It is Thanksgiving weekend, and I am choosing to spend it alone in the dorms. Everyone was busy talking about how excited they were to see their families and eat a feast, but I dreaded going home, so much so that I decided not to go.

My mom doesn't know my decision yet; I was planning on coming down with the flu. I kept meaning to call her, but I am too nervous she will see through my lies. My hometown brings back bad memories and the last thing I want to do is visit it.

I had big plans this thanksgiving. It involved me with the whole dorm floor to myself. I would watch every episode of love island in front of the tv without any distractions or anybody judging my horrible taste in tv shows.

"Juliet, are you listening? I said you could totally just come to my house for the break. I'm leaving now, just come." Abby made her family seem terrifying. Not in a scary way but I don't think I would fit in plus I had a date with Love Island season 7.

"No, It is totally okay. I am going to enjoy my time here running the place." I smile and move around my cereal. I have mastered the art of looking like I am eating. I would move the food around, and sometimes I would bring the cereal to my mouth but right when I was about to eat I would start talking and put the spoon down.

Almost everyone on our floor had gone home already, so after I hugged Abby goodbye I knew I was completely alone and dumped my cereal in the garbage can.

"Seems like a waste of perfectly good cereal." Warner's voice makes me jump up. I blush and tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. Well, I guess not everyone had gone home.

Warner is looking as handsome as ever with his green eyes piercing into my soul. One look from him and sometimes I am a stuttering mess.

"I wasn't hungry." I shrug my shoulders and head to my room but he blocks my path.

"Why aren't your bags packed?" he looks genuinely confused.

"Um, because I'm not going home?"

"Well, that's funny because I was given strict instructions from Tracey that we were carpooling home together. Your mom also called me and thanked me in advance." He was amused to be the one to tell me this information.

"Well, that sucks because I had some pretty big things planned this weekend and none of them involve being stuck in a car with you so sorry but no." I put my hands on my hips and give him my meanest stare but he doesn't even flinch.

_______

20 MINUTES LATER

I can't believe I'm back in Warner's car. At this point, I should probably buy some magazines and some snacks due to the amount of time I have been spending here.

He at least let me have control of the music, and unlike last time, the music actually works in the car and I am able to play my favourite playlist.

"So I made plans for us tonight." Warner makes me drop my phone in shock.

Us? Plans?

He can tell from my face that I am caught off guard. "We are going to go to one of James Stone's parties" he smiles and I can't tell if it is a joke.

James Stone was from our high school. Not only that but he had never once invited me to one of his parties. In fact, I am pretty sure he invited everyone BUT me. Would Sierra be there? I could feel my heartbeat getting faster and faster.

"That is a mean joke, Warner." I cross my arms and face out the window. He knew I was never invited to anything involving that crowd.

"It's not a joke Jules. You're going to go and you are going to have fun."

"Those people are cruel, I don't feel like getting shit on by a bunch of people from high school. I chose a school far away for a reason." I can't believe he thought I would walk straight into the lion's den.

"Nobody is going to bother you."

"You bother me." I look over at him and give my best glare.

"Yes, but I don't like sharing, only I get to make you miserable" he grins and I roll my eyes.

Hilarious

"I feel so lucky to have you as my customized bully." my voice drips in sarcasm.

"The pleasure is all mine."

_____________________________________________

I have been pacing in my childhood room for over an hour. Everything in this room reminds me of the past I escaped. Pictures of a pimply Juliet with her horn-rimmed glasses and braces smiling at science fairs. I don't even like science.

I can't decide about tonight. On one hand, I want to have my main character moment and show everyone from high school how much I have changed. I mean come on everyone who goes through a major glow-up has a dream of their big reveal. I want everyone to see the new me but I don't actually want to talk to any of them.

I knew what I had to do. I called Abby and asked for advice. I told her everything which included sending photos of me a year ago. After getting over the initial shock Abby basically told me she would kill me if I didn't go to that party.

"You need to show them how hot you are! But you were hot beforehand Jules, you are just way too hard on yourself." Abby was hyping me up whilst I kept changing my outfits.

"What if this is some elaborate ruse to make fun of me?" I shudder thinking of the pool party incident.

"If Warner does anything like that to you I will personally kill him." I laugh at Abby and soon after we say goodbye because I need to get ready.

I allow myself to have my mini freak out before Warner comes to take me to James's house for the party. My palms are sweaty, my heart is racing wildly and I'm pretty sure I am experiencing the symptoms of a panic attack. It's a miracle I even managed to get dressed but I've apparently come a long way when it comes to not being a complete fashion victim. I switched between a crop top and no crop top about six times in the mirror. This was my chance to show off my weight loss to my ex-classmates but every time I look in the mirror my body dysmorphia takes over.

I finally decide on a crop top and a pair of Zara jeans that make my butt look good. Or at least Abby said my butt looked good and I really needed the compliment. I get myself under control just in time because Warner rings the doorbell.

Taking deep calming breaths, I run downstairs, not giving myself any more space to contemplate barricading my door. It'll all be good, it'll be worth it. I wanted to let everyone know I was doing better now, I had pictured this moment many times during my journey but now that it was happening it was much scarier.

I open the door and felt a bit better when I see Warner. He looks cool, calm and collected like always. Of course, he always looks mind-numbingly hot but today there's a kind of rugged, dangerous bad boy edge to him that wasn't there before. Whether it's the threadbare concert shirt, the dark-washed jeans or the leather cuff on his wrist, Warner was emanating his dark and dangerous appeal today. He quickly rakes his eyes over my body and I blush.

"Geez for someone who didn't want to go you sure made yourself look good." He raises his eyebrow at me and I shrug.

Sue me for wanting to show the people what they missed out on.

He starts up the car and looks at me again. I feel conscious of his gaze on me. My hand reaches to my face wondering if I've managed to smear my makeup already. But Warner says nothing and just pulls out of the driveway.

I breathe in my favourite bath and body works scent again, every time I get into his car it reminds me of my childhood. It reminds me that we did have things in common...favourite car freshener scents.

"That's my favourite smell." I blurt out the words without even meaning to and Warner smiles.

"I know."

He knew? I never mentioned it... how could he possibly know that? As if he could read my mind he explained "You were obsessed with it in elementary school, I swear I could smell you down the hall because you doused yourself with it."

I pretend to be offended but laughed. He wasn't wrong, I really liked that scent. So much so I used to spray it in between classes and went through a bottle a week.

When we pull into the driveway I clutch my seatbelt tightly, the silver clasp is digging into my skin. James's house was enormous and currently packed to maxim capacity. If I'd come here on my own I would've run away from the gates seeing the number of cars but since I was basically being held hostage so I stay put.

Now I'm sitting in the car because I freeze the second Warner puts the car in park. I could try to let my embarrassment over my cowardice overrule my fear of being amidst large crowds however that is not happening. My body's gone into shut down mode and I'm glued to my seat with my knees knocking together and my arms shaking due to sheer terror.

Warner gets out and walks over to the passenger side, the car door is now open and the slight chill in the air causes goosebumps to rise on my skin. I figured Warner would say something by now but he hasn't.

"Why aren't you saying something?" I'm still looking straight ahead and not towards Warner who's standing to my left. From the corner of my eyes, I can see that he's got his arms folded across his chest and his eyes are studying me curiously. I expect him to be mocking me or laughing but his silence is scarier.

"I'm just waiting for you to be ready." He replies after a while and I furrow my eyebrows, my eyes still avoiding looking at him.

That was oddly... considerate?

I take a few more seconds and then get out of the car. "Do you promise you won't leave me?" I was embarrassed to be so needy but I was so scared of the people at this party. From the car, I already recognized tons of people from high school including many who made my life hell. I was never able to go to a party like this when I was Jiggly Juliet. Now here I was showing up with Warner Brooks. I don't know how this happened but I was actually glad to have him here with me because he was like a shield.

We walk in and my eyes widen taking in the jam-packed space with the music reverberating around the room making the glass window vibrate loudly. Jiggly Juliet would have given anything to go to one of these parties and now looking around I knew they were never anything special. I was scared to make eye contact with anyone I knew especially since I felt eyes on us. Luckily Warner hasn't budged from my side since we walked in.

I finally do a scan of the room and luckily there are lots of people I don't know. Warner introduces me to a few of his friends I haven't met and I do not miss some of the stink eyes from nearby girls. I do the only thing I know how to do at parties, I grab a drink and chug it back.

Warner narrows his eyes at me and then at the red solo cup hanging loosely in my hand. He grabs it before I can stop him and passes it to a guy with dreadlocks. Okay, so I might possibly have been drinking too fast. It's just to calm my nerves honestly

"Let's relax on the drinks."

I cross my arms over my chest and lift my chin, "We are at a James Stone party Warner, and that means we are supposed to be drinking cheap, disgusting warm beer and having the time of our lives. This is what I missed out on in high school, are you trying to deprive me of this experience?" I feign hurt.

His eyebrows shoot up and to my surprise, he grabs me a new drink. I don't know where the sudden bravery's coming from. I blame it on the pulsating music, my foot's tapping incessantly and the need to have fun is surging through me. Consequences be damned, I just want to enjoy myself!

"Hey, Jules?" Warner cocks his head to the side, watching me with an amused smile on his face.

"Hmmm?" I ask distractedly looking around for a corner I can dissolve in unnoticed and dance my heart out.

"You like this don't you?"

I don't know what gave it away, maybe the big fat grin on my face or the fact that I've started swaying my body but whatever it is I don't try to hide it. I nod my head vigorously, "I do, and this is sure as hell better than staying in my room and studying". I grin at him and he grins back.

"Come on let's give you a night you'll never forget."