Homecoming.

D R A Y S • P O V

I don't want to be here. Tagging along with Grayson and Spencer, who talks way too fucking much, had been a pure shit start to this homecoming dance. Spencer's a nice girl and all. I don't have anything against her. But she's so damn optimistic and happy. And right now, the joy of other people, is making me homicidal.

So I'd hung back when the two of them made their way into the school gym. Going through about three cigarettes in the shadow of dark where I couldn't be disturbed by any of the peers who like to pretend that we've got a mutual friendship. Call me a snob, I just don't give a shit about keeping up appearances tonight.

Eventually I head inside and the last thing I need is for Dallas to see that I was lying when I said I had another date lined up. It wasn't for lack of offers. I'd had plenty of desperate hopefuls approach and request me as a partner. But that required commitment to the evening. I'd have to arrive with her, stay with her, leave with her, hold her purse and meet her parents and all of the bullshit that goes along with it. The only girl I'd be more than happy to do that with, is here with someone else.

When a couple pulls the door open, I peek over their heads and scan the space, spotting Dallas on the edge of the crowd, dancing along to the beat of the loud music. Her attention is darting between her date and the set of double doors on the other side of the gym, which is the main entrance and I feel a tighten in my stomach at the thought of her looking for me. I don't want to be too presumptuous, but damn...

A man can hope.

She's the object of my focus as I move further into the gym, staying on the edge, beside the wall, while I absentmindedly greet a few people here and there.

Damn she looks so beautiful. The champagne dress hugs her perfectly, flowing to the floor and acting as a second skin. With each movement of her hips and ass it moves against her with a flawless flow. I hadn't known for sure that she'd wear that colour. But I had a feeling, she wears it a lot. Even if it's just a subtle part of her outfit. It suits her so damn well and I can't help but smile at the corsage on her wrist. It looks good. Thank fuck I hadn't cocked that up.

And the way she dances, like she's barely paying attention to what she's doing but she moves as though she's been practicing a choreographed routine for the last three months. I lean against the wall, hands stuffed into my suit pockets while I watch in envy.

I want to be the one that's appreciating that body. I want to be the one that's holding her hips and feeling her waist move beneath my hands. I want her arms wrapped around my neck. I can't even look at Cooper without the strong urge to hurt him coming on in full force. He's not even wearing black. He's wearing blue. It looks fucking stupid. He doesn't look right with her.

"You look. . . pathetic."

I turn to the side at the sound of Grayson's voice. He shakes his head in disapproval, not that I give a shit but my hand twitches with the urge to slap the pitiful expression off his face.

"Shut up." Is all I respond with, turning my attention back to the girl who's turned me into an absolutely pathetic excuse for a human being. I've never been so hung up before. But I'm whipped as fuck and I can't even deny it.

"You could go and ask her to dance." Grayson shrugs, leaning against the wall beside me.

"I don't wanna get in the way." I murmur. But it's starting to become more tempting as she appears to be less interested in her dance. Her movements slow, her expression isn't as elated. I could make her happy. I could give her the time of her life if she'd let me.

"To be honest," Grayson starts, leaning off the wall and standing in front of me but not enough to obstruct my view. "I don't even think she likes him. She's kinda acting how she did when her and I made out."

I hadn't wanted to stop watching her but I turn to Grayson with a look of disgust. I'd already mentioned once before that I never wanted to speak of that night again. Watching the two of them lock lips had been fucking shit, even back then. Thinking about it now, makes me want to tear out his tongue.

"Sorry." He winces with a chuckle, holding his hands up in surrender. He starts to search the gym and when his gaze lands on whatever he'd been looking for, he smiles and gives me a slap on the shoulder. "Spence's back from the bathroom. Don't be a pussy. Go ask her to dance."

I give him a sarcastic smile while he strolls off to other side of the obnoxious room. Whoever was in charge of decorations went far to over the top. The amount of balloons in here would offend a circus and fuck being the person who has to clean up the confetti. But perhaps I just can't see the beauty in this evening because the only beauty I can see is stalking towards the gym exit with a contorted expression. Her hand rubs her eyebrow and she looks as though she can barely breathe.

My eyes immediately fall back on Cooper who's watching her with a curious expression but makes no move to follow her. If that little cock hurt a single hair on her head, then I'm going to knock him into next week.

I don't waste a second, shoving the gym doors open and skipping the concrete steps two at a time. The front of the gym is alight with floodlights that allow me see most of the barren space. With purposeful strides, I keep my eyes wide in case she's darting across the car park or the school field but when I circle the other side of the gym, I notice her immediately, leaning against the wall, hunched over in a defeated stance.

It's as if she glows, she stands out against the black of night with her blonde hair and olive skin. So when she hears me approach and snaps her head towards me with sad eyes, I feel my heart drop. She shouldn't wear that expression. I can't stand to see her hurt. Yet I know that I've been the cause of her pain more than once and I fucking hate myself for that. I remember Mom's advice, so I take a more open approach, being sure not to say something stupid and sarcastic. She deserves for me to be genuine.

"Are you okay?"

I keep a little distance because the way that she sweeps me from head to toe is doing things to me and fuck, taking her in my arms and kissing the fuck outta her sounds so damn good right now.

"Yeah." She nods with a small smile. "We should probably stop meeting like this though."

I smile at that, sliding my hands into my pockets for the feel of extra restraint. I remember last nights argument around the side of a house in the middle of the night. I'm determined for this conversation not to end the same way.

"I saw you basically run out of the gym and I wanted to make sure he hadn't done anything to make you upset."

"No, Dray he didn't." She nods in attempt to reassure me. "I didn't even know you were here."

"I've been here for a while." I shrug, my gaze falling on to the corsage that I'd had made for her. Up close I get the chance to properly view it and without thinking, I step forward and grasp her wrist, lifting it to inspect the lily and champagne detailing.

I hadn't realised how much the slightest touch of her skin would effect me. I hadn't been thinking at all. But it appears as though it might have some effect on her too, because a light layer of goosebumps raise on her flawless skin.

"You told him to get this, didn't you?" She asks with a small accusatory voice. "I don't know how you knew but you had something to do with this?"

She's observant, I'll give her that. A part of me thinks that I should convince her that I had nothing to do with it, but then again, this is what I wanted, for her to see that I know her, to see that I care.

"You love champagne, you always wear it." I murmur, not looking up at her because if I glance into that face then I'll lose any and all self control and I don't know if that's what she wants. But my hand continues to move further up her arm, caressing her soft skin towards her elbow as I speak. "And the lilies are obvious. You draw them all over your econ books."

The little hitch in her breath gets my heart racing. Every reaction that I seem to draw out of her makes me fucking wild with need. I don't think she could ever comprehend how deeply she effects me. I don't think I'd ever be able to describe it to her.

So when I glance up and meet her stare, I'm lost. Her eyes are so heavy with desire, her breathing is laboured and the way her bottom lip is pinched between her teeth makes the blood in my body rush south.

"Dray"- the breathless gasp of my name is the last thing I hear. I'd already decided that I couldn't hold back for a second longer. My mouth crushes hers and I'm immediately overwhelmed with more need than I've ever felt before.

Her arms wind themselves up around my neck, how I'd wished they'd been earlier. I fan my hands out on her waist and her fingers push through the hair on the back of my head. This is better than I'd imagined it. Much fûcking better. Her lips are like nothing I've ever felt, her tongue moves against mine and damn, she knows how to kiss. Every lap of her tongue, every flinch of her lip is perfect.

I push her against the brick wall, almost falling apart at the sound of her satisfied moan when my hard dick presses up against her front. Our hands claw at each other, her nails digging into whatever skin she can find while mine explore her body and curves. This can't compare to the hotel dare. Not even fucking close. And I thought that it couldn't get any better back then. Damn, was I wrong. I drag my mouth along the side of her jaw, leaving a trail of needy kisses along her neck and throat while she tips her head back and gasps loudly. Fuck, that sound, it drives me so damn wild. I clutch her waist between a hard grip while I smash our mouths together once more, swallowing another moan that was sounding from deep within her.

Her hands come down from the back of my neck and start unbuttoning the top of my shirt, not that a lot of the buttons had been done up to begin with but shit, she could take it all off right now and I'd go with it. Her dainty hands slide inside the shirt, her finger tips brushing over the grooves of my chest while she buckles her hips and moans into my mouth.

Fuck it. I need her. I need her so much.

"Come with me?" I mumble, barely pulling my mouth away from hers as I continue to pepper her with kisses. Kisses against the side of her mouth, kisses against her neck, under her ear, on her collarbone.

She begins to still, her hands dropping to her side and I feel disappointment flow right through me as she pulls back with a gasp. "I can't, Dray, I can't. I'm here with someone else."

My hands find the wall on either side of her head as I glance down at her torn expression. The way her gaze continues to travel my face, makes me think that she wants to leave with me as much as I want her too. But this is Dallas. She has good character. She wouldn't do that to someone and I wouldn't make her. So as much as I want to keep kissing her, as much as I want to pick her up and wrap that gorgeous body around mine, I don't. Because now I know that she feels something for me too and I have to believe that she won't continue this thing with Cooper. I'll still tell her how I feel. But she needs to figure out how she does first.

"Yeah." I straighten up and attempt to get a grip. Which is going to be far easier said than done. I need to go home and have a cold shower. And most likely relieve the hard on in my pants. "You are with someone else. Sorry."

I am sorry. As much as I'm not. I am. She's going to be feeling guilty about what she's done and I wish that she didn't. But selfishly, I hope that she tells him the truth. And I hope that tomorrow, I can show up at her house, take her for a ride and tell her that I'm damn near insane over how I feel about her.

With mild regret, I walk away, not able to concentrate on a damn thing around me because I'm still in sensory overload.

When I get back inside, I cross the gym with my head down. I'd left my jacket and keys at the coat check and I'm still hard as fuck so I'd rather get the hell out of here with out talking to anyone on the way.

The car park is quiet, only the sound of my footsteps and the faint thump of the gym can be heard in the still night. It occurs to me that I'll be leaving Grayson and Spencer without a ride but I'm sure Dallas can sort them out. If not I'll send them an Uber.

I slam the Jeep door and huff, resting my head against the steering wheel and letting silence envelop me while the kiss plays on repeat in my mind. Over and over again. Torturing me with the memory of her soft lips and wandering hands. The feel of silk curves beneath my touch. The scent of her fruity fragrance surrounding me while she arches her body to meet and mould to mine.

The passenger door opens and breaks the quiet, giving me a hell of a fright. When I abruptly turn to see who the fuck just interrupted my solace, my hard on is softened within seconds.

"What the fuck Emily?!" I snap while she bounces into the seat and closes the door with a smile. A smile that looks fucking heinous because it's all too familiar and nothing good can come of it.

"I saw you." She stares at me with narrow eyes that I can only just see under the street lamp light that casts down on the car.

"I don't give a shit." I break from her glare and stare out at the road on the other side of the schools brick fence. She's so damn psychotic and I honestly don't give a damn what she does to me. Dallas is worth it. She could tell the entire school about my sister and I'd still choose Dallas. I could get through anything if I had her.

"Well you're going to give a shit." She scoffs, turning her body towards me. "We're dating. You and I. And everyone's going to know it. Because I'll kiss you when I want. Touch you when I want and you're going to go along with it."

"Are you out of your fucking mind?" I turn to her with what I assume is total fucking bewilderment on my face. "Get out of my car you unhinged witch."

"Fine, then I'm kicking Dallas off the squad and guess what that means. No cheer on her college applications. No California. No dance college."

Fuck. I hadn't even considered that she might make this about Dallas. I could have handled whatever she threw at me. But I can't let her hurt Dallas.

"What's your problem?!" I bark with anger. Sometimes I really wish it wasn't so morally wrong to hit a girl. "What do you get from this?"

"I don't like how that bitch just exists and people seem to think she's perfect. She hasn't worked hard the way I have. Yet, look at you, falling all over her."

"She's a good person Emily," I scoff with the urge to shake some sense into her. "She's genuine. She doesn't lower herself to evil fucking scheming and she has worked hard. You're out of your fucking head."

"Meh." She shrugs her shoulders with disregard. "When Monday comes, you're mine. Otherwise, she's off the squad and you'd have singlehandedly flushed her future."

"You're fucked."

I grip the steering wheel, my knuckles turning white and a lump forming in my throat. This can't be happening. It can't. I'm sick of shit getting in the way. I'm sick of being so close to making Dallas mine and then having something fuck it all up.

My cellphone starts to ring from the inside of my suit pants pocket and I glance over at Emily as I fish it out, shooting a glare in the direction of her smug smile.

"Hello," I answer, continuing to stare at Emily while I imagine throwing her out of my moving car.

"Hey man," Grayson's voice comes through the receiver. "We're looking for you? Where'd you go?"

"Man, I had to leave." I huff, rubbing my temple with the tips of my fingers at the feeling of an oncoming headache. "Can you do me a favour, tell Dallas that I wasn't well. If it comes up. Don't just randomly tell her. Just, if she looks for me or something. I dunno. Just don't tell her unless she asks."

"Why can't I tell her?" He asks with curiosity. "She wants to talk to you about something bro. Just come back."

My head tips back against the head rest, my eyes closing with legitimate pain and frustration. She's looking for me. She's fucking looking for me and wants to talk to me. Which means that she'd chosen me, over Cooper. And now I'm in this fucking mess.

I snap. . my hand flying out and punching the steering wheel so hard that Emily flinches beside me.

"Just tell her that I'm sick alright. I don't wanna see her!"

I hang up the phone and throw it at the dash board so hard that it breaks into pieces.

"Fuck you." I shout at the bitch beside me. It only angers me further when she smiles as though she's won. And I suppose that she has. But I'll fix this. I have to. But as much as I want to tell Dallas the truth, I can't help but wonder if this is for the best. She's moving to California. She specifically said that she doesn't want a relationship. Maybe if she hates me, it'll be easier for everyone. Maybe I can talk this psycho out of this stupid plan. Once again, I'm in over my head. I don't know what the fuck to do.

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