Step by step, together, we made our way to the middle, where a range of people were situated, allowing the sombre tune of the violins glide them.

It felt like my heart was threatening to rip out of my chest. With each beat, it got louder and louder, to the point where my heartbeat was the only thing I could hear.

How did I allow myself to agree dancing with Zac?

The want and need to run away from him, allowed myself to run to him. I was never going to escape him.

"Melissa?" I questioned in a quiet mouse like tone. My eyes darted around the hall, trying to see if I could recognise her beyond the masks.

"She couldn't make it," Zac plainly responded. He didn't bother to add anything else and left me to flick my eyebrows upwards as a response.

"I... Erm... can't dance." Awkwardly, I tried to fill the small silence between us.

Zac showcased a devious smirk. "Neither can I."

When we finally got to our destination, we stood still, not knowing where to look or place our hands. My eyes slightly shifted to the ones we left behind, they all faced us, talking away, yet it felt like their pupils were attached to us, waiting for us to dance.

It was the start of a new song, the violins mixed with the cello and flute, created a spectacular tune that masked my entire body. Something about the music made me feel sensual.

The unexpected touch of Zac's hand, wrapped around mind, caused me to slightly jump. Instantly my eyes flicked back. With my hand elegantly placed into his, he lifted it up. He then guided my other hand on his shoulder, whilst his was placed around my waist.

My pupils connected with his stark sea of green pupils, which shone brightly in contrast to his dark mask. My jaw clenched down hard as I sucked a sharp breath at the beautiful placement of his hand.

He pulled me an inch closer to the point where I could feel heat emit of his broad chest, and latch onto my bare skin.

Before I knew it, the music enabled us to move around. We started to glide across the marbled floor, closely passing the other couples. For a moment, it felt like we were the only ones dancing. It was just us and the music. Not a moment went by where we lost eye contact. I couldn't bring myself to detach my pupils away from his.

This was the first time dancing with him, but we were in sync as if we had been dancing all our lives.

"I've been meaning to get a chance to talk to you," Zac let out in a dangerous low tone, just over the music.

"Talk? Talk about what?" I questioned.

Deep down, I wanted to keep the silence between us. I just wanted him to take the lead in this dance, and guide me around.

"You know," he let out quite hesitantly. "Just things that have been going on recently."

Audible sounds escaped from my mouth, unsure of what he meant, but with the thumping drum inside my chest, I had a feeling I knew what he wanted to talk about.

"The kiss-"

"There's nothing to talk about," I quickly interjected. "That was a dare, remember?"

Our words were ripped away from us. Silence, apart from the majestic violin band, surrounded us. We continued to step back and forth, side by side. Just as I was getting used to the continuous pattern of movement. I felt myself detach from Zac, it was almost like he was letting me go, but then his strong hold enabled me to twirl around. My dress and hair spiralled out and then abruptly came back together as Zac returned me to the original position of facing him.

I felt my insides melt, I was melting into a pure bliss. The light and airy feel in my stomach, was spreading around my body.

"I wish things could have been different," Zac barely let out, but it was enough for my ears to pick up over the tunes that filled the room.

"What?" I exclaimed, stopping our dance in an instant.

Zac's eyes widened behind his mask, it was like I caught him, as if I wasn't supposed to hear what he said. I felt like I needed confirmation, I needed to understand what he meant.

"What did you mean by that?" I sternly questioned, as I whipped my mask off.

My chest bobbed up and down, I was starting to feel breathless. Tension around us to started to mount us. Zac seemed as if he was lost for, his mouth was gaped open trying to formulate words.

Something within me, wanted to push him for an answer, but I was also scared of what he would say. My brain clearly knew what he said, I knew what he meant. Panic was washing over my like a fresh wave, crashing into rocks.

I needed to get away, far from Zac. I located the nearest exit, turned on my heels and quickly created distance between us. He called my name, in a bid to get me to stop, but I needed to ignore it all.

Approaching the French set of doors, with all my might, I pushed it open. A fresh breeze whooshed straight into my face, I found myself on a balcony. I carried myself to the edge, which looked over the sea of green grass.

A shine was gleaming into my eyes, I knew water was threatening to fall out, I fought hard to keep myself in tact.

Suddenly, I wasn't alone on the balcony. Someone was behind me, I felt a presence. I let out a shaky breath, gathering the courage to not let my voice tremor as I spoke.

"Zac, please leave me alone-"

My words were cut short as I turned around. I stood frozen in my spot, unable to recover with what I had said. There in front of me, Ava slowly whisked her mask off.

"Why would you assume it was Zac?" She questioned, coming closer to me.

Inching my head upwards, I stare at the serene and peaceful night sky. The gleaming stars were speckled all over, some seemed as they were flickering. All I could think, was how calm it would be to be up there, away from all the stresses of life.

I let a slow sigh escape, like I was defeated. I didn't have it in me to keep up with this charade. Ava waited patiently for me to gather myself. After taking a brave breath in and slowly exhaling, I prepared myself to let it all out.

"I can't do this anymore," I sighed, shrugging my shoulders.

Ava furrowed her brows, shaking her head, waiting for me to explain further.

"I like Zac. I really, really like him. You're probably going to hate me, you're probably going to give me shit for it, but I don't care. I've been trying so hard to push all these feelings away, but I can't. I just can't. It's like everyday the more I try to hate him, the more I end up liking him. I understand if you're angry, you can shout at me do what you want, but I can't help it. I bloody like the idiot." All the words tumbled out of me like I had verbal diarrhoea.

Although I didn't want to tell Ava all this, I felt light, like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I waited in anticipation for her to erupt, I was waiting for her to tell me I was a bad sister, but she did the opposite.

She wrapped her arms around my shoulders, and brought me into a comforting hug. For a moment I felt myself tense up at the strange response, but I enabled myself to relax within her sisterly touch.

"I've been waiting for you to tell me this," Ava giggled, coming out of our hug.

I jerked my head back, thinking if I had heard her correctly. She shook her head yes, confirming it.

"You think I wouldn't notice? I'm your sister." Ava picked up both my hands, and held onto them tightly.

"Was I that obvious?" I let out a chuckle, huffing at the predicament I was in.

"It was starting to become obvious," Ava started to explain. "You started to talk about him more, something in your eyes changed when you looked at him. Lexi also confirmed it-"

"Lexi?" I spat out, shooting my head towards Ava.

"Well, when you're forced to share a cabin in the middle of nowhere, you get talking." Ava shrugged her shoulders, not adding more to her response. I took it as a sign to leave it and not question further.

"Are you mad at me?" I asked in a worried tone.

"I'm not going to lie, it's not ideal you liking him, but you can't help who you end up liking," remarked Ava.

A slight hope glimmered inside me, both our lips curved into a calming smile. I pulled Ava in for another hug. We then faced the breathtaking scene, just below the balcony, that looked like the perfect painting.

"What are you going to do about it?" Asked Ava, leaning her head on my shoulder.

"There's nothing I can do," I sighed. "He's with Melissa."

"You have to tell him-"

"I can't," I quickly butted in front of her words, before she could finish her sentence. "It's actually killing me that I can't have him. I wish things were different, I wish I could rewrite everything, but I can't."

My words and thoughts instantly came to a halt, I realised that this was the first time I confessed how much I wanted Zac. It was the first time I said aloud how much it was affecting me.

It was beginning to get clear how many people knew I liked Zac. It was evident for Ruby to know. Melissa knew, going on Lexi secretly having a feeling and now Ava.

Part of me wondered if Zac knew.

No matter the number of people knowing, I had to take it upon myself, to keep everything buried. As the days ticked by, it was getting harder to bury how much I actually liked Zac.

I forever wished he didn't have an effect on me, but he did. I just had Melissa's party to endure and then that would be it. I would be able to look forward to university and leave all this behind.

This sounded simple in my head

But I knew damn well, it wasn't going to be that easy...

A/N

What did you think of the ballroom dance scene, I tried to bring in some Bridgerton vibes!

Now Ava knows...

What are your thoughts? What's going to happen at the party?

Don't forget to comment, vote and share!

Love _xxAMxx