"I've been dancing so long my feet feel like they're going to fall off" Anna whined.

"Hey, you were the one that wanted to dance in the first place!" I said, continuing to do another one of my lame dance moves.

"Yeah! You got us started and now we can't stop" Evan said, waving his hands in the air like he just did not care.

Anna groaned, "Can we just go get something to drink?" she asked. She bumped into some guy's sweaty back and cringed, springing toward us.

"What? Are you thirsty?" I asked, stressing the last word. I took hold of Evan's hands and we spun one another around, just to mess with Anna.

Anna let out a small exasperated laugh, "Yeah, actually I am very thirsty" she said, bending down to rub her feet.

We had ended up taking our heels off before the second song had even started. And I was pretty positive even after only one song of dancing; my feet were covered in blisters.

When we didn't stop Anna groaned again, "Seriously, we've danced for almost a full two hours. Evan- you're dancing went from bad to just plain horrible and Finnly- you're legs are literally glistening with sweat. I think it's seriously time to give it a rest"

I stopped dancing and Evan followed suit, "Fine, Anna. I guess you've learned never to ask us to dance again" I said, rolling my eyes.

Evan just laughed as we walked over to the food table- where we had started the night , "You know, I thought this night would just be really depressing... considering the people we both like are here with someone else..." he trailed off, glancing at me , "But this has actually been pretty fun".

I nodded, "Yeah! And we haven't seen them the entire night" I pointed out, referring to Colton and Mia.

Anna laughed and brought her glass to her lips, "Don't jinx it- they're getting ready for the slow songs now" she said.

I watched all the people without dates slouch off the dance floor as the first slow song began. Only about a couple dozen people remained, starting to dance with their partner.

I crossed my arms when I saw Mia with Kyle. She hadn't bothered talking to us the entire night- other than the short introduction when I had first arrived. You would think after all the nagging she had done to get me to go- she would've at least tried hanging out with us more.

Evan coughed, obviously seeing Mia with Kyle as well, "Anna, I know you're tired and all, but do you want to dance?" he asked, holding his hand out to her.

I almost laughed at how formal he was. Evan was a very romantic guy- it actually kind of surprised me when Mia didn't take any notice in him because of that. He was thoughtful and caring- someone that really deserved to be happy.

Anna raised her eyebrows in surprise and sat down her glass, "Sure, why not?" she said, taking his hand.

I smiled as he led her over to the dance floor and they started swaying together. Anna was so short compared to him- I really just wanted to take a picture for the sake of it.

I sighed softly when Colton and Becca came into view. Becca was literally plastered to his chest, her eyes closed and her feet moving effortlessly. Colton had his arms around her, but his eyes were open- scanning the room.

I mentally prayed he wouldn't notice me. Yeah, I didn't have a date, and I knew he knew that- but that didn't mean I actually wanted him to see me alone.

Talk about embarrassing.

"Hey, do you want to dance?"

I turned around to face the guy that had come up behind me.

"Uh, sure?" I said.

I vaguely recognized him from Mr.Fell's class and my lunch period. I didn't remember ever talking to him before though.

He smiled and led me over to the dance floor, placing his hands on my waist. I hesitantly wrapped my arms around his neck in response. He was cute...very actually...but I didn't know him and slow dancing is awkward enough with someone you do know.

"I don't know if you know but I'm Avery. I'm in Mr.Fell's class with you" he said.

I nodded, "Yeah, I remember" I said, "I'm uh Finnly, but you probably already know that because you asked me to dance" I trailed off, highly aware of how lame I sounded.

Avery chuckled, "Yeah, your friends call you Finn, am I right?" he asked.

I nodded, "Yeah. But it takes a while to get to that level" I said , "you know, it's actually kind of an honor to get the pleasure of calling me Finn" I continued, letting out a small laugh.

"How long do you think it'd take me? To get to that level?" he asked, looking down at me, his mouth slightly turned up in a small smirk.

Was he flirting with me?

I started panicking. I didn't know how to flirt with people! What do I do?

"Uh, I don't know. I mean I really don't know you that well, so I guess you have to start at ground zero and work your way up" I shrugged.

Avery laughed, "And what's ground zero?"

"Ground zero means you're an acquaintance - so it's Finnly" I said.

"Will dinner elevate my status?" he asked, smiling.

Wait. Did he ask me out?

I glanced over at Colton and Becca momentarily. Colton's eyes matched mine and my heart fluttered. I couldn't give up yet...especially for some guy I didn't even know or have feelings for.

Colton looked from me to Avery and then back at Becca.

I pursed my lips, "Uh I don't know" I said.

Avery smiled, "Well let me know when you find out" he said.

I nodded, "Yeah, will do"

The song ended and I let my arms fall from his neck, starting to head over to where my heels were near the corner of the room.

Avery caught me by the wrist, "Do you want to get something to drink?" he asked.

I wanted to tell him that 'no, I did not want to get something to drink, that I just wanted to find my friends and go home', but he was being nice to me so I decided I should return the courtesy.

"Yeah- thank you" I said, walking over to the now crowded table of food.

Avery went off to get me something to drink and I stood by myself- eternally grateful when Anna and Evan showed up, "What happened to 'Operation Folton'?! You can't go around with other guys if you want this to work!" Anna said in a hushed whisper.

"Calm down! It's not like I'm making out with him! I'm just trying to be nice!" I said defensively.

Evan laughed, "Well I'm happy for you Finn, someone is actually taking notice to you!" he said, resting his arm on my shoulder.

I rolled my eyes and shrugged his arm off, "yeah yeah, it's kind of a big deal" I joked.

But it seriously was.

"Hey! I got y-Man, I'm so sorry Finnly!"

I held back a groan as Avery's glass of punch spilled down the front of my dress.

Anna gasped and I grabbed a napkin- knowing that there was really no use at this point.

How many times would I have drinks thrown at me?

"Thanks for getting Finnly a drink, Avery. And that dance though, you really should go into acting."

I clenched the napkin in my fist when Becca came up beside Avery. Of course, I should've put the pieces together- they were friends. Someone like him wouldn't actually like someone like me.

"Real original Becca, if I didn't know any better I'd say you've run out of ideas how to humiliate me" I said, starting to dab my dress carefully.

Becca smirked, "so you decided to get the dress? It's really too bad it's ruined" she said.

I scanned the room for a second. Where the hell was Colton?

"It'll come out" I said defiantly, even though I was pretty positive it'd take gallons of Tide.

"Is this all because of Colton? Because if it is, you have got to be shitting me! It's been three years!" Anna said, putting her hands on her hips.

"I'd stay out of it, sweetie. You don't even know half of it." Becca said.

I threw up my hands in exasperation, "Can you enlighten me? Because I still have no clue why you've been making it your job to give me shit" I said, my teeth grinding against each other.

Becca opened her mouth, probably to retort another snappy comment, but Colton came up to our group, causing her to flip the switch back to 'fake Becca'.

"Baby! I was just telling Finnly how pretty her dress is!" she said.

Colton's eyes widen when he saw my dress-now tinted purple on the front thanks to the punch, "Yeah, it's beautiful" he said, looking up at me.

Despite the embarrassment I was feeling, I felt my heart beat quicker.

He said my dress was beautiful

"Yeah, even though you bought it in the kid's section, it still looks ok on you" she said, giving me a small smile.

"She didn't buy-"

Becca cut Anna off, "Hopefully whatever that is" she gestured to the punch on my dress, "comes out. It's not flattering" she said.

I gave her a sickly smile, "Yeah" I said coldly.

"We better get going, Becca" Colton said, "It was nice seeing you guys" Colton continued, ushering Becca away from us.

I was thankful he decided to end that short. I didn't know how much longer I could've gone without breaking down.

I watched as they walked away, my fists still clenched in anger. Had she really gone to such extremes just to make a fool out of me in front of Colton?

Did she really have time for that?

Avery laughed and patted me on the back enthusiastically, causing me to stumble forward, "Can't say I'm sorry, Finn. That was the most fun I've had in a while"

A couple of his friends whooped and clapped him on the back, "Ha! She fell for it man."

I felt my cheeks grow warm in anger and I clenched my jaw.

Evan must've noticed because he took me by the arm and ushered me outside.

Once we were outside, I sat down on one of the benches, "Why did the night have to end so badly? It was going great" I mumbled, putting my face in my hands.

Anna sat down beside me, "Because Becca's a bitch" she said.

I cracked a smile and Evan laughed softly, "And thinks about it this way" he said, "If Becca is doing all this stuff to you, it probably means she views you as a threat"

Anna jumped up, "Exactly! And that's good news because if she views you as a threat than that could mean she thinks Colton still has feelings for you" she pointed out.

"Oh who has feelings for Finn?" Mia asked, plopping down beside me on the bench.

Anna crossed her arms annoyed, and rolled her eyes, "Maybe you would know if you had detached yourself from your boyfriend's hip"

Evan let out a big laugh and I looked at him surprised, a small smile on my lips.

"Really Evan? That's so immature" Mia said, looking at Evan distastefully.

I clenched my fists for what must've been the millionth time tonight, "Mia, can you stop? Just stop. I'm going to lay this out for you plain and simple. None of us want to be your friend if you're only going to use us at your convenience. That is immature" I said defiantly.

I didn't know where the sudden outburst came from. To be honest, I think it was just a result of all the emotions I had building up over the course of the night.

Mia momentarily looked stunned before she put on a façade of nonchalance, "If you guys can't deal with the fact that I have a boyfriend and you don't then maybe we shouldn't be friends" she said, before picking up her purse and leaving.

I watched her walk away, understanding the fact that I had just lost my best friend.

I groaned. How could everything get so bad so quick?

~*~*~*~

"Thanks for the ride home, Mrs. Bodnell!" Anna called before we went inside.

My dad and Kim must not have gotten home yet because we were met by an entirely dark house.

"Well, I'm going to bed Finn. I'm exhausted" Anna said, letting out a yawn.

"Yeah, me too" I said, trudging upstairs after her.

"And seriously-don't worry about Becca, we'll deal with her later" Anna said, before going into her room.

All in all, I guess you could say homecoming was a complete bust. The best part about tonight was the fact that for the first time in forever we got a ride home.

I closed my bedroom door and sank down in my window seat, leaning my head against the wall.

In one night I had actually gone to a dance, flirted with a deceiving jerk, had punch spilled on me, and confronted Mia- which all basically ended with me having the shittiest night ever since I had arrived back in California.

Reflecting back, I just had to let the tears out. Throughout the night I had done a good job not turning on the water works- but now that I was alone, I couldn't help it.

I looked over at Colton's dark room and a huge wave of frustration washed over me.

"UGHHH" I cried, throwing a book against my wall.

I wasn't sad. I learned to not be sad a long time ago. This time, I was angry. Everything I did resulted in a bigger mess I couldn't get out of.

My chest shook with sobs. I was angry at Becca for taking Colton away. I was angry at Mia for leaving me when I most needed her. I was angry at Colton for not caring. But most of all- I was angry at my brother for dying.

"I needed you and you just left!" I sobbed, "You left Dad,Mom, and I for a text! We all needed you and you left without so much as a goodbye. Do you even realize what you did? Mom and Dad divorced because of you! You tore our family a part"

I wondered how my life would be different if he hadn't died. Would it be me dating Colton instead? Would my parents and I still be living here? Would we all be happy? I probably sat there for an hour, thinking 'what ifs" and crying my pain away.

But then I realized wondering those things wouldn't change the fact that my parents were a part. It wouldn't change the fact that Colton had moved on. It wouldn't change the fact that my life was falling apart for the second time.

Most importantly, it wouldn't change the fact that he was gone.

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here's chapter 14! I hope you guys liked it! 

What are your predictions? What do you think about Finn's brother? 

Thanks for sticking with me guys! Y'all are seriously amazing! WE ARE NOW RANKED! Yup! we're #960 in teenfiction! *cheers*

Song of the chapter- Sinner by Andy Grammer

later- A