✿◕‿◕✿ Tessa's P.O.V

"Spring Formal is in a week and a half, Tessa! I can't believe I forgot to tell you last Friday! We have so much planning to do. We need to go last minute dress shopping and find dates. I can't believe I left this all last minute!"

Even though Kaylenne's voice was filled with panic, I could see it in her eyes that she was equally excited.

"So who is the lucky guy that will be taking you to Spring Formal?" I questioned her, while at the same time copying down the drama notes that Mr. Jefferson was writing on the board.

"The lucky guy cancelled last minute because he got suspended, meaning that he won't be allowed to go to any school events for the next two weeks. Now my only option is going with my nerdy and socially awkward neighbour, Todd."

"We could always find more dateless girls, and then we could go as a group of friends." I offered, hoping that my suggestion would lighten up her mood.

"I wish that it could be that easy, if that was an option I would have gone with it a long time ago. But you see, Pineview has this tradition-"

I let out a long groan just hearing the words Pineview and tradition together. And I thought the stupid Lucky Kiss tradition was stupid. I'm pretty sure that this tradition was one hundred times more stupid. Laughter came from her mouth as she shook her head.

"It's okay Tessa, I think you had enough traditions after the Lucky Charm one." She said through her laughter, while patting me on the back.

"Please don't remind me of my misery. Now are you really going to go to a dance with a socially awkward kid?"

"He's a nice guy, I guess. Maybe if he stopped sniffing my hair whenever I saw him, I would have reconsidered going to the dance with him. So who are you planning to go with?"

I sent her a shrug, rethinking the question she had just asked me. I kind of wanted to go to the dance since it was my senior year, plus it would be my first dance at Pineview. But now I'm starting to rethink my option, it's nearly impossible to find a date that I actually approved in a week. I'm sure by now most of the guys already have dates.

"I don't know anymore, since it seems like it is mandatory to have a date. I don't know, maybe my brother or something?"

"No you wouldn't want to go with your brother, trust me. A part of the tradition is kissing your date under a spring version of the mistletoe to bring all lovers luck throughout the year."

Okay, looks like I'm back at square one on trying to find a date. What is it with this school and kissing people? It's like they are trying to purposely trying to spread aids.

"Miss Queens, you've been called down to the guidance office for the rest of the period."

"See you at lunch Kaylenne" I reached over my desk, grabbing my notebooks and pens before tossing them carelessly into my bag.

☆ '•.¸.•' º ☆

I stared at my guidance counsellor as she quickly typed away on her computer. I'm praying to god that I'm not going to get in trouble. What if I'm getting kicked out of school because they saw the video between me and Rochelle? Holy Mother Of-

"I'm Ms. Charcoberry. Well the reason why I had called you down here was because there seems to be a mistake with our systems. Unfortunately we are going have to drop your Home Economic class and take French class in order for you to get that full credit in the group one options. Now you don't want to do summer school, or even retake your senior year again, do you?"

Aren't guidance counsellors supposed to be welcoming and caring? She looked and acted like she was the wicked witch the west. Remind me not to get on her bad side, ever.

"Well here is your admit slip for you new French class, in room 234 with Mrs. Vandertramp. Now go off to lunch, and don't cause any trouble." She handed me the paper, I gave her a shy nod before leaving the room and making my way to the cafeteria.

I recognized some of the football players gather around in the front of the cafeteria doors. Just as I was about to pull the door open, someone pulled my arm gently back, spinning me towards them.

"Oh, is this a love note confessing you feeling about me?" Keaton said in a cocky tone. He wiggled his eyebrow as he grabbed onto slip. "Looks like you and me get to speak the language of love to each other more often."

"Oh mon dieu." I muttered under my breath, could this guy get anymore cheesier?

"That was sounded incredibly sexy coming from you, but next time how about a compliment?" He had his signature cocky smirk all over his face, causing all of the girls in the hall to eye rape him from afar.

"So, I heard you needed a date for spring formal and I was-"

"Yea, no thank you. I can't even stand talking to you for two seconds." My fingers ran through my long brunette hair as I rolled my eyes at him.

"That kind of hurts sweetheart. But that wasn't what I was trying to say, I was wondering if you wanted to go to the dance with my friend Jay. Besides, I kind of have plans that night with someone special."

Embarrassed to think that the star quarter back was asking you to the dance? Maybe, kind off, I don't even know anymore. Sure I could feel my check burning up a tad bit, and sure enough, I could see that Keaton was trying to hold in his laughter.

"How did you even know that I didn't have a date? Are you stalking me now?" Sure my comeback was pretty lame, but it was pretty much the first thing that popped into my mind in hopes of changing the topic.

"From a little birdie named Kaylenne, now c'mon I'm hungry." Without any warnings, he wrapped his muscular arm around my shoulder, making our way towards the lunch table filled with jocks. I wanted to leave, I felt a bit out of my comfort zone.

One, I was going to kill Kaylenne. Two, I needed to find Kaylenne first. And three, I needed Kaylenne to save me right now.

I couldn't seem to find her anywhere in this room. I would text her, but the stupid me forgot to ask for her number. Kaylenne looks pretty enough, maybe Keaton had her number?

"Can I borrow your phone Keaton?" I whispered to him, hoping that I didn't sound too desperate. He pulled out his shiny black Iphone and typed in his password, before handing it too me.

And of course, guess what his background picture was?

A naked girl with a really bad tan holding a football in her hands. My eyes have officially lost all of its innocence. I didn't even know that it was even possible for such a skinny girl like her to have such big boobs.

Teenage boys with perverted hormones.

I quickly typed in Kaylenne's name, and just like that her named appeared. I hit the dial button as the phone starts to ring. On the fourth ring, she finally picks up.

"Keaton? Are you in jail again? I'm not bailing you out man-"

"Well hello to you too Kaylenne. It's Tessa, where the heck are you?"I quickly eyed Keaton before saying, "You've been to jail?" He snatches the phone out of my hand before pressing the phone against his own ear.

"What the hell are you telling her Kaylenne? But he punched me first. Never mind, just hurry up and get your ass here. Whatever, you need to live a little. Yes mother, I'll tell her." His attention quickly returned back to be once he hung up. "She went home, something about stomach flu."

I pulled out my lunch from my bag, which consisted of a large container filled with lasagna, chicken nuggets, two pies that I bought from McDoanld's, a mixed fruit bowl, and some leftover cake that I found in the fridge.

"I can see why your brother calls you Munchies now." Keaton commented while staring at my food. What? I'm pretty sure he eats more than I do, besides I was a growing girl, with growing needs.

My phone goes off, blasting the song Damn You by Lana Del Rey. Why was Chasity calling me at this moment? Doesn't she have physic's class right now?

Before I could even answer with a hello, she quickly cuts me off. "I got bad news Tessa, please don't get mad at me and promise that you will understand."

"And hello to you too, what's wrong Chasity? Shouldn't you be in class right now?" I questioned her in a sisterly tone.

"I kind of skip today school today. Uh, I, Uh, went to see dad at his new apartment."

"Okay?" I said in a cool and collected tone, while in reality I just wanted to face palm myself. Really Chasity?

"I kind of told dad that me and you would come over to dinner tonight." She quietly muttered under her breath, but I could hear her words crystal clear.

"Yea, well you can go and uninvited me because I'm not going."

"Please Tessa? I really don't want to disappoint dad, just come for me? Give him one chance, just one chance is all I'm asking. Remember the time when you got really drunk and-"

"Fine." And just like that I hung up, without any see you later or goodbyes. I hated how she always play the stupid sister card. As I slowly rub my temple with my fingers, why couldn't I be an only child sometimes?

I spent the rest of the lunch in silence, ignoring everyone around me who had attempted to make conversation with me.

☆ '•.¸.•' º ☆

"Looks like my little bumble bee had made it." Derek exclaimed as he pulled me into an extremely tight and awkward hug. I harshly shook him off as I waltz my way into the living room.

No way could have he had afford this. I mean he was in jail for five years, and this place looks like it was quite pricy. It was on the richer side of town, and I mean rich. Besides, Grandpa Charlie had cut Derek off of the inheritance the day he step foot into prison.

"This must be Cassaline!" The blonde bimbo squealed as she clapped her hands together like a retarded seal.

Cassaline? Looks like my name had suddenly changed without my knowledge.

Ugh.

Just ignore her and maybe she will disappear into a far away land?

Well this explains a lot. Of course he would somehow manage to find a woman dumb enough to fall for his tricks. At least I don't have to be worry about him coming back to mom, begging for money. But mom had taught me better. I guess I have no right to judge or be rude to her just yet. I'll be a bitch to her when she says something stupid to me.

Derek's new fling handed me a glass of strawberry lemonade, before gesturing her hands toward the dining table where Chasity sat. I sent her a long cold hard stare, just as she mouthed me that she was sorry.

Well apology not accepted.

"I've been wanting to tell you two kids for so long, but me and Diamond are getting married in July. She wants you girls to be her bridesmaid." His words not only made my eyes bulge out, but to spit out the drink inside my mouth, turing parts of the white table cloth into a light pink.

Whose name is Diamond. Isn't that a stripper name? How classy Derek, very classy of you. What the heck, marriage? The woman look like she was barely eighteen, she was old enough to be my sister.

"Isn't the bimbo a little too young for you? You're forty something for God's sake."

"Get your ass outside right now." Derek aggressively screamed into my face, clenching his fist together while stomping his way outside.

"You will not disrespect me or your soon to be mother. You will be the perfect daughter form now on, I don't fucking care if your faking it either. I know you don't give a shit about me, but remember that your sister does."

"You know what father, you are nothing but a stupid pedophile okay? She looks like she is still in high school, and I'm not stupid. It's obvious that you are just after her money, where did you find her? On a street corner? I don't need this crap from you, I'm going home." He tightly grabs onto my arm, I could literally feel no blood flowing into my right arm anymore.

"You are going to get your ass back in there and be the perfect daughter that you used to be, before I left you with your delusional mother."

"I wasn't asking for your permission, I was telling you. Don't talk about my mother like that you bastard."

I shoved him off with all of the energy that was left inside of me. I could see the anger raging in his eyes, he was going to hit me. I took a step further back, he was going to hurt me. He had the exact same look that day when I he had kicked me in the stomach.

Why of all the people in the world, I ended up with him as a father. I closed my eyes as tight as I could. As much as I hate him, this question is still stuck in my mind. What happened? What made you ruin this family? Why couldn't you just completely disappear from this planet?

I can remember the pain I felt that day, emotionally and physically. I could also remember the pain on my wrist, each and everyone one of them. Eventually people found out, and that's how drinking came into my life.

An escape was that I needed.

"You're going to regret each and every day that you had lived Tessa." He said dryly.

Run.

That was what I had to do. Avoiding him for the rest of the night will be easy, but the rest of my life was another question. I quickly ran, as fast as I could. Right now I am thanking God for my running skills, for once a talent that came into use.

I could hear cruses and shouting coming from behind me. Luckily for me, after a couple minutes of chasing, Derek finally gave up.

Without looking, I carelessly walked into a wall with a scent of unicorns and all magical things. The smell was just really nice and manly, i don't even know how to describe the scent. "Tessa, are you stalking me now?" Keaton jokingly said, while scratching the back of his head.

I really didn't want to have to deal with him right now, I tried to make my way past by him but his arms block the way.

"What's wrong Tessa? You're crying." Since he had pointed that out, I could feel my checks a bit wet. I must have had been so distracted and preoccupied that I haven't noticed.

"Nothing." I quietly mumbled under my breath. Without any permission, he pulled me towards him giving me a hug. He felt kind of warm and cozy.

I cannot believe I had just admitted that.

☆ '•.¸.•' º ☆

We sat on the roof of the building, which had an amazing view of the city's skyline. The moon was up and shinning, the night had a slight breeze.

A perfect scene that only happens in the movies.

"You should really give Jay a chance, he's not like other guys." Keaton randomly says.

"I'm not going to date one of your football groupies. If he is such a great guy like you make him out to be, why don't you date him yourself. And why are you trying to play cupid?" I questioned him.

"Are you questioning my sexuality?" He says dramatically while fake crying. "If you don't want to talk about Jay, then tell me why you were crying. Why are you even here anyways, don't you live half an hour away from here?"

"That is none of your business Keaton, why should I explain to you my life story? Why are you suddenly acting all friendly with me?" I answered him harshly, before staring down at the cars driving on the street.

"Were friends Tessa. Whether you like it or not, I'm going to stick to you like glue."

Friends, that sounded nice. But really, me being friends with Keaton Collins? Being friends with him was only going to cause me trouble. Life is filled with regrets, and he hasn't done anything asshole moves yet.

"One chance Keaton, no third time's the charm shit."

"Whatever you say new bestie!" He was seriously a six year old kid sometimes, it doesn't seem like he has any shame. I bet he comes from a perfect family, with the perfect life, with the perfect everything.

Hopefully something good comes out of this.