When you can't sleep at night^ XD 

I am really sorry for not updating in like forever, guys! School has kept me super busy, and I've been too exhausted and brain dead to write like every day when I come home. This Labor Day weekend has been like the only good break for me. So again, I'm sorry. ||-//

This is also unedited because I was in a hurry to publish this. I'll try to edit it in the morning. Right now I need to sleep. Enjoy!

Jenna

"I'm so excited for you, Honey! It's your first prom!" Mom gushes as she admires me in the bathroom mirror.

"And my only one," I reply, rolling my eyes. "It's honestly not that big of a deal."

She purses her lips. "Well, it is to me. You're growing up so fast."

The doorbell ringing from downstairs prevents any further eyerolls and groans.

"That must be him!" she squeals.

"Do you want to go to prom with him instead? I think my dress will fit you," I tease.

Her laughter drifts back towards the bathroom as she runs down the hallway.

I turn back to my reflection in the mirror, nervousness flitting through my stomach like a hummingbird zipping from flower to flower on a nice spring day. Will Tyler like the dress? Was he really okay with not helping me pick it out? Josh didn't make him jealous by taking me shopping, did he?

I close my eyes and take a deep breath, then reopen them to look at my reflection. My makeup is on point, courtesy of Josh's sister, Ashley, who is amazing at that kind of stuff. She also did my hair in a beautiful curled up-do.

"Jenna! You can come down now!" Mom calls from the foyer. I sigh and look at my dress one last time. The sapphire blue compliments my features and makes the turquoise in my eyes pop. I turn my bracelets nervously on my wrists and straighten my earrings for the one-hundredth time.

Finally, I break gazes with my reflection and walk toward the staircase. I see Tyler and Mom waiting at the bottom of the staircase, her hands clamped over his eyes. I smirk as I step down the stairs carefully in my silver heels.

I admire his sharp, perfectly-ironed black suit coat and white shirt underneath. The tie that Josh and I picked out for him hangs perfectly straight from his neck.

Mom removes her hands from Tyler's eyes. He blinks for a second, then fully opens them. He puts a hand over his mouth in awe--well, I hope it's in awe--as he gives me a once-over. I see Mom pull out a camera and snap a picture in my peripheral vision.

"J-Jenna. You look beautiful. I'm...I'm speechless," he stutters.

I smile and step forward, taking his hand. "Thanks, Ty."

He stares at me for a second, then breaks his gaze as he appears to remember something. "Oh, your corsage!" He reaches into his pocket and pulls out the flower band, sliding it onto my wrist (A/N: I've never been to prom, so idk how all of this corsage stuff works).

I smile at the dainty blue flower. He got a forget-me-not. I remember him bringing me those on our first date. I notice Mom raising her eyebrows at me, and I quickly remember Tyler's flower.

"Oh! I have your boutonniere." I walk over to our fridge and remove the clear container next to the butter in the door. I then proceed to pin the flower on my boyfriend's lapel.

He smiles at me. "Ready to go?"

I nod my head and let out a breath.

"One more picture!" Mom insists as we walk toward the front door. I roll my eyes as Tyler wraps an arm around my waist and kisses me on the cheek for the camera. My face heats up, surely noticeable in the photo.

"Have fun, Honey. Oh, and don't drink at the after-parties."

"How do you even know if there will even be alcohol?" I ask Mom.

"Oh, believe me, there always is."

"Don't worry, Mrs. Black, I won't let her have too much." Tyler winks at her and pulls me toward the door. She laughs.

"Bye!" she calls as we close the door. I wave in reply, then turn my attention to Tyler.

"My parents said I had to take my car," he states sheepishly while rubbing the back of his neck.

"That's fine. I wasn't wanting a limo or anything. We're not spending prom in a vehicle."

He shrugs. "True. I just wish I had a nicer car."

"It still runs," I reply, climbing into the passenger side. Tyler takes my hand and smiles.

"Thanks for allowing me to take you to prom."

I smile back. "I wouldn't go with anyone else."

His grin is brighter than the sun as he starts the engine and pulls out of my driveway. My smile is the moon, reflecting his light, but not bright enough to match it. No one can match Tyler's personality when he's happy. And I think that's a good thing.

"You ready?" Tyler asks me as we walk up to the venue that the school rented out for the night. I nod as I stare toward the open doors. Tyler hands the admission tickets to the doorman and takes my arm. We walk through the entrance hall, then finally into the ballroom. A glowing, crystal chandelier hangs in the center of the room, white tulle with fairy lights stretching from it to the walls. Tables, chairs, and a food bar are set up on one side of the room while the other half is the designated dance floor.

Girls in various gown colors and sizes walk around the floor, most of them dragging their dates to the photo booth. I look at Tyler, who is also surveying the room. "Do you want to do the photo booth?" I ask.

"As long as we get some food afterward," he jokes.

I laugh. "Okay." We walk over and get in line for pictures under a white flower arch. Tyler and I finally get our pictures taken, then head over to the food table as promised. I glance up halfway through the food line when music comes on.

"We can dance if you want to and eat later," Tyler says.

I shake my head. "Nah, let's eat. It's a fast song anyways."

Tyler and I sit at a table for a few songs, snacking on fondue and other various refreshments. We get up and dance a few songs, then sit down again.

"We can dance more if you want to. I don't want to hold you back or anything," Tyler says after taking a sip of his punch. He touches the plastic flame of the led tealight candle sitting among some silver tulle in the center of the table.

I shrug. "There's no rush. I'm going to go get some more food, though." I scoot my chair away from the table and stand up.

He nods. "Okay."

Getting a new plate, I throw the old one in the trash, then proceed to get more food. A girl in a bright yellow dress stands talking to a guy with a gray beanie on, both of them leaning against the wall near the other set of trash cans. The girl looks unfamiliar; I haven't seen her in the hallway or anything. I can't tell who the guy is either because his back is turned. His figure looks familiar, though.

The girl smiles at the guy, then plays with her dark hair. She's pretty, the angel kind of pretty with a round face, glowing skin, and a graceful body.

Staring is rude, Jenna, I chastise myself as I look back at my plate. I select a few more things, then return to Tyler's table. I stare at the distant couple again.

"It's a shame Josh didn't come," I say.

"Yeah," Ty agrees.

"He could've come by himself."

He shrugs. "I think he would've felt more third-wheeled than anything."

I tilt my head. "True." I see Tyler stare at the couple out of the corner of my eye.

The girl smiles at the guy and rubs his head playfully. The gray beanie comes off, revealing highlighter-yellow hair underneath. He quickly grabs the fabric and tries to hastily shove it back onto his head. Too late.

My eyes widen as I look at Tyler. "Is that...?"

He nods. "I'd know that hair anywhere."

We both rise and stride toward the couple. The girl leans around her date to stare at us in confusion. Tyler taps the boy on the shoulder. He whips around.

"You could've told me you were coming to prom," Tyler says.

"Sorry. I was just--"

"Hiding from us?" I tease, gesturing to his beanie.

Josh rubs the back of his neck. "I just didn't know how to tell you guys."

"Yeah, it's quite the surprise that you have a girlfriend," Tyler states. "Would you like to introduce her?"

Josh sighs. "Tyler, Jenna, this is my girlfriend, Debby. Debby, this is my best friend and friend, Tyler and Jenna."

I squint my eyes at Josh's girlfriend in confusion. "You're not in any of my classes, and I haven't seen you around in the hallway at all."

"I don't go to this school. I live on the other side of town," Debby replies.

"Oh? How'd you guys meet then?" I ask.

"I ran into her at a record store in downtown Columbus. I used a few cheesy pick-up lines, and we kind of hit it off from there." Josh grins.

"Wait...how long have you guys been dating?" Tyler asks.

"Oh, about five months now," Josh replies.

"Wait...what!? How did you keep her hidden for that long!?"

"Again, I didn't know how to tell you guys."

"It's okay, Josh. We understand. I like your hair, by the way," I state. "It's a good color on you. And I like how you got it to match Debby's dress."

Debby grins. "He told me that his friend was wearing blue, so I didn't want to ruin it by wearing the same color. I made him re-dye his hair."

"Have you guys eaten yet?" Tyler asks. The two of them nod.

"Cool," I say.

"You'd might as well take off the beanie. We know it's you," Tyler says.

He shrugs. "True. It was getting a little hot anyways." He takes the beanie off and sticks it in his pocket, then combs through his hair with his fingers. The four of us walk over to the table that Tyler and I have been eating at. Not too long after we sit down, a familiar song comes on.

"Ahhhhh!" I screech.

Josh abruptly stands up. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking???"

"Yesss! C'mon!" I grab Josh's sleeve and pull him toward the dance floor.

"Did she just steal my boyfriend?" I hear Debby ask before we get out of earshot.

"Don't worry," Tyler reassures her, laughing. "It's normal." I see them stand up and follow us.

Josh and I stand next to each other and thrust out our arms one at a time, turning our palms face up. "Heyyyyyy Macarena!" We wiggle our hips and jump ninety degrees to the left, laughing. Tyler and Debby join us.

I laugh when Tyler can't get the arm motions right, then guide his hands to correct him. We all end the song laughing at our ridiculous form. The YMCA comes on next, which we all dance to. We finally collapse at the table again after dancing to two slow songs that came on after the group dances.

"That was fun," Debby says smiling, breaking the silence. We all nod in agreement.

I sit still for a moment. "I think I'm going to use the bathroom. I'll be back."

"Okay, babe. Don't get lost or anything," Tyler says.

"I won't," I reassure him, standing up from my chair. I walk out of the main ballroom doors and into the foyer. I see a paper sign with an arrow pointing down a hallway. Restroom, it reads. I follow the sign until the hallway turns, then follow another sign as the hallway branches off to the right. Finally locating the bathrooms, I go inside to where about five other girls are gathered in front of the mirror. I weave past them to one of the stalls.

I emerge from the bathroom a few minutes later, looking left and right down the dimly-lit hallway. A paper restroom sign points to the left. Didn't I come from the left side? I shrug. There must be two different ways to get to the bathroom. I mean, it makes enough sense. I turn right, then right again as I see another sign. A dark hallway looms in front of me, but I can see lights at the next branch of corridors. I start walking toward the light.

A familiar figure rounds the distant corner, causing me to sigh in relief. "Ty, you're here. I thought I was lost." My boyfriend says nothing; he just continues to walk toward me. "You didn't have to come and find me. I can figure out how to get back to the ballroom. You should be hanging out with Josh and Debby." Tyler stops about eight feet in front of me, head tilted down.

"Hey, are you okay?" my brows furrow.

He tenses, then leaps forward, pinning me against the wall.

"Ty--" I cut myself off when he raises his head and looks into my eyes, grinning wickedly.

"Miss me?"

I grit my teeth. "I don't think anyone cares enough to miss you, Brendon." I wince as he grips my wrists tight enough to leave bruises and pins my feet against the wall with his own.

"I'll take that as a no," he replies in a bored manner. "What a shame."

"What do you want with me?" I growl.

"I never wanted Tyler to have you. You've always been mine. I wish he would've killed himself when he did."

Rage shoots through me. I try to knee him, but he's too quick, his own knee blocking mine. The heel of his dress shoes dig into my toes. I wince.

Brendon leans in close to my ear, whispering. "No one is coming to save you. They're all having fun in the ballroom."

My stomach drops. How long will Brendon keep me here? Will he try kidnapping me again?

Brendon presses his lips against mine forcefully before I can say anything else. Tears start to form in my eyes. I didn't ask for this! Why can't he do this to any other girl? Or—even better—no girl at all? I'm not sure I'd even like it if Tyler was the one kissing me in this situation, not Brendon.

He pulls back and shakes me slightly. "C'mon, you're lifeless! Show some energy!"

"I hate you," I whisper, starting to cry.

"Well, we're getting somewhere," he says. He swoops back in for another kiss, this one more forceful than the last. I stand there in agony for minutes. I'm sorry, Ty, I think. I never wanted this to happen.

I taste the salt from my tears in between kisses. Surely I have mascara running down my face now. Apparently Brendon doesn't care about that as he kisses me again. I still don't kiss back.

The kiss is broken when something flies through the air and pummels Brendon on the head. He staggers back, swearing. I look down

at the floor between us to see a bright yellow heel. Looking up, I see Debby running down the hallway toward us, the mate to the heel in her left hand. Josh and Tyler round the corner behind her.

Debby grabs my hand and pulls me toward the bathrooms. We don't stop running until we get inside. I start crying harder.

"Was that the...Brendon guy?" Debby asks as I bend over the sink, trying not to vomit. I'm really tempted to rinse my mouth out with soap. I nod.

"Josh told me about him," she continues. "I'm really sorry about that."

I sniff. "It's okay."

"No it's not," she replies. I look in the mirror at my mascara-stained cheeks. Ashley worked so hard on my makeup, and I had to go and cry. Debby's face softens. "Here, sit on the counter." She pats the hard surface, inviting me to sit down. I obey her.

Wetting a paper towel, she pumps a little bit of soap on then squeezes the excess water out. She proceeds to dab at my cheeks, taking away the mascara stains. I close my eyes as she goes for my eyeshadow. She wets another towel and takes off whatever lipstick is still on me. I twist around and look in the mirror, my face looking a little better. My eyes are still swollen, and my face is blotchy, though. There's not much I can do about that.

Debby checks her own makeup in the mirror and brushes back her honey-brown hair, then puts her heels back on. I smile faintly at her.

"Thanks for helping me, Deb—can I call you Deb?"

She laughs. "Yeah, Deb is fine. Josh calls me that sometimes, so I'm used to it. And it's no problem. I knew that something was wrong when you didn't come back after ten minutes, then I saw the signs were turned around. I definitely knew you weren't kissing Tyler, and it didn't seem like you were enjoying it. Tyler and Josh apparently decided to check on you, too, so they saw what Brendon was doing. They should be taking care of him now."

I smile. "Good." Our heads whip toward the sound of the bathroom door opening, Tyler and Josh barging in. "Guys! You're not supposed to be—"

Tyler kneels down in front of me and grabs my hand. "Are you okay???" he asks with concern. Josh stands awkwardly behind him, occasionally shooting glances at the door.

I nod.

"How long was he kissing you!? Did he do anything else!??? I swear, if he did..."

"He was kissing me for about...well, I don't know. Almost as long as I was gone, I guess. And he didn't do anything else, just pinned me against the wall and practically made out with me. I didn't kiss back."

Tyler shakes his head back and forth, his eyes landing at my feet. "I'm so sorry. I thought he was out of our lives for good. I didn't expect anything like this to happen."

"I don't really think anyone did," I reply, rubbing my thumb across his hand.

"How did you break those two apart?" Josh asks Debby.

"I threw my heel at his head," she replies smugly. He high-fives her.

"So...what did you guys do to Brendon?" I ask.

"We basically beat his ego out of him. We don't think he'll be bothering us again for a while," Tyler says.

I nod. "Good."

Josh glances toward the door again. "I feel so rebellious being in the girl's bathroom." We laugh. That's one thing I like about Josh: he knows how to break the tension.

"Yeah, we should probably go," Debby says.

I hop off the counter as Tyler stands up. He opens his arms. "Hug?"

I smile and embrace him tightly. "Thanks for being here," I whisper.

"Always," he replies. We break the hug, following Debby and Josh out the door.

"Do you want to stay here?" Tyler asks me as we walk back toward the ballroom.

"Is it okay if I say no?"

"Of course," he replies. "We can just go back to my house and chill or whatever you want."

Josh glances at Debby. "We may go with you guys, too. I've had enough socializing and drama for one day. Is that okay with you, Deb?"

She nods. "We can go get something to eat, then chill somewhere. It could be like our own mini kind of prom."

"Yeah," Josh agrees. "I like that idea."

"We'll meet you at the Dairy Queen on Oak Street," Tyler says. "Race ya there." I glance at him, causing him to blush. "By staying under the speed limit, of course."

Josh smiles at him. "You're on."

The four of us walk out of the Dairy Queen laughing, various desserts in our hands. Having our own mini prom has almost made me forget about the incident that happened less than an hour earlier. Tyler escorts me to his car, and Josh does the same to Debby.

"Should we chill at your house and play video games?" Josh asks.

"Sure," Ty replies. "We can even dance a little bit." He hops in the car and starts the the engine, leading the way to his house. I watch him as he drives.

"Thanks for everything, Ty. I feel kind of bad that you guys are missing prom and doing all of this for me. I don't think I deserve all this attentio--"

"Sh..." Tyler places a finger on my lips, his eyes not leaving the road. "We're doing this because we love you. Also because we're all really socially awkward and would rather be in a small group than with a large one." We both laugh.

"You never cease to amaze me, Ty. That's why I love you."

He smiles. "And you'll never cease to make me happy. That's only a teensy part of why I love you."

I blush as we turn onto a familiar road close to his house. We pass a familiar building.

"Remember when we first saw each other in the music store?" I ask as I watch it fade out of the rear-view mirror's range.

He nods and bites his lip. "I still beat myself up about how much I looked like a stalker to you. I couldn't stop staring."

"That's nothing. I was mentally sizing you up as I was pretending to read through lesson books!"

He glances over at me. "You were willing to fight me if it came down to that?"

"Hey, I did in the woods that day, remember?"

"Did not!"

"Did too! I punched and kicked you! Your lip was bleeding!"

He laughs. "Okay, okay, so maybe you could take me in a fight. You're pretty strong....for a girl."

I roll my eyes. "I could take you and Josh put together."

"Oh, sure." He pulls into his driveway, where Josh's car already sits. They beat us.

Josh jumps out of the car as Tyler parks his. "Let's get this party started!"

I smile as we walk inside. I couldn't ask for better friends.

Again, I'm sorry about introducing new characters, but I couldn't resist. I mean, it's Debby! Plus, Josh needed to go to prom XD. Sorry if the ending of this chapter is crappy. I couldn't figure out how to write it in. 

||-//

Rey