Hello my beautiful readers,

First of all, I'd like to apologize. I know I said I would update on Sunday but I work all the seven days, so it was quite hectic. I'm sorry for the late update.

I've tried to make this chapter a little longer,

Hope you like it,

Happy reading :)

*

I walked back to my class with lots of dread. Taylor seemed very disturbed when he saw Asher and I together. I need to ask him what happened.

Thankfully, I saw him sitting at our usual seat when I entered the class.

"Hey Taylor." I greeted him.

"Hey, Princess." Phew, he's still calling me princess. Thank God.

"Did you do homework?" I asked trying to get a conversation going.

"Yeah?" He said in an interrogative tone. I raised an eyebrow at him. "No, I didn't do it."

"As usual." I handed him my copybook so that he could copy it.

"You're a savior, Princess." He side hugged me. I laughed at his antics. "Um, Princess, would you like to have lunch with me, today?" He asked nervously.

I thought about it before giving him an answer. I don't know what Asher would say or do if he saw me with him. But who cares, Taylor is my friend. To hell with Asher.

"Yeah, of course." Once Taylor heard my answer, he smiled widely at me. Silly boy!

"Good morning, class." Mr. Roger said, gaining everyone's attention. Taylor moved slightly away from me so that he could complete his copying.

Once he was done, he handed me back my copybook, where he had written something on the blank page, 'lunch behind the football ground?' I looked at him and nodded.

He showed me his thumb and we both went back to listening to what Mr. Roger had to say.

One hour later, the painful was over and both Taylor and I had free period. I went to the library while he went to meet his coach and we both decided to meet directly behind the football ground at lunch.

I searched for my favorite book and went to sit somewhere away from the other students. I needed some space away from everyone now.

I began reading the first page when I heard some shuffling near me. I lifted my head to look who it was. I recognized this girl. She was a nerd just like me. Lilly I think is her name.

"Hi." She said shyly.

"Hello." I greeted back. "You're Lilly, right?" I asked her.

"Yeah. And you're Emberly. Asher's girlfriend, right?" She queried nervously.

I was about to deny the girlfriend part but remembered Asher's words. "Yeah, I'm his girlfriend."

"You're the talk of the school, you know." She told me taking me by surprise.

"What?"

"Yeah, you didn't know?" I shook my head no. She seemed shocked by my response.

"Yeah, everyone's been talking about you and Asher and your possible affair with Taylor." She responded, making my eyes go wide.

"My what?" I nearly shrieked.

"Quiet." The library attendant scolded.

"My what?" I whispered this time making her laugh.

"Um, certain people think you're cheating Asher with Taylor and some think you're dating both." She said fidgeting with her fingers.

"Oh my Gosh!" I said to myself. "But that's not true at all. Taylor is just a good friend of mine, that's it."

"That's what you think, but certain people are just jealous that's why they are saying such things about you." She reassured me.

"You don't think like them?" I questioned.

"No. I know you wouldn't so such a thing. You're too sweet." Aww, this girl is too cute.

"Thanks." I smiled at her.

"You're welcome." She said, and went back to studying. I was about to ask her from where she heard this but the bell rang, signaling it was lunch.

"Bye, Lilly. I'll see you later."

"Bye, it was nice talking to you." She said and picked up her things.

I quickly left the library and walked towards the football ground.

I saw Taylor still talking to his coach. I waited near the benches so that we could go together behind the football ground.

Once he was done talking to his coach, he jogged towards me. "Let's sit here. Some students are already partying behind the football ground." He said panting a little.

"Okay." I took a seat on the bench and took out my sandwich. "Want some?" I offered him a piece of my sandwich.

"Yeah, thanks." He took a bite then handed me the rest. "So, it's true then."

"What's true?" I asked confusedly, munching on my sandwich.

"That you're dating Asher." He looked at me with a pained expression on his face. My face lost all its colour and I was no longer hungry.

"Yeah." I lied to him. Unfortunately I couldn't tell my best friend the truth about me. "I'm sorry I didn't inform you. It happened so fast."

"It's fine." He forced a smile on his face. "You know if he hadn't asked you out, I would probably have asked you out myself." He stated stiffly.

My eyes widened at his assertion. "Wh-what?" I stuttered.

"If you haven't noticed Emberly, I like you. More than just a friend." He said truthfully. "But you don't need to feel bad about it because I knew it from the start that you looked at me just like a friend and I don't blame you for that."

"I'm so sorry, Taylor." I didn't know what else to say.

"Hey, it's fine." He stroked my back. "It's not your fault. At least I have you as a friend."

"Best friend." I corrected him.

"Best friend." He smiled at me. "But honestly, do you really like Asher?"

I was about to answer when somebody cut me, "yes, she really likes me. why do you think she would date me?" I heard his murderous voice behind me.

Shit!

I turned towards him and saw him glaring at me.

"Emberly, come here." I got up from my seat and walked towards him. "We need to leave right now." He commanded.

"Huh?" I said unable to understand.

"We're leaving school." Asher said once again as if he was talking to a child.

"But we have class, Asher." I argued but his hard stare silenced me.

"Let's go." He wrapped his arms around my waist. "You stay away from her, Johnson or I won't be responsible for my actions."

I'm sorry, I mouthed at Taylor.

"Where are we going?" I asked Asher after one minute of silence but he preferred to keep quiet. We walked towards his car and I saw Monica waiting there, looking as impatient as ever. When she saw us, she ran towards us.

"Gosh, Emberly, where were you? I've been calling you since forever." She scolded me. I took my phone out of my bag and noticed thirteen missed calls.

"I'm sorry." I told her, feeling embarrassed.

I lifted my eyes to look at Asher. Gosh, he was still like a statue. He walked towards the car and got in. Monica and I followed suit.

Once we were all in, Asher started the engine and began driving to I don't know where.

Fifteen minutes later, we reached a mall. Asher turned the engine off and turned towards me. I heard another door open. It must be Monica who got out.

"We need to go to a party tonight at my grandmother's place." He took his wallet from his pocket and took out what seemed to be a card. "I want you to buy a dress of your choice and wear it tonight."

"What? No, Asher." I placed my hand in front of him to reject his offer of his card. "I have enough money to buy myself a dress."

"Can you for once just stop be stubborn and listen to me?!" He said in an edgy tone.

"But I don't need it Asher." I guess today I'm in the mood of arguing.

"Emberly." He said in a warning tone.

I huffed and finally took the card with me.

"Good." He then placed his hand on my cheek and drew my face closer to him so that he could kiss me lightly. "See you, later."

I got out of the car feeling a little bit lightheaded. Gosh, I love his kisses but at the same time, I hate them because they make me feel weak.

I then walked towards the mall to see Alicia and Monica laughing like crazy.

What is Alicia doing here?

"Hey, Ally." I waved at her.

"Ahh, finally she's here." Monica said.

"Hey, my bitch." Ally said loudly, gaining the attention of certain elders who snickered at us.

"Ally!" I scolded her. "Okay, someone please tell me what are we doing in a mall when we should be at school."

"Gosh, you really are a nerd." Monica joked. "We all need to go to a party tonight that Asher's grandmother has organized and we are here to help you to find the perfect dress." Monica explained.

"But I have enough dresses at home." I argued back. Why should we waste money?!

"Asher's orders, babygirl." Monica shrugged. "He said he wanted us to help you find THE dress. He even dragged Ally from her date so that she could help you."

"He did that?" I asked stunned at his actions.

"Yeah, he did that. Nick and I were happily having lunch when your caveman of a boyfriend dragged us here." Ally huffed. "But it was a cute gesture, so I forgive him for ruining my date."

"Oh." Was all I could say.

"Okay, girls. Let's start hunting for her dress that will make her man go crazy." Monica cheered once again gaining the attention of certain people.

After searching and trying several dresses, we couldn't find the right dress. I personally found all the dresses really nice but Ally and Monica said that some of them looked too plain and simple or some of them looked too slutty.

Ally and Monica were still arguing about which dress looked better when my eyes landed on a royal blue dress. It was a simple strapless dress but its color was really appealing.

I walked towards it and took it off its hanger. I admired its beauty. It was exquisitely designed.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" A middle aged woman asked me.

"Yeah, it's gorgeous." I replied not taking my eyes off the dress.

"Why don't you try it?" She asked me.

"What? No, thanks." I politely declined and put it back in its hanger.

"Please, I insist." She encouraged me.

"Okay."

I got in the changing room and tried the dress on me.

When I looked at my reflection in the mirror, I did not look the same. This girl was way more beautiful than me and more confident.

I nervously got out of the changing room. The eyes of Ally and Monica widened like saucers and the middle aged woman seemed completely enthralled.

"It's perfect." Ally and Monica said in unison.

"This dress was made just for you, dear." The middle aged woman said. "You need to buy it."

"Thanks, but it's quite expensive." I told her even though I really wanted to buy it.

"Nonsense. I'll make it half price for you." She told me. "Instead of five hundred dollars, I'll give it to you at two hundred and fifty dollars."

"But why are you doing this for me?" I asked her.

"Because you seem to like it very much and if another client comes and buys it, I don't think this dress would suit her that much. As I said before, this dress was made just for you."

"Thank you so much." I smiled gratefully at her.

"It's alright." She stroked my head.

I got back in the changing room and wore my previous clothes. Once I was done, I paid for the dress and Ally, Monica and I walked back to the parking lot.

***

To compensate for my lateness, next chapter coming right up :)