Look out for the <>! Man, I really enjoyed writing this chapter. Hope you enjoy it too.

Darla

Stella POV

"Seriously though, Stella, I don't understand why you are bringing Gray with us," Alice frowned as we got ready for the dance at my house.

I finished putting eyeliner on then frowned back at her. And this was why I waited until the moment of the dance to tell her about it. I knew she would throw a fit about it. She didn't like that I was building a relationship with him. She said she was worried that I would get hurt, and I believed that she actually believed it. I think Alice genuinely was concerned that I was hanging out with Gray, but I also think she didn't want me hanging out in fear that it would mess up her social standing. She was friends with me, but yet I was friends with Grayson and that didn't seem like a very popular move. "He's my friend so I'm inviting him."

"An odd friend."

"So?" I snapped. People were odd. I could name at least a few things that made Alice odd, so who was she to judge?

She placed her hands on her hips, then looked at her friends for backup, but they were silent. "How about we meet you at the dance, then? You know how Grayson makes everyone feel and we don't want to kill our mood in all."

I nodded, happy with this. At least I would have some one on one time with him because as much as Gray made Alice uncomfortable, Alice made Gray more uncomfortable. This was probably the best of both words, since I was already getting tired of her overly cheerful attitude tonight. It was already so much of an ask to wear this dress, let alone go to a dance that was not my scene. "That sounds perfect to me."

"Ok, see you there," she said, then kissed the side of my cheek then left with her friends, leaving me alone in my bedroom, waiting until Gray came. I checked the time and noticed that Gray should be here any moment.

"Knock knock," Bec's voice rang out from the doorway.

I turned to face her with a smile.

"Oh, the dress is so perfect on you," she gushed as she looked at me from head to toe.

After the moderations she did, the dress wasn't perfect by any means, but I did feel more comfortable in it. "Thank you for helping fix this."

"Of course. So what did Alice say when she saw you in the dress?"

I smiled as I thought about the moment I changed into the dress. I was so concerned that she would not be happy with my changes, but she was so caught up in her own world that she didn't even notice. "She was fine with it."

"That's great to hear. Anyhow, I wanted to say, Grayson, he's upstairs in the family room talking to your father."

"Oh gosh," I frowned as I grabbed my shoes from the floor. I couldn't have my dad say too much to him. "How long has he been here?"

"A few minutes."

Panic filled me like an Oreo getting dunked into milk. Dad was going to scare him off, I was sure of that. "I need to save him."

"Are you really saving yourself, though?"

"Maybe," I chuckled as I walked out of the room, then up the stairs to see Grayson in a suit, sitting on the couch, talking to my father. He looked so comfortable as he talked about school and Jackson. I had never seen him look so comfortable talking to someone that I almost didn't want to interrupt. As he finished the answer, he made eye contact with me and smiled.

His dark blonde hair was pushed back and styled as if he actually tried to make it look good. He stood up from the couch and pulled on his slightly loose suit. As we closed the gap between us, I could smell his cologne, which made my heart speed up.

When he agreed to go to the dance with me, I was surprised. I was just about to give up asking him when he finally caved. But I never thought he would put as much effort into it as he did tonight. I had never seen Gray dress in more then a hoodie and jeans. This complete 180 and it made me wonder if he was actually excited to go. I thought back to when he came up to me at my locker and mentioned that he would go. He said it so casually, as if he knew all this time he would go with me.

"Am I too early?" he asked with concern.

I shook my head with a smile. "You are just in time."

"Gray, just get her back at a decent hour," dad said, reminding me I wasn't alone in this room.

"Of course. So do you want to get out of here?"

I nodded as the words escaped me. I had crushes and boyfriends before, but this was different. My feelings for Gray overwhelmed me as if I was drowning in the ocean.

"Let's do this then."

I followed his lead and waved to my parents without another word spoken.

Before I knew it, we were in the school's gym, standing in the corner of the room, watching everyone else dance. I couldn't say this was enjoyable, but this was where Gray gravitated to so I followed. I was never one for dances for many reasons, but as another song went by, all I felt was that I wanted to dance to at least one song, with him.

I caught a glance of Alice and her friend's group and for a second I felt jealous I wasn't there dancing with them. I should have known Gray wouldn't want to dance with me, but in this moment I felt like I was missing out. He was here, with me and I was not taking advantage of this moment.

Finally, I couldn't stand it anymore, so I downed the rest of my punch and turned to face him. "Do you want to dance with me?"

He shook his head as he crossed his arms over his chest, as if that would protect him. He looked around the room as if something wrong would happen at any moment. "The corner is safe."

I nodded because I completely understood that. But we were here for only one night. The best I could do it try one dance and there was no one else I rather dance with than Gray. "Nope, not taking that as an answer," I said as I pulled on his hand, causing a shock of electricity to fly through my fingers.

He instantly pulled away, as if it hurt him. "Please don't."

I shook my head. "Sorry, you have no choice," I said and grabbed his hand. As I held onto it tighter, I realized he was shaking, vibrating almost, it made me wonder what he was so scared about this. "It's just a dance. It'll be ok."

He frowned as he allowed me to take him out of the corner and onto the dance floor. He looked around himself on the dance floor carefully, as if waiting for an attack, but no one seemed to notice that we crashed their party as they continued to dance to a slow song. Carefully, I wrapped my arms around his neck and swayed to the music.

Gray took my lead and placed his hands on my hips and took a deep breath in, as if trying to calm himself down. "You look nice," Gray said finally.

This was the first time he complemented my looked, but I already knew he thought I looked nice. It was written all over his face as he saw me at my father's place. But I still liked the small compliment that he gave as if caused me to smile. "I know."

He chuckled as his body relaxed. I think he realized by now that the school kids would not kick him out of this dance and for now he was safe in our own little private bubble the music made for us.

"You know, you aren't too bad at this dancing thing. Have you had practice?" I asked as I realized that this was the closest we had ever been to each other. He was warmer than I thought he would be and his slight vibrating didn't stop as he appeared to relax.

"Long time ago I did. But that seems like a different life now."

I nodded as I leaned into his shoulder, breathing in his scent. I wanted to ask him more about his other life, but this school gym did not seem like a good place to ask such personal questions. Instead, for a moment, we were silent as the music played in the background. As he held onto me, the thought of being lugged to this was completely worth it for just this one dance with him.

"Thank you for asking me to come to this," Gray spoke up, causing me to look up at his eyes to see that he actually meant it. He was enjoying this moment just as much as I was. Deep down, I knew this was not a mistake inviting him to this.

His statement caused me to smile. "I couldn't be tutored alone. If I was getting roped into this silly dance, then I wanted someone I trust to come with me."

"You trust me?" he sounded shocked that I would do such a thing.

"Of course I do." Without a doubt, I trust him. He was the person I trusted the most at this school.

"Are you sure that is a smart move?" he asked carefully.

This time I didn't fall into his trick questions. "I am positive." 100% I trusted Grayson and I just wish he saw that in himself. He wasn't the bad guy and I would constantly remind him of that fact until he knew it himself.

<>

He frowned as he dropped his hands, leaving my hips longing for his touch. He looked uncomfortable as he looked around the room, as if fearing someone was watching us. "I have to get some air."

"Can I come with you?" I asked, worried that it was something I said that made him want to leave.

He shook his head as he looked at the door. "I won't be long," he said confidently. "Plus, I think Alice wants to talk to you," he pointed to Alice across the gym as she waved at me.

I frowned, not wanting to go over to her. She no doubt wanted to know all the gossip about this night thus far about Gray, and I didn't want to say anything. Instead, I wanted to stay with Gray. But as I turned to face him to protest, I noticed he was already walking off, leaving me alone on the dance floor. 

"Hey, so how is your night with Grayson?" Alice's voice rang out from behind me.

I couldn't help but scowl at her. She was just asking to prove a point. She warned me it wasn't worth it to bring Grayson, that I would just end up alone and this was her proof. "Not now Alice."

"But Gray, did he just leave you?"

Obviously, she was watching him leave me. But I didn't have the patience to deal with her right now. "Alice, I don't want to talk about it," I panned as I walked past her.

"I just told you that this would happen."

I turned to face her with a frown. I had been so patient in everything she had said in the past, but she got me in a sour mood. "Seriously Alice, don't you have someone else to boss around?" I asked and with that, left her standing open-mouthed.

I looked around the gym, trying to find Grayson. He told me not to follow, that he would only be a moment, but we both knew that was a lie. He did not intend to return. I wasn't about to let him leave me high and dry. With my head held high, I walked out of the gym and looked around for any trace of him. There were only a few couples making out, and he was nowhere to be seen. 

Walking around the halls, I realized he wouldn't be here. Grayson hated school, he wouldn't want to stay in the halls for 'air'. He would be outside even though it was cold,  he would be around a place that he hated.

I walked out the front door of the school and spotted Grayson pacing on the sidewalk. He had his hands stuffed into his pockets as he looked at his shoes. There was such concern on his face, and it made me wonder what he was thinking about. For a second, my frustration was replaced with concern until I was reminded that he left me in the middle of a song.

I let anger push my steps forward as I walked towards him. "What was that? Hu? I thought we were having a moment?"

Grayson looked up from the ground and frowned at me. "We were."

"Then why do you ruin every single good moment we have?"

"Because don't you get it. I am not good for you. We should not even be friends, Stella."

"Why? Why are you committed to living a lonely life?"

"It's my lot in life."

"Don't you dare give me that BS."

"Why do you care about me then?"

That answer was simple. He was a good person; we had things in common, and he understood me and made me feel heard. I liked that there was more to him that meets the eye, and I felt like someone needed to care about him when he didn't seem to even care about himself. I opened my mouth to respond, but stopped when his attention turned to something in the field away from us.

"I have to go."

I grabbed his hand, not allowing him to leave. "Don't you dare use that excuse on me," I said, raising my voice at him.

He turned to face him with such a worried expression. He looked at my hand on his and placed his free hand on mine. His warm touch melted my icy attitude. "Stella, I have to go. You have to trust me."

His eyes had some kind of worry in them, and I believed him. "Ok," I said as I let go of his hand. And with that he left down the road with his suit in all, going to the field of dead grass for reasons I did not understand.