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PLAYLIST : Everything Has Changed - Taylor Swift

     "So, you like her dress better than yours?" Derek asked when we were seated on a couch.

     I looked at him confused, raising an eyebrow.

     He flicked his head back to where Ashley and Cabe disappeared down into the crowd. "It was the look you gave her."

     I laughed. "No. That wasn't it."

     "Then what was it?" he pressed.

     Did I want to tell him what it was? Meh, wouldn't hurt to tell him. "That look wasn't for her. It was for Cabe. He's my ex."

     "Why would you even let your mind wander to your ex when you're with me?" He sat up straighter, like that made him more important.

     "Not everything is about you, Derek."

     He acted surprised. "That's not true!" he exclaimed.

     If someone else had said it, it would come out arrogant. But Derek's way of saying it just made me laugh. The more I got to know him, the more comfortable I felt around him. I didn't decide if I liked him yet, but he definitely wasn't scary anymore.

     A shadow crossed his face like he realized something right then. "Wait. Is this why you wanted a date in the last minute? To make him jealous or something like that? Are you trying to win him back?"

     "No! I want nothing to do with him." I glossed over the rest of his question. I wasn't going to explain it to him sitting here in prom.

     A question had been nagging me in the back of my head and I asked Derek, "So why was a guy like you, who obviously can get a date, without one to prom?"

     "It was kinda hard to find a girl I hadn't dated before. So I decided," with an air of confidence, he continued, "who needs a date anyway? I'm a stud."

     "Oh, the tragedy." I mocked.

     He laughed. It always a deep, heartwarming chuckle which instantly made me feel better.

     "What about the girl I saw you with a few days ago at the movies?"

     His expression turned serious and he dramatically put his glass of punch on the table and turned to me. "Are you stalking me?"

    "I was there with a friend, watching a movie. Not stalking you. Although that would've been more interesting than the movie itself."

     "That bad, huh?"

     "It bored me to death."

     "You could've called me. My presence would be enough to make it interesting."

     I played along. "I'm sure I couldn't handle both the movie and you together. It would be you and the movie competing on who'd kill me first."

     "We should try that sometime. See if I can win." He winked.

     "Funny."

     "Yeah. We broke up. Maybe it was because I took her to that movie," he said simply.

     "Could be," I said. "So why did you agree when Tiffany asked you to be my date?"

     "One, because I've never dated you before. And two, because you know how Tiffany is. You gotta listen to what she says. She made me agree."

     It felt like a blow. Tiffany made him agree. He didn't want to be here with me.

     "Hm, we have a bone to pick with Tiffany."

     "It's not like I'm complaining." He started humming and tapping his fingers on the table. I couldn't help smiling at him.

     "Guess you're bored sitting here," I said to him.

     "I'm never bored. I always find something." He bent forward and asked in a raspy tone, "Why? Did you have something in mind?"

     Oh, so he was back to his true self again. I scoffed and moved back to maintain distance between us. "No."

     "I was just talking about getting something to eat. God Vivian, you don't have to think everything with a dirty mind."

     I knew he just said that to irritate me, because the way he says things, it always has a double meaning.

     "You're the one who does that, not me," I retaliated.

     Before he could reply, my phone rang. It was Gina. I wondered why she was calling me. I craned my neck to see if I could spot Gina in the hall while simultaneously answering her call.

     "Hello?"

     "I'm outside the school building."

     "Gina, what are you doing outside?"

     "You come . . . get me." Her words were slurred.

     "What's wrong, Gina?"

     When she didn't reply, I began to panic. "Gina? Gina?" The line got cut.

     "What happened?" Derek asked, his brow creasing.

     I picked up my purse and got up. "I have to find Gina, my sister," I said urgently. "I think she's in trouble and needs my help."

     Derek got up too. Without asking anything else, he said, "I'm coming with you."

     "Okay."

~~~

     It was deserted outside, in stark contrast to the atmosphere inside school. Our quick footsteps were the only sound heard in the surrounding quiet. My heart was beating wildly in my chest. What had Gina gotten herself into now. I kept calling her but she didn't receive my calls.

     "What did she say? Where is she?" Derek asked.

     "She just said she's outside the school," I said, my voice breaking. "And she sounded really drunk . . . or stoned . . . I don't know . . ."

     "Hey, shh." He grasped my shoulders and made me look at him. "Don't worry, okay? I'm sure she's alright."

     I wasn't sure of that. All sorts of incidents happened every year at prom. People got drunk, overdosed, went to places where teenagers were not even allowed.

     I was glad I wasn't out here alone and Derek was with me. I panic real quick if there's no one else with me and all sorts of horrible things enter my mind. They still were kinda, but at least I had someone to keep me calm. And I had no idea what I was supposed to do next. Gina still wasn't answering my calls.

     "Where do we search her?" I asked in a helpless voice.

     "She said she's outside the building, right? Let's split up. I'll search by the portables and you search in the parking lot. Call me if you find her and  I'll do the same."

     "Okay," I nodded. I didn't really like the idea of splitting up. Derek remaining calm had a calming effect over me. But this was the quickest way to find Gina. We walked in opposite directions.

~~~

     The parking lot appeared empty of any people at a glance. I stealthily kept walking. I passed the rows of cars, some of them parked crooked. I didn't even know which was her date's car, so I couldn't search for that.

     I called Gina again and this time, I heard her phone ringing in the parking lot. She still wasn't answering but at least I could follow the ring and hope it's with her.

     I shouted out her name and went in the direction from where I heard her phone ring.

     And I found her there . . . sitting down on the ground with her back resting against a car and her feet crossed at the ankles. Her phone rang in her hand and she held with with her eyes closed.

     I breathed a sigh of relief and ran to her side. "Gina! What happened?" Her eyelids fluttered open and the corner of her lips turned up in a smile. Then she closed her eyes. Yes, definitely stoned.

     "Gina!" I shook her and she opened her eyes again.

     "Oh, hey . . . Viv."

     "What are you doing here?"

     "I'm burnt out," she grinned. "Take me home."

     "Really, Gina? Why do you do that?"

     "Stop with the lecturing. Just . . . take me home."

A/N : Thanks for reading! If you liked the chapter, please don't forget to vote, comment, follow, share. I mean you don't have to if you don't want to, but it'd be a really awesome thing if you did :p

# Name something that you are obsessed with. Me? I'm obsessed with rings. I'm always wearing at least three and I own like a million of 'em.

This chapter is dedicated to fefelemos Thank you for the amazing feedback you provide me with, letting me know where I can improve <3
Her books United Five and The Mermaid Tail are freaking awesome! You guys should definitely check 'em out. They're so well written <3