Even though Kent had already seen the dress I had gotten for the dance, my stomach was tying into knots with each passing second. The boys would be here in five minutes to walk us to the gym for the dance and Jackie was finishing up the last touches of my makeup.

"That dress is perfect on you Jackie," Josie complimented, admiring the beautiful blue dress Jackie had picked out. She looked absolutely gorgeous, so did Josie and Holly.

"I hope they aren't late," Holly muttered, mostly to herself, as she peeked out the window for the millionth time.

"I'm so excited!" Josie squealed, grabbing Holly and jumping around. Typical girls before a dance.

"They should be here any minute, let's get downstairs," Jackie rushed us out of her room and to the elevator. Usually the stairs would be our first option but both Josie and Jackie were wearing heels. I had opted for flats, deciding I didn't want to break an ankle tonight. We waiting patitenly for the elvator and hurried on, I tapped the main floor button multiple times until the doors finally closed. For the most part we were silent, each excited to see our dates and mostly for our dates to see us.

As the elevator rang and the doors swung open, Jackie and I were the first to step out into the lobby of the girls dorms. A dozen other girls were waiting impatiently in the lobby for their dates as well, the room filled with all different colored dresses.

"Dyllan just texted me, they're on their way over," Holly announced to the three of us girls and my heart fluttered even faster. Either the lobby was hotter than normal or I was already blushing about Kent being dressed up. I wonder how he'd look.

"That's Sadie Michaels!" At the sound of my name I turned to see the one and only Missy stomping towards me, a pudgy security guard and the principal on her heels.

"Ms. Michaels, would you please come with us?" Mr. Watson asked, motioning towards the door. The security guard was too busy catching his breath and Missy stood before me, arms crossed and a smirk I wanted to slap off of her face.

"What did she do wrong?" Jackie blurted out, looking as confused as I felt at the moment. Josie and Holly stepped up to the group of us as well, wanting to know what the problem was as well.

"We were unaware of, uh, Ms. Michaels . . . living arrangements," Mr. Watson said, his voice quieter than before, probably not wanting to draw more attention than Missy had already.

"I was told to come here by the dean of the girls dorm!" I immediately defended myself. Being accepted into the school and then not having a dorm provided for me wasn't necessarily my fault.

"We'll discuss this further but we're going to need you to come with us," The security guide piped in, I guess finally able to breathe again.

"What about the dance?" I asked, glancing down at my dress and remembering the hours I had just spent in Jackie's dorm room getting ready for this stupid dance.

"Looks like you're going to miss it," Missy hissed, an evil smile spread across his glossed lips while she placed her hands on her hips.

The bitch had gone to the principal to get me out of her way, so she could be with Kent.

"You can't do that!" Josie yelled but I stopped her before she could continue yelling at our principal.

"Don't worry about it you guys," I tried to stay calm, or at least sound calm, but my voice was a bit shaky, "tell Kent what happened,"

"This way Ms. Michaels," Mr. Watson motioned for me to follow him out the doors and I had no choice but to follow.

"This so isn't over Missy," I heard Holly threaten before I was escorted out of the building by the principal and the pudgy security guard.

I fought back tears while we made the short walk from the girls dorm to the main building where the office and principal's office were located. Mr. Watson unlocked her office and let me walk in first.

"Take a seat, Sadie," He pointed to one of the cushioned brown chairs in front of his big desk. The security guard stayed in the office waiting area so it was just Mr. Watson and I.

"You know why you're here, don't you?" He asked, taking a seat at his desk.

"I've got a hunch," I replied shortly. If this was such a big deal then why had they waited three months to do this? Mr. Watson sighed, not appreciating my attitude I could already tell.

"Sadie, we can't allow you to stay in the boys dorm. It's completely against school policy, not to mention I guarantee your parents wouldn't be too pleased," He continued, beginning to brew some coffee out of the coffee maker in the corner of his room. "I'm not sure how such a major thing like this was over looked, honestly I don't,"

"Look, when I showed up here after applying and being accepted, I was thrown out of the girls dorm and told to go to the boys dorm," I explained quickly, I could feel tears starting to pool in my eyes. He was going to kick me out of school. I'd have to go home.

"Which student told you to do that?" He asked, standing in front of the coffee maker while it brewed, eyeing me in disbelief. I remembered her name, Ashley, and I could tell him and put this whole thing on her instead.

"I don't remember," I replied, crossing my arms. It was a bit chilly in his office in my dress. I glanced at the clock. 6:20. The boys should have gotten to the dorms to pick up the girls five minutes ago.

"Right," Mr. Watson carried his cup of black coffee back over to his desk and sat down. I could tell he didn't believe me. "The bottom line is you can't stay in the Wellington dorm. I cannot allow you to continue living with the opposite sex on campus,"

"How was I accepted into the school if there weren't enough rooms?" I asked, anger beginning to replace the sadness I was feeling.

"It must have been a technical difficulty," Mr. Watson rubbed his forehead before taking a sip of coffee, "You will be the first one accepted for fall quarter next year,"

I felt my heart drop to my stomach and what seemed like a rock lodged into the back of my throat. I wasn't going to cry. I couldn't cry right now.

"So you're saying . . ." I trailed off to allow Mr. Watson to finish my sentence.

"We've already contacted your parents, they're on their way," Mr. Watson said with what sounded like grief in his voice but his face told me otherwise. If anything he hated me for the amount of paperwork he was going to have to do to explain this situation to the board.

"You called my parents?" I jumped up from my chair and started pacing back and forth in front of Mr. Watson's desk. "You're kicking me out of school for something that wasn't my fault! There has to be another room available,"

"Not in any of the girl dorms unfortunately,"

"So let me stay in one of the boy dorms alone! Charlie can move in with Kent and I'll take over his room," I suggested, hoping Mr. Watson would play along with my idea. He didn't like it.

"Females are not to be in male dorms Ms. Michaels, rules are rules," I stared at Mr. Watson with tears finally streaming down my face. There was no use, no hope. I would have to go back home, back to my hometown school. The school I was running away from. The school I wanted nothing to do with!

"Your mother will be here in thirty minutes, Berny is willing to help you carry your things out," Mr. Watson nodded towards the office waiting room where the pudgy security guard was waiting. "I'm sorry this happened Sadie,"

Without responding I spun and headed out of the room, Berny behind me a few feet. I couldn't seem to get back to the dorm fast enough. I wonder what had happened with everyone. If Kent was as upset as I was.

The music blaring from the gym where the dance was taking place was loud enough for me to hear all the way at my dorm. When I reached the steps leading up and into the dorm I stopped and stared. This would be the last time I'd ever go into this dorm. The last time I'd leave this dorm too. Berny held the door open for me and we both walked in, I decided to take the stairs because I knew I could lose the heavy guard on the way up.

"Hey! Wait up!" Berny called out, his voice echoing loudly through the concrete stairwell, but I kept running. I sprinted up the stairs as fast as I could in my dress and reached my floor in record speed, hurrying to my room before Berny had the chance to reach the third step I think.

The room seemed different than before, maybe I was just paying more attention since this would be my last time. Before tears had the chance to spill out again, I grabbed my large duffel bag from under my bed and began shoving my clothes into it. The best thing to do now was just leave. I'm sure the girls had already explained everything to Kent, I just hope they didn't all miss the dance for me.

Within ten minutes Berny had caught up to me, filling my ear with complaints about his back and his knees while I finished up the packing. The only things that wouldn't fit were my pillow and blanket. My mom texted me letting me know she would be there in ten minutes. She added a period to her message which meant she was definitely not happy. Hopefully it's just her and not dad too.

"Got everything?" Berny asked, slinging my two duffel bags over his shoulders. I grabbed my small rolling suit case, tucked my blanket and pillow under my arm, following Berny out into the hall.

"We're taking the elevator," He announced and I wasn't going to argue. I wanted to stretch the last minutes I had in this building to the max. "I'm going to have to take your key too,"

I fumbled with my key chain until I got the silver key off and smacked it into Berny's thick hand. Before we reached the bottom floor I reached into my bags and pulled out Kent's sweatshirt that he had let me borrow. I wish I could keep it.

As we reached the bottom floor Berny didn't wait for me to get off first this time and headed straight for the doors while I drug my feet. Even though I had only lived here for three months this place still felt more like home than my old school ever since.

"Will you give this to Kent Agather please?" I asked, holding out Kent's sweatshirt for Berny to take. I wasn't crying anymore, but the thought of not seeing all my friends and especially Kent every day anymore was enough to have me in tears yet again.

Before Berny had the chance to grab the sweatshirt Kent was suddenly grabbing my hand and pulling me into his chest, surrounding me in a tight hug.

"How about you just keep it instead?"