To all of you who have come this far, follwing this story, I say thank you! Your opinion means alot and would help me to improve alot, don't be affraid to give me feedback about my writing.

- Gabs

"So how is it going with the dresses, Gaia's birthday is soon." Alicia said.

We were standing by our lockers. "Good, my mother has been working on the final dress non-stop, it's the dress Gaia wants to wear in the beginning of the night, it has to be perfect." I said.

Alicia sighs heavily and leans against the lockers.

"What's wrong?"

"Amir is having second thoughts about going to the party."

"Why?"

Alicia shrugs her shoulders, "I dunno? I thinks he's scared of meeting my mother at The Palace, or something."

"Why would he be scared, hasn't he met you mother many times before?"

Alicia nods, "He has, but only when he waves at her from the comfort of his own car, when he drops me off at the house."

"Really?"

"Yeah, anyways, I'm dumping him after the party." Alicia said adjusting her blouse.

"Alicia." I sighed, "You're gonna dump him because he's shy, you've liked Amir for a long time and now he's finally yours."

"I know, I know, turns out he is not who I thought he was." she says.

"Who is he then?" I say, hands on my hips. "He is weak" she says bitterly. Alicia throws her bag over one of her shoulders, "See you after arts and crafts, meet me by the stairs at lunch"

"Where are you going, are you skipping?" I ask.

"Yeah, just this once, the violin I ordered has arrived and the delivery people just left it on the front porch." She said and walked away.

I sighed and opened my locker, I didn't really need anything but a pen for arts and crafts.

"Alessia?" A soft voice spoke from behind, I turned. It was Gaia approaching. In panic I quickly turned to where Alicia had been, hoping she was still there to witness my distress.. "Gaia, hey." I said nervously, Over her shoulder I spotted him, he was timidly standing by his locker, pretending not to see us talking.

Gaia wore her usual warming smile, made you want to knock her teeth out sometimes.

"I know it's a little late considering the party is barely two weeks away..." She began. In her small gentle hands, she was carrying a golden envelope.

"Dario found a spare one in his locker..." She turned to where he was hiding, behind his locker door. "...I thought you should have it." She said, handing me the golden envelope.

"What is it?" I said suspicious, I reluctantly accepted the envelope, thinking it was a bomb that would go of any second.

Like a fairy, Gaia laughed, "It's just an invitation to the party." She said, reading my frightened expression.

"Oh"

"I...I thought, since you didn't receive a proper one...It's got all the information you need, obviously you already know where The Palace hotel is..." she stuttered. "...but you also have some information about the band that's playing, the catering....." She said excited.

I didn't know what to say, a big part of me wanted to shove that invitation right up her pretty little face for pitying me and then let Dario choke on it, another part wanted to ask about what kind of present she would like to have.

Gaia's big welcoming eyes were still on me, what else did she want, was she waiting for me to kiss her feet or something?

"So what are you wearing, does your mom have time to make you a dress, otherwise I got some great names that will have a beautiful dress for you last minute." She said cheerfully.

My mouth went dry, "Err...err" Is all that came out.

Suddenly, curly hair tickled the side of my face, "Hey babe." Valentino said planting a soft kiss on my cheek. "Err...hey?" I said surprised. Looking at Gaia, her eyes had widened too. Valentino gave Gaia a nod, acknowledging her presence.

"Valentino, we were just talking about my party, you guys are going together right?" She said. Behind her there was movement, Dario suddenly closed his locker and headed our way. I wanted to runaway, but my feet wouldn't move, I was numb.

"Of course we are" Valentino said confidently and threw his arm around my shoulder.

Dario walked up behind Gaia, he was much taller than her, taller than all of us. He placed one hand on Gaia's waist, making her slightly jump in surprise since she hadn't notice him. "Oh...hey." She said timid. "Hey." He said with his deep voice.

I couldn't look him in the eye, they fell straight to the ground, pretending to find something very interesting about the way the school cemented its floors.

Valentino's arm slightly squeezed my shoulder. I quickly looked to him, avoiding Gaia and Dario. "Shall we go to class?" He smiled. His smile made me smile, made me feel like I was the only girl in the world. I nodded, "Let's go." I whispered. I turned to Gaia, still avoiding Dario, "thank you..." I held up the envelope, "...for the proper invitation."

"Don't worry about it." She said.

As Gaia and Dario left I finally exhaled. "Thank you for saving me" I said, throwing Valentino's arm off me. Valentino looked to me with a frown, his arm fell to his side. "So we don't have Arts and Crafts now?" He said confused. "Yeah we do, I just mean that your timing was great.".

Valentino smiled.

I found myself suddenly backing into the lockers as he moved closer. Without hesitation he planted another kiss, this time on the lips. As we parted I looked to see if anyone noticed. "What?" He chuckles, curiously turning to see who I was looking at..

"You kissed me." I mumbled.

"Yeah, so?" He smiles.

"You've....never kissed me in school before." I stutter.

Valentino removes a dead lash from my cheek, "I thought you didn't want me to, that you'd be mad, but then when you called the other night..."

"Kiss me at school" I vaguely recall myself saying. "Err...right." I said. I hadn't meant it literally, I thought. Still, I liked that he did kiss me at school, instead of some abandoned playground where we would meet to do god knows what.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer. Valentinos nose caressed mine, he smiled into our second kiss. The kiss was innocent at first, but as he pinned me harder against the locker the kiss deepend. "No public affection in the hallways!" A teacher suddenly shouted. Valentino and I quickly broke the kiss.

*******

It was different, everything was different, in class he still did everything to try to ruin my canvas, the difference was, this time there was no Alicia sighing in my ear as he did so.

On the way to lunch Valentino didn't hesitate to put my hand in his, nor joining me and Alicia for lunch, what had changed? Our conversation the other night, had it really gotten to him, people who are only hooking up, don't act like this in public, do they?

"I can't believe they just threw it on the porch, fucking idiots." Alicia said returning from her erend. She was too busy digging through her purse to even notice Valentino seated next to me. "Will you come with me to the city today I need some things for the...." Alicia finally retrieved keys from the bottom of her bag and looked up to see Valentino. "...Violin?" Alicia's eyes narrowed "What is he doing here?" She said. I sighed at the fact that she did not hesitate to utter any thought that entered her mind.

"Valentino is joining us for lunch." I said, intertwining my arm under his. "Be nice." I silently mouthed, Alicia reluctantly took the seat next to him.

"You won't believe what happened just as you left to go get the violin" I retold about my encounter with Gaia and Dario, how she thought I deserved a "proper invitation".

"Did he say something to you?" Alicia said.

"No, if Valentino had not been with me I don't know what I would have done" I said. Probably passed out, I thought.

"Lucky." Alicia mumbled and looked to Valentino with despice,Valentino was to busy cheesing at the sun to notice her threathful gaze.

"So are you coming with me?" Alicia said.

"Coming with you where?"

"To the city, to pick up things for the violin or are you working today?"

"Yeah sure," I hit Valentino slightly on the side "Vale, are you coming with us?". I hadn't had his attention on me for this long ever, I was not about to lose it now, I thought.

We ended up going for a whole shopping spree, not unusual when in the city with Alicia. Alicia insisted I needed new shoes for the dress she had prepared for me to wear at the party and a new bag, and a new bra, "It has to be strapless, she's wearing a lace free dress." Alicia said, discussing with the lingerie lady behind the counter. I felt like a child shopping with her mother. The lady behind the counter had sent me off towards the dressing room, where I would wait for her and Alicia to make some arrangements. I felt sorry for Valentino, our shopping made him yawn, one store manager had even sent him out for pretending to dance with a mannequin. He had been entertaining me while Alicia went off looking for my perfect shoes. Finally I set him free, sending him off to any store of his choice, he would meet us by the fountain later.

I tried tucking my tummy as I stood in front of the changing room mirror. I was disappointed by how much air I had to hold to get it to the size I really wanted it to be. I exhaled and my stomach snapped back to its regular size. A hand popped in between the curtains. "Try this one, it's a body, it will shape your waist perfectly when wearing the dress." Alicia said from behind the curtains. "I'll look for more, tell me if you need a bigger size."

"Tell me if you need a bigger size." I mumbled. I held the body lingerie in front of me, I could tell it would be a tough one to fit and buying this would mean, not going to the bathroom the whole night at the party, there was no way I would get fully undress just to take a wizz. I was surprised that the lingerie fit so well, it shape my waist perfectly, It gave me one of those medieval waists, where the women could rest their arms on there hips. It made me look more curvaceous than I really was, I felt sexy, but the breeze between my breasts caused by the light see-through fabric, was something to get used to.

"Lessy are you in there?"

"Valentino?" I answered to the sudden voice appearing on the other side of the curtains.

The curtains flung open and then closed as quickly. "Vale!" I hissed, when he squeezed himself into the dressing room. I was left in a awkward position as I tried to cover my chest and my legs at the same time, I imagined I looked like an ostridge that was longing to take a piss. "What are you doing." he laughed.

Despite my promiscuous bravery the night of the dance and the hot minutes in his motorbike trailer, I didn't feel so confident showing Valentino all of me, especially not in the dressing room spot light.

"Could you get out please." I said, my voice was small. Valentino's face softened as his eyes curiously wandered up and down. "Let me see." He whispered.

"Vale come on." I whined, rubbing my shoulders with my arms. Big dimples carved his cheeks, "Don't be shy, let me see." He said tugging on some fabric at the bottom of the bodysuit. I slowly removed my arms, revealing my now pushed up chest and my freshly shaped waist. I regret not removing my arms faster, my slow movements across my chest and down my waist seemed to excited him, his cat eyes followed my every move, I felt like a private dancer in one of those old black and white movies.

Valentino nodded approvingly "You look sexy." he said.

"I do?". I turned to the mirror again, I had to take small breaths in this piece, it felt like I was wearing a corset.

"Did it fit, otherwise I found another one, a better one." Alicia was now behind the curtain.

"Thanks." I said, hiding the slight panic in my voice, if she knew he was in here, I thought. With amusement written all over his face, Valentino handed me the other lingerie after pretending to be me when Alicia's arm appeared between the curtains. Alicia footsteps demolished.

"Close your eyes please." I said, timid.

Valentino's eyes widened in surprise, "really?".

I nodded, "Please."

Valentino's eyelids closed, but his grin remain. I turned to the mirror, still with my eyes on him, making sure he wasn't peaking. I found myself staring, I took notice of how long eyelashes he had an the small spots on his face, the birthmarks, I loved them. His lips, I wanted them all over me, all over my body.

"What is taking you so long?" He muttered.

"Err, could you help me with the zipper" I spoke softly.

Valentino's eyebrows rose in surprise, "Err, can I open my eyes?" He whispered.

I chuckled, "Yeah, open them.". Our eyes met in the mirror. Valentino moved closer and with one gentle motion he slid down the zipper. To my surprise his eyes instantly slammed shut once the zipper was down. I turned around to face him, holding up the lingerie with my hand. Our faces were inches away. His eyes were moving intensely behind his eyelids.

"Open your eyes." I whispered, biting my lip.

"Err...Lessy you don't have to...". I interrupted his protest by taking his face in the palm of my hands and planting a soft kiss on his cherry lips. The lingerie slid down as my hands went for Valentino's face. The sudden vented breeze on my exposed breast made my nipples stiffen. I was surprised, despite the kiss and my obvious longing for his affection, Valentino's eyes remain closed. I wanted him to crack, I wanted him to see me, all of me. My hand left his face and found its way down to his. I held his arm in front of me. Still nothing huh. He was looking to see how far I would go? In that case...

Valentino's chest rose as I made his hand firmly grip around my breast, my hard nipple in between his fingers. I caught his eyelid twitch for a split second, he was fighting it.

I sighed loudly, "fine", I released his hand from my breast. "Don't worry I'm getting dressed now." I said, facing the mirror again. Still nothing, not even a peak, It looked like he was sleepwalking. Slightly irritated, I got dressed in my regulair closed. "Very funny" I said, waving my hands in front of his eyes. "Okey I'm really done now." I said, bending down to tie my shoelaces. As I rose from the ground, Valentino's mesmerizing eyes were staring back at me, his grin was undeniably proud. "Ha ha." I said, rolling my eyes. I dominantly bumped into his shoulder as I passed him, leaving the dressing room.

I found Alicia with the lady by the counter. "We'll take this one." she said, handing the lady the exact lingerie I had just tried on. "You didn't even see me in it, how do you know it will look good.?" I said frowning.

"I'm sure it suited you perfectly." she said, swiping her credit card.

"What if it didn't." I said, my hands were on my hips. Alicia looked to me with a vicious smile, "I'm sure Valentino can tell me how it looked on you."

Alicia collected the receipt, "Ready?" she said pompously, we walked out the store.

"Valentino!" Alicia gasped, spotting him. He had returned to the fountain where we said we would meet up. "Haven't seen you for a while, did you find anything interesting?"

"Err, not really." He said, confused by her sudden cheerfulness towards him.

"Are we done here, can we go?" I interrupted.

"I guess so." Alicia hymn.

We began walking, but our two steps came to a halt. "Valentino don't you want to buy something for the party?" Alicia said, stopping us.

"Err... like a gift, I already have one." He said proud

My eyes nervously wandered to Alicia she was rocking her subtle bitch face. "I meant like a suit, you're not planning on wearing that suit you wore to the dance right, its brown," Alicia frowned, "It won't match with Alessia's dress".

"I...I didn't bring my wallet." he stuttered.

"Oh, don't worry about that, I'll pay, you can pay me later, like Alessia will" She said. Valentino was silent.

"He' doesn't have to buy a suit right now, we've been here a long time, aren't you tired." I said, giving Alicia a serious "That's enough" look.

She shrugged her shoulders, "I guess, if he doesn't want to...." She said, looking over my shoulder to meet his eyes. Valentino's eyes were on the floor, his hair covering his face.

"...Then I guess we're done here." Alicia said cheerfully and began walking.

"Are you coming?" She shouted. I was still standing by Valentino, something had change in his eyes, he looked at me with slight resentment. My heart began to ache, like someone was poking it with a sharp stick. Alicia's sigh, was heard echoing from afar. "Alessia, let's go!". My feet were glued to the ground I couldn't move, Alicia's words had clearly affected him in some way. Alicia's footsteps tapped in one of my ears. "Valentino do you need a ride home?" She said hastily. Valentino's face turned slightly red, not rose red, which equals embarrassed, more like red, angry bull red. "Nah, I'll take the train he said spitting on the ground.". Alicia's arm began yanking mine. Valentino looked to me, his hands in his pockets. he looked to waiting for me to come with him. Alicia's yanking, did awfully for my now aching elbow. "Err...See you later." I managed to say before Alicia pulled me in one direction and Valentino turned his back and went the other direction.

********

"I don't understand, are you mad or something?" Alicia said shutting the engine, we had arrived in front of my house.

"How could you say all those things to Valentino!" I shouted, I was angry.

"What, that he should buy a new suit. I was just making a suggestion."

My mouth fell open, "A suggestion, no you weren't, you were fucking pitying him, wanting to pay for his suit and everything."

Alicia gasped, "I was being nice, I mean I was paying for your shit."

"Were friends Alicia and you know I always pay you later, but to "suggest" the same for Valentino... a suit cost like a lot of money and you expected him to just take your offer."

"It's not my fault he feels offended, I bet if it was his uncle he would of happily taken the offer." She said, mumbuling the last part.

"You know what you were doing, you were angry...angry about..." I couldn't find right the words.

"You're right" Alicia said calmly. "I apologize." She said.

"Thank yo.... "

"I apologize for the fact that I have a friend who can't stop sluttuying it up everywhere we go." She shouted. My mouth fell to the floor. "I mean come on Alessia, you just got dumped by one guy and now your jumping to another, can't you see how it makes you look, how it makes me look as your friend, if I don't tell you like it is who will?"

I chuckled " tell me like it is." I stop the tears that were trying to escape my eyes. "All you want Alicia, is to once again control everything I say and everything I do, I mean you're even telling me how to dress now." I unbuckled my seat belt and leaned towards her. "Can't you see, It's you, me and Dario all over again, you wanting to control everything again, wanting to control me by telling me what to do, what to say." a tear escaped my eye. "Something I should have said a long time ago, before I let you ruin me and Dario..." I opened the car door. "Mind your own fucking business Alicia!" I said, slamming the door behind me.