The past couple days had dragged. Ever since Becca had confronted me at the store, I had done everything in my power to avoid pretty much everyone.

My dad had attempted to talk to me once Anna and I had gotten home from shopping- after he was done scolding us for being out on a school night and actually realized that something was wrong. I hadn't told him much, other than the fact that I was 'having friend problems'.

I knew eventually I'd end up telling both him and Kim what was going on, but until then I didn't want to immerse them in my problems.

I had even done a pretty good job of avoiding Becca, although she made numerous attempts in the hall to mutter crude comments at me.

Colton... well he was another story.

It was harder to avoid him; he was my next door neighbor, and the thanksgiving trip was coming up soon- something I was dreading more and more as each day passed.

My dad told me that it would be fun - something that would really make me feel like I was at home again. But I couldn't bring myself to think of it like that. All I could imagine it being was some really awkward and depressing trip that would arouse old saddening memories and haunting feelings of the past.

Call me dramatic.

But right now, I had a more pressing matter to deal with.

Homecoming.

"Finnly, for the sake of all things good, stop moving"

I rolled my eyes, "I don't mean to!" I said, "And I was perfectly fine with leaving my hair the way it was!"

Anna laughed, "Oh please, this is homecoming, you're supposed to get dressed up and stuff!"

Anna continued curling my hair and I let my eyes drift over to Colton's window.

I couldn't help it. As much as I had been denying it the past couple days, I had a crush on Colton Pane and I couldn't do one damn thing about it.

"If you're wondering, Colton already left" Anna said nonchalantly.

I perked up, "Why? Homecoming doesn't start until later"

I saw Anna bite her lip in the mirror, "Him and Becca are going out beforehand" she said.

I felt a sudden pang of jealously. What if I hadn't left? Would it be me going on that date with him?

I forced a small smile, "How do you know all of this?" I laughed.

Anna shrugged, "I was outside getting the mail when I heard Carol talking to my mom." She said.

"So they're friends now?" I asked, "Carol and your mom?"

Anna shrugged again, "Yeah, I guess so. Carol was the only person that bothered to introduce herself to us when we first moved here, so my mom really didn't have a choice but to get to know her" she said.

I nodded, "Well that's good, I mean with the Thanksgiving trip coming up and all" I said.

Anna set the curling iron down, "I'm so excited for that trip. I know you aren't- but this really could be a huge stepping stone in 'Operation Folton'".

I rolled my eyes, "As much as I would love for 'Operation Folton' to actually get somewhere, I don't think you realize that Colton does have a girlfriend" I said, "with whom he's been dating for three years" I continued.

Anna looked at me in the mirror, her gaze dull, "And?"

"And I don't know how to get in between that" I said.

I didn't exactly want Colton to break up with Becca because I liked him, it was more along the lines of- I wanted Colton to break up with Becca because she was a backstabbing two-faced snob that really needed anger management classes.

"Which is why, you're going to talk to him!" she sighed dramatically, "I've been telling you for ages to just talk to him!"

I groaned, "I've seriously been trying! Every time I go to talk to him, something happens and then I just give up!" I said, "I feel like if I talk to him I'm just going to end up crying in the end! And I absolutely refuse to let him see me cry"

Anna put down the curling iron, "All done" she said.

I ran my hand through my hair, making the curls look more natural.

"And crying might actually be good, it'll really show him how much all of this is hurting you" she said, using both of her hands to gesture around.

"Fine, but there's no way I'm talking to him tonight." I said defiantly, "I'm just going to try to have fun"

Anna nodded, "Good, now get dressed" she said, "And put on some makeup. Make Colton wish he'd never let you go" she continued, before unplugging the curling iron and walking out of my room.

Make Colton wish he'd never let you go.

I smirked to myself in the mirror.

Challenge accepted.

~*~*~*~

"This is beyond stupid" I muttered.

Anna huffed, "Why the hell do we have to walk everywhere? And especially now! I'm wearing heels for god's sake"

I wrapped my arms around my chest. It was freaking cold. It just so happened that Kim was getting groceries, and my dad was still at work downtown at the museum- apparently driving their daughters to homecoming wasn't a top priority.

"At least we're close" I said, as Palm Beach High came into view.

Anna rolled her eyes, "Thank god because I cannot stand this crap weather anymore."

As we neared the school, I saw kids starting to get dropped off, and kept my eyes out for Mia and Evan.

After much persuasion, I had succeeded in getting Evan to come to homecoming with me. If I had to go, I wanted to be surrounded with as many friends as I possibly could. There would be no wallflower moments for me- no sir.

"Ok, does my hair still look good?" Anna asked, turning to me before we went through the gym doors.

"It looks great" I said.

It had seriously taken Anna a whole hour to get ready, and there had been a lot of last minute panic when she couldn't find her dress, but thankfully, everything had come together.

Anna smiled happily, "Good, because if this freaking wind had ruin it, I would've had a cow"

I laughed, "Well thank god it didn't because I don't want to see you have a cow"

Anna rolled her eyes and swatted my shoulder, "C'mon, let's go in" she said, "it's time to put 'Operation make Colton wish he hadn't let you go' into action"

I raised an eyebrow questionably at her, "Is that a thing now?"

"It's more of a subdivision of 'Operation Folton'" she shrugged

I laughed and rolled my eyes, "Ok, whatever. Let's just go in" I said, pulling her inside the gym, at the same time, trying not to completely face plant the ground, no thanks to my heels.

We were met with roaring music, and the Principal checked our names off of the school roster before we were admitted into the dance.

"FINNLY! You made it!" Mia shouted over the music, running toward me, Kyle in tow.

I gave a small smile, "Yeah, of course I made it." I said.

Mia smiled enthusiastically, "Well we're so glad you could make it!" she said, squeezing Kyle's hand, "And during the slow dances, you can just dance with Evan or someone like you that doesn't have a date" she said, obviously not realizing how awful that came out.

I nodded, "Yeah, that sounds like a great idea" I said.

When did Mia become so inconsiderate of other's feelings? Now that she had a boyfriend it was Au Revoir to everyone that had cared about her before and Bonjour to all things involving Kyle.

Kyle offered me a small smile, "Let's go dance Mia" he said, kissing the top of her head.

"Talk to you later, Finn!" she said, before dashing off toward the dance floor with Kyle.

"They're so pathetic" Anna said blandly, "She didn't even say 'hi' to me and I was standing right next to you"

I gave her a reassuring smile and rolled my eyes, "She's probably still upset about that time you said she didn't care about Evan's feelings" I said, "honestly, it doesn't matter. She's not worth it anymore"

Anymore.

Couldn't we all just be friends again? Couldn't we just all forget about guys for a split second and just be friends?

Anna shrugged, "Eh, whatever. Oh look! A chocolate fountain!" Anna said, before making a mad dash to the tables of food on the far side of the room.

I laughed and followed her slowly, still trying to look for Evan.

I reached the chocolate fountain and laughed when I saw Anna already stuffing her face, "You know there are things called forks" I laughed.

Anna shrugged, "Fy ome" she said with her mouth full. She swallowed, "Try some. It's good"

I rolled my eyes, "I can tell" I said, before taking some for myself.

The music pounded in my ears and I looked over to the dance floor, scanning the room.

My eyes landed on Colton and Becca, dancing together.

I watched them as I slipped another chocolate into my mouth, I could literally feel the jealousy seeping out of my pores.

I turned back to the fountain, telling myself watching them would only make me more upset.

"Finnly! Code red! This is not a drill! This is not a drill! Colton is coming this way!" Anna said frantically.

I hastily wiped my mouth, trying to rid of all chocolate. The last thing I needed was for him to think I was a pig.

I turned around just in time to see him come up to the table beside us.

God he looked good. He was wearing a white button down shirt, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and his collar and tie were loosened, making him look incredibly attractive in an 'I woke up like this' way.

Anna snapped her fingers, "You're staring" she whispered.

I immediately glanced away, pretending to be fixated on the displays of food.

"Hey Colton!" Anna said chirpily.

Colton looked over at us, "Oh hey Anna" his gaze drifted over to me, "Finnly" he said.

I gave him an unenthusiastic wave and pursed my lips before looking away.

"Enjoying the dance?" Anna asked curiously, trying to keep the conversation alive.

Colton looked away from me and toward Anna again, "Yeah, it's ok" he said, "Honestly, the DJ could mix it up a bit because I'm sick of dancing to Beyonce "

I cracked a grin, but let it go when my eyes met with Colton's.

No. He can have no satisfaction in making me smile.

"Is that why you came to the food?" Anna asked, laughing.

Colton shrugged, "Nah, Becca wanted something to drink" he said, his voice getting slightly softer.

And it's not like she had legs so she could come and get it her own dang self.

"Cool" Anna said, rocking back and forth on her heels.

We all shared a minute of awkward silence before I piped up.

"Well, nice talking to you but I think you should take this" I took a glass of punch and handed it to him, "And go back to your thirsty girlfriend" I said, offering him an overly enthusiastic smile.

Colton looked at me questionably before taking the glass swiftly from my hand and walking back toward Becca and their group of friends on the dance floor.

Anna burst out laughing, "The look on his face was priceless"

I smirked, "yeah, it really was. Where's my camera when we actually need it?" I laughed.

Anna continued to hysterically laugh, "Only if Evan was here to see that!" she said.

I laughed, "Yeah, where is he anyway?" I asked.

As if right on cue, Evan jogging over to us, "Thank god I found you guys! I was standing at the entrance for at least 10 minutes deciding whether I should actually go in or not" he said.

Anna smiled, "Well about time you came!" she said, punching his shoulder, "Now we can actually dance!"

"I don't dance" I said, holding up my hands.

"Yeah, there's no way I'm dancing" Evan said, putting his hands in his pant pockets.

Anna stuck her bottom lip out, pouting, "Come on! Have fun! Let loose!" she said, started to dance toward the dance floor, "YOLO, right?" she said.

I raised an eyebrow at her, "Please don't tell me you said 'YOLO'"

Anna ignored me, "I'll opt out of the Thanksgiving trip if you don't dance Finnly. Choose wisely, because if I don't go, you'll be all alone with Colton."

Evan laughed, "Yeah seriously, choose wisely"

Shit.

"Ugh, fine" I said, dragging Evan toward the dance floor, ignoring his desperate pleas.

YOLO it is.

<><><><><><><><><>

I know it was kind of short, but this is only part one of homecoming!

Thanks for dealing with me through my crazy updating schedule! Good news is tommorow is my last day of school! So then after that there will be regular updates!

Anyway, thanks so much for 5k reads! You guys truly are amazing and I'm not sure i would continue writing this story if it weren't for your continued support and nice comments :) 

Happy start of summer!

- A