"I can't. I promised Dylan I'd go to his game," Evie said for the hundredth time, exasperation setting into her bones. She looked at herself in the mirror, then at her mother through the mirror, standing in her doorway like a volcano about to explode. Gloria's hair was in an elaborate up-do, secured by multiple tiny clips, and on her body was a gold-plated formal dress in the shape of a snake. Cleopatra or something else stupid.

"This is the Annual ElClaire Valentines Ball Evelyn. You must be here. We are a family, a united force of power. You make us look weak." Gloria snapped whilst texting, no doubt micro managing the caterer or ice-sculpture people. What sort of world does she live in?

"Dylan is counting on me. I need to be there, I'm doing my duty as a good girlfriend." Evie batted her eyelashes. That usually does the trick. The internal war was imminent in Gloria's eyes, a battle of family duty versus female duty. Realising she cannot win, Gloria let out a mini-scream of frustration and left the room.

Evie's shoulders sagged in relief. She had decided that the Valentines Ball would be much more painful than Dylan's stupid game. She checked the time on her phone. May would arrive in ten minutes, and they'd meet Isabell and Stella at Kleppers.

Sure enough, the honk of a car horn sounded outside the house. Evie moved to her window, and looked out at May's blue Cherokee. May waved and Evie quickly walked to her closet to grab a jacket.

Dressed in jeans and a crop top, she was pretty sure she'd be cold. Evie grabbed a hooded jacket, popped her heeled boots on and slung her day-time Prada bag over her shoulder. One last quick glance at the mirror told her she was good to go.

"BYE MOM," she screeched as she raced down the stairs and out the door before Gloria could stop her. Evie leaped into May's passenger seat and glanced at her friend. She whistled.

"Hot mama aren't you looking to get lucky tonight?" And boy was she. May wore tights underneath a very tight and very short grey dress that buttoned up to her neck. But it was the back which stole the show. An open slit from hips to her shoulders, in the shape of a V, covered by only a sheer mesh fabric that revealed May's flawless back and no bra. Evie laughed and shook her head.

"I'm on edge. Need to get rid of some tension. And I heard Kleppers have some fine public school meat." May responded, checking her hair in the review mirror. She was in a bad mood today. Evie didn't respond, just turned up the music louder. I guess the no-boys Valentines is out the window.

Kleppers Vally wasn't far from Mount Georgia, only fifteen minutes drive, but it might as well have been a whole different country. The houses were smaller, closer together, less lawn and more wooden paneling. There were more shops and industrial zones, less green spaces. The street lights above flickered dull yellow light.

They pulled up to Kleppers Senior, a large graffiti-covered brick building with cracked windows, the car park already nearly full. An odd mix of brand new expensive cars dotted between old models and rusted pick ups. Evie looked down at her jeans and top, satisfied by her choice of apparel.

They hopped out the car and made their way to the sports field, following the sound of cheering and chatter. Both schools cheerleading teams were leading a pep rally, getting the crowd psyched. Evie and Mary surveyed the packed bleachers, four arms waving rapidly in the middle towards the back. They made their way towards Isabell and Stella, the former who sat shivering in a boob tube and mini skirt.

May laughed. "Did someone check the wrong countries weather again?" Isabell pouted and gave her a weak punch.

"I can't believe we're freezing our asses off at a sports game on the most romantic night of the year!" Isabell whined, as Stella pulled out an atrocious khaki sweater from her bag and chucked it at her. Evie raised an eyebrow and got a sheepish shrug in response.

"Study group. In a very cold library." They laughed. Meanwhile the teams came running onto the field, cheerleaders motioning for the crowd to cheer. Evie clapped half heartedly and looked around the stands, disappointment settling into her gut. Why am I disappointed? It's not because Faux-Mohawk isn't here. It's not. Why would she be here anyway? Too cool for sports games.

On the field, Dylan caught her eye. He looked at her and pumped his chest, like some sort of monkey at a banana. Evie smiled and waved, trying her best to make the movement look genuine and affectionate.

Evie wasn't really interested in soccer, so she spent the first half of the game watching the stands, foolishly hoping for... well, she wasn't sure what she was hoping for. A whistle blew, signalling half time. She watched as Dylan joined his team by the sidelines and looked over at...

Evie followed his gaze. A pretty red headed cheerleader stood with her girls, preparing to run onto the field. The girl glanced at him, and flicked him a shy smile. Evie watched as Dylan grinned back, and disappointment coiled in her gut.

He never could resist a shy girl. A challenge. She thought bitterly, unwilling at that point to sort through her mix of emotions.

"I'm going to go find a bathroom." Evie announced to her friends, getting up abruptly. May, in a heated argument on her phone, simply waved. Stella watched Evie in concern, but Evie kept her features schooled and neutral. She made her way through the crowd and into the school hall. She hesitated.

It's a dark school I've never been in. How am I going to find the bathroom? Lucky for her a makeshift cardboard sign with the image of a stick figure dude pissing into a toilet and an arrow to the right was set up on the floor. Classy.

Evie followed the sign down two hallways and up a flight of stairs, still without finding the ladies room. She looked over shoulder, contemplating turning back, when she suddenly crashed into someone.

DOUFF. The loud thud reverberated through the empty halls as Evie hit the ground, landing on her butt. Hard. Head dizzy, she looked at the floor. At a pair of somewhat familiar combat boots between her heeled Gucci's. A long, pale hand extended down to her.

Evie looked up slowly and sucked in a breath at the gorgeous girl before her. Faux Mohawk. She's even prettier in person. Her skin was pale, a creamy white colour. Her hair had grown slightly longer, with more of the brown roots showing, and her luscious lips were painted in deep purple. Dark liner ringed her eyes and those eyes, my god. Big and bright, like a molten chocolate fountain. Evie's breath caught as they made eye contact.

Faux Mohawk's mouth twitched with amusement, and Evie looked away in embarrassment. Realising she was still ass down on the floor, but unable to resist the pull, she grabbed the outstretched hand and was pulled to her feet. Her grip was strong, firm, her hand soft but calloused, like someone who'd worked hard labour. Faux Mohawk pulled Evie up and forward, so their faces were centimetres away from each other. Evie couldn't breathe. She had the strongest urge to lean forward and kiss her. What the hell Evie? She mentally told her brain to shut up.

From somewhere in another hall, a door banged shut. Breaking the spell, Evie stepped back and pulled her hand away, instantly missing the touch. You're just lonely, that's it, nothing more. Faux Mohawk watched her, head tilted to the side, gaze probing and seeing more than Evie wanted her to see.

"You should watch where you're going. Unless you want strangers to knock you onto your cushy ass." The girl spoke, voice husky and soo sexy. Blood flooded Evie's cheeks, annoyance curling through her. She focused on that emotion.

"Well maybe you should watch where you're going, so you don't run over innocent people minding their own business." Evie snapped back and lifted up her chin, refusing to be embarrassed.

Faux Mohawk laughed, the sound light and airy. "Feisty. I like that." She eyed Evie. "I'm Roxy, so you know. I have a feeling I'll be seeing you around."

The girl called Roxy swivelled around, the movement graceful and bouncy, before swaggering down the hallway.

"I'm Evie!" Evie called after her, to which that husky laugh filled the air. Then she was gone. Evie stood rooted to her spot, staring at the empty hall.

Stupidstupidstupidstupidstupid. "I'm Evie!" Stupid stupid. She groaned out loud and whacked her forehead a couple times. That was the most mortifying experience I've ever had with a stranger.

No, not a stranger. Her mind reminded her. Roxy. Evie smiled slightly, couldn't help it, and headed back the way she'd come, bathroom trip forgotten.

By the time she reached her seat again, the game was well underway and May, Stella and Isabell were munching on popcorn. They held the bucket out to her but Evie pushed it away.

"What took you so long?" Stella demanded, eyes on the field.

Evie shrugged. "I got lost. Some jerk thought it would be funny to put out a dud sign with false directions for the bathroom." Not a lie. May watched her closely.

"What's with the smile? First real smile I've seen all night." May mused, causing the two other sets of eyes to swivel to her. Evie blushed and frowned, then masked her expressions. May lowered her voice and whispered suggestively, "did you get some? Cause I'm down for round two."

"No!" Evie snapped, response too fast and too heated to be normal. May looked taken aback, but shrugged and focused instead on the game.

"Geez. Who got your panties in a twist?" May muttered to which Evie said nothing. She stared at the field, at the boys running around after the ball, and couldn't help but smile.