❝ escorts ❞

—

ALENA GAZED DOWN AT her hands that were covered with white gloves, she wore a laced black dress with heels. Lena was not used to feeling so exposed as she stood rather awkwardly in the middle of the ball room.

Alena walked over to Belly's side who looked as lost as she herself did, "Neither of us have an escort, so, partners for this lesson?"

Isabel smiled at her friend, "It's not like we have another option."

Paige entered the room with another woman at her side, "Attention, everyone. Please welcome our debutante waltz instructor, Ms. Covington, all the way from Ms. Covington's School of Ballroom Dance in Newton."

Ms. Covington smiled, "Thank you, Paige." she turned her attention to all the debutantes, "As you all know, the waltz is the most highly anticipated part of the ball. So, please join your partners now."

Alena gave the sixteen year old a smile as she held out her hand, which Belly took.

"We will begin with fundamentals, starting with the box step."

Alena moved her feet, following the rhythm of the music as Isabel spoke up, "Those lessons you took with Conrad when we were younger paid off for you huh."

Lena hid a smile as memories of the two of them dancing purged her mind, "Yeah, that and my mom. She loved teaching me to dance."

"We're gonna have to step up our games with our escorts."

Lena merely nodded as she guided Belly's steps, "I was expecting you to be worse, Bels."

"Wow, thank you for believing in me, Len."

Alena let out a chuckle as Belly almost tripped on herself, "Woah there."

"God I hate these shoes."

"That makes two of us. It's a simple step. Forward with the left, slide to the right, and then the feet close together."

Belly attempted to do as told but ended up stepping on Alena, the brunette grit her teeth as Isabel began panicking, "Oh my god, I'm so sorry, Lena."

"Don't. It's fine, I was expecting to get stepped on, no worries."

Belly smiled nervously as Alena turned to see Jeremiah approaching them, "Ladies."

"Jere, what the hell are you doing here?"

Jeremiah glanced over at Isabel, "Wondering if I could give Bels a dance."

Alena hid a knowing smile as backed away, "What happened to 'swearing off balls'?"

Jeremiah gave his best friend a look before twirling away with Belly. Alena took a few steps back as Gigi and a few other girls gazed at Belly, clearly jealous.

Alena watched Jeremiah change the song and break out in a dance that was far from a waltz. The brunette rubbed her arms before stepping out of the room, heading into the hallway as she took a deep breath.

Conrad caught sight of Lena and a smile immediately spread across his lips, "What're you doing out here?"

Alena turned to look at the boy, "Oh, uh, Jeremiah swayed away Belly who, for right now, is my only dance partner so."

Conrad let out a soft laugh, tilting his head as he watched her, "You look good."

Alena suddenly remembered what she was wearing an groaned in embarrassment, "Oh my god, please don't. You're mother put me in this."

"Oh, I believe it."

Alena let out a chuckle as Conrad sighed, "Whoever gets to escort you is gonna be one lucky bastard."

"I don't know about that."

Conrad shook his head, "You doubt yourself too much. Look at yourself, Lennie. You have a great personality and well—"

Alena gazed down at her dress and huffed, "Right."

Conrad gave the girl a sincere look, "You leave an effect on people, Len. Plus, you're a great dancer."

Lena let out a hearty laugh as she shook her head, "I have you to thank for that."

"Oh that's right, you do."

Alena ducked her head, using her hair hide her face as Paige walked past the two, walking towards the ballroom. Conrad raised a brow a Lena chuckled, "I should— get going."

Conrad nodded, "Yeah, yeah go ahead. I'll see later, Len."

Alena sheepishly smiled, giving the boy a small wave as she turned on her heel, a smile lingering on her lips, one she couldn't wipe off.

—

Alena plopped onto the couch as she let out a heavy sigh, she slipped off her heels. Lena felt her phone chime and pulled it out to see a message from an unknown number.

-
hey it's Theo

Alena set her phone down, not in the mood to reply to messages as she draped her arm over her eyes.

"You look absolutely exhausted."

Alena raised her arm to flip off Jeremiah, "Let me sleep."

"Yes ma'am."

Alena let out a sigh as she snuggled into the couch, reaching for the blanket as she tossed it over herself. The girl let out a yawn as she eyes began to feel heavy.

Alena jolted as a door could be heard opening, "Jeremiah, I swear to god, I told you to fuck—" Lena sat upright, setting her gaze on Conrad who blinked at her.

"Oh."

Conrad gave her a small wave, "Not Jeremiah."

Alena got up from the couch, fixing her dress as she let out a yawn. She gazed over the cluttered kitchen, "Susannah and Laurel had a good time from the looks of it."

Conrad nodded as he began to throw out the trash and empty snacks. Alena pursed her lips before humming, Conrad didn't look at the girl again as he turned to the sink.

"Is everything all right?"

Conrad pressed his lips into a tight line, "Why wouldn't it be?"

Alena clasped her hands together, "Well, you're just acting a little different to how you were earlier."

"Alena, the last thing I need is you questioning me, so could you just go?"

Lena's lips parted as she gazed at him, blinking as she grabbed her phone from the sofa, "My bad for actually caring to see if something was wrong." she turned, walking down the hall as she treaded up the stairs, in a desperate need of an outfit change.

Alena slipped on her ripped jeans before going for her crochet tank top over her black sports bra. Lena walked back downstairs stopping abruptly as she heard Jere and Conrad speaking, "Ooh, what happened to the good mood Conrad from this morning?"

"Look, we all just need to be helping Mom and Laurel right now, okay?"

Jeremiah gazed at his older brother, "They made this mess." Conrad's cellphone buzzed again and Jere spoke, "Who's blowing up your phone?"

"Nicole. She wants me to go to Yarmouth Music Fest next weekend."

Alena's smile faltered as she gazed down at the floor. Jeremiah reached for the milk before questioning, "You gonna go?"

"Yeah. Why not?"

Lena took a few steps back walking out the front door, she needed to go for a walk and clear her head.

—

Alena sat on the sand as she stared out into the ocean, waves rippling through the shore as seagulls chirped.

Lena tucked her hair in a bun as she clasped her hands together, turning her head to see Jeremiah approaching her.

The boy took a seat beside her, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, why?"

Jere gave the girl an incredulous look, "Len, you're my best friend. I know you, you only ever come out onto the beach, alone, when you're upset. Talk to me, just like we used to."

Alena gazed down at her hands, hesitating for a moment before licking her lips as she began speaking, "I just— every time I see Conrad and Nicole I just... I feel so—"

"Jealous?"

Lena looked over at her friend, furrowing her brows as she herself thought, "No. Maybe? I don't know." she sighed out before digging the heel of her foot in the sand as Jeremiah shuffled closer to her side.

"It's okay to feel that way, Len. You like Conrad, it's understandable to have that type of reaction."

"That's the thing, I haven't even allowed myself to realize and accept that I do like him. I've been telling myself I don't and that we're just friends. I don't even know why."

Jeremiah pursed his lips, "You're trying to shield yourself, you want to believe you don't like him so you won't get hurt."

Alena hung her head as she let out a soft laugh, "That's frighteningly accurate."

Jere slipped his arm around the girl, "It's okay to be scared, but don't let it ruin everything. If Conrad does or says anything to hurt you, I'll beat him up for you."

"I don't think he actually wants anything with me." Alena softly spoke, afraid to accept that reality.

Jeremiah pursed his lips, knowing his older brother had feelings for the young girl, "Conrad's just complicated, he pushes people away in fear, you guys have that in common I guess. Don't give up hope yet."

Alena leaned her head on the boys shoulder, "You're a good friend, Jere."

"Tell me something I don't know."

"Fuck you."

—

AUTHORS NOTE, i absolutely hate the fact that this chapter is so short but the next one makes up for that i promise. we only have two chapters left and we are done with this book until season two comes out !! i hope you guys have been enjoying this so far thank you thank you for all the comments i love reading through them xx