"What are you doing!?"

I turn around with wide eyes and see Chelsey standing behind me with her hands on her hips in and her narrowed eyes trained on me.

She strode towards me and snatched the makeup remover off the table and grabbed my chin to wipe off my messily laid makeup off my face "I'm officially your makeup assistant." she mumbled and starts to work her magic.

Currently, every girl in our group was getting ready for prom night at Leila's house. Getting dressed up, singing along to songs. It was like I was living a dream, a dream I've always had.

Chelsey finished my makeup and I'm told to open my eyes and I gasped when I did. She did a smooth smoky eye that added to the deep red lipstick I had on the matched my red dress.

I turned and hopped off the vanity chair and went to all the other girls who were taking photos of themselves, all whilst Leila was laid on her bed and typing something on her phone and just as I glanced at her, she switches her gaze away from me.

I went up to her bed and laid next to her, still careful not to mess up my newly waved hair.

"What're you doing?" I ask, glancing over to her phone to see a paragraph but she pulls away before I could read any of it. She looks at me with guilt in her eyes then waves her hands.

"It's just a documentary of how awesome this night's going to be!" she says enthusiastically but I just eye her suspiciously before nodding and going on my own phone to pass time, only noticing the more texting Leila started to do.

Soon enough the time of prom was starting, and everyone had finished completing their looks and we were just waiting for a car to arrive outside and take us to the venue.

The wind was cool, and I shiver as another breeze blows past and hug myself from the cold. The others do the same, but we stop and wave to the headlights we saw coming, hoping it was for us, only for the others to drop their hands as they see a black, luxurious limousine pulling up besides us.

As the driver pulled his window down, we looked at each other confused, wondering why such a posh car was in front of us but once I made eye contact with the escort, I knew this was his doing.

"Here to pick up Valery, Leila, Ally and Chelsey?" he asks, and they all nod wearily, I just glare at the man.

My phone buzzes and I look down to the illuminated screen. Speak of the devil.

-

-

How did he even make a contact in my phone?

I scoff, a bit too loudly and turn to my friends to see that they were looking at me, confused.

I quickly shrugged my shoulders and start to walk towards the limousine. "We may as well arrive in style" I say casually trying to get them to come along and sure enough, they did and followed me into the car.

Soon after the car started, and we were off to prom. Chelsey and Ally had gotten over the fact of being in a random limousine, but I could see that Leila was still a bit conscious.

"Do you have anyone as your date tonight?" I ask Leila, trying to distract her but her mood dimmed as I asked.

"Nope, nobody asked," she said sadly and put her head down. I frowned seeing her like this and put my hand on her shoulder.

"How about I ditch Tyler halfway through and come dance with you?" I suggest with a bright smile, and she seemed to feel better.

"I'd love that,"

This seemed to put Leila in comfort for time being until Ally found the music speaker and we started to blast music.

Singing along and cheering on each other.

Tonight, was going to be the best night.

After 10 minutes, the car arrived stopped and we all piled out, only to see Ollie and Tyler staring at us in awe, but more at the car than any of us.

"What?" I chuckled and brushed off my dress and looked to see Tyler's eyes then glued to me, but he quickly pulled away.

"I- wow, when did you guys hire a limo?" He asks, his red cheeks still visible at evening and Ally shrugged before I could think of an excuse.

"Someone hired it for us, don't know who though." She said and I nodded eagerly.

"Never mind that! Let's party!" Chelsey cheers, slipping a bottle of tequila from her bag once we passed the security and takes me and Ollie by the hand, dragging us into the hall been hired to host the prom, making the other follow.

As we enter, we all gasp at the inside.

There a neon lights flashing everywhere, and streamers stuck to the sticky roof. Helium balloons with curled strings stood to the side of the dance floor where there were students dancing, being watched over by teachers.

Once we all got our names checked off, we realised that none of us knew what to do.

Tyler, Chelsey, and Ally decided to go on the dance floor, but Leila and I just awkwardly stood next to the refreshment table.

I look over to her after a moment of no talking to see that Leila was writing something on her phone again.

What could she be doing?

As I was about to speak up to ask, but once I faced her, the lights were dimmed and turned to a bright pink and red. A slow dancing song then went onto the speakers, and everybody started to pair up with their dates, and soon enough Tyler was in front of me and holding out his hand.

Looking into his eyes, they were filled with so much love and hope, it made my heart ache.

He was one of my best friends and I never wanted to let him down like this. "May I have this dance?"

My fists curled as my eyes ran to his hand held out for me. I can't do it.

Say no.

"Sure," I smile. Screaming at myself on the inside and taking his hand, I allow him to lead me to the dance floor.

Tyler places his hands on my hips, and I placed mine on his shoulders. We move to the music. I listen closely and I knew it was the song played at the ball with Francis, the same as when him and I were dancing.

My hands tighten on his shoulders in stress which only makes him pull me closer, the love dancing in his smile. We step around the room in rhythm with others and although the air is clear, it feels suffocating.

It felt as if all of it was getting caught in my throat.

Looking at Tyler, he was smiling ear to ear, but too nervous to look me in the eye. His grip on me is strong even though I could easily move out of it. I bit down on my lower lip, not knowing what to do.

As the song ended, Tyler let out a deep breath and we finally met each other's gaze. He leaned closer to me. "Val-"

"Valery." Looking to my side, I could feel my heart speeds up at the sight of him.

"Francesco." I said, turning to him quickly, Tyler doing the same but scowling at him as Francis looked me up and down, causing his smile to glow brighter.

I looked him at him briefly but couldn't stop myself to look again. He was wearing a white dress shirt that clung to his body, revealing his slim body and a red velvet blazer with a black tie with matching black pants and shoes, his suit matching my blood dress perfectly.

"Is there anything you need France? " Tyler asked bluntly, the nicknaming causing Francis to turn to him, his teeth grinding together.

"Why I just need to borrow your beautiful date to help me get more chairs to set up." He says smoothly and when the I was about to try and break the thick tension, I was quickly swept away from Tyler and next to Francis, walking out of the hallway as quickly as he could.

I was to dumbfound by what just happened that I didn't even question what was going on, or where I was being led to, all I knew is that I always felt complete with him.

Too preoccupied in my mind, I allowed Francis to pull me into a dark empty class, allowing us to be alone once again. Not being able to hold myself back, I swung my arms around his neck, and he hugged my hips.

I refused to say anything as I stood there, my body pressed against his chest. It was silent for minutes, all we had to do was embrace each other's presence.

But Francis then stepped back, making me stumble from lack of support and looking up to him, a smile being brung to my lips.

His hand outstretched to mine. "I believe I owe you a dance?" He leans over and whispers into my ear, making my eyes widen.

It was déjà vu...

I'm stopped by a hand being held to me. Looking up to the owner and saw a smug face which I instantly smiled to.

"I believe I owe you a dance, my love" he says and kisses my hand before holding it in his own.

I smile softly from the memory and cover my face for a minute making him stare at me curiously until I remove them and reveal my shining blue eyes and his smirk widens as I put my hands on his softly and then beginning.

His hands were strong but gripped me delicately, and I knew for a fact they could even kill me in a second.

He twirled me around, making my dress puff out from the wind. Francis then pulled me to him, each one of our hands intertwined, then his other on my hip and mine on his shoulder.

I loved every moment of it. It made me feel so happy to be in his arms, and no one could ever make me feel in the same. Looking into his face, he wasn't smiling in a smug way, it was genuine, something very rare to see. I had always been in love with him, not Tyler.

We gazed into each other's eyes when his eyes. I could still see gold streaks and sparks in his eyes, mine reflecting in his, and I could even see blue shinning in mine.

Francis spins me around and I comply smoothly, and as he pulls me back in, there was a flurry of feather and the full Avian hybrid of him was standing in front of me. I stepped forward, not being able to restrain myself anymore.

I pressed my lips against his.

As he was surprised, he did nothing to resist and instantly complied, pushing back harder. His wings wrap around my body, only to push me closer to him, I laughed and smiled against his lips.

"I love you, Francis." I whispered, breaking the kiss, and looked at him and rested my forehead on his. Lust grew in Francis's eyes as he leant forward again, but we both froze as there was a sound.

All Tyler could do was watch in anger as Valery was swept away by Francesco. She didn't even do anything to stop him.

That bastard had stolen his date!

Was it all a lie? All he had even done was treat Valery how she deserved, loved her, but she never seemed to return the feeling. And now that there was a new student, she drooled over him? It made his jaw tighten.

Tyler watched the couple walk out of the hall but right before Francesco left, he stopped and looked back, forming eye contact with Tyler. A smirk grew on the thief's face and as he turned, there was a flash of gold in his iris before he disappeared out the door.

This pushed the boy too far. He wasn't about to belittled by a newbie, he was the closest friend Valery had ever had and that stranger could be dangerous for all she knew.

Rushing off the dance floor, Tyler sprinted to the doors but before he could leave, a hand grabbed onto his forearm.

"I'm coming with you." Leila demands and Tyler whips his head around in confusion. "I want to know what's going on between them." she says sternly and in a desperate state he nodded.

They creeped down the quiet hallway, staying a decent distance from the couple but sped up once Francesco had pulled their friends into an unlocked classroom. "Why did you want to come anyway?" he uttered, crouching down as they got closer.

"Because there's something she's not telling us." she spat "And if she not going to tell me, then I'll find out myself."

They crept up to the door and peeked into the slightly opened door and their mouths dropped at the scene before them.

Those two were dancing? Valery and Francesco seemed to know who each other were, when in public they were strangers, but they seemed to have known each other for years with their knowing movements with each other. Leila felt a pang of betrayal in her. The couple glided between the desks so gracefully with smiles wide on their faces, it was so memorizing that they also forgot the situation. But Leila thoughts focused as she saw Valery.

She looked happier than she ever had with her friends, and they could see that.

As they spun, there seemed to be spirals of light illuminating from their eyes; Tyler could feel the anger burning in him as the man touched her all over, but every thought in his mind went numb at what happened next.

As the final twirl was complete, a pair of large black wings sprouted from his back, and the pair could now see the unmistakable glowing yellow eyes in the dark. He had been over the news, covered the media with his mugshot. That murderer.

Francis Whitelock.

Leila could feel herself start to shake and Tyler slowly backed away from the door, his eyes bulging out of his head, his hands trembling as he reached into his pocket to retrieve his phone. His mouth quivered as he typed three digits into his phone and put it to his ear.

She couldn't look away though, she didn't want her friend to be in danger, but she lost her balance as she looked back into the class to see Valery seemed unfazed. She didn't even flinch at the sight. She instead she strode towards him. Pride in her stance.

Francis towered over her intimidatingly as she looked up. "I love you, Francis." she whispered, and Leila felt her knees give out under her.

Fear overflows her and she trips past the open door, tumbling into the classroom. The couple freezes and look to the entrance, moving as they make eye contact with Leila. She's on her hands and knees as she stares at the criminal now in front of her.

His eyes are wide and held crazy, anger pouring through them, as he looked down on the trembling girl.

"And who do we have here?"