I can't breathe. It's as if the air around me was sucked and kept in a box, preventing me to breathe.

He's currently standing in front of me, his brown hair sticking out everywhere. He's wearing a white fitted shirt that hugs his body perfectly, revealing his muscular figure. Everything from down below his body and his background is blurred, though his face is focused.

I don't know if my mind's not working well right now, but am I really seeing him right now? Right in front of me? A few inches away from me?

He waved his hand in front of my face. "Hey, Nikki. Are you okay? You look like you're going to faint."

Warmth creeped up to my cheeks and I bit my lip. "U-Uh, m-me?" I gestured to myself and straightened, even if it means that I have to lean backwards and away from his face. "I'm perfectly fine."

"Oh, okay." He inserted his hands in his pockets. Oh my God. This is freaking awkward! What should I do?

"So, uh..." Come on, think! Use your brain, Nikki! "Uh, do you need something?"

His eyes sparkled in amusement. "Oh, yeah. About that..."

I leaned against my locker to appear confident and to not fall down on my knees because his stare melts me and makes my knees turn to Jell-O.

"Go on."

"Well, we'll be having a family dinner later and I'm just wondering if you want to go together there?"

My heart skipped a beat. My ears are ringing. My stomach's turning around. And I can feel my intestines rise up to my throat.

I know I shouldn't feel this way, I'm clearly overreacting. But why can't I help it?

Is it because this will be the first time that we'll go together in one car, specifically his? Or is it because this will be the first time that we'll be alone together?

'Keep it together, Nikki.', I mentally said to myself before mustering up enough confidence to look up to him. "Uh-h, can I?"

He shrugged. "Well, yeah. I'll be out a few minutes late, though. Or, you want to go ahead...?"

I quickly shook my head and mentally slapped myself. I looked like a desperate bitch. "No, it's okay. I might also swing by the radio room. I left my phone there a while ago." I secretly bit my tongue, punishing myself for lying. Ugh! I'm such a bad liar! Let's just hope he buys my lie, though.

He tilted his head to the side and pouted, and if he just can't see me, I'll swoon right then and there. "Is that the phone you're talking about?" He furrowed his brows, totally confused.

My eyes widened, then I tried to form a fist using my right hand but something hard prevented me to.

It's my phone.

"U-Uh, this?" I tried to laugh a bit then bit my lip. "I-I own two phones, a-actually. He-he." I mentally ran my hand through my face. Ugh. What the hell's happening to me?

"Oh. Well then, guess I'll just swing by the radio room then."

I nodded. "Sure thing."

He flashed me a boyish grin that I know might be in my dreams from now and then. "See you later, Nikki." Then he walked away, his team in tow.

I placed a hand on my chest, calming myself down. Ugh, I need to stand my ground! Be a woman and act like one! Ugh. If my family's here, they're probably laughing their heads off.

But I'm also proud of myself for not acting like a silly girl who has a crush on him in front of him. I probably need to pat myself at the shoulder, for a good job.

I walked in to the doors of the cafeteria, the smell of fried chicken, strawberry slush, and burnt corndog welcoming me. I stepped aside to avoid getting walked by by the other students and looked for Bailey and Kaitlyn.

Just then, Jeremy, Bailey's long time crush and date for the prom (I still can't believe it, actually) entered my vision. What's more confusing is that I think he's headed towards me, or maybe to my direction.

"Hi, Nikki!" He flashed me a smile as he stopped in front of me. Jeremy has blonde mop of hair, Harajuku style. He has a good body built, seeing that he's a soccer player, but Adam's built is finer than his. Ugh! Snap out of it! Why am I even comparing Jeremy to Adam?

"Uh, hey Jeremy. Have you seen Bailey and Kaitlyn?"

He nodded and grinned. "Yupp. Bailey told me to wait for you and take you to our table."

Although confused, I still spoke up. "Well, okay. Lead the way."

We managed to get through the large crowd of students whom I recognize as techies and gamers from the IT club. Then I got a lot more confused when we walked by our usual table by the vending machine. I looked at his back curiously.

"Uh, why are they not sitting on our table?"

He turned around and looked at me. "They're sitting with us."

"Us?" I mimicked.

"Us, the soccer team. Well, not really the whole team, but a few of them."

I gaped at him. He can't be serious.

True to his words, there are they, Kaitlyn and Bailey, both sitting with some of the players of the soccer team, clearly enjoying their company. They both looked up when we stopped in front of them.

"Hey, Nikki! What took you so long?" Bailey asked sweetly before standing up and offering her seat to me, and then she sat beside Jeremy. I gave Kaitlyn a look before sitting. "Uh, well. You know. Things."

She grinned at me, as if she's reading my mind. Grrr. Am I that easy to read?

"If you say so." She said in a sing-song way before turning her attention to Jeremy. I rolled my eyes at them before nudging Kaitlyn. "Hmm?"

"Hey, are you okay? You look uncomfortable."

She shrugged then played with the straw of her drink. "Nah. Just thinking of some things..."

"And what is that?" I leaned forward

She shrugged again. "It's a bit complicated."

"Fine then. Just let me know if you wanted to talk about it." She nodded at me.

"I'm going to buy some food. You guys want anything... Or what?"

They all said no and muttered thanks before I left the table to get food. I lined up and got myself a tray.

"Heyyaa, Nikki, my friend!"

I turned to look at the source of sound and saw a guy a few feet away from me, then he jogged up to me and smiled. "Hey, Trev!"

Trev, or Trevor Dutchman, is Adam's best friend. Even if he's not in the basketball team with him, he's also pretty athletic and plays badminton. From what I've observed since last year, they're actually pretty close.

"You already have a date to prom?"

I stiffened at his words, but regained my composure. But still, the words of my dad still echoing inside my mind. "Our family's at stake here, Nikki. If you'll go to that prom alone, better pack your things and ready your passport, because I'll be sending you to Australia again. And this time, for good."

I know, I know. I mean, it's not even that scary, but if you're in my position, you'll get scared, too. If I'll go to prom alone, it'll put some dent on our "precious family name", as what my parents say, and it'll be our downfall. And by sending me to Australia means that I won't get any allowance and will have to supervise one of our liquor stores there and live in an apartment.

"Nope." I said, popping the letter P. I grabbed a bottled iced tea as the lunch lady prepared my pork barbeque over Java rice. The smell of it made my stomach growl. I heard Trev laugh and I blushed.

"What do you say, you and I, together to prom, huh?" He said, wiggling his eyebrows at me. I can't help but stifle a laugh at his face.

"Hmm... I'll think about it." I said, giving him a wink as I slapped a twenty dollar bill on the counter.

"Nuh-uh, princess." He grabbed my money from the counter and slipped it in my pocket, jumping up a bit because of the contact. "Lunch is on me." He gave me a wink and and a flirty smile. Alright, Trev is incredibly gorgeous and hot, but I still think that Adam's the best among everyone--UGH!

"Oh, thanks!"

"About the date thingy, think about it, okay?" He said

I nodded at him before cracking a smile. "Will do, Mr. Dutchman."

×××

Yay! Another chappy whoop! :D

I don't like this chapter that much, especially the part with Adam (I don't know what's wrong with me), but I really liked the part where Trevor came in to the story XD Trev will be the source of jolliness in this story, I swear C:

Vote, comment, share, and recommendddddd! Thanks to the reader who commented at the first chappy (you know who you are, so yeah). Your comment really uplifted my spirit, and it's really sweet!

So yeah, just hit the lil star and comment for the Wattys!

P.S. Crystal Reed as Nikki Thompson! A collage of Crystal attached to this chappy! Check it out :)

Always,

Nicholle