I watch the tutorial once again, trying to figure out how to twist my hair up. It's a lot more complicated than I thought.

At last, I manage to get my hair into some sort of twist and pin it into place with the blue feathered pin Mom has just surprised me with. Finally, I am all set. And just on time, Adrian should be here any minute. Butterflies settle themselves in my stomach and I try to keep my nerves deep down. Tonight is going to be perfect. There is nothing to worry about.

I look once more at my reflection, making sure that my makeup hasn't smudged. I spent 1 hour earlier applying the sparkly-silver eyeshadow to my eyelids, perfecting the line of eyeliner, empathizing the length of my eyelashes with layers of mascara, hiding any blemishes with cover-up, contouring and all, and last but not least coloring my lips a shade of bubble-gum pink. Yes, a girl has a lot to do to look the way she does.

The doorbell rings, startling me. "Shelby," Mom calls upstairs to me. "Adrian is here."

I inhale and exhale before leaving my room and heading downstairs.

"Wow," Adrian breathes as I come into his view. "You, you, wow."

I smile. He changed from his usual pair of jeans and a colored tee to a sharp black tux, topped off with a silver bow-tie. His hair is neatly styled to the side. "You look quite wow yourself."

He smiles, coming before me and tying the colorful corsage around my wrist.

"What a beautiful couple," Mom says entering the foyer, camera in hand. "Now who's ready to take a picture?"

Adrian draws me in close to his side, arm wrapped around my waist. I go and wrap my arm around his neck as Mom snaps a picture. "Perfect." She smiles, her eyes welling up with emotional tears. "Can't believe how grown-up you two have gotten. What happened to those little kiddies running around in their diapers?"

Dad appears behind her, placing his hand on her shoulder. "Time flies as they say." He then smiles at us. "You two behave yourselves. And don't forget to have fun."

"Always, Mr. Morganstein." Adrian takes my hand in his and hand in hand we head outside to the awaiting limo.

***

"This is so sick!" Robin is grinning from ear to ear as he goes through the food compartment, grabbing as much candy as he can.

"I don't think you want to take all of that," Dylan says. Sierra texted him the day after she brought her heels, starting their relationship. Guess she is finally moving on. Ronald has become a part of our past.

"Why?" Robin eyes the candy scattered in his lap. He is wearing a white tux topped off with a teal green bow-tie to match Ellie's dress.

"Because the limo company charges for everything you take from the compartments."

Robin pouts. "Damn, that's not fair."

Ellie places her hand on his knee and gives him a sweet smile. "They'll be plenty to eat by the prom. Don't worry. You won't go to bed tonight with an empty stomach."

"Fine." He goes and puts all the candy back where it came from just as the limo pulls up in front of the flashy hotel where our prom is taking place.

"Ready?" Adrian loops his arm through mine and helps me down from the limo, my heels coming into contact with the concrete. I almost stumble, but he holds me up. My anchor.

I smile at him. "I was born ready."

Together we head through the shiny glass doors, ready to go dance all night long.

***

Adrian's hands are on my waist. They're burning hot that I'm surprised they didn't burn a hole right through my dress. We sway to the music and I rest my head up against his chest, his heart thumping wildly under my ear.

My eyes skim over the dimly lit room illuminated only by the flashing silver disco balls. Tonight's theme is Disco. The food tables are set with silver and gold sequined tablecloths, golden record popups in the center. Colorful streamers hang from the high ceiling.

I spot Sierra in her silky light-pink dress pressed up against her new man, sharing a kiss, his hands buried in her ironed straight hair. Ellie and Robin are by the punch table, taking a break from dancing to drink. And then I see him. Of course, he would come to the prom with Katie Jones. I wouldn't be surprised if she was the 1 to ask him to be her date. He seems agitated to have her clinging onto his arm as if they are inseparable. She's now busy leaning closely into him while whispering something into his ear. I don't think he's paying much attention.

"You seem distracted." Adrian's warm lips tickle my ear.

"Just feeling a bit hot in here," I quickly reply.

"Yeah, it is getting kind of hot." He pulls away from me and takes my hand in his. "Come on. I know where we can get some air."

I allow him to pull me along through the stream of dancing couples to the glass sliding doors leading to the patio. We step outside, a light breeze greeting me.

"Much better," I smile.

"Agreed."

Once again Adrian places his burning-hot hands on my waist and I rest my head on his chest. The slow tune can still be heard from out here so we begin to dance. My feet start to ache 4 minutes into the dance, but Adrian holds me up, not losing a beat.

He twirls me, my long skirts of white and sea-blue fanning around my legs, making me really feel like that sky princess dancing at the ball with the charming, handsome prince.

"Shelby?" He pulls me in close, his cool breath caressing my cheek.

"Yes?"

"My father and Joel won't be home tonight..." he blushes and I feel some heat rising to my own cheeks. "Would you want to stay the night at my place?"

I go back to the 1 night we spent together. At first, it was magical, but then everything came crashing down as I found out the secrets the boy I loved was hiding from me. Tonight we aren't hiding any secrets from each other. At least, I hope not. Tonight will only be magical. How can I say no when we have so little time left before he's gone?

Swallowing the lump in my throat and trying to calm the nerves dancing in my belly, I smile big and say, "I would love to. But first I want you to drop me off at home so if my parents are still up they'll see that I'm there. Then I'll quickly shower and change and sneak out to your place."

He grins, his evergreen eyes sparkling in the moonlight. "Sounds like a plan."

And then he's dipping me and I fear that he's going to drop me, so I grab onto him and let out a little squeal.

"Don't worry, I've got you," he says as he leans into me, his full lips hovering there. My grip around his neck tightens just as his lips brush against mine. Soft and gentle.

That's when my stomach grumbles, reminding me that I haven't eaten in a while. Adrian pulls away and smiles at me. "Hungry?"

I blush, slightly. "How'd you guess?" My stomach grumbles again on cue and he chuckles.

"Let's go get some food."

"Sounds good to me."

We head back inside and make our way toward the gold and silver tableclothed tables piled with food. My stomach continues grumbling along the way.

I now eye all the food displayed before me, overwhelmed. I end up settling on mini hot-dogs and fries. Adrian hands me a cup of the blood-red punch.

"Thanks."

He takes a sip from his own cup. "The food any good?"

"Yeah, not bad."

He steals a hot-dog off my plate and pops it into his mouth. "Mhm, not bad."

"Hey, that was mine. Go get your own."

Smirking, he steals another of mine.

"Adrian!" I scold, swatting his hand away as he goes for a third. "Go get some of your own."

"Ok, ok fine." Taking a plastic golden plate of his own he goes and serves himself some mini hot-dogs, fries, and a mini burger.

I add 2 more of the hot-dogs to my plate. Then with plates piled with food, we make our way out of the ballroom to the lobby. I plop down onto the maroon loveseat, Adrian sitting down beside me. In silence, we finish eating our food.

Licking my lips I say, "Now what?"

Adrian takes my empty plate. "Hold on." I watch him walk over to the trash bin on the other side of the lobby, tossing our plates out. He then returns, sitting down beside me once again.

I look at him as he brushes some strands that escaped from my twist out of my eyes. "I'm going to miss this," his voice is low.

My eyes move away from his, glancing over the circular room at all the other couples cuddled on their love seats. "We don't have to leave," I say.

He follows my gaze. "I didn't mean this," he begins.

"Oh." I now look back at him and he does the same, our eyes locked.

"I meant you. Us." He starts to play with my hair, twirling those few escaped strands around his thumb. "This. Touching you."  His other thumb brushes along my cheek, stopping at my parted lips that are gasping for breath. "Kissing you," he whispers.

"Don't go," I hear myself saying. "Stay here with me."

His beautiful eyes are sad. "I wish I could, but you know I can't. You know I tried everything I could."

I wipe under his eyes, my fingers coming back wet. "I know."

I then lean my head on his shoulder and he holds me close until Sierra and Dylan come to find us.

"There you are," Sierra humphs, "We've been searching everywhere for you."

"What's up?" Adrian asks.

"The party is beginning to die down and we're starting to get bored. Robin and Ellie I believe are already in the limo. You guys ready to go too?"

I stand up, stretching my sore limbs. "Yeah. We're right behind you."

Arm in arm, she and Dylan begin to head out.

I start to wobble after them in my 3-and-a-1/2-inch heels, Adrian right behind me

***

The limo pulls up right in front of my house and I get ready to climb out.

"Hold on," Sierra says, "We need one more picture of all of us."

I sit back down between her and Adrian.

"All together."

We huddle together and she snaps a picture. "Perfect, I'll send it to you all shortly along with all the other pictures."

"Thanks." Adrian takes hold of my hand and we step down from the limo.

"What a night," I say as the limo pulls away, slipping through my fingertips. I am never going to forget that sleek ride.

"It's not over yet," Adrian is saying as we walk up the stairs to the front door.

I smile at him shyly. "That is true. I guess I'll see you soon."

"I hope so." He gives me a peck on the cheek before heading next door to his own home sweet home.

I wave to him as I enter my house, locking the door behind me.

"Shelby, is that you?" Dad appears,  Mom right behind him.

"How was it?" She asks.

"Amazing." I smile while pulling out the last few bobby pins from my hair. Most of the twist already came loose in the limo ride back home and now my scalp is tingling. Time to take a shower.

"Glad to hear. You looked absolutely beautiful tonight." Dad gives my bare shoulder a small squeeze.

"Thank you."

Mom yawns. "Now that you're home safely, I think I'm going to go catch some Zs. Goodnight."

Dad follows her up the stairs. "Go to bed too, sunflower."

I smile at my parents. "Don't worry, I will. Have a goodnight."

I wait until I hear them enter their room, before making my own way upstairs to my bedroom.

As fast as I could, I slip out of my dress and hang it back up in the closet, suddenly feeling a lot lighter. Wow, was my dress heavy. I then go to take a quick shower, washing away my makeup. All fresh and clean, I get dressed into the cutest PJs I have and then sneak out my window.

Adrian opens the door for me. His hair is also dripping wet and he changed into navy blue PJ shorts.

"That was pretty quick."

I smirk. "I know that you can be quite the impatient one, so I didn't want to keep you waiting that long."

"Me the impatient one?" He huffs. "Have you ever looked in the mirror, my dear?"

"Ok, fine, yes. I am the impatient one in this relationship."

He smiles, guiding me inside. "Now, that is the truth."

Before I know it, he is scooping me into his arms and carrying me up the stairs to his bedroom. He then places me gently onto his bed, cuddling up beside me, his chin buried in my hair.

My 2 hands skim over his abs and he intakes a breath. I love the effect that I have on him. I push myself up with my arm and gaze down at the young man before me. My hair tumbles forward, blocking my face and he laughs, pushing all of it aside.

"This is going very smoothly," he says, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Shut up." I climb on top of him, my right hand going to the nape of his neck. He looks at me, now all serious.

I bring his mouth to mine, kissing him softly. His hands are gripping my hips, where the bottom of my tank doesn't reach the top of my shorts. Those hands are an electric current zapping through my skin into my bloodstream. Lighting me up like a fireworks display.

I move away from his mouth, planting a kiss on his Adam's apple, then the base of his neck. Next to his chest, and then down, down, down to his waistline, leaving a trail of me along his body. Sometimes words don't have to be said to show someone that you love them. You can show them like this...

He stays quiet the entire time, his breath coming out heavily.  As I start to pull away, he grabs onto my waist rolling me over so now he's the 1 on top.

"My turn," he murmurs, his lips kissing along my jaw, down to the arch of my neck, then my shoulder. Next comes my collarbone, and then down, down, down to my hips.

I'm so breathless, that I say nothing the entire time. His touch has left me paralyzed.

He's turning me now to my side, his arms snaking around my waist holding me close. I can feel his breath on the back of my neck as my body melds into his. Once again our 2 skeletons have become 1.

Together we are whole.