A/N: This is a pretty long chapter (like 3000 words) so... uh... sorry. I didn't want to make it two chapters though... Annnnnd I cut Amber's dance with Jack in this scene, because the chapter was really getting too long. I figured there's time in the future to get a conversation between Jack and Amber.

VOTE. COMMENT. FOLLOW.

I quickly duck from under Owen before he can kiss me again, and make my way to me safe heaven for the night: the buffet tables.

This bet is messing with my head! I want to tell myself that these boys are all fake and pretending to like me, but... But I know, I can feel when something is fake and...

And Owen was not fake back there...

Unless his plan is working. Unless his stupid cocky smirk with his stupid copper hair has me fooled to the point where I've become blind.

My voice of reason suddenly slaps my brain and yells, snap out of it, Amber! 

I get to the buffet tables and stuff my face, probably ruining my makeup in the process, with the first thing I see - which is chocolate eclairs. After managing at least six of them in my mouth, I look up just in time with someone on the other side of the buffet table.

Calvin, Blake's second in command, has about eight chocolate eclairs in his mouth as well and we're looking at each other like two kids that were just caught doing something bad.

I send him a smile that probably looks really gross because there's still chocolate eclairs in my mouth. Calvin returns the smile and one of his eclairs fall out.

Oh, God.

I burst out laughing and two of my own eclairs almost fall out before I put my hands in front of my mouth and swallow what's in my mouth as quickly as possible. Calvin does the same.

"I swear I'm not usually like this," Calvin tries to explain while chewing the last of what's in his mouth.

"Uh-huh, yeah, and what are you usually like?" I ask with a smirk and fold my arms.

"Well, for one, I'm intimidating. I'm the tallest guy here. That has to be intimidating," Calvin says.

"There's nothing intimidating about strawberry blonds," I laugh.

Gratitude suddenly swarms onto Calvin's expression and he looks like I just told him he isn't going to die or something.

"You," Calvin sniffs, "have no idea how much that means..."

What the hell?

I laugh it off and send Calvin a warm smile. "I don't think we've ever officially met," I say and extend my hand over the table. Calvin takes it with both of his hands and greets my like I'm Mother Teresa.

"No, but I wish we did I long time ago!" Calvin says.

Something about that raises my suspicions, but I don't show it and instead smile more and pull my hand out of Calvin's warm grasp before standing there awkwardly again. 

Mysterious Fucker can be anyone, my voice of reason points out.

"Do you want to go dance?" I ask, because maybe if I dance with him, I can figure out if I should cross him off of my Mysterious fucker suspect list.

"Uh, I don't really dance..." Calvin says.

"Oh, come on, just one dance," I beg.

"I'd rather stay here by the buffet table and make sure nobody is like, taking too much food..."

"Mmm-h"

Calvin picks of a strawberry and pops it into his mouth - trying and failing at looking intimidating by pushing his shoulders back.

"The West are such dull company. Why don't you dance with me?" someone asks.

I turn around and it's Matt in his grey tux. Most of the guys here are wearing grey and black tuxedos, so instead I try to envision Matt in a butterfly costume.

"Amber?" Matt asks.

"Huh?"

"I asked you if you'd want to dance. What we're you thinking off?" Matt chuckles.

"I was picturing you in a butterfly costume," I admit.

Realizing that Calvin can hear us, Matt blushes before grabbing my arm and leading me away from Calvin's glaring eyes. He only stops once were in the middle of the dance floor and because I want to figure out who Mysterious Fucker is, I let Matt place his hands on me as a new song starts playing.

"So, are you good at dancing or am I going to regret this? Do guys in fancy coats even have a dancing style?" I ask.

Matt laughs. "My dancing style ranges from white Dad at a barbecue to a stripper whose rent is due tomorrow," he jokes.

I actually snort when I laugh and the people dancing around us send me disapproving glares with their fancy dresses and expensive suits.

I almost hand them all the bird.

"You do realize that behind the sweet look, you have a nasty temper?" Matt asks.

I quickly get my mind back into the game and eye Matt suspiciously. I try figuring out if he is Mysterious Fucker by recalling how Mysterious Fucker danced at Tan Cam's party a week ago... But for the love of me, I was too drunk to have any useful information right now.

"Ugh," I groan.

"What is it?" Matt asks while we step into a more formal kind of dance. 

"I... I'm trying to figure out a mystery," I admit.

The people that are dancing around us also step into the formal dance and I spot Jessy dancing with Liam. She sees me and smiles before smoothly stepping her way closer to me. She's looking really hot with that black dress and Liam seems to know it.

"What mystery?" Matt asks.

"Well..." I start. I don't know how to approach the topic. I want to be smart about this. See if I can talk Matt into a corner.

The music turns familiar. Something from Mozart with a modern twist and everyone in the ballroom forms groups of four as we dance. Jessy and Liam joins me and Matt and we step with the music into a circle. We step in. Step out. Turn and meet up with our original partners.

"Would you say you have any secrets, Matt?" I ask.

Jessy is sending Liam flirty eyes when we step out of our dance again to form a circle of four. We step in. Step out.

"Oh, I love secrets," Matt says before we switch partners.

Now I'm dancing with Liam while Jessy is dancng with Matt.

What does Matt mean he loves secrets? Is he hinting that he's mysterious fucker or are my suspicions trying to make everyone a suspect? 

I look up and Liam is in army-mode while he's dancing with me.

Liam really isn't on my suspect list for mysterious fucker. He likes Jessy and his business has nothing to do with me. If anything, Liam is the last person that could be Mysterious Fucker.

So, instead I ask: "You like my cousin?"

"Yes."

"Do you love her?"

"If I do, I'm not going to admit it to you."

"You don't like me?"

"No, I just feel like... I'm horrible with admitting feelings and I feel like when I do, it's going to be to Jessy, face to face," Liam explains.

"Oh..."

"Yes."

We dance some more, but it's feeling really awkward, because he keeps staring at Jessy - which is cute, but I'm feeling pretty pathetic right now. At least he really does like her.

I go in a little closer and whisper: "You know, if you break her heart. I'm going to break your face."

Liam chuckles and the dance loosens a bit up. He leans in as well. "Oh I know. Jessy could never stop blabbing about you. I basically know everything there is to you," he chuckles before the dance turns into a foursome again.

We sway into a circle. Step in. Step out. And I turn to start dancing with Matt again, but Sean suddenly steps in the way and now I'm dancing with Sean. Matt's protests get lost over the sea of people Sean leads me into.

"Uhm, you just interrupted a dance," I tell Sean.

"I know," he smirks.

I take the opportunity to inspect Sean. If he's Mysterious Fucker, I need to figure out soon before I have to switch partners in this dance again.

"Are you a texting kinda guy?" I ask. If he's not Mysterious fucker, this should be super random, but if he is...

He doesn't show a response.

"Well, not really. I only use my phone for when it's necessary," he chuckles, "I don't even respond to people most of the time."

Those words get me to feel cold all over, because Mysterious Fucker is known for not responding. And, well, Sean is making this seem just a little too casual. 

His dark hair falls over his eyes and he looks back at me. I can't place a color on his eyes. It's a mix of everything. "Why do you ask?" Sean whispers and a chill goes through me.

The music picks up again and without really realizing who the other couple is, I step into another random foursome dance. I step in and out and keep my eyes on Sean's the whole time. When I turn to dance with the other guy, I don't concentrate and actually bump into him.

"Oh, my God," I breathe.

"Well, this is awkward," Mr. Wessils says.

My dancing partner is my bloody English teacher! How is Mr. Wessils even invited to this thing?

"Uh, not to be weird, Mister Wessils, but uh, why are you at the Northern ball?" I ask him. I seriously thought this was an exclusive gang-thing.

Mr. Wessils has a guilty smile - showing off his dimple, when he says: "I... I am in a gang, Amber..."

"WHAT? You're a teacher, Mister Wessils!" I say.

Mr Wessils isn't bad at dancing, but there's definitely the awkward student/teacher vibe between us, even though he isn't that much older. He might be hot with his hazel hair and fancy suit, but he's still my teacher.

"Tygerwell High is smack in the middle of town," Mr Wessils says, "It's more neutral ground than the docks even."

I raise my eyebrow because he's not answering my question.

"All four sides have someone to represent in that school," Mr Wessils explains, "The East's inner-gang are actually in the school and so are the North, but we other two sides aren't young enough to be at the school as students... And, well, I guess it's my job to represent the South..."

My jaw drops.

But before I can ask anything, Mr Wessils looks over my shoulder and spins me out before walking off. I twirl right into a new dancing partner.

It takes me a moment to register Lynch's goofy grin.

"Finally, I get to know how it feels to dance with a piece of the sun," he says.

My own smile lights up and I forget about Mr Wessils and Sean and Matt and whoever Mysterious Fucker could be. It's just me and my friend.

"Finally, I get to dance with the guy that has the coolest hair," I say.

Lynch lights up like a Christmas tree at the words. 

"I do have amazing hair," Lynch remarks just as we pick up the pace and his brown curly hair bounces on top of him. It's like his hair has a personality of its own.

"It's amazing how much I adore you and we only know each other little more than a week," I comment.

Our dancing isn't as in sync as it was with the others and we're messing up more than we should, but it's a lot more fun. I don't mind whenever we bump into another couple as long as Lynch keeps up that contagious goofy grin.

"But, I've met you before," Lynch suddenly says.

My stomach drops.

Yet, I keep the smile.

"Uh, what do you mean?" I ask.

"Well, don't take this offensive, but Blake and I are almost like brothers. Hell, we live together. He tells me nearly everything and... And after he told me your dad was with the Sterling gang, it finally clicked. 

"While Blake's dad was still alive, I was kind of the messenger of the gang. Once, I had to deliver a message to the Sterling gang at one of their gatherings. I was shitting myself, because well, twelve-year-old me was in a house filled with Sterling gang members.

"I delivered the message - which I really can't remember any more. And I saw you. I saw this pretty golden girl in a blue dress - sitting in the corner of the room with a stack of food," Lynch explains.

My heart is racing like it has never before. Mysterious Fucker told me that we've met before... Could... could Lynch really be Mysterious Fucker? Why is everything so confusing?

"And h-how do you feel about knowing you've met me?" I slowly ask.

"I'm going to be honest. I was a little in love with the pretty golden girl I saw and, and I'm glad I finally know you in person. You're good and kind and I'd like to see a world created by you. I'd want to help you create that world too," Lynch says.

If someone is at the top of my suspect list, it'll be Lynch.

The song ends and I'm too stunned for words as we bow to one another.

I aim to leave and find Jessy so that I can try to reason with the girl what's going on, but a wicked presence in a dark maroon suit suddenly steps in front of me and takes my hand.

"Have a dance with me?" Xavier Jilten asks as a new, more sinister song starts playing. It's giving me Swan Lake vibes, but I don't know my classical music enough to be sure.

I'm still too stunned about Lynch to even think about denying Xavier the dance. We step onto the middle of the dance floor and I'm getting goosebumps where our skin touches. Like my body recognizes the poison he's made of. 

"You're looking stunning," Xavier says when we're where he wants us to be.

My whole body is numb. I'm feeling everything and nothing at the same time. I'd like to think that I'm a wolf among sheep, but wolves can also get bitten by snakes...

"You're quite the trend-setter with that maroon suit," I manage to comment. "It nearly matches your hair," I add, because his dark auburn hair is looking more dangerously neat than ever.

"And it brings out my eyes, doesn't it?" Xavier asks.

Those poison green eyes are almost over-bearing.

We start dancing when the music's pace picks up a dramatic turn.

He's nothing like the others. We're not in sync because our bodies match each other or because we're both excellent dancers. We're in sync because he's controlling me. The dominant hold of his hand on the small of my back and the sheer force in which he leads me, leaves me not even trying to match his pace.

It's like I'm a puppet and he knows exactly what strings to pull.

"Oh look, we're the couple to be," Xavier says and I suddenly notice how it's just us dancing. Everyone else is in the crowd that's staring from the outskirts of the dance floor.

Oh, fuck my life.

"We'll never be a couple," I growl.

Xavier spins me out with such a force that I practically whiplash back into his arms. His hand pushes where it's rested at my back - causing me to arch and wrap my right leg around him.

He dips me dangerously low - my hair caressing the floor, before he swings me back up and spins me into another twirl. When he brings me back to him, our faces are so close that I can see the deepest details of his green eyes. The way it looks like microscopic veins that explode from his pupil.

"Are you set on falling for one of these boys, then?" Xavier asks.

I snort.

"How old are you?"

"Twenty-two," Xavier purrs.

"Yeah uhm, you're really not that much older," I comment. "These boys aren't going to fall for whatever you're planning."

The crowd really can't keep their eyes off of us as Xavier leads me. He nudges with his foot at one of my heels and I slide into a a split that could tear my dress. At the last moment - before the dress can rip - Xavier pulls me back up and I'm clinging to him like a little child.

"You think they won't fall for my trap? Honey, they already are," he laughs.

"What do you mean?" I ask.

Everything about Xavier is wicked as he tilts his head towards the crowd. "Look at how distracted they are. Look at how they can't take their eyes off of you," Xavier says.

I glance around and sure enough it's like Xavier and I are the season finale of some show. Nobody can take their eyes off of us.

Blake, Owen, Lynch, everyone's either staring or glaring.

"Let me go..." I whisper because I have to stop this. I have to go warn them! I can't let whatever Xavier is planning happen!

"Why would I do that? We're the distraction, Amber Marigold," Xavier says and leans in closer, "I told you, you were going to be my weapon..."

My eyes stretches and I try pushing away from Xavier, but he's way too strong and has me trapped in an impossible grip.

"Let the show begin," he whispers as the song ends.

And suddenly, chaos erupts around us.

Hey goldies!

Sooo guess who had another one of 'those' nights...

Yeah, I'm the idiot on the ground that figured the ground would sucfice as a bed.

Anywayssssssssss. OH MY GAWD IT'S GETTING REAL IN THE NEXT CHAPTER! WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN?!?!!? WILL YOUR FAVORITE CHARACTERS SURVIVE THIS?????

Which dance was your favorite so far? 

Annnnd shout out to MoonlightMayhem15 that's always commenting and voting and supporting. Thank you so so much!

~ Holly Shmit!