*.*.*.*.*.*

Xavier's eyes bore into mine, making my head light and my breathing heavy. I can feel his warmth through the fabric of my dress, making my mouth dry and my knees weak.

If I faint, I hope he'll keep me from falling.

Because I'm falling for him. So bad. So hard. So fast.

"Haley ..." he begins softly.

I swallow hard, wanting him to quickly continue. I don't want anything to mess up this night right now. Everything seems so good.

And yet life has to fuck everything up.

Nancy runs towards me, grabbing my arm and pulling me away from Xavier without giving me a second to react. Xavier's hands drop to his sides, but I don't get a chance to fix that. Nancy has already dragged me into a corner.

"What the hell are you doing?" she demands, her face looking like she's just seen a ghost.

"Coming to prom," I say breathlessly, pretending to be completely normal when I actually feel like ripping her hair out for messing up my romantic moment.

"With Xavier Hunt? When did this --"

"Three months ago," I lie. "We've been dating and studying together and --"

"Why didn't you tell me?" Nancy exclaims, electricity sizzling in her hair.

"Because I didn't want you to react the way you just did," I say truthfully.

Nancy looks like I just slapped her.

"You ..." she looks dumbstruck.

"Excuse me, but I'm already late and my date is waiting," I quickly add.

Before my friend can stop me, I'm running back to Xavier, who looks strangely out of place and like he wishes he could slip into the ground and vanish. I wind my fingers through his, and he looks at me, surprised.

"Sorry," I mumble, unable to meet his gaze. I feel guilty for making him feel so exposed. Maybe I shouldn't have asked him to come here in this state. People are staring at him and he doesn't look like he's enjoying himself at all.

Now that I think about it, I have never seen Xavier actually appear to be enjoying anything.

"Do you want to dance or ..." I begin uncertainly.

Xavier's grey eyes peer into mine.

"What do you want to do?" he asks.

"Spend time with you," I answer truthfully. "But I don't want you to feel like you have to stay here because of --"

Without letting me finish, Xavier turns me to face him, putting his hands on my waist again as if we're about to dance. I smile a little, knotting my arms around his neck. He pulls me closer so that we're chest to chest.

"You're ruining your reputation," he says softly, a smile tugging at the corner of his split lip.

I frown. "What do you mean?"

"I'm the worst guy you could have found to come here." Xavier smiles.

"What are you talking about?" I ask, shocked.

Xavier lowers his gaze, licking his lower lip.

"You're kidding, right?" I demand, staring at his face. "Xavier, you are ... you are the best person I have ever met. You're an inspiration to me, you don't even know that."

His gaze revolves to meet mine, and I see the disbelief in his grey eyes.

"You have shown me a side of life," I say slowly. "That I would never have imagined. You have ... you have shown me what a real strong person is like. You know what you've taught me? You've taught me what life is. I might have helped you learn calculus and ... classic literature and that shit that doesn't even matter in the real world. But you know what I've learned from you?"

Xavier doesn't answer, looking at me with a surprised look in his eyes.

"Patience," I answer my own question. "Strength. Endurance. I've learned ... that I'm so lucky to have a dad like mine. I've learned that my mom is only human, because worse moms exist out there. After everything you go through every day, you still keep trying. You're ... trying, and fighting, and surviving and ... and I look at you and I see someone so strong, and so beautiful, that I just ... you are amazing, Xavier. And I swear, I wouldn't pick any other guy in this entire school or this world even ... you're not a bad guy. You're perfect. You are perfect, Xavier, and I don't care what ... I don't even know how else to tell you how much you mean to me ... how much I care about you ... or how much --"

"I really like you."

My words get stuck in my throat, and I blink in confusion and shock. Is he completing my sentence for me or guessing or is he telling me how he feels? I stare at his face, which shows nothing.

"I do," I blurt out. "I do really like --"

Xavier's lips collide with mine and my eyeballs almost fall out.

Holy fire-crackers!

I close my eyes and focus on the taste of Xavier's lips on mine. The party around us seems to have frozen still, or maybe vanished altogether, and the only thing I know of is I'm with Xavier. His touch, his warmth, his kiss, his scent ... it's all that matters to me.

His lips mold with mine and I hold my breath, afraid of doing something that would ruin the perfect moment. Him, me, us ... damn!

"You know you can breathe, right?" Xavier mumbles against my lips, pulling back a fraction to tease me during the kiss.

"Oh, right," I mumble back awkwardly.

Xavier chuckles before leaning in again. His kiss is sweet but passionate. Perfect.

And that worries me; I have no experience kissing!

I don't want to seem too desperate by kissing him back like I want to, but not reacting might also make him feel like I'm not interested. Suddenly, there is so much I wish I knew. Do I open my mouth or keep it closed? Do I tilt my head sideways, bite his lip, use my tongue --

"Well, well ..."

Xavier freezes, and I'm sure I didn't imagine the mocking voice. My head is fuzzy and I wouldn't be surprised if I was floating in the air right now, but when Xavier pulls back, his body stiffening, I know I'm not imagining anything.

I open my eyes reluctantly, wanting to murder whoever has a problem with my happiness. Everything makes sense when I see Dray Carter standing a few feet from us, smirking in our direction.

"If it isn't the cliché," he says in a disgustingly fake tone, his eyes flickering between me and Xavier.

Why, universe? Why? Why does this guy exist?

"Go away, Dray," I say quickly, sounding more breathless than annoyed.

"Sure, sure." He waves a hand. "Just wanted to come and congratulate you guys for ... this?" He scoffs before pretending to grow solemn. "I'm sorry, I ... I just never thought you'd be this kind of girl, Haley. Your dad would be so disappointed to see you hanging out with such people."

"You don't know a thing," I shoot at him, aware of Xavier's hand still around my waist.

Dray Carter looks quite happy with himself. "Is this how your dad raised you, Haley? So you'd turn out just like your mom --"

My heart tears to bits, setting my entire being on fire.

"Leave her out of this," somebody says, and I'm surprised to hear it's Xavier. I stare at him, for Xavier never speaks.

Dray laughs and hoots loudly, and many of the people around us are now fully alert, watching the exchange. This is just how human beings are, gathering around to watch the drama.

"So you're her bodyguard or somethi --"

"Stop," Xavier snaps, his voice low but threatening. He takes a step towards Dray, but I grab his wrist.

"No, it's what he wants," I warn Xavier. Knowing Dray, this is probably his trick of getting Xavier all hyped-up.

"Oh, you guys are so adorable," Dray coos, his eyes on Xavier. "Just ... make sure you watch out, Haley. Addicts can be pretty impulsive sometimes."

"Shut up, Dray," I spit at him, holding Xavier firmly by the wrist to prevent him from approaching Dray. "Xavier, come on, let's --"

"He's probably on drugs like his mom --" Dray says.

Xavier's arm is ripped out of my grasp and I gasp. It takes a split second and Dray's eyes widen, his smirk vanishing to be replaced by a mingling look of shock and fear. Xavier launches himself towards Dray, his fist raised in the air.

No. No, no, no!

Dray's eyes close and he stumbles backwards, raising his hands to protect his face. But the blow we all expect doesn't come, as Xavier's fist stops an inch from Dray's face.

We all watch in disbelief as Dray opens an eye and sees Xavier standing over him, looking at him with more hatred than I have ever seen on Xavier's face. His pale face is set, the wounds that usually give him a broken look, appearing like battle-scars. Xavier is a warrior, and I can see it in his eyes.

"Next time you bark shit," Xavier hisses in Dray's face, his voice carrying over the now still crowd. "Be sure you can back it up with a fight."

Xavier straightens up gracefully, and Dray's face reddens as he lowers his hands slowly. I stare in shock as Xavier turns his back on Dray, his eyes finding me. He walks over to me and reaches a hand out to take mine. His fingers wind through mine and my skin tingles at his touch.

The party is silent, and the DJ has even lowered the volume of the music. Multiple eyes follow Xavier and I as we turn away from Dray and make our way towards the door.

"Coward," Xavier says to no one in particular, and the last thing I see before Xavier leads me by the hand to the exit is the disgraced look on Dray's face.

Serves the bastard right.

Xavier and I walk out of the prom in one piece -- shocker, I know -- and walk slowly towards my dad's car, holding hands and not speaking a single word. Getting in the car, we glance at the digital clock at the same time, sighing in synch when we realize it's already so late. Xavier turns on the car and begins to drive, turning towards my home.

What a great prom!

Well -- I glance at Xavier and smile despite myself -- at least it wasn't a total waste.

Firstly, Xavier and I kissed.

Secondly, Xavier shut Dray Carter up.

Thirdly, everyone now knows about Xavier and I.

And fourthly ... Xavier and I freaking kissed!

Xavier pulls into my garage, getting out with me, locking the car and holding out the keys towards me.

"Stay the night," I say to him, hoping he will listen.

Xavier's brow furrows. "What about your dad?"

"He's probably asleep," I say, biting my lip and glancing towards the living room window.

The lights are switched off, which means dad has gone to bed. It's very refreshing to know that dad trusts Xavier so much when it comes to me. He has never let me out so late, even with friends. And tonight he knows I'm with a boy, but he neither called nor waited up for me. It makes me respect Xavier even more, knowing he has gained my father's trust.

"Won't he be mad?" Xavier asks.

"You can't go to your own home," I point out, raising a hand to touch the wound in his eyebrow. "Your dad might be awake and ... please ... stay."

He doesn't argue, looking conflicted. I have an idea what the conflict in his mind might be. I just hope his feelings for me win over.

They apparently do. And Xavier decides to stay.

*.*.*.*.*.*