Hailey

"Hailey, hey."

I rose my gaze from the snack I was nibbling at and met Nadia's clear gaze as she reached the food table. "Hi." I greeded back with a smiled too. "Wow I love that dress."

"Thank you." she grinned, looking down and twirling her dense tulle skirt with one hand. It was a beautiful long gown, with a daring back I woudln't dare to wear in a lifetime, but that she rocked and even looked classy. "You're not bad yourself. Cute lace."

"Thanks." but I didn't feel half as pretty. Guess that's what you get when you buy a last minute gown. I was happy with my choice, but it wasn't the best. For the Spring Ball I'd be looking for a dress a month before its date. "Hey I saw you with Kyle before." her smile brightened sweetly now as I tilted my head and turned to fully look at her, now that I filled my plate with enough provisions. "Didn't know you two were a thing."

"Oh, well, kinda... It's very recent, but he's so sweet."

Yes, Kyle Sullivan had that reputation, but he was also know for being super dramatic -and not only for his dedication to the drama club.

"So," she said filling on of the plastic base with pounch. In the dim light it looked bluish, adding to the winterly enviroment. "How are you doing? Having fun?"

"Sure. You?"

"Yeah, you've decorated this place lovely. I love the fake snow at the entrance and that spot to take the pics. What is it really?"

"Porexpan."

Nadia laughed. "Call it."

I smiled too. It really looked beautiful and added to the pics a nice winter touch. I knew already they would stood out on the year book.

"It was Trish's idea, actually, we just made it happen."

"Team work." she dismissed with a shrugged. I like that about her, how she would turned a comment around in order to make it sounded better than intended. Nadia radiated a powerful charisma and there was no wonder why she was one of the most liked girls here. "I can't wait to see the other schools struggling to match this. You've really overdone yourself."

"Thank you." I responded shyly, intimidated a bit by her, but who wouldn't? And with her looking this stunning...

"So who have you came with?" she tilted her head after a small sip of her plastic vase. "I think I've seen you with your read-headed friend, uh, Victoria?"

"Yeap," I rose my chin and squared my shoulders proudly. "She's my date." without thinking I spotted her bright red mane through the people.

We'd been together for the past hour, but when we met with Logan Dawson what was supposed to be a small talk turned out into something way more interesting... for them, that's it. I think that was the first time I'd ever seen Logan genuinely smiling. With me he was always harsh, almost bordering rude, and I know he thought I got some facilities for being my mother's daughter and Matt's sister. But with Vickie none of that seemed to matter and they practically forgotten I was there. Ence my little trip to the food table.

"I think she's rethinking her choice, tho."

"Isn't that the reporter guy you wrote sports with?" tilted her head the blond cheerleader. "By the way, how do you go from sports to helping the Ball's preparation?"

"Don't ask." I grimaced, remembering those weeks I couldn't write so Mrs Glennson was forced to find me another job. "And where's your date now? Won't he miss you?"

"Won't he always?"

"Also true." I laughed and Nadia gave me another dazzling smile behind her cup.

"I like you. So where are-"

"Gracie." we both turned at my horrible nick when a newcomer approached us; Karen. Only that I never seen her this shaken off. She looked beautiful, as usual, but her fists were clenched by her sides and there was a hard edge on her glare... her glare focused on me. "So? Where is he?"

"Hi, Karen." rolled her eyes Nadia but the softball captain barely paid her any attention. Pinning me down with that murderous look.

"Where is he?"

"Who?" I stuttered, taken aback by her approach.

"Justin! Where is he?" I knew she hated me, and she had every right considering our past, but she'd never openly confronted me like this... always more like demonstrating what the real boundaries where from an elegant distance. And now I hadn't even done anything to deserve her wrath.

"How am I supposed to know?"

Her eyes flared. "I know he asked you to be his date. Wasn't it enough to meddle in our relationship? You couldn't even wait from thing to cool down before jumping on him again?"

Unlike my growing self-consciousness, Nadia left the drink on the table, shaking her head almost in a bored manner. "Karen, you're being ridiculous."

"Oh, am I now? She's stealing him from me! Just like she stole Nate from you."

Nadia let out a genuine laugh."What? Hailey didn't stole him from me." and rolled her eyes. "And you just said there is no relationship anymore within you two, so now what?" she intertwined our arms and pushed me past her without even dropping the easy-going mood. "If you excuse us."

But even going away Karen's accusations still burning in my brain. Steal Justin? And Nate? I never considered I was stealing anything. I know Justin was taken but he always made me believe it was a dead relationship that he was holding onto out of habit... and with Nate? I knew we were exclusive now and we weren't before, meaning he'd stopped seeing other girls -like Nadia, like Trish... Had I stolen him?

"Don't listen to her." the cheerleader beside me reassured as if reading my thoughts. "Ames is a pathological cheater and you didn't steal Nate, that for sure."

"Really?"

"Of course not, and we- Seth, Kurt!" my heart halted as she suddenly greeted and guided us to the side where stood the players in a tux, like everyone else. But they were by themselves.

The nervousness melted into disappointment when I couldn't spot Nate around. Where was he? Wasn't he going with the team? I thought that mean the guys.

"Girls." they grinned back.

"Hi," I tilted my head, frowning. "I haven't seen you around. You been here for long?"

"We just arrived." Seth patted his mate's shoulder. "Kurt here convinced us to go eat at his sister's again."

"Like you've complained." narrowed his eyes the aforesaid. "You all just love to take advanage of my free cupons."

"Well duh."

Nadia laughed and I baarely conteined a smile. "So lovely, so you all used free cupons? Maybe your sister will stop providing them then."

"As if we were that much of a crowd." he rolled his eyes. "Just, a couple more guys and Kimmy. No big deal."

That new informations gave me a bad feeling. "Kimberly's gone to the diner with you guys?"

Seth blushed at Kurt's knowing glance. "Mhm. As Seth's date. She's..." he glanced around, his brows pursing. "Well, I can't see her now, but they're here together."

Seth frowned, looking around as well. I caught a glimpse of a few other guys from the team but there was no sight of Kimberly.

Oh no.

My gut feeling kicked all the more and my heart thundered with fear. From the corner of my eyes I noticed Nadia tensing as well. Does she know? But I couldn't stop to analize it at the moment. "Excuse me."

I knew I wasn't being fair, leaving like that, but I needed to be sure; so I hoped they wouldn't pin it on me for being rude and slid my way through people to the end of the gym and the desert-like corridor down to the girls bathroom.

Please, please, let me be wrong-

I entered just as a toiled was being flushed and one of the stools opened to reveal Kimberly, walking out as he wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. She froze when she saw me there and my chest tightened, but after a second her shoulders squared and moved to the sink as if nothing had happened. As if I just didn't witnessed that.

Kimberly washed her hands, ignoring me as she fixed her dress and make up and only then, with the thick tension choking us; she spoke, hushedly and without looking at me. "Shut up."

"Kimberly-" I started when she headed to the door, but still too in shock to properly say a thing.

"Not now, Gracie." get out the bathroom before I could have a say in what just happened.

She lied to me, she isn't any better. Snapping out my shock I followed her, taking her hand. "Kimberly, listen-"

"No." she wriggled out my grip but halted, preventing us to reach the gym once more and allowing us some more private time. The music form the even came muffledly through the thick curtains we'd hanged on the door, but right now it almost felt like we were under the water for how dense my mind felt. What was I supposed to do? Not like her glare did any good to my determination. "I don't wanna talk about it."

"But-"

"I want to have fun." she cut me rushedly, desperate to avoid the topic. "Enjoy this stupid ball all of you've been insisting so much for me to attent. I'm here, ain't I? Now don't you dare spoil it for me."

My mouth opened and closed for a couple seconds, lost of words under her glare that held something entiredly different form anger. It held fear. She was afraid.

"I... " My guts tightened. What is someone supposed to do in this cases? I hated being this clueless. I hated she felt like she need to do that. It sickened me and broke my heart.

I couldn't let this keep going as if nothing, but at the same time if I messed her confidence this situation would be hundred times worst. I won't be changing anything tonight, either way. Maybe I shouldn't spoil a good event with this? But it's not spoiling! She's starving herself!

I know, but what difference would it make now if I lose her? At least, I knew what was going on. I had little tiny updates. Mostly false, I realized now, but still a little window to what she was really feeling.

"...Okay." I muttered slowly, not seeing another option that wouldn't had her hating me or closing off forever. Kimberly eyed me waringly when I give in but I nodded. "Okay. As you say. Just..." I swallowed. Damn, each word felt like it could tick her off. Like I could loose this small strand that somehow bind us together and if I lose it I kneew I would regret it for the rest of my life. "I'm here, okay?"

The anger in her gaze faltered for a second shattering in a vulnerable situation, but before I could hug her or say something else she scoffed, stepping backwards. "Don't. I'm fine." she lied once more, reaching out to pull the curtains, eager to cut this conversation. "Why don't you focus all this dedication to something trudly in danger, uh? Like looking for Nate?" my heart shuddered and I almost winced at her tone and reminder. Something in danger. Kimberly's chin lifted, confident. "Now that's something you can do."

And just like that she disappeared. After a deep breath, shaken by this whole orderal, I too crossed the doorstep into the gym again just seeing her reached where the guys were. Seth's eyes met hers, lightening up immediately and threw an arm over her shoulders. He likes her, that was clear as the day. He would keep an eye on her tonight. Nothing would happen to her at least for now, but something must be done.

But what? She didn't think she needed help... nor wanted it either way. I get it... but she's said she'd lost her period already and she trudly looked sick. I needed to find a way to get to her. Soon. To make her see... but how without breaking her trust? How? How?!

"Hey there." I was so hanged up in my own world, wandering distractedly the verge of the place, that I didn't even seen anyone getting closer until they practically stepped before me forcing me into a halt and snapped my gaze up. Even through the blinking lights and loud music it was easy to recognize the blond before me and his sweet smile.

"Justin." I sighed, awkwardly after what happened some minutes before. "Karen is looking for you."

"Karen? Well, uh, I was looking for you."

I smiled a little, unsure of what to feel.

He'd asked me to the ball, something that's always been in my dreams, and somehow turned out I rejected him. That was never part of my dreams. Now I didn't know how to act around him anymore. I thought we would stablish our boundaries at friends, but after he asked me I wasn't that sure. And Karen accusing me of stealing...I hadn't right? I mean, I did pursue him when I thought he was into me and would leave Karen, but I gave up before that ever happened. They break up a month after I changed my mind about him. I didn't steal him right?

The memory of Karen's glare said otherwise and a guilt feeling crushed me from inside.

"So," I cleared my throat awkwardly, letting my fingers fiddled with the lace of my sleeves. "How's the night going so far?"

He made that cute smile again. "Considering I'm not here with whom I want..."

"Justin." I blushed, adverting my gaze uncomfortable. For once I was glad of the loud music so no busy body would eavesdrop. "You can't say those things."

"And why not?" he took a step closer, ignoring my warning gaze and took my hand. No spark flew. No chills were spread... just nothing. I felt weird knowing how a couple months could change someone's perception so much... but I guess it helped a lot the realization he was natural cheater and liar. That's why I couldn't find it in me to believe him when he said: "Look, it took me long enough, I know, but come on."

I shook my head, squeezing my brain for a gentle turn down. "Justin, I'm with someone."

"Someone who wouldn't even take you to the ball?" That hurt, it stung in the deepest pit of my chest. "Come on, Hails, I knew this was important for you. He should had as well." he tilted his head, his gaze seeking mine and smiled when he found it, brushing off a strand of my straightened hair as the song changed to a new one. "One dance?"

Justin's hand stretched between us, ignoring the way Karen was burning holes in the back of our heads from somewhere in the distance -I could feel it. Well, if they had broken up it wasn't like that would stop him now right. Nor me. My date was busy somewhere else and I rather not go back to seat by myself on the the table as Tay and Kevin make out by my side. No, thank you.

And still, what was one dance? This was my last Snow Ball, I wanted to live the experience right? So I smiled, hesitantly, and reached out to accepted his offer...

... just as a new hand appeared and wrapped its fingers around my wrist, pulling me towards them instead. "She's taken. Sorry." the chest pressing in my back vibrated with the known voice that sent a wave of shivers all the way down my spine. The fluttering in my guts only increased at the hands that snaked on my waist and pulled us away from Justin, who fisted his hand and glared over my shoulder.

" Oh really?" he gritted out, more tense than I'd ever heard him and Nate must noticed as well because his body stiffened all the more. "Well, I'm sorry, but we were talking here."

"Were you?" his grip tightened almost possessively and confused me all the more. Why was he acting like this now? "Because it look to me like you were asking my girl out."

"Your girl?" Justin and I asked in sync, my heart doing a complicated jump when he refered at me like that and I looked over my shoulder at him just as his green orbs shifted form Justin to mine.

"Yes." he stated firmly, the determination in his gaze both churning my chest and spiking my vexation.

So now I was his girl? Since when? The mere thought of being considered something more than friends grossed him out a couple days ago and now that someone that actually seemed to want to make me live the Ball like I wanted to appeared -even if that someone was Justin-, it suddenly swiched on his possessive button?

I don't think so.

This couldn't be always what he wanted, when he wanted it.

He must read that in my eyes because his expression softened a bit on the edges and whispered. "Can we talk?"

There was this edge hidden behind the determination, this almost vulnerable undertone I half read and that torned my heart all the more. How was I supposed to remain strong in my demands when just hearing his slight distraught made me wanna give him whatever?

Kimberly's words from earlier came back: 'Something trudly in danger'.

Were we 'in danger'? Was our relationship really pending on the edge? Considering our limits were colliding, we'd finally reached a point where no one seemed to want to bend, maybe we were indeed in danger. But most important, was it worth saving?

We clearly wanted different things, and were bound to run this off at some point, but the idea of having reached that final point got my heart ragging. I didn't want this to end, but I didn't want to stay like this forever either. I was a hot mess, that's what I was.

"I don't know..." I muttered back, breathless knowing that this conversation would only lead to a break up -if you really could call it a break up considering we were nothing official.

"Please," he whispered on my ear, low enough only for me to hear and eliciting goosebumps down my neck and shoulders. "We need to talk."

Maybe... but what was there really to talk about other than to end things. Couldn't it really wait? In his eyes I saw it really couldn't. My stomach fluttered. Why now? I wanted to have a nice memory of this Ball! Yet at his pleading look I found myself giving in somehow.

"Come on... If your date don't mind." he added the last part more bitterly and loud, making sure Justin heard and my eyes widened. Did he thought-

"I'm not her date." gritted him, narrowing his eyes and I could tell by Nate's body lenguage it surprised him, but he controlled it quickly.

"Then you got nothing to complain about, right mate?"

"What are you doing?" I pursed my brows as he pulled me away from the blond and into the dancefloor, standing at a random spot and smiling down at me.

"Dancing with you." his arm circled my lower back pulling me closer and I rested my arms on his shoulders at a lack of a better spot. "Have I mentioned you look beautiful?"

I diverted my gaze, blushing. "I thought you wanted to talk."

"That too." he cleared his throat at my obvious shut down mood. It must be weird for him, usually it was the other way around. "So, Ames wasn't your date."

I looked back up at the sudden comment, finding that hint of jelousy so weird in him -and also relief. "I'm here with Vickie."

"Vickie?" his jaw unclenched. "As in your friend Vickie?" I nodded slowly and he cracked a more genuine smile now. "Good."