"I'm not going to the dance." I know my voice is muffled because I say this with my face in my pillow.

"I can't believe her!" I hear Nikole punch her first in the palm of her hand. "I knew we should've beat her up!"

The bed dips from someone's weight. "Aubrey will you come out from underneath your blankets?" Ivy asks.

"No," I wrap them tighter around me.

"It's ok," Chanel sits on the other side of me and pats my blanket. "Carter is only going with her out of pity. He really likes you."

"I don't care. I'm giving up on him."

"You can't give up!" Chanel exclaims.

"Watch me."

"Aubrey you have to go. You already bought a ticket," Ivy tries to reason with me. But I'm not budging on my decision.

"Give my ticket to someone else then. Throw it away, tear it up, I don't care."

"Aubrey!" Now Nikole jumps on the bed. "If you don't go then I won't go!"

"Neither will I!" Chanel chimes in.

"Nor I," Ivy adds. "None of us will go if you don't go."

"Don't do that," I say. "You have to go. Chanel and Nikole, you have dates. You can't just ditch them."

"Sorry girl but chicks before dicks," Nikole says matter of factly.

"And I don't have a date," Ivy says. "So I'd be going stag anyway. Hey I have an idea. How about we both be each other's dates?"

"All four of us should go together!" Chanel says excitedly.

"Screw guys!" Nikole cheers.

"No, no, no," I repeat. "I don't want to drag you guys down with me."

Ivy sighs. "Aubrey we want to do this for you. You always do so much for us. Now it's our turn to do something for you."

"You helped me get with Trevor," Chanel says.

I hear Nikole shuffling around. "You tried out for cheerleading with me even though you hate Britney."

"You set me up on a date with that hot rich guy," Ivy finishes. "And now we're all gonna be your date to the dance."

I finally peek out from under my comforter. "Really?"

"YES!"

They're all looking at me hopefully. I sigh.

"Fine. I'll go to the stupid dance."

They all cheer and jump up and down.

Ugh.

💘💘💘

Before I know it Saturday arrives. The dance committee meets at school to set up. Surprisingly I act normal around Carter. I thought I would be a mess or something but nope, I still act the way I normally would around him. And he doesn't seem any different either.

Vanessa hangs around him a lot and I can't stand her so whenever she's around I find something to busy myself with. I wonder if she knows how obvious she is with her flirting. And I wonder if Carter notices.

"That's crooked," I point to the heart Carter hung up.

He adjusts it and I shake my head. "Still crooked."

"Why don't you come up and adjust it then?"

"No thanks. I don't want to fall off the ladder."

He laughs. "You're a cheerleader and you're scared of climbing a ladder?"

"Shut up," I punch him as he climbs down. "That's different."

"How?"

"It just is."

"Okaaay," he says sarcastically.  

"Carter!" Vanessa calls from across the gym. "Could you come help me real quick?"

I internally roll my eyes. "Don't worry. I'll finish hanging up the hearts myself."

"You sure?" He asks.

"Yep. Go ahead," I wave him off and pick up a huge Purple Heart. 

He jogs off and I sigh. Then I turn to face the task at hand.

Afterwards I grab a bottle of water and see what else is on my checklist.

Hang up hearts - ✔️

Blow up balloons -

Hang up streamers -

Dress food and snack tables -

Finish painting posters -

When I look for Carter he's already started on the posters. I decide to hang up the streamers since I still have the ladder and blow up balloons. As I'm pinning a black streamer I feel something or someone bump into the ladder. Whatever it was sends the latter tilting then falling. It happens so fast I can't even scream. But I hear other people scream for me so I guess it's ok.

I roll out of the way before the ladder can fall on me and it clashes to the gym floor with a loud bang. Then everyone is rushing over

"Omg Aubrey!"

"Are you ok?"

"I was so freaking scared!"

"Did you break anything?"

Carter pushes through the crowd and helps me up. I blink, more than a little shaken.

"I'm so sorry!" Vanessa exclaims and I turn to see Nikole yelling at her. "It was an accident I swear!"

"You could've killed her!" Nikole yells. She is fuming and I actually think she's going to take a swing at Vanessa. Luckily Ryan arrives and pulls her back before any punches are thrown.

"Attention!" Ivy's voice booms through her megaphone. "We're all going to take a break!"

I assure everyone I'm ok and they all disperse.

"I guess I see why you didn't want to get on the ladder," Carter jokes and I chuckle despite just seeing my life flash before my eyes.

"Yeah."

"But in all seriousness are you ok?" He asks.

"I'm fine," I brush dust off my pants. "Mostly. I think."

"How about I take over hanging up the streamers and you finish the posters. Then we can both blow up the balloons."

"Sounds like a plan," I smile.

Funny, Vanessa never comes up to apologize to me personally. Nikole is still pissed and ready to shed some blood, namely Vanessa's.

"Calm down," Ivy lays a hand on an angry Nikole.

"I will not calm down. I can't believe she tried to kill Aubrey. She's already going to the dance with Carter, what more does she want!"

Ivy is frowning deeply and I glance over at Vanessa. She's chatting it up with the guys as if nothing happened.

I'm starting to think Nikole is right. Maybe violence is the only answer left. 

"Oh my mom just texted me!" Chanel announces. "We can all get ready for the dance at my house."

Ivy picks up her megaphone. "Ok everyone back to work!

"You good?" I question Nikole.

She breathes deeply through her nose. "I'm good."

🥀🥀🥀

By four o clock we're all at Chanel's house to get ready. The dance starts at eight but we have to have ample time to prepare. Plus no one has showered yet or anything so we have to take turns in the bathroom. Ivy sets a limited time on our showers, fifteen minutes per person. A second over that is a penalty resulting in us using our shirts to whip whoever when they emerge from the bathroom.

My dress is pink of course with black lace trim and lots of tulle, because who doesn't love tulle? Chanel does my makeup and Nikole straightens my hair and creates a nice, clean part down the middle so it falls pin straight across my back and shoulders.

The entire time we're getting ready I can't help but wish I was going with Carter.

"Are you girls almost finished?" Chanel's mom calls from downstairs. "I want to get some pictures before you all leave!"

"Coming!" Chanel calls back unclipping the curling iron from her hair. Since her hair is naturally curly she has to straighten it then use the curling iron to get her desired look.

I run a brush through my hair one last time before carefully making my way downstairs.

"You girls look lovely!" Chanel's mom gushes. "Everyone squeeze together!"

Laughing the girls and I pose for what seems like a million photos. It's fun though. Like a photo shoot. After a while we start to do silly poses and make faces. Then we take pictures with our masks on.

"Alright that's enough mom," Chanel says. "We should start heading out."

Her dad honks from outside as if agreeing with us.

"Have fun girls!" Her mom yells as we exit.

"We will!" We yell back. All four of us have to squeeze in the back of his hummer. Nikole and Chanel told the guys they'd meet them there. When we arrive at school it's an entirely different atmosphere. There are students everywhere, getting out of cars in fancy dresses and masks.

"I'll be here at midnight to pick you guys up," Chanel's dad says.

"Thanks Mr. Dennis," Ivy says.

"No problem."

One by one we all pile out and wave as he drives off. Then we turn to each other.

"Masks on," Nikole grins.

I slip mine over my head and the girls do the same. Then we head to the entrance and wait in line to give our tickets and show our ID's before entering.

"I can't believe we did all this," my mouth is open in awe as I stare at the transformed gym. It's like I've stepped into a real olden day masquerade ball. All the girls are wearing ball gowns and the guys sharp looking tuxedos. Everyone has masks on.

I clutch the rose I was given at the door and glance around. I really can't recognize anybody.

"There's Ryan," Nikole points.

"Go on," I give her a little push. "You too Chanel. Ivy will keep me company."

"Are you sure?" Chanel bites her lip. "We came to the dance with you."

"Go," I assure them. They seem reluctant but head towards their boyfriends. I turn to Ivy.

"Time to hit up the refreshments table."

She grins and we snack on frosted valentine cookies. I love frosted cookies. It's like heaven on your tastebuds. Even better the frosting is pink!

After eating a few cookies we head toward the dance floor and bop to the music playing over the speakers, laughing and shimmying around each other.

Ivy excuses herself to go to the bathroom and I head back towards the refreshments to get punch. Someone taps my shoulder and I turn around.

It's pretty dark in here besides flashing lights and the person has a mask on so I don't recognize who it is at first. Until they spoke.

"Even with a mask on you're still the most recognizable here."

"Carter," I said in greeting. Then I looked him over. He had on a black tux with a red rose tucked in the front pocket and a matching red tie. His hair was slicked back and his mask was red with silver lining.

I know I said I was giving up my crush on Carter but damnit it was hard when he showed up looking like this.

"Where's Vanessa?" I asked nonchalantly sipping my punch. 

"She went to the bathroom," he replied.

Masquerade came on and I had to roll my eyes at Ivy's song choice. Carter notices and laughs. Then he holds out his hand.

"Dance with me."

I stare at his outstretched hand. Everything in me is screaming to say no, that I'll never get over him this way but my body has a mind of it's own and I find myself taking his hand. It's warm and causes tingles to shoot up my arm. 

"Do you even know how to dance?" I couldn't help but poke fun at him as we made our way toward the dance floor, mainly because it helped me focus less on my pounding heart.

"I've picked up a few skills here and there," he smirks.

"Of course," I mumble.

There's some sort of routine dance going on that I don't remember being announced or organized but whatever. The girls are lined up facing the guys and Carter and I get into position.

We circle each other before I step back and Carter steps forward. He wraps one arm around my waist and clasps the other holding it up. Then in synchronicity everyone steps right, steps left, forward, backward, and does a spin around. The guys then have to twirl their female partner and spin them out before pulling them back in. I can't help but feel like I'm Cinderella and when the clock strikes midnight I'll turn back into rejected Aubrey.

The whole time we're dancing Carter and I don't break eye contact. It's nerve racking but I couldn't look away even if I wanted to. When he spins me out and pulls me back in we're much closer than before. I'm not even sure we're dancing anymore, just standing so close it's like I can hear his heart beating along with my own.

Pull back now! My mind screams at me. But it's too late and I've already been sucked into the vortex that is Carter King. In this lighting his eyes seem to be glowing a little bit. His arms are still around me and he's still holding my hand up. My right hand is placed on his shoulder. And then I think we're about to kiss, no, I know we're about to kiss but a voice clearing breaks the spell.

I turn and see Vanessa glaring at me.

My heart is still beating erratically and I step back.

"I'm glad you weren't bored while I was gone," Vanessa says sweetly to Carter but I hear the venom underneath her honey coated words. Then she turns to me.

"Thanks for keeping him company but I'm here now so you can go back to whatever you were doing."

"Right..." I trail off. "I'm gonna get some more cookies and punch I guess..."

Carter opens his mouth to say something but Vanessa literally yanks him off before he can speak. I stand there for a moment before going back over to the drinks table.

My rose is still lying right where I left it.  

A slow song comes on and couples pair up to dance. I search for Ivy but it's impossible to find her in the crowd. And suddenly I regret ever coming. Somehow I feel worse than before.

Everyone was dancing so no one noticed me slip out. I sat on the schools front steps, removed my mask, and stared at the rose in my hand.

"He loves me," I picked off a petal. "He loves me not."

I hadn't realized I was crying until I picked off the last petal and a teardrop fell with it.

"He loves me not."

Valentines day sucks.

"Why are you out here by yourself?"

I looked up at the sound of Carter's voice. Why is he out here? Shouldn't he be inside with Vanessa? I also notice he too doesn't have his mask on. His hair is starting to break free of the gel.

"Just getting some air," I sniffled.

"You're crying," he sat next to me.

"I guess I am," I wiped away a tear.

"It's the most romantic day of the year and you're sitting outside by yourself crying. Wanna tell me why?"

I smiled bitterly. "It's stupid really."

I could feel him staring at me so I finally glanced at him. I couldn't exactly pin point the expression on his face.

I sighed. "There's this guy. He has this smile and the cutest dimples I've ever seen. I didn't like him at first but as I got to know him I started developing these feelings for him and realized I liked him. He can be a bit of a jerk but he's also kind, caring, compassionate, and funny. Sometimes I think he likes me but then..." I trailed off. "Well anyway I was hoping maybe he sent me these roses and I wanted to ask him to the dance. But I didn't. I guess I finally realized it was a lost cause."

The tears had come down faster while I'd been talking and I couldn't seem to stop crying. I didn't bother to try wiping them away. Honestly I just wanted to go home and lay in bed for the next hundred years.

"Who's the guy?"

I glanced at Carter. "It doesn't matter."

"Why don't you just tell this guy that you like him?"

I laughed. "Are you kidding? There's no way he'd like me back."

"Well maybe he would."

Something in Carter's voice made me look at him again. He was staring very intently at me and my heart started pounding. I stopped breathing when his hand brushed a strand of hair away from my face. His fingers lingered on my skin and I stared at him wide eyed.

He shook his head and smiled at me. "You're so stupid Aubrey."

Then he kissed me.

My body reacted before my brain even registered what was happening. I instinctively leaned toward him and grabbed the lapels of his tux. I felt like someone had zapped me with a thousand bolts of electricity. He cupped my face in his hands and deepened the kiss, and I could feel the cool metal of his tongue piercing.

He pulled back and rested his forehead against mine. I tried to catch my breath.

"Why'd you do that?" I whispered.

"To bring you to your senses. I like you Aubrey. As more than a friend. You're pretentious and stuck up and you really get on my nerves but despite all that I like you. I can't believe you didn't realize it. You really are an idiot."

"Is this how you get all the girls?" I raised a brow. "By insulting them?"

"Just part of my charm," he grinned and winked at me.

I rolled my eyes at him and he leaned in to kiss me again.

I guess Valentines Day didn't suck after all.

Finally.

Freaking finally.

After thirty four chapters. It's finally official.

Carbrey❤️

Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter.  Make sure to vote and comment!

Stay pink🎀