Cole might be hot, hair spiked and earring in, but nothing compares to pale skin, wavy hair and crystalline eyes.

Just as I'm about to attempt escape, two cologne-scented shadows are surrounding me like walls. I'm a tall girl but Jake still towers over me like Aiden, whereas Brett is a little closer to the mark.

I smile at them in the rainbow club lights and feel my arms being looped with as the three of us move through a crowd that automatically parts, Flo Rida ringing in our ears.

The edge of the room against the wall is where I can finally breathe and actually hear again. Jake and Brett are laughing as we stumble into the black panelling, grinning like we've just escaped a robbery. I suppose we have.

"What a creep," Brett says when he has tamed his wide grin.

"Doesn't catch a hint, does he?" Jake adds. All I can do is shake my head.

I can look Black Mask in the eye but I can't escape a creep on the dance floor without help. That's actually a little bit funny.

"You want a drink?" Jake asks, looking down at me.

"I can get it," I smile, tucking one misplaced strand behind my ear. I should probably check my reflection but I have a feeling it's still pretty flawless.

"No no, you stay here. I'll get you some soda," he says, before moving off. Brett yells that he wants one as well, to which he is flipped off.

Where the hell is Tim?

In my search for him, as Brett drabbles on about an elaborate plan he has to turn the skin on Cole's hand to pink in Chem, I meet eyes with Claire herself.

The frigid, fairy-like little thing is standing in a far corner, so hidden I'm surprised I was able to pick up on her through the people and the music.

She looks afraid, but actually quite pretty in a halter-neck dress. Her hair is held up with a little bow clip by the looks of it. I can't see much else.

To be honest, she looks scared. 

And now a debt will be paid.

"Hey, remember when I convinced Tim to buy you an Xbox One because your mom wouldn't get it for you?" I ask, folding my arms and looking up at Brett.

"Uh huh," he blinks blankly.

"Remember when you said you owe me?"

A little bit of fear rises in green eyes, "Th-That's what the prank is for..."

I roll my eyes, "I have something else you can do. You know Claire Orstrid?"

"Duh," he responds dumbly, "Wait, you don't want me to prank her do you? 'Cause she's nice! I-"

"I'm glad you think so," I say, grabbing his shoulders and turning him around, facing him towards the corner.

"Make her dance and smile for me, yeah?" I ask, leaning up so he can hear me clearly from behind. Controlling your friends is the perfect way to get what you want sometimes (all of the time).

"Uh, if you say so. But how?" He asks back.

"Just be yourself. You're the most cheerful guy I know," I tell him, before giving him a little shove. He almost stumbles, but catches himself quickly. With another glance over his shoulder at me, he continues on.

"What's he up to now?" Jake asks when he returns, "Or rather, what are you up to now?"

I feign innocence as I take a paper cup from him, "He felt bad for Claire Orstrid, so he's going to cheer her up."

"Oh," Jake tosses a wistful glance towards them. "Well, if anyone can it's him, huh?" 

"Right," I respond, but he knows I'm not really listening because I finally manage to spot Tim across the room with Lucas and Milan. And closing in on him? That would be McKenzie.

It's exactly like the Cole situation except she catches him. I'm already half way across the room, but I know Jake will understand. He'll probably go and find Bam and Aiden.

Tim isn't smiling but McKenzie has a soft mirth from what I can see, as I approach them. Neither notice until I'm feet away, McKenzie straightening up slightly and smiling deeper...at me. 

"Hey," she says with a heavy sigh, like talking to me is a weight off of her chest. Like we were best friends and we're reconciling.

"Hello," I venture calmly, coolly, smiling back at her. The music seems distant in this corner, but maybe it's just me focusing on every little detail happening here.

"That your doing?" Tim asks with a smile, pointing over at Brett who has managed to walk Claire over to the edge of the floor. She seems nervous but my plan is working, because she is smiling back at a beaming Brett.

"Both were lonely so I thought, why not?" I say, smiling wider when I feel his arm press against my back. When I turn towards him I do the same, sliding mine over his.

"It's sweet, how you two fit together like that."

The statement is so surprising that I don't immediately react to it. There is no way McKenzie just said that. I'm imagining it. No way. Nope.

But she's still got that same soft smile. It's even in her eyes that she's accepting of Tim and I. Neither of us speak.

Her smile doesn't seem fake.

It's real.

It's so real that is convinces me.

It convinces me that she's a really good actress.

There is no way any girl on planet Earth could stand in front of her ex-boyfriend holding his ex-now-girlfriend around the waist and smile. 

What's wrong with her?

Before I can give a fake appreciation pitch, something buzzes against my side. I move and Tim reaches into his jacket, pulling out his phone. I already know he's going to have to leave.

"I'm sorry," he begins, looking up at me, but I'm already giving him an understanding smile. It must ease his concerns over him walking out on this. Everyone knows that the slow dances happen near the end of the night.

{Live to love you, And I love to love you, And I live to love you, boy}

"It's okay. You go save the world or something," I say sarcastically. I expect to just kiss him and be done with it, but he spends a few extra seconds giving me a weary stare.

Either way, he bends slightly and gives me a quick kiss before dashing away, leaving behind the scent of a light, very-Tim cologne.

I don't even bother looking back at McKenzie, preferring to walk back around the dance floor to the other side of the room. I am yet to see much of Milan, which is odd because her popularity must be wiltering without me, but I can see Bambi and Aiden dancing, as well as Claire and Brett.

That's when everything shifts, the pumping tune of Calvin Harris dying away, replaced by Bruno Mars. The overpaid DJ at the head of the room announces that it's time for all the 'lovers in the room' to take centre stage.

I'm a little sad, possibly irritated, that Tim is gone now. If we were dancing everyone would move out of the way and we'd be the centre of attention.

Sinking to the back wall means no one should be able to find me. My classmates focus on taking embarrassing photos of their friends awkwardly manoeuvring with their crushes.

So I'm surprised when I see a head of closely cropped brown hair slicked over with gel and a body encased in a too-tight suit bustling its way towards me.

There is no escape, once again. With a literal wall to my left and a wall of students in front there is plenty place to move, but not enough to run away from Lucas who is already targetting me.

I have to take it.

"Hey!" He grins, a little bit breathless when he reaches me. I wonder if he sprinted here for his chance to ask?

"Hi, where's Milan?" I question as a distraction, looking over his shoulder. Sure enough, she's absent.

"Oh she went home, wasn't feeling well. I saw Tim left too, right?" He continues, stepping a little too close for comfort. I move back slightly.

"Well, you know Tim, always on Wayne call," I respond with a nervous laugh, looking past him at the dance floor. Maybe I could signal Brett for a rescue.

"Yeah...right. Anyway, I thought it'd be a waste to, well, waste this song. I love it! Bruno Mars really gets it, you know?"

It's When I Was Your Man, which I really hope Lucas doesn't think refers to him because the only time he's been my man is in his dreams.

"Uh, right."

He reaches over and gently brushes my arm with his hand. It's uncomfortable and I take another step back, but realise the wall is there.

I wish Tim was here, so he can finally assert himself over Lucas. Because this guy doesn't have a clue! He's nowhere near close enough to perfect to even think of the two of us together.

"So, how 'bout it? You wanna dance?"

Is he drunk or what?

"No thanks, sorry," I say immediately, expecting him to flush and mumble something before dashing away to cry.

But, no.

"Uh, why not?" He asks rudely, closing in a little bit. 

I glare back at him, "Because I don't want to. Besides, Tim and Milan wouldn't like it either," I say, side stepping out of the gap between he and the wall.

He shouldn't follow, but he does.

"All I've ever done is be nice to you-" I can't believe he's still pursuing this. I feel him reach out and grab my arm, "-And this is what I get? You really are a-"

Before I can turn around and snap his collar bone or shatter his shin, I hear a bunch of rustlings, some quick curses and something soft wrap around my shoulders. Lucas lets go and there is suddenly a chest against my face.

"What the hell, man? Chill," I hear Jake's voice and realise the soft thing around my shoulders is his arm.

When I turn around I realise he had pushed Lucas away and pulled me at the same time, separating us and therefore rescuing me in the process.

"Back off Jake, this is none of your business," Lucas snaps, looking like a gym junkie on a bender by puffing his chest out and holding his arms away from his body. He's trying to make himself look bigger and intimidating. It's not working.

"It is when your harassing her! Why the hell can't you take a hint man? She's not into you. Adelaide is with Tim and no amount of your sad grovelling or dating Milan to get close to her is going to work! You're sick."

It takes a few seconds for Lucas to react, and none for me to. The moment he's swinging for Jake's head my vigilante instincts kick in and I reach up, grasping his wrist.

The other darts for his torso with a sharp jab and before I know it, he's pinned to the adjacent table with one hand behind his back, the other crushed beneath him.

Not Jake. Jake doesn't deserve that.

It all happens so fast that no one is drawn away from the awkward dance-floor flirting. The only person that notices is Mr Roland, who starts towards us quickly. I release Lucas and Jake pulls me backwards as if to clear things up for Roland.

"I'm sorry Miss Jackson. I was on my way over but Jake got here first," he explains, not looking away from Lucas with a judgemental eye. "Mr Agrain, come with me please."

Our science teacher turns away from us and starts walking. Lucas doesn't glance at either of us, stomping off in Roland's wake. I sigh, shutting my eyes, fighting the monster down.

It's fine. It's fine. Everything is perfect. It was nothing.

"That was awesome!" Jake whispers, drawing back to look at my face. Bruno Mars is replaced with Christina Perri behind us. "You okay?"

I look at him indignantly, "I'm fine. I mean it was bound to happen someday right?"

"Yeah," he chuckles, "Just glad Tim wasn't here. I think Lucas is too."

I smile at the thought of Tim kicking that pervert's butt for me, not that I need anyone to do it for me. Compared to the people I have faced, Lucas is a flea.

"Hey," I catch Jake's attention, drawing his gaze from Brett and Claire. There's something strange in his eyes when he watches them. I could almost mistake it for jealousy; I guess Jake would suit Claire. "You wanna dance?" I ask anyway.

To be honest, I'd dance with Jake, Aiden or Brett. Lucas just irritates me, knowing his feelings.

"I thought you'd be too cool to dance with anyone but Tim," he jokes, knocking my arm with his elbow.

I roll my eyes, "True, but I like this song. I miss Tim, so let me have this huh?" I laugh. Jake tuts and rolls his eyes, before looping my arm with his.

Tim won't mind. He's perfect like that.

∞

Lies can buy you eternity
I, I, see you leaving
So I push record and watch you leave
Nothing gold can stay
Like love or lemonade
Or sun or summer days
It's all a game to me anyway