I put the flower on the side then tentatively take Cupid's arm. Despite the chill in the air he feels warm. I notice he smells lightly of soap and aftershave.

I call goodbye to my dad then step outside.

Cupid looks down at me and smiles as he leads me to his car parked at the end of the driveway.

I feel my stomach churn nervously as his eyes bare into mine.

He opens the passenger door for me to get inside then walks around to the driver's side. Moments later we're on the road.

Neither of us speaks as he drives, and I can't help feeling a little awkward. I pull at my dress anxiously.

"Did you hide all the weapons OK?" I ask after a few minutes of silence.

Cupid looks down at me – he seems a little surprised at my question.

"Yes" he says "And I've got the tracker to plant on one of the Arrows when they arrive"

"Oh" I say. "You're planting it?"

Cupid frowns.

"That OK?"

I force a smile.

"Yeah – fine" I say "I just...I didn't think you would be going after the Arrows. I thought..."

"My brother would plant the tracker?" he says.

I nod.

I feel a bit silly for thinking it, but I'd hoped Cupid would stay with me.

He gives me a sideways glance – his expression unusually serious.

"They're coming here tonight for one of two things." He says "Me...or you. We don't want to make it too easy for them by being together."

I frown.

"Don't worry" he adds "We'll enjoy the dance until they get there – I'll take care of them – and my brother will keep you safe until I return for the last dance. Promise."

He gives me a winning grin – his eyes twinkling in the street lights.

I roll my eyes but I can't help but grin back.

He makes it seem like it's so simple.

"Well..." I joke "...I suppose that's ok....as long as you're back for the last dance..."

He looks at me intensely for a moment longer than is comfortable – his face suddenly serious again. His eyes seem to hungrily take me in.

"With you looking like that" he says softly – a slight growl in his tone "I'd battle an army to get to that dance."

I feel my cheeks heating up and look away hurriedly. Out of the corner of my eye I see Cupid smirk and cast his gaze back onto the road.

"I'd like to see a few Arrows try and stop me" he adds.

***

Around ten minutes later we arrive at the school.

Cupid and I navigate the locker lined corridors towards the gym. As we approach the sound of music pounds through the open doors.

We pause just outside.

"Will Charlie be in there already?" Cupid asks.

I nod.

"She came early to help out" I say.

"Good" says Cupid "We want the Arrows to be able to find her at all times. I've asked Cal to keep an eye on her"

I look up at him

"She'll be alright won't she?" I ask.

Cupid nods.

"They won't harm her - she's a cupid now and they think she's on their side." he says "Worst case scenario is that Selena's hypnosis wears off and she remembers that she...you know..."

"Wants to kill me?" I add.

Cupid gives me a dramatic pained expression.

"Yup" he replies.

"When do you think the Arrows will get here?" I ask.

Cupid shakes his head.

"I don't know" he says "Just be prepared"

I nod and he extends his hand.

"Now, shall we go inside?"

I link my arm into his and we enter the gym.

The space has been transformed from its usual dull, grey ambience to one of vibrant pinks.

A huge banner covers the far wall reading: Welcome to the Forever Falls Dance and the pink, black, and white balloons that Cupid and I blew up this afternoon are bunched up and hung around the room. A flashing, fuchsia strobe illuminates the hundreds of students already here, and there are white fairy lights hung across one of the walls and draped around the DJ booth in the corner.

We immediately spot Cal sat on his own on one of the benches. We head towards him and he looks up as we approach.

My eyes widen slightly when I see him.

He looks different than usual - more grown up. He is wearing a dark grey suit with a black shirt that makes his light hair, which he has brushed out of his face, look even brighter than usual.

"Charlie's over there" he says, gesturing with his head across the room.

I turn and see my friend in a floaty, magenta dress dancing amidst the crowd.

Cupid raises an eyebrow.

"You know when I said to keep an eye on her I didn't mean sit on a bench and stare at her like a creep all evening..." he says "Go dance with her! Have some fun for a change..."

Cal scowls and takes a sip of the pink fruit punch he's got from the drinks table.

"I think you're having enough fun for the both of us" he says.

He pauses then looks at me.

"You look nice Lila" he says formally.

I feel momentarily taken aback by the compliment.

"Um...thanks" I say "You don't look too bad yourself"

"Yeah...well..." he says.

He hurriedly averts his eyes back to the dancing and I look up at Cupid who shrugs.

"Come on" he says "Let's go dance"

I'm about to accompany him when I feel someone looking at me and turn suddenly.

James is stood in a black suit across the room – watching us with a hurt expression on his face.

I look away hurriedly and take Cupid's hand as he leads me into the crowd.

I'd had an awkward conversation with James on Monday night - and had taken to avoiding him since. I don't particularly want to talk to him this evening - not when there are so many other things going on.

Cupid turns his head to where I was looking and smirks.

"I think someone's jealous" he whispers into my ear.

I feel his warm breath on my face and my skin tingles. I take a deep breath and look up at him.

"Maybe." I say. "But he shouldn't have kissed my best friend should he?"

I raise an eyebrow and Cupid's eyes twinkle.

"I don't know" he says "Worked out alright for me"

I give him a look and punch him playfully in the arm. I can feel the hardness of his muscles through his suit jacket. We reach Charlie and I'm about to say hi when there is a sudden burst of screaming towards the edge of the dance floor.

My eyes widen; alert.

I feel Cupid tense beside me, and out of the corner of my eye I see Cal jump to his feet.

The Arrows.

I suddenly hear the whooshing sound of hundreds of arrows flying through the air and can see students, who are scrambling over one another, getting hit by the bronze and pink Capax and falling to the floor.

Cal bolts towards us through the panicked crowd. He shares a look with his brother.

"Look after her "Cupid says hurriedly.

He pauses and his eyes find my face. He looks as though he wants to say something.

"I'll be ok" I say firmly. "Be careful."

He nods and pushes his way through the dance floor towards the origins of the commotion.

Cal grabs my arm.

"We need to get out of here" he says.

We start to move – Cal just ahead of me.

As I'm getting thrown about by people trying to get out of the gym – I hear a loud whoosh and feel a sudden searing pain in my shoulder.

I stop still in my tracks.

"Cal?" I say unsurely.

He spins around. His eyes widen.

"Lila" he shouts.

Suddenly I'm filled with a weird sense of euphoria.

I look down – my eyes momentarily blurred.

An arrow juts out from my body.

Huh?

I grasp it and pull it out and watch it crumble to ash between my fingers.

Cal jolts forwards and catches me in his arms as I begin to fall to the floor.

A lot of people wonder about Lila and James breaking up as it's not actually mentioned!

I kinda skipped past it in the first draft, but at this point in the published version (out October 1st) a LOT of things have happened differently (the way they get the Records of the Finis, for one, is really different and includes a scene between Lila and Cal that my editor emailed me to thank me for because it made her laugh so much lol).

One of the other things that you see by this point in the published version is Lila and James breaking up! There's a whole scene dedicated to it. So, for anyone wondering, yep they are no longer together - I just kinda forgot to include it when I was writing this version! XD

Hope you're enjoying the story!

Love, Lauren

xxx