21.

It was the day of the dance. After the whole situation with my brother, I needed a way to escape. However, after mulling it over, I realized that Evangeline could be the girl. In the heat and excitement, I hadn't stopped to pause about who it could be. It could very well be Evangeline. I could be the aunt of a child whose mother dated the guy I like. It was confusing to think about, and slightly frustrating not knowing. Mysteries killed me, but I loved them anyway.

I decided to push that out of my mind and instead focus on what I would need to pack to get ready for the dance. I was going to Em's house after school to get ready. Neither of my parents was in very good moods, so I'm surprised they were letting me go.

I currently had some makeup and a very simple dress. Looking it over, I was glad I had chosen it. I stuffed it in my bag along with the little bit of makeup I own. I also pack some ridiculously adorable shoes. Tyler had originally said he wasn't going to go to the dance. Like the idiot he is, I had to remind him of the whole plan. In which he was reminded of why it would be a good Idea to come to the dance. I sit on the porch to avoid the passive aggressive energy radiating around my family. It was scary how angry my parents were. I just had to do my best to react perfectly around them. As to not cause their anger to shift to me.

The beat up car pulled in and I saw Em's giddy face pop out of the car. I pulled myself up with a small groan. I walk over quickly to the car, checking my watch. Realizing that we were gonna be late, I pitch myself and fall into my seat.

"Go, we're gonna be late!" I panic, as I snap in my seat belt. Tyler looks surprised at my outburst and gunned the engine. I slammed my head into the back of the seat from the force of the change in direction. Em was sitting next to me and we experienced the same thing. She reached forward and punched his arm.

"Ouch!" He yelped in momentary pain and surprise. He tried to slap her back but she pressed herself against the seat to avoid his flailing arm.

We pulled into the school, and it had this weird feel to it. It looked the same, but the air was charged with excitement. The girls were hanging out and talking animatedly. The guys with dates were obnoxiously making fun of their friends. I was actually happy to be at school, for once.  I waved goodbye to Em and stopped by my locker. I then made my way to my first period. 

A while later, I was sitting behind Harris and Erika. They were passing notes and giggling. It seemed weird to me, now. That I still believed I could make him jealous. I was starting to believe he might not like me anymore. I know its probably narcissistic to think that he still might, especially at this point. But thinking about it, he wasn't the kind of boy to give up easily. He despised losing. I'm pretty sure to him, our relationship was just a game. 

At first, he probably had real feelings for me. But as it went on, he found me more endearing. He would get me riled up, start an argument. Then, he would ignore me. When it was his fault or mine. I would feel horrible, and he would manipulate me into apologizing. So, thinking about it, there was a chance he could still like me. Or maybe consider me 'his'. This just strengthened my resolve to piss him off at the dance.

The school day passed quickly, and I was in the back of my friend's car. As we pulled out of the parking lot, I spotted Riley's red rumbling car. The music turned up loud. A sharp pain snaps through me. Resting my head against the glass, I decide to talk to her. Not today, or tomorrow but soon. I need this resolved, or at very least I need to have tried to make it better. We pulled into the driveway. Another car was parked there as well. I heard Tyler swear, and Em flinched.

I hopped out of the car, and Em was wringing her hands. Tyler stormed into the house. My friend looked concerned. 

"My, um, my mom is home. She is a, she's a character." She says, giving me a heads up. I just shrug.

"Aren't we all?" I joke, but her expression doesn't change. I've never actually met her parents. We walk into the house, and I spot a woman sitting on a couch. She looks like a twenty year older version of Em. She was watching T.V and nursing a bottle of something. 

She doesn't look at me, her gaze fixed on the T.V. 

"Hey, mom..." Em says, but her mother ignores her. Keeping her gaze fixed on the television. It seemed weird, after the way my friends had acted. I was expecting her to try to sacrifice me to the devil or something.

Em seems relieved with the lack of a response so we head to her room to get ready. The dance starts at six, so we have an hour and a half to get ready. I look in the mirror, standing next to Em. I throw my backpack on the ground and observe my image. I have nice curves, and my hair is a decent length. Harris liked my hair shorter. 

He wanted me to dye it blonde. That was one of the only things I didn't let him change about me. My hair is naturally brown. It's too dark to be blonde, and curly, and it falls in ringlets around my face. I decide to do my hair first, and I pull it into a half up half down hairdo. I grab some of my mascara and apply it to my eyelashes. Feeling satisfied with the way it makes my eyes look wide and haunting. It is a Halloween dance after all. Em is doing her makeup and is way better than me. While my hand is shaky and inconsistent, hers created the perfect lines. It isn't fair, everyone is better with makeup than I am. I grab my bag and walk to the bathroom to change. I pull out my dress, and the soft fabric seems to melt in my hand.

I gently pull on the bright yellow lace dress. I want to stand out in a sea of dark colors. I put in some earrings that seem to drip silver and a necklace. For once, I feel happy with the way I look. I don't feel too fat. Or like my hair is the wrong shade. I actually feel hot. I slip on my white flats and walk out of the room. 

I see Em, in her gorgeous grey dress. The neckline goes down, down, down. It accentuates her curves in a way that isn't slutty. Her hair is pulled up into a high pony, and a few strands of hair frame her face. Her lips are bright red and her eyelashes are very spiky.

We sit down and wait for Tyler to come out so we can head to the dance.

- - - - - - - - - - 

I sit in the car and wait for Tyler to find a parking spot. His mouth actually fell open when he saw us. I'm pretty sure he was going to demand that Em should change into something more appropriate. Tyler finally found a spot to park. I hopped out of the car, careful to keep my dress from flying up. He looped his arm through mine, and we walked to the dance. Paying twenty dollars for our tickets. 

I spotted the snacks and grabbed a cookie almost immediately. 

"Any boys you're saving a dance for?" I ask Em. She flushes and glances at the ground shiftily. "You are! Who?" I gasp excitedly.

"You wouldn't know them..." She mumbles, blushing ferociously.

"Try me, I used to be the queen of the school. I know everybody." I'm only half joking, I am really good at memorizing names.

"Well, his name is Sean." She starts, but I freeze. Sean is a party boy, somebody who plays with your emotions and then breaks you down for the amusement of it. He's dated half the girls in his grade and at least a quarter in mine. He and Harris used to hang out all the time. I used to joke that I was part of the elites. I didn't realize how right I was.

"I've been crushing on him for a while. He's just got this aura that draws people towards him. I don't know, I just want to try to see what makes him tick." She says thoughtfully, and I nod in agreement.

Tyler walks back over to us and offers me a hand. Em and I both walk out to the dance floor where a few people are milling around. Most are just standing there. Dressed in one of the only light outfits, I really stand out. 

We dance for a little while, and Em can't stop laughing at how stupid I look. Am I supposed to shake my hips, or bob my head up and down? I decide it's more fun to just casually twirl around. I'm that lame. It gets to the point where we're all laughing hysterically.

While we take a break in between songs, I notice an intense glare of someone looking in our direction. Harris and Erika seem to be annoyed with my existence. I look around some more and notice Riley in a dark blue dress. She was standing next to a girl with platinum blonde hair, covering a layer of natural dark red hair. I wouldn't have thought it would be a good look, but the mystery girl somehow pulls it off. I can tell from all the way over here that she has dark eyes. 

Tyler notices where I'm looking, and follows my line of sight to where I'm looking. He actually pales, and almost drops his cup.

"You okay?" I ask, he looks like he just saw a ghost. He nods faintly. I study the girl some more. She is tall, taller than Riley. And absolutely gorgeous. A pang of jealousy shot through me. It seems she's replaced me. A slow dance comes on, and I tug Tyler onto the dance floor. He seems a lot more hesitant than he has been before, and it confounds me.

We start to slowly sway to the dance, and honestly, it's not that pleasant. Being next to him is, but the other factors are disgusting. The smell of B.O is overwhelming, and my hands are sweaty.

My hands rest on his shoulders and I worry he can feel how clammy they are behind his neck. His hands are gently placed on my hips, and we rock back and forth. A few people catcall, and I flush.

I feel like my skin is on fire. My heart is racing, and I study his face. He seems to be doing the same. I feel captured at the moment. I stand up slightly, leaning towards his face, he cups my chin and our faces are close. So close I can feel his breath fanning out on my face. I can see each of his dark eyelashes. He looks so regal compared to Harris.

I lean a little closer and...

"Can I have this dance?" A voice I know almost as well as my own interrupts Tyler and my moment. A surge of disappointment shit through me, as I turn to scowl at the person accompanying the voice.

I glance up and see a smug Erika standing behind a politely waiting Harris. His hand extended to mine, waiting.

- - - - - - - -

A/N ~ Roughly edited ~

Cliffhanger! I was originally gonna make it one chapter, but decided to split it up because A lot is still going to happen.

I hope you enjoyed it.

Question; Do you ship Tyler and Mellie? Do you like the action between them? Or are they just really good friends?

Until Friday,

~ Skye