"Put it a little bit to right, a bit more that's it," Instructing Leo about the banner who was standing on a ladder adjusting the homecoming banner in the gymnasium I smiled proudly.

"Perfect!" Jumping down from the third in a swift he dusted his hands off before looked up and held his palm as he gave me a high five.

Exams were hell of a ride and the season was over today. It felt like I could finally breathe freely. Now that my mind wasn't occupied in them, my concentration wasn't divided and I could finally focus on this weekend.

These past few days I had spent with my friends I felt like I was barely holding on to my emotions from moment to moment. I supposed that we all coped in our different ways-pain and healing as individual as the people who experienced them.

I have seen them very calm and cautious near me which made me contemplate whatever occurred to me and it's aftermath, didn't only effect me but they had some kind of same impact on their souls. They were broken too but were trying to cope unlike me.

For instance when me and Leo got out of the exam hall earlier today, he asked to help him in these preparations and I couldn't refuse. Maybe it was because he didn't want to leave me alone. I wasn't suicidal or all but it was just my theory, though from time time there was always someone with me.

I always had dad or Blake with me back at home, had lunch with Gwen today, spent an hour in library with Nate and his sweet talks about Rachel and now with Leo and his jokes.

Some students were still in exam hall including my friends; Nate and Gwen cause they were second shifters today but they'd be out in fifteen minutes.

Despite the fact that Homecoming was in two days and I had no particular excitement for it. Since the past weeks, under the deep darkness I felt like I'd been watched. Though there was no one but I still felt some kind of presence in my bedroom.

And it was sure not Dad nor Blake.

I was watching whatever that memory card had last night but Gwen's surprise visit restrained me from doing it and suddenly it was our girls night. According to her I had no proper dress for this homecoming after she turned my closet upside down then when she didn't find anything she decided we'd go shopping today after school.

To be honest, I seriously had nothing to wear.

Carefully stepping out of the decoration material on the floor I sighed before asked. "Hey, did you call DJ for this weekend?"

His eyes widened as he looked at me from the corner of his eye before cursed under his breathe. Raising my brows at him I wailed at him.

"How can you forget Leo!"

He rubbed the back of his head, not meeting my eyes. "I'm sorry, It must have slipped out of my mind hehe."

Chuckling at his demeanor I fisted at his stomach lightly. "No worries, we still have some time, hope we find someone, by the way where are the curtains? Don't tell me you forgot those too."

Looking at me, he pouted like a wild cat before nodded behind me to the boxes piled up at the bottom of a ladder Shawn was on.

"I'm not irresponsible muffin!.....Hey! Shawn, can you bring me those boxes? I have to go and call DJ," Leo called his raven haired friend who was busy adjusting some lights on the other side, near the door.

"I can't buddy!" He shouted back.

"I'll get it," Stuffing my hand in my pocket I took out my ponytail before tied my hair in a low messy bun.

"It's kind of heavy Aria."

"You go and call DJ, me and Shawn and Mike will manage here," Just as I said Leo took out his phone before his eyes cut to mine then to his friends Shawn and Mike who was another friend of him.

"You sure you can handle this?"

Making a sulky look I placed my hands on my hips. "Don't underestimate my power Mr. Evans, now go and ask if he can still come or you better be ready for your death," He chortled loudly and went to the door before halted and swirled around.

"Hey I've got a dad joke. What's red but smells like a blue paint?" He asked when me and Shawn shared a confused look.

"What?"

"Red Paint!" Laughing out loud he stumbled back at the doorway but regain by holding it with both his hands.

"Just go already!" Instead of listening to me, he sobered up for next one, making me whined.

"Okay last one then I'll go, what's brown and sticky?" He questioned and my gaze went straight down to his jeans before I raised my brows at him in a confusing way.

"It's a stick, God! You're so dirty Aria," He gave me vile eyes as I removed my shoe from right and threw at him. "Wtf go! Before I kill you Leo. That wasn't funny!"

Laughing at my embarrassed expressions he waved up to Shawn who waved back and continued his work with lights.

Walking up to the boxes, I wore my sneaker and huffed as I rubbed my sweaty palms over my jeans then pushed the box but they didn't budge from their place.

"That was hilarious!" Shawn exclaimed stiffing his laugh with his fist. I glared up at him before shook my head down chuckling.

Leo was a charm.

Gymnasium was hell lot of gigantic with beige walls so it was the best place to held the homecoming. The fact that slippery hardwood floor made it a little easy for me to slide the boxes to the other side.

Bringing my all strength I pushed before transfered the boxes to Mike who just got free with some other work. Panting out loud after shifting all the boxes, I opened it and took out the curtains to Mike one by one who was up on the ladder and set them perfectly.

Time passed by quickly when he cursed our loud. "Oh Shit! Principal called me earlier, sorry Aria but I have to go, I'll be right back," He scurried off the ladder and before I could say anything he was gone.

Shawn and I shared a sulky look before he gave me his toothy smile.

"Guess it's just you and me." He twisted the wire and continued setting the spot lights.

Shawn and Mike both were Leo's best skateboard buddies. I had met them last year the night when we all went to Leo's skateboard match. They seemed pretty respectful and cute. Mike had black short hair while Shawn had raven bangs styled cut.

Sighing to myself I still had five minutes, at least I could set one set of curtain before Gwen's arrival. I tucked back my loose hair strands behind my ear before held the curtain's corner, crossed it with the belt loop, made a knot and elevated on the ladder. It was pretty high but taking a deep breathe I closed my eyes and isolate my mind from thinking about my surrounding.

Just as I climbed higher, my breathe got unsteady. My sneakers slipped off the step as my eyes opened with a jerk made me stumbled a little as a shriek left from my mouth made Shawn to turn around.

'Climb and just think of something which you love most, I want you to divert your mind from fear Aria. Just focus on the light inside you. It'll guide you. It's all about that.'

"You okay?" Balancing myself and holding tight the sides I nodded to Shawn who's expression were disturbed. "Be careful Aria, listen just step down, I'll do it."

Shaking my head I smiled to him before climbed up slowly thinking about everything I love and set the black and grey curtains on their rightful places. Height was one of my fears and today I felt good after facing it.

"Babe!"

Leaping off the last step I turned to see Gwen bouncing inside the gymnasium with her exuberant aura.

"Finally these stupid paper work left me alone, come one we are getting late for shopping!!" She exclaimed, couldn't stop jumping from excitement.

"Where's Nate?" Looking behind her I asked before took my bag against the wall and left the gymnasium.

"He's helping students in the hallway, you know decoration and stuff. I told him we're going shopping and tried calling Leo but he didn't pick up," She stated as we existed the school to her car.

Ride was crazy as Gwen blasted 'Power' by Little mix in the car and flew through the traffic made me swear that I would never sit with her ever again. Guess Leo was absolutely right when he said his soul visited heaven when he was on my place.

While we rode, Gwen popped this bubble that the theme was switched to masquerade and it actually made things a lot easy for me. Not that I was planning some kind of murder but being the center of attention would make my anxiety a lot worse.

Though I was trying to appear strong and fighting for justice, Anxiety was something which would take some time for me to overcome.

Parking the car, we both stepped out of it. Looking up, I saw some huge outlet of some high class brand with it's initials in italic and sky kissing tinted glass door, glass windows with black mannequins inside wearing something I'd never afford.

I turned my head to Gwen to see she's holding two vouchers in air smirking. "Mom gave me these and more to that one is for you. I'm not saying this myself but mom actually gave one for you."

"It must be-

"Oh please Aria, come on let's shop. What's mine is yours. We more like sisters than friends. Homecoming don't come every day. Let's pick the best dresses and show that bitch who's the real queen." Gwen suggested but I hesitated.

If it'd for my appearance to show someone their status, I'd had done along time before. It was more than that. I had a lot in my store for her and my outfit was far from my concern now but this was one of a life time moment and it wouldn't hurt to set her on fire of jealousy.

As me and Gwen stepped in before passed the revolving door, sandalwood and rose fragrance engulfed me in it's sweetness as I inhaled deeply before scrutinized around to the rich, luxurious interior.

Around the square room, Americana's were set inside wall shelves elucidate by the beam above it. Danice ottoman stools with a huge grey matte contemporary modern sofa was beautifully set on my left with ceiling lights illuminating it as well as the person sitting on it with his back resting and eyes closed.

"Baby how's this one?" A high pitch voice could be heard and I recognized it.

"Hmm," The person sitting on the couch responded without even looking at her.

Ester turned her head to us and threw a scowl before glared and sat on Ethan's lap who jerked opened his eyes made Ester to almost fell and made Gwen to snicker as he turned his head to us.

His ocean emerald blue stare absorbed in mine hazel ones. My safe heaven in them was vanished in the dust of hatred. His honey skin made my heart beat crazily but what I didn't know was if his did too.

Our mutual gaze broke when a tall, lean lady emerged from behind the curtain, wearing a beautiful black sheath dress hugging her body. Her dirty blonde hair was styled in low bun with some front lose curls and a long bronze chain pendant tucked on her chest paired with diamond chain drop earrings.

She was gorgeous.

She looked around to be in her late thirties, not too old. Her face had a tired look which she probably had because of Ester. Rolling her eyes to Ester, her eyes cut to me and Gwen and a huge smile appeared on her face.

"Tiffany!!"

"Gwen!" The tall lady who's name I guess was Tiffany hollered to Gwen before hugged her tight like they'd known each other for quite some time. "How have you been love?"

Must be her Mother's friend.

Breaking the beautiful gesture, Gwen introduced me to Tiffany as she gave me a huge white pearl smile before engulfed me in her warm embrace.

"We have a homecoming this Sunday, show us your new, best collection Tiff," Requesting Tiffany who was the owner, Gwen walked to the right to the rack of gorgeous, expensive dresses.

"Of course babe, let me bring them to you. Make yourself comfortable here, I'll be right back," With that Tiffany winked at me and I smiled at her kindness before she turned back around but get heckled.

"We came here first miss, you can't ignore your customer, specially if they're from Elite family," Flapping her hair over her shoulder Ester scrutinized her nails but Tiffany just smiled to her with a 'sure' and went to the back, ignoring her.

Sluggishly walking, I inspect the interior before sat cross legs on the far end of the couch with Ethan on the other while pervasive silence wrapped us in the mantle on content before me and Gwen were served Lemonades.

Oh Perfect!

After a whole twenty minutes, and a whole twenty five dresses Ester went through, she still didn't pick her dress which made Ethan restless as he stole glances between me and his watch time by time. His anger was rising up as I had known his temper tantrums.

Gwen and I were in our own world, as she tried dresses in front of the floor length mirror.

"For God sake! Ester, pick one or I'm leaving you damn here! I have no interest in this shit!" Gritting his teeth, he ran his hand through his hair before I sighed and hanged the dress back on rack I was checking.

Walking to Ester who was on the verge of shout the hell out of her I said.

"Want some help Ester? I'm sure your boyfriend won't stay long because I have known him more than you and trust me his anger issues aren't something to mess with."

"F*ck off!!"

"Okay let's see, as I have known your taste in everything," Thinking deeply I looked over to Ethan who sat there staring at me with his pupil dilating I continued. "I think you won't find anything here sweetie. When you exit this outlet, take a left and then straight from there, there's a place where you can definitely find something that'll suit your taste."

Frowning angrily before she bitterly chuckled. "Don't tell me what to do and what not and for your kind information there's no other outlet here poor Aria, seems like it's your first time in this high class area."

Smiling at her fake innocence I awed. "When did I say I was refereeing to an outlet Ester?" Chuckling softly I sobered up quickly. "What I'm telling you is the way to an old alley with lots of dumpster near by. As you speak trash all the time, have garbage people by your side, you'll definitely find something according to your taste to wear too sweetie."

Stifling her laughter Gwen turned her back to us but her body was shaking, telling she was definitely laughing hard.

"HOW DARE YOU-

"ENOUGH ESTER! STOP WASTING MY TIME!! I have some very important things to handle than your rubbish, are you coming or not?" And that's when his volcano erupted.

Rage radiating from his body filled mine with nostalgia. Something that made me remember the night we shared our skins, our kisses, our heat.

Glaring my way Ester was jerked forward when Ethan grabbed her by her wrist roughly and dragged her out of the outlet.

Ouch!

"Out the door, Dinosaur." Chirping I waved my hand to outside which worked like a fuel to fire as Ester stomped her foot before pulled away from Ethan harshly and walked out first.

Halting in his steps beside me, Ethan turned his head sideways to meet my empty gaze as I just composed my weak self and soothed my burning heart with my unfallen tears inside, smiled softly and winked sweetly.

"See you in homecoming Ethan. Guess our fate let us encounter again and hopefully this weekend too."

A constant stream of rhythmic memories rushed to me but I blocked them in the back of my mind and regain my immortal flame of revenge. Falling for him was like falling from Grace.

I'd break you with my kindness in a way you'd be forced to think what the hell happened, Ethan Anderson. In a swift of bell and breeze he was gone before I turned back around.

"I can't believe he dumped you again for her, like what the hell he was thinking before breaking your heart. Ethan seriously has issues. Sometimes I think if he has split personality disorder."

"Can we focus on our dresses Gwen? We don't wanna ruin our mood because of someone unworthy, right? Things were bound to happen and now here we are," I sighed looking straight at her with no emotions on my face.

Nodding down casted she called her designer friend. "Can you bring our dresses Tiff?"

Tiffany appeared again holding two foot length gowns and if pearls deep inside a sea hidden in a shell were the most beautiful thing in the world, now they weren't.

Sharing a glance with Gwen I smirked who had mirrored expressions on her face. Once again my fate was playing it's game but now I wasn't a pawn in it. Even I had to mold myself according to it, I did. I molded my weak soul in a powerful one and became the Queen of this very own game.

Now we wait for homecoming.

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