Shout out to Ashley_Mariex for coming up with the official ship name. Dalton. Super cute. Love it. Love her. She made this adorable edit. Look how fucking good they look 😭

"... so then after Grayson threw up he tried to swing at this guy that he thought was staring at my ass and Drayton literally had to pick him up, carry him to the car and drive us both home and oh my God Dallas, it was hectic. Dray's Mom and Dad just took photos of Grayson while he stumbled through the house. He was such a mess."

I focus on the fabric of the teal homecoming dress in front of me, trying not to wince at the sound of Drayton's name or the thought of his protective heroics. I once again decide that this store doesn't hold anything of interest to me and gesture for Spencer to follow me while she continues to prattle on about last night's events.

After the tif with Dray I'd asked Cooper if we could cut our evening short. Instead we'd gone and joined Nathan at the Halloween party he attended. It was slightly less amped up and the numbers just couldn't compare but it went well. I unfortunately couldn't truly enjoy myself due to the misery that I felt over Drayton.

Spencer can tell I'm not in the highest of spirits and insisted that she spends the day following me around while I search for a homecoming dress. I don't know why she came along, she knows that I'm hopeless and search the entire mall before I settle. I can see her holding back the comments as we leave our current store in search of the next.

Cooper had no problem abandoning the search about three stores ago; in my opinion he'd made good time. He let us know that he'd be in the food court drowning his male sorrows in burgers and frozen soda until we're done.

"So are you going to tell me what happened with you and Dray?" Spencer asks once she's exhausted all of her tales of drunken adventure. I sigh as I steer us into a flashy boutique, knowing that she'd ask eventually.

"Literally nothing happened," I mumble, immediately flicking through the racks with a little more hope than I'd had earlier. These dresses are beautiful. "We're both hopeless. Neither of us can own how we feel. Not that I actually know how he feels."

"I think it's obvious!" Spencer scoffs as she mirrors my movements and flicks through the dresses as she trails along beside me. "He's so into you and everyone can see it."

"Yeah well it's not that obvious when he's flirting with me one minute and giving me another guy's number the next," I mumble. "And if it's so obvious, why did you not let me know what Cooper was planning? I would have suggested that you talk him out of it to be honest."

"Well, to be fair, he insisted that he come," she defends, resting an elbow on the rack beside her. "Also, I figured it might serve a purpose or two. One being that you could have some harmless fun. The second being that it might make Drayton jealous enough to sort his shit out and make you his."

"That's kind of evil." I sigh. But I'm not surprised.

The champagne coloured dress that I've been assessing for a few moments looks perfect, it's one of my favourite colours so I spin on my heel with the hanger in hand and head for the changing rooms with Spencer hot on my heel.

"Do you wonder if Dray's just tryna like... protect himself." She gestures with her hands as she speaks. I can see the wild movements from the corner of my eye which is a dead giveaway that she's trying not to shout at the top of her lungs. "Maybe he doesn't want to fall for you for the exact same reason that you don't wanna fall for him."

Spencer's pointed look is banished from my sight as I abruptly pull the dressing room curtain closed. As always, she's got valid points and arguments that I can't fight because her logic far outweighs mine.

"Make sure you show me once you've got that on." Her voice becomes a little distant and I assume she's made her way to the seating area. "You guys are being so frustratingly ridiculous. You both like each other so just bloody go for it."

I lift the straps of the dress over my shoulders and assess it in the mirror. It looks perfect. A small smile makes its way on to my lips as I think about the fact that it pays to be picky sometimes.

"Spence, tie the back up?" I ask after I've pulled the curtain open. She gives me an approving smile and springs up from the seat.

"This looks incredible! Dray is going to love it!"

"You need to stop."

"Ugh. You're demented. You don't want to date the rich quarterback who could literally visit you whenever he wants because, why?"

"Because long distance doesn't work!" I turn around now that she's tied the silk belt behind my back and throw my arms open wide. "Especially not with a guy like him who has - lots of options."

"Sometimes I think you don't realise how gorgeous you are." She folds her arms with a pointed look. My frustration diminishes. I'm lucky to have such an incredible friend who loves to remind me how valuable I am. "And long distance can work. You're running out of excuses ya know?"

"Mhmm," I sarcastically smile and shut the curtain again before I reach back and undo the dress bow, "how about the fact that we end up arguing whenever we try to talk. Doesn't really scream stable now does it?"

"Lovers argue, Dallas. It's just a sign of the angsty romantic connection that you both share."

I rip the curtain back when I'm finished changing and stare at her in faux disgust. She reads way too many unrealistic novels and I think an intervention is in serious need. She doesn't seem concerned by the distaste, fixing me with a wide innocent smile as she follows me to the cash register.

"You're just bothered because I'm right."

• • •

The dance starts in half n hour and to say I'm nervous is an understatement. I'm also a little disappointed that my plan to binge-watch Netflix has been thrown out the window. Instead I get to watch Drayton show up looking like an A list heartthrob with some cover girl on his arm. The entire event is being overhyped by my imagination and it's starting to make me nauseous.

Because going to the dance had been a last-minute decision, I hadn't been able to book a hair and makeup appointment so I attempted to do it myself. I'm satisfied with the way it turned out. My hair is curled and pulled into a messy side do with a few diamanté clips weaved into it. My lids are a smokey bronze with splays of rose gold shimmer in the corners.

"Can I come in?" Cooper knocks on the door and opens it a crack but doesn't appear until I let him know that it's fine. "Oh, wow. Dallas, you look great."

I smile and gesture at his tall lean frame. "So do you."

Cooper looks dapper in a fitted dark blue tuxedo. He opted out of wearing a tie but he still looks formal and handsome. My only downfall is that I feel the colours don't look right together but there's nothing to be done about that now.

"I got you something." He smiles, walking further into the room with his hand behind his back. "I snuck off while you were dress shopping."

He proudly smiles and reveals the mystery gift. It's a corsage. A beautiful corsage with a champagne ribbon and shimmering detail, the more interesting part is the lily that it's made of.

He can't have known that my dress was going to be champagne and I have to wonder if the lily is a coincidence or not.

"How'd you know that I love lilies?" I smile appreciatively and slip the corsage on to my wrist.

"Oh," he chuckles, visibly swallowing as he shifts his weight, "I - I didn't know. I just thought it looked good."

I wave my wrist with an appreciative smile. "Well, it looks great!"

I hate that I've been faking all this happiness since he got here. It should feel more natural, I should feel excited for the evening ahead. But all that I feel is anxiety and dread. The only mild elation that I feel, comes from knowing that I'll get to see Dray in a tux and I have no doubts that he'll look incredible. Just that thought in itself makes me breathless with frustration. I need to forget about him.

"Shall we?" Cooper offers me his arm and I link mine with his. We head out into the living room where Nathan is waiting with his keys in hand, watching a football game on the television.

"Aw sis," he smiles and spins the keys around his finger as we approach, "you look great" - his eyes flicker to Cooper and his mouth turns down ever so slightly - "black woulda looked better," he mumbles.

"Uh so..." I clap my hands together as a deep heat engulfs my cheeks. He makes things incredibly awkward with his blatant hostility. "Should we go?"

"Yeah I'm not gonna do the whole fret and take a million pictures of you thing though, kay?" Nathan marches towards the front door. "That's what photographers are for."

Typical. I bet if Drayton had been my date he would have created a themed backdrop and set up his own photoshoot. I don't bother arguing and shrug apologetically at Cooper who doesn't seem put out by my brother's lack of hospitality. And if he is, he doesn't show it.

When we arrive at the dance I can't get out of the car fast enough. The tension had been palpable, no one saying a word the entire ride. Thank the good Lord that it's only a ten-minute drive.

"Your brother doesn't like me, does he?" Cooper asks as we wave Nathan off and head towards the gymnasium.

"Oh- he um - he's just a bit of a snob when it comes to sports," I explain as lightly as I can so that he doesn't take it to heart. "I think that your disregard for football bugs him. Just ignore him, he's not important."

"You guys take your sport pretty seriously, huh?" He holds the gymnasium door open and ushers me inside.

"Very."

I glance around the now transformed gymnasium and admire how well the social committee has done. The theme is movie classics and they've embraced that theme beautifully. The walls are lined with famous quotes. People are taking photos with the cardboard cutout characters such as the mean girls cast, the breakfast club crew, the girls from clueless, grease and a slew of other favourites. The red and blue helium balloons are stuck to the ceiling and streamers are cast from one wall to the other. It looks amazing.

"Do you wanna dance?" Cooper places his hand on the small of my back as he leans in with a keen smile. The dance floor is occupied with two or so dozen students but there are more people arriving by the minute so I suppose dancing before the floor turns into a sweaty cesspool of horny teenagers is our best option.

"Sure."

I grip his hand and lead him towards the floor to make up for the weak acceptance of his request. I'm grateful that the song is an upbeat Demi Lovato beat and not a slow song that would require intimacy. God I'm so pathetic.

We dance for about ten minutes, in which that time the gym becomes more full, the chatter louder and the atmosphere more energetic. I do my best not to glance at the door every two seconds but it's almost impossible. I'm offered a momentary distraction from my search when Spencer and Grayson arrive, looking like a couple fit for the red carpet.

Spencer's short silver dress falls to her thighs, the plunging neckline is decorated with a simple silver chain and pendant and her hair is arranged into a beautiful bun on the top of her head. Grayson's tux is swish and he's even wearing a tie that matches her dress. Spencer spots me from the entryway and wildly waves, looking the happiest that I've seen her in a long time. I decide then and there that I'll drop the moody attitude so that she doesn't worry about me.

"You look so hot!" I squeal as she jostles towards me with her arms spread open wide. We embrace in a girlish, giggling hug. This makes the night feel right, having my best friend here, seeing her in such good spirits, admiring the way Grayson grins at her with an infatuated expression from where he stands behind her.

"You look hot!" She grips my shoulders and holds me at arm's length, an adoring look flittering her eyes before they glance towards the date behind me. "Hey Cooper, you look nice!"

"Oh thanks Spencer, so do you."

"And we all know that I look amazing!" Grayson steps forward and throws his arm over Spencer's shoulder. "Let's go and dance, beautiful."

A smile that reaches her gorgeous brown eyes lifts her cheeks as the two of them slip away into the crowd. At least something good came from Dray and I interacting. Two people who are absolutely perfect for each other met; they deserve so much happiness.

Cooper and I continue to dance for a while, our bodies moving in sync to the loud music. He's got incredible rhythm, even when he's dancing in a crowded gym, wearing a fitted tuxedo. We dance well together, it's natural because we're both dancers, but our bodies don't fit the way I want them too. Not the way that it feels when I dance with Dray.

"Hey, um I'm just gonna go and get a drink," I tell Cooper approximately three seconds into a slow song. His hands found my hips and I felt as though I was about to suffocate.

"I'll come."

"No, no," I nervously exhale as he waits for an explanation, "I'm going to go to the bathroom first. I won't be long."

He watches me with concern as I nod.

"Melissa." I grab the gorgeous Latina when I see her disappearing on to the dance floor. She raises a curious brow at my hand which is holding her arm with an iron-like grip. I let go and admire her black sequin cocktail dress with shimmers of emerald that illuminate when the light hits it.

"You look gorgeous—"

"You're not my type," she interrupts.

"What? Oh no—"

"I'm kidding," she laughs and gives me a light jab in the shoulder. "What's up girl? Why are you wearing a long dress? It's homecoming. Not prom."

"Because I like it." I fan at my face. The heat is picking up and the fact that Cooper moves closer and rests his hand just above my bum makes me feel claustrophobic. "Besides, it's long but kind of casual. Who cares. This is Cooper. My date."

She whips her head between both of us with such a strong recoil that she gives herself a double chin. She's another fan of Drayton and I know what she's thinking when her gaze narrows at me. "Your date?"

"I'm going to the bathroom." I side-step out of his hold and pat her on the shoulder. "Chat with him for a second."

I peck his cheek which seems to make him happy and beeline towards the spring-loaded gym doors, throwing them open and practically running down the concrete steps as I fill my lungs with the chilled night air.

This is too much.

It's too hard and I can feel the threat of tears as I lean against the wall around the corner, hidden out of sight so no one can talk about the cheerleader having a near break down outside. The frustration is so strong. My inability to feel something for someone else is so enraging that I want to pull my own hair out.

I've tried with Cooper, I have. I even felt hopeful while we were texting, but having him here, realising that he can't make me feel the earth-shattering, euphoric and captivating senses that Dray makes me feel, is so unfair that it hurts.

I'm beginning to realise that you can't force feelings and love to exist where it doesn't, in the same way that you can't deny where it does.

The sound of gravel crunching beneath feet startles my attention to the direction that I'd just come and I expect to find that Cooper's followed me, maybe even Spencer, but instead I come face to face with a shadowed Drayton.

My heart thumps with impossible strength at the sight of him. His black tailored suit hugs him perfectly, he's wearing a crisp white shirt with a dress vest over top. The shirt sleeves are rolled to his elbows, stretching at the seams around his large biceps. He doesn't wear a tie and the top two buttons are undone, revealing his toned chest. He looks beyond good; he looks sexy and I can't describe how deep the level of desire I feel for him goes.

"Are you okay?" he asks cautiously, stopping a few feet away.

"Yeah." I nod. "We should probably stop meeting like this though."

A small smile lifts his lips as he stuffs his hands into the pant pockets. "I saw you basically run out of the gym and I wanted to make sure he hadn't done anything to make you upset."

"No, Dray, he didn't." I assure him with a grateful smile. "I didn't even know you were here."

"I've been here for a while." He shrugs and his eyes flicker towards the corsage on my wrist, he steps closer and lifts my hand to inspect it, the touch sends shockwaves throughout my body.

"You told him to get this, didn't you?" I squint at him. "I don't know how you knew but you had something to do with this?"

He doesn't take his eyes off the corsage but one corner of his mouth turns up as he inhales a deep breath. "You love champagne, you always wear it." His hand slowly moves further up my arm, his fingers grazing my skin so gently that it raises goosebumps as he moves towards my elbow. "And the lilies are obvious. You draw them all over your econ books."

At this point, if I was hooked up to a machine I'd be condemned a medical mystery with the rate my heart is beating and my lungs are working. He's never let his guard down like this and the revelation of how much attention he pays to me makes my head spin a million miles an hour.

He's still got a firm but gentle grasp on my elbow. His eyes lock with mine and a vulnerability that I've never seen before shines through his every feature like a bright beacon of hope. If sparks of electricity were visible between two people, we'd be lighting up the entire state at this point.

"Dray-" it comes out as a breathless gasp as he tugs on my elbow and cups my neck, driving our mouths together with a hungry force that knocks the wind right out of me.

My hands wind themselves around his neck, my fingers sliding into his hair as he pushes me backwards into the wall. Our tongues meet and I can't believe that the taste of peppermint over cigarettes actually tastes good, but it does.

His smooth tongue moves expertly against my own as his hands travel down the length of my waist, across my hips and on to the soft silk that caresses my thighs. We both claw at each other as if we can't get close enough; the hard brick wall behind me will no doubt create indents on my back but at this point a natural disaster could take place and I don't think I'd notice.

I can feel his swollen length pressed against my stomach through the soft silky fabric and it draws a moan from deep within me. His pace picks up in response, his hands winding in my hair and pulling my head back to expose my throat, which he drags his hot mouth along, kissing and sucking his way to my collar bone as I stare up at the starry sky, gasping in ecstasy, completely at the mercy of his touch.

His mouth works its way back up to my own, crashing against me furiously and urgently. His arm winds around my waist, pressing our bodies impossibly close together; his rock hard chest feels beyond sensual, and I undo a few more buttons as we continue to kiss with need. I run my hands across his pecks and chest, something I've wanted to do since I first saw this sculpted masterpiece. My touch draws out a throaty groan which reverberates right through me, igniting more need than I thought was possible.

"Come with me?" he mumbles against my mouth, continuing to pepper me with wet, hot needy kisses.

I want to follow him, I want to follow him anywhere he wants to go, but the realisation reminds me that I can't; it reminds me that I shouldn't even be doing this right now.

"I can't," I gasp and lean away from his dangerous mouth. "Dray I can't, I'm here with someone else."

He leans against the wall, encasing me between his arms as we both desperately try and catch our breaths. I've messed his hair up quite significantly and I'm sure mine doesn't look a lot better. Our breathless panting can probably be heard from miles away right now but it doesn't seem to matter. Nothing does.

Drayton's eyes flicker between my eyes and my mouth and he looks as though he's going to kiss me again. I want that. I want it all, all of him, all night long. But I am here with someone else and even I couldn't go that far.

He slowly nods, his gaze still shifting around my features with desire. "Yeah," he huffs and straightens up. "You are with someone else. I'm sorry."

He leans back in and places a chaste soft kiss against my swollen lips before he caresses my cheek and walks away, leaving me leaning against the wall with the spins.

I've never been kissed like that; I've had a lot of kisses and not one has been in league with that.

I can only feel a fraction of guilt for what I'd just done. The high is still very much in place and Cooper is a faint thought somewhere in the back of my mind. That is, until I begin walking back inside, only to find him leaning against the gym wall at the corner, a sad smile on his face.

"Cooper?" I swallow loudly and attempt to fix the disheveled state my hair is in. "Um, how long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough."

• • •

To be continued ..

Much love. Until next time. x