"This is outrageous!" Dad continues to grumble to himself as he grips the steering wheel.

  I eye his white knuckles, my stomach a bit queasy after all the days excitement. We take a turn at an alarming speed making me cling to the armrest to keep myself sitting upright.

  "It really wasn't that bad Mr. Morelli" Zeke tries to calm Dad down from the backseat.

  "Not that bad?" Dad calls out incredulously, "Obviously it was bad enough they felt the need to bring you kids to the hospital!"

  "They were just being cautious." Zeke continues to try defusing the bomb that is currently my dad. "My mom always says, better safe than sorry!" he shrugs trying to put a humorous note into his voice.

  Dad isn't amused, only grumbles more to himself incoherently.

  "And then," he suddenly shouts, obviously unaware we have no idea what he was saying, "they have the nerve to go forward with their game tonight!"

  "Well," I hesitantly start, "to be fair it's not like the game is being held in the gym" I shrug.

   Dad peers at me horrified, looking at a loss for words, momentarily at least.

  "You can not tell me you are thinking about going!" he huffs.

  "Well," I glance over to Zeke for help, but am unable to finish my thought.

  "You were almost killed tonight!" his knuckles turn a ghostly white as he grips the steering wheel even tighter. In the back of my mind I wonder how much the poor thing can take.

  "It wasn't that bad." Zeke tries again making Dad roll his eyes.

  "Really," I try my hand at cooling the situation. "The worse thing that happened was a concussion"

   "A concussion!" Dad bellows. "Do you know what a concussion is? Brain damage!" he answers himself before we have a chance. "And now they expect me to let you on another set of bleachers. These are outside! If they couldn't manage the task of caring for the ones indoors I can only imagine how destroyed these must be!"

  I glance back to Zeke only to see him looking at me hopelessly. My dad has been ranting and raving about the lack of care our school has for our safety since they called him from the hospital. He was seriously mid rant, with no one listening, as he barreled through the hospital doors to get me. I was in shock, still am to be honest. He had to get out of work an hour early to come get me, and he didn't even hesitate. He never mentioned the inconvenience, only cared about my well being.

  After assuring himself that I truly am fine, not even a scratch, he paused long enough to hear what happened. He had a quick rundown from someone at the school, but he wanted every detail. We tried to make it sound minor, but he started his relentless rant up again as soon as we were finished.

  Once in the car he started to calm down a bit, that is until Zeke got a call from Leo. After hearing that he was at the game Dad found a new source of energy for his ravings. Getting louder and more upset the longer he went.

  "What if we promise to sit in the front row?" Zeke sheepishly asks earning himself a glare from my dad through the rear view mirror.

  "I've never been to a game" I try

  "And she even got all dressed up!" Zeke jumps in, latching onto this new approach.

  "And it will be our last Homecoming" I add

  "You didn't seem all that interested this morning" Dad mumbles, his ferocity slowly fading away.

  "I don't know," I shrug "I guess I'm not that interested is the game itself." I answer honestly.

  Zeke shoots me a glare, fearing that I am only backtracking.

  "But I have been looking forward to hanging out with friends." I finish up shrugging again.

  "You were planning on meeting people there?" Dad's grip on the wheel slowly lessons, his face relaxing as he begins playing with the idea.

  "Yea, Leo is already there. Then there is Stefan and Elena, those are the two you met the other morning" I list off, hoping that the idea of me in a group will convince him

  "And Damon!" Zeke provides all too enthusiastically. I slide him with a sideways glare but he just ignores me.

  "He never said he was going." I state flatly wanting the subject to drop.

  "Oh I am sure he will be there." Zeke pushes on with a mischievous smirk. "After pulling you back onto safety I am sure he will want to make sure your ok."

  "The boy you like?" Dad eyes me suspiciously. "He is the one that helped you?"

  I simply shrug and avert my eyes, doing everything in my power not to think about his strong arms holding me tight against him. I fail miserably and a light blush color my cheeks. I can feel Dad watching me, the silence in the car weighing down on me as he waits for a response.

  "Technically it was Stefan." I grumble as I cross my arms over my chest and slump down in my seat.

  Its true, Stefan is the who actually pulled me to safety, granted it was only after Damon caught me. Still, it's all in the details!

  We continue to drive for a few moments in awkward silence until dad finally sighs in defeat.

  "Fine, but front row of the bleachers!"

  "We promise!" Zeke practically shouts as he begins to bounce with excitement.

  "And we should stop at home first to get you two jackets. Its starting to get cold."

  "Aww, do we have to?" Zeke whines as his excitement is ripped away. "The game is going to start soon!"

  "I think we should be ok." I offer "With all the people and the activity we should stay pretty warm."

  I watch as the clock ticks another minute closer to kick off. That's what it's called right? Kickoff? I know nothing about football, why am I looking forward to going again? An image of Damon flashes in my mind making my stomach twist with nerves, and maybe a little excitement?

  Dad eyes my shorts skeptically but eventually gives in with another sigh. Within moments we are pulling in front of the crowded stadium. People are milling around, cheering and shouting taunts to the opposing team as they gradually make their way to the entrance.

  After promising to meet him out front after the game, Zeke and I escape the car in unison. The chill in the air bites at my exposed skin, instantly covering me with goosebumps. Knowing we are still being watched by the idling car I resist the urge to shiver and push my way through the crowd.

  "Hey guys! Reza! Zeke!" a familiar voice calls above the roar of the crowed.

  After a few glances I spot Leo jumping and waving to get our attention from the entrance line. Grabbing for Zeke, who is still looking around to no avail, I lead us over to meet him. As we approach him I am drawn up short.

  "Oh my god!" I gasp

  "What happened!" Zeke echoes my shock and concern.

   A soft blush creeps over Leo as he shifts uncomfortably under our gaze. Self- consciously he runs a hand over his now wrapped wrist and shrugs.

"We weren't all lucky today." he tries to laugh it off, but we continue to gape at him as we take it all in.

  The first thing I noticed was his right hand, which is now wrapped in a tan wrist brace. That doesn't look to be the worse if it however. The entire left side of his face is red and scuffed up. His eye is swollen, a dark bruise forming that makes me cringe at the sight. His lip is split, a small amount of dried blood clinging there making me think it keeps reopening. Overall he looks like he just lost a fight with someone, or something, much bigger than him.

  "But you weren't even on the bleachers!" Zeke points out, trying to think of how this could have happened.

  "Yea, and yet I still didn't manage to escape the chaos" Leo awkwardly laughs again, moving along with the line.

  "My dad almost wouldn't let me come, and I am totally fine! I think I'd be locked in the house right now if I was you" I shake my head, unable to even imagine the reaction Dad would have had then.

  Suddenly a pang of guilt rushes through me, I didn't even look for Leo after the incident. Was he alone at the hospital? Come to think of it, I didn't even see him come in.

  "Are you ok though? If I had known we would have waited with you at the hospi-"

  "Oh yea totally fine" Leo interrupts me and steps up to the ticket person.

  "Three please" he says to the girl without even looking at her, taking the money needed out of his wallet.

  "We could have gotten our own!" Zeke protests as he pushes his way through the gate.

  "My treat, after all it was my idea to come" he beams at us, casually putting his hand on my lower back to lead me forward.

  His touch sends a wave of unease through me. Awkwardly I walk with him through the entrance, eagerly stepping away from his touch as soon as space permits.

  "There you guys are!" Elena suddenly exclaims next to me, wrapping me in a too tight hug.

  "Heart attack!" I shout, my heart pounding frantically at her unexpected appearance.

  "Oh, sorry" she laughs as she finally releases me and moves on to Zeke.

  "Yikes" Stefan grimaces at the sight of Leo. "Who's bad side did you get on" He attempts to joke.

   Leo awkwardly laughs in response, once again shifting uncomfortably under the attention. "Wrong place wrong time I guess" he shrugs

  "Well I am glad your ok" Elena gently hugs him, afraid to hurt him more.

  "If you call that ok." Damon argues as he lazily makes his way to us, stopping just outside of our circle.

  Elena glares at him but doesn't bother arguing.

  "Anyways," Leo draws the word out as if he is trying to think of a subject change, his eyes dancing around the crowd looking for inspiration.

  Finally, his gaze lands on me and he smiles again. "I am going to go get some game gear" he takes a small step closer to me and lightly takes me hand in his.

   I freeze, my entire body buzzing on high alert. "Want to join me?"

  "Umm" I stutter, concentrating hard on keeping my face emotionless and not ripping my hand away.

  Out of the corner of my eye I can see Damon tense, his jaw clenched. On the opposite side of the spectrum Zeke's eye widen with shock and he nods encouragingly.

 "Ugh actually," I grasp at an excuse as I gently pull away from him, "I'm actually going to run to the restroom! Meet you back here, k?"

  I flash the best smile I can manage before turning on my heals, grabbing Zeke by the arm and dragging him away.

  "Ugh, I think the bathrooms are that way" he points in a direction but I pay him no attention. As soon as we are out of eyesight I turn on him.

  "What is wrong with you!" I bark in as low of a voice as I can muster.

  "What did I do?" he puts his arms up defensively.

  "Pushing me on any guy who glances my way. First your pushing Damon on me," a subtle blush comes over me at the though of him, but I push on "and now trying to get me to go with Leo!"

  "Sometimes you need a little encouragement." he shrugs.

  "I do not! Whose side are you on!" I stomp my foot in a mini temper tantrum.

  "Whichever side that leads to you having a date for the dance tomorrow!"

  "It's not like you have a date." I shoot back at him.

  "Yea, I also don't have someone trying to get some alone time with me. I don't see what the problem is? He asked you to got to the merchandise stand, not to elope! He even put himself out there and took your hand, it was sweet!"

  "I don't know."

  I cringe at the memory, but I also get his point. I sigh, my anger now gone as I realize I may be over reacting.

  "It just doesn't feel, right" I shrug stupidly.

  "Like it does with Damon?" he asks with a knowing smirk playing on his lips.

"Oh shut up, that's not what I said" I push him, playing up my annoyance hopping he won't see my blush.

"You know it's ok to admit you like him" Zeke pushes me back playfully.

  "I do not!" I announce stern fully , my hands on my hips to show I'm not joking. "Now come on, I want to talk with them before he gets back."

   I turn before he can respond and push my way through the crowd. As our friends come into view I see Elena and Stefan talking quietly to one another, Damon not paying them any attention. Instead, he is staring intently at me, his lips twisted in that confident smirk that makes my stomach do back flips. Averting my eyes before I start blushing all over, I make my way to Elena's side.

  "Hey, everything ok?" she asks as soon as we join them.

  "Oh yea." I wave the question away not wanting to explain anything.

  "Seriously though," Stefan keeps his voice low so only we can hear him "after today are you guys all right."

  "Of course," Zeke puffs his chest out "We are tougher than we look!" he grins, choosing to forget how shaken he was after the whole incident.

  "What about you guys? You disappeared pretty quick." I ask even though I know it would take a lot more than that to hurt them.

  "Oh we are fine," Elena laughs as if it's ridiculous to even worry "just better to make ourselves scarce before any paramedics show up."

  "Couldn't you just, you know" Zeke hesitates looking to see if anyone is paying attention before making a circular motion with is finger near his temple. "Scramble them to make them think they already checked you out"

  Stefan chuckles with amusement and shrugs. "We could, but it's just a lot easier to slip out the back"

  "Where you go?" Leo asks as he returns to the group. Instantly my mind reels, did we say anything that he shouldn't know? No, no we should be good.

  "Oh now where" Elena answered completely unfazed by his appearance. "Looks like you got some goodies!"

  "Yea they had a lot of fun stuff, got some for all of us!"

   Leo brightens up as he starts going through the armful that he brought back with him. A blue foam noodle with "STINGRAYS" written on it for Zeke, the typical foam finger for Stefan, light up necklaces with a stingray pendant for Elena and me.

  "And this just for you!" he mischievously grins as he puts a stuffed stingray hat on Damon's head.

  "I am not wearing this" Damon scowls.

  "Oh but it's so cute!" Elena gushes before bursting out laughing.

  Damon shifts his glare to her as he lifts the hat off of himself with only two fingers, as if he could catch something from it. Having a better look at the thing he cringes and holds it away from himself. Now even I am laughing as he stands there awkwardly holding the thing.

  "Spoil sport!" Zeke scolds before yanking the hat away from him and proudly placing it on his own head.

  I laugh even harder as Zeke strikes a Hercules pose, as if the hat somehow makes him buffer. Damon, who is not as amused, only rolls his eyes and shoves his hands in his pockets.

"Oh yea!" Leo snaps his fingers as he is reminded of something. "Also got everyone these!"

  He proceeds to hand out little squares of paper that he fished out of his pocket. Upon receiving one I realize they are stickers you wear on your cheeks. Two black streaks, one for each cheek, each with a fierce stingray in the center. Zeke is so excited by them he is already wearing his by the time I even realize what they are.

"Thanks, these are really awesome! I am decked out now" I laugh as I carefully place them on my cheek, doing my best to make them even.

"Glad you like them, they look cute on you." I am suddenly aware that he stopped passing them out, now just standing there staring at me.

"Thanks." I mumble, looking away shyly.

  I awkwardly stand there, his gaze never wavering from me as I scrape my mind for something more to say. Zeke, who thankfully listened when I told him how I felt, saves me from having to elaborate more by clearing his throat.

  "Oh, here!" Leo jumps as if snapping out of a daze and finishes handing the rest out.

  "Really?" Damon sneers at the offer when Leo finally gets around to him.

  "Oh come on." I laugh taking the paper from Leo and peeling one of the stickers off. "If I managed to get all dressed up for this then you can suffer with me."

  I motion for Damon to lean in, but he just raises an eyebrow at me.

  "What to cool for this?" I tease.

  "Oh I am definitely too cool for all of this," he smirks as he leans in, "part of the territory when being on team V." He whispers playfully and winks.

  My eyes widen and I quickly glance around, terrified someone may have heard him. True, even if they had its not like what he said is super obvious, but still! It doesn't seem as if anyone is paying us any attention however. Even Leo, who is intently watching us, is too busy with Zeke jabbering on to have been able to hear.

  "Shush" I whisper back as I align the sticker with his cheekbone.

  His cheek is cool and smooth to the touch, my fingers shake as I press the sticker onto his skin. My nerves suddenly taking a hold of me as I realize how close we really are.

  "Worried?" he chuckles.

  "Do I need to be?" I smile, teasing him for his recklessness.

  I move to put the second sticker on him, but am stopped before I am able to. His cool, strong hand wrapped around my wrist, gently holding me in place just in front of his face. Instead of laughing like I expected, he stares at me intently. His eyes soft yet stern, suddenly serious.

  "Never" he whispers just barely loud enough for me to hear.

  My breath catches in my throat and the butterflies in my stomach take flight. His eyes never leave mine, staring right into me, devouring me.

"It's about to start!" Zeke shouts, breaking me out of my trance.

  I bite my lip and glance away from him, my cheeks burning as my mind does its best to start working again. Damon, also reminded that we aren't alone, releases my hand. His finger graze down my arm as he lets go of me, sending little shivers running through my body.

  "Come on you guys!" Elena hooks arms with Stefan and together they turn to the stands to find a seat.

  "Go stingrays!" Zeke shouts encouragements along with many others as the team takes the field.

  "Ra ra, go team" Damon fake cheers, making me giggle.

  Quickly, trying to not think about it, I smooth his second sticker into place. Turning to follow everyone I catch Leo staring at us, his face red and eyes set hard in a glare. Once ours eyes meet his face instantly melts into a smile making me doubt if I really saw him correctly.

  "Hurry up, we don't want to get separated" he picks up his pace so that he passes us by, quickly catching up to Zeke.

  Dad would be so disappointed in me, I have officially broken my first promise to him. We truly did try to find a front row seat, but this place is packed! The lowest we could find was the 4th row, and even then we had to have Stefan and Elena sit behind us on the row above. They don't seem to mind though. They are so adorable cuddling close together as they watch the game.

  Then again, with how everyone is crammed together practically everyone is cuddling. At least that's what I keep trying to tell my fluttering heart as I am sitting hip to hip with Damon. It's not helping that Zeke keeps pushing me into him, claiming he needs more room to cheer. Part of my thinks he is just trying to play match maker some more. The other part of me shies away from the flailing foam noodle that he is madly waving around.

  "Bored?" Damon's breath tickles my ear as he whispers, he is so close to me.

  "Oh no, of course not." I smile with as much confidence as I can, even as my body trembles.

  "You haven't watched a single play since the game began." he smirks at me.

  "I don't know football, People watching is more fun" I shrug.

  "Anything good?" he asks as he leans in as if to see from my perspective. My stomach clenches as I feel his breath on my cheek.

  "Other than Zeke's seizures?" I laugh as Zeke erupts into what I think is a victory dance.

  Damon chuckles beside me, eyeing Zeke as if he is a foreign species.

  "You know," he leans in closer, whispering conspiratorially "I was around when this game was first invented"

  "No!" I gasp, expecting him to laugh and call me gullible.

  "It's true." he nods and winks at me "Was a game changer."

  "That's crazy!" I laugh trying to wrap my mind around it.

  "Yup learned it in my down time during the war."

  "You were in a war?" I look around but everyone is too sucked into the game to pay us any attention.

  "Yup, was in the Confederacy." he shrugs like that's no big deal, ignoring my look of amazement.

  I know he said he was over a 100, but accepting that is turning out to be harder than I expected. I wonder what other things he has done, seen, experienced!

  "What kind of nonsense is he filling your head with?" Elena leans down toward us, eyeing Damon suspiciously.

  "Oh, just telling her about when I first learned about football" he answers, making it sound a lot less interesting than it really is.

  "Oh that was a long time ago!" Elena looks relieved, obviously expecting it to be something worse.

  "Understatement of the year" I mumble earning myself a chuckle from both Damon and Stefan.

  "Can say that again." Stefan leans in so he can keep his voice low. "I remember when you came home on leave and taught me." he smiles at the memory.

  "Oh don't get him started. Next he will want to bring out the old baby pictures" Damon rolls his eyes making me laugh.

  "He actually got pretty good" Elena chips in, ignoring Damon. "Even played on the team at my old high school" She beams proudly at Stefan who laughs and looks away blushing softly at her praise.

  "Aw look at you two!" I gush " The cheerleader and the football star, how cute!"

  "Don't," Damon says seriously, a smirk playing on his lips. "Their egos are big enough already. Anymore hot air and their heads will pop off and float away into the atmosphere"

  Stefan rolls his eyes but Elena laughs and pushes Damon playfully.

  "Why don't you guys try out for the teams here? I bet you would do great!"

  Instantly I regret my words as the light fades from Elena's eyes, her smile slipping just a bit.

  "Well we," she hesitates

  "Never know how long we are going to be somewhere." Stefan finishes for her.

  My heart sinks as I am forced to remember their situation. That's right, they are leaving.

  "Makes sense." I nod curtly, forcing myself to remain smiling. 

  "Don't worry. We won't just disappear on you" she comforts, reaching out to rub my shoulder.

  I nod again, but all humor is drained from me. I turn back toward the game, still having no clue what's going on, and do my best to pay attention. My mind however refuses to drop the subject.

  How can they just leave? If they don't even know what they are exactly looking for, then how do they know they haven't already passed it by. Maybe it's here and they just can't see. Or more likely, I confess to myself, I just want it to be so they will stay.

  My attention is finally caught when the music strikes up and the marching band takes the field. Must be half time. The crowd goes wild as the cute girls in cheer leading outfits energetically take their spots in the center of all the excitement. I am taken aback as a girl I've never noticed before takes the lead position during their routine, she seems to be doing really good.

  "Oh my god, look!" Zeke points to the side of the field where a scowling Jenna sits on a bench, her leg wrapped in a cast.

  "Oh poor dear." I can't help the smile that tugs at me making Zeke laughs at my failed efforts.

  "That reminds me, where's Kevin?" Zeke stands to try to get a better look at the field.

  He's right, you would think our mascot would be out there with the rest of the performers.

  "No ones seen him since the rally." a kid I don't recognize answers from the row below us.

  In the back of my mind I can't help but worry the eavesdropper might have heard something during our previous conversation, but I quickly push the thought away. It's not like Zeke was trying to stay quiet when he asked.

  "Can you blame him?" another kid chimes in "With all the damage he caused he is going to get suspended for sure!"

  "That's not totally fair" The first kid argues "Its not like the collapse was his fault"

   "Yea I heard the bleachers were tampered with, missing bolts or something!" The second one gossips.

  "Were did you here that from?"

  "Doesn't matter!" A girl interrupts. "He did ruin the pyramid, can you image what Jenna's gunna do? She can't cheer for at least a month! And you know she is going to be pissed about having to wear that cast to the dance!"

  "Well this should make for an interesting couple of weeks" Zeke murmurs to me, neither of us paying attention to the ongoing conversation anymore.

  "Cue high school death match, and go!" he shouts, chopping at the air as if directing. I burst out laughing, shaking my head at his weirdness.

  "Oh back on!" Zeke jumps to his feet as the players make their way onto the field once more. I roll me eyes at him, never once been to a game and now he is hooked.

  A shiver escapes me as a cool breeze rolls through the crowd, flicking at my bare legs. Unconsciously I wrap my arms around myself as I curse our decision to not take Dad up on his offer to stop at home. Warmth suddenly embraces me as an unexpected material is draped over my shoulders. The intoxicating scent of leather overtakes my senses making my head spin.

  Glancing over in surprise I am met with the intense stare from Damon. Now jacketless, his thin black t-shirt clinging to his muscular frame. My mouth goes dry and my body trembles as I drag my eyes back to his. His lips twist into a half smile and his eyes soften as his arm lingers around me.

    "Can't have you turning into an icicle on us." he chuckles as a my face reddens.

  "Won't you be cold?" I stammer, unsure of what else to say.

  "Don't worry." He rubs his hand up and down my arm sending little tingles running over my body with each movement, smirking more as he does. "Another one of those perks, temperature doesn't really bother us"

  "Well, thanks" I squeak and bite my lip trying to contain my nerves.

  I hear him chuckle beside me, but I can't manage to look at him without blushing even more. Adjusting myself in his leather jacket so that my arms are through the holes, I pull the material tighter around myself grateful for its protection from the cold. His arm, still lingering around me, pulls me slightly closer to him.

  My heart pounds against my chest and my mind takes off in a million different directions. Did he mean to do that? He is just being nice, doesn't mean anything! Then again, he really isn't the nice guy sort. Well, not like I've ever seen him be really mean to anyone.

  At some point during my mental battle our football team won the battle of their own. How I completely missed the last half of the game I don't know, but it seemed to fly by in mere moments. Zeke jumping up and down, shaking me as he screams of victory is what finally pulls me out of my trance.

  "That was awesome!" He bellows.

  "Was a great game." Stefan agrees as he stands, ready to leave.

  "I know, that last pass! I thought we were through!" Leo high fives Zeke, sharing in his excitement.

  His eyes fall to me, to Damon's arm around me, and a flicker of surprise flashes before he can look away. A sudden pang of guilt pierces my heart, momentarily lowering me from my leather induced high.

  "All set?" Elena asks me, as Damon and I are the only two remaining seated.

  "Oh, ugh yea!" I lamely babble as I finally manage to pull myself to my feet as well.

  Instantly a feeling of loss washes over me at the absence of Damon's touch. I scold my aching heart, demanding that it gets its act together as I follow Zeke out of the stadium.

  "You need a ride?" Damon asks as we break free from the crowd.

  "No" I confess, although a part of me really wishes I could take him up on the offer.

  "There's your dad now!" Zeke points to a car idling not to far from where we stand.

  "Ok, I'll call you tomorrow so we can make a plan for the dance!" Elena pulls me into a hug.

  "Can't wait" I honestly respond, hugging her back tightly.

  "Have a good night!" Zeke call as he grabs my hand and drags me towards the car.

  I can't help but glance over my shoulder, feeling his eyes on me. Sure enough, Damon gazes at me completely ignoring the conversation going on around him. He never breaks eye contact the entire time I am being pulled away.

"How was it?" Dad asks, eyeing me suspiciously as I plop myself into the car.

  My heart still pounding in my chest, it takes me a moment to realize that he is asking about the game. Thankfully Zeke takes off, describing every exciting play to him with enthusiasm. Dad listens without interruption, but occasionally slides me with a look like he is dying to ask me something.

  "Wanna spend the night?" Zeke asks as we pull up in front of our houses. "Since your abandoning me to hang out with Elena all day tomorrow." he finishes with a fake pout.

  "That ok?" I ask Dad, who doesn't look all together happy with the idea.

  "Sure, but make some time for the old man tomorrow ok?"

  "Definitely! Will be home after breakfast" I beam at him. With a quick wave I follow Zeke up to his house.

  "So you go to tell me what's up with the jacket?" He asks as soon as we are in the safety of his room.

  I freeze, looking down at myself in amazement. How did I forget to give this back to him?

  "Oh no, I need to call him!" I proclaim, fishing my phone out of my pocket and instantly looking for Damon's contact information.

  "Why?" Zeke raises an eyebrow at me, not understanding my urgency.

  "I essentially stole his jacket!"

  "Looked to me like he gave it to you" Zeke counters with a suggestive eyebrow wiggle.

  I hold up my hand to shush him, both because I don't want to respond but also because the phone began to ring

  "Miss me so soon?" Damon purrs on the other side of the line, his smirk evident in his tone.

  "I forgot to give your jacket back, I didn't want you to think I purposefully kept it or anything." I ramble, suddenly feeling stupid for calling.

  "Hold on to it." He casually offers. "You can give it back to me when I pick you up for the dance."

  "You're coming to the dance?" My voice quivers slightly as my stomach starts doing somersaults.

  "Unless you have someone else picks you up." he challenges.

  "I was just going to go with Zeke" I shrug even though I know he can't see.

   Zeke, who is desperately trying to listen in on the conversation, buzzes around me. I take swat at him, but he persistently tugs on the phone so he can hear as well.

  "Is he your date?"

  "Well no-" I am interrupted before I can finish even forming a thought.

  "Good." Damon decides. "Then I'll be there at seven." I sit on the edge of Zeke's bed feeling a bit light headed.

  "Damon?" I ask softly

  "Hmm?"

  "Did you just ask me out?" a nervous smile tugs at my lips as the words tumble from my mouth.

  "Maybe I did." He chuckles.

  "Ok." I chirp, my mind unable to manage a full sentence

  "See you tomorrow Nereza."