R Y A N

THE WEEKEND came round quickly and tonight was the night of prom. Sophie had taking me dress shopping yesterday to get her dress and then I had report back to Jackson to let him know what colour flower he should get her so that it didn't clash. The one thing she didn't need was to be wearing a blue dress and Jackson bring her a pink flower. That was a big fashion no-no she said.
   She tried to get me to buy a ticket last minute, but I already had my night planned. Netflix, pizza and all the ice cream I could stuff myself with. Why would I want to go to prom when I had a date with Pretty Little Lairs? Okay giving that I had already seen it. But that's what I wanted.

Matty
You sure you can't come tonight?

Me
Why! I see them at school during the week, why would I want to see them on a Sat? 😂
I'll be fine, you guys go!
have fun!!! :)

Matty
Wont be the same without you!! xx

Me
I know, but you'll have fun, just take lots of pics k xoxo

I smile at my phone and I feel a little left out, but honestly I didn't want to see those people at school let alone in a formal environment. Plus I don't think turning up in a oversized jumper and jeans would be right for prom. I didn't own anything to even consider going, let alone consider going last minute.
   I made the right choice not to go, I'll probably be told I'm an idiot in the future, but when you've been bullied by the same people for all those years you don't want to be around them. As long as my friends went and had the best time, I didn't care that I wasn't there. I only wanted them to enjoy themselves. I would of hated myself if I went with them and got cornered by one of my tormentors, it would ruin the night for them all and I didn't want that. I had to give them the day off from protecting me some times. And I wanted them to enjoy themselves, even if it meant that I was alone for one night.

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MUM LEFT for work around three and I get the popcorn from the kitchen, placing it in the mircowave, ready for my binge session of Pretty Little Liars. This was round two of watching it and I wanted to go back and see if I could connect all the clues. There wasn't many shows I could go back and rewatch, but this one was one of the shows that I wanted really to.
   After sitting down with my bowl of freshly made popcorn I flick the TV to Netflix, looking for my show for the night when the door chimes. I stand up in a huff, pulling my open black hoodie closed and I look through the window of the front door. I don't see anyone and I hesitate to open it. The feeling of my tormentors finding me at home dawn's on me and I think back to a time when James Ying said he would break in to my house one day, taking what's his.
   I look from left to right across the lawn trying to see anyone, but there isn't. When I look down there's a box, blue with a sliver ribbon and I open the door, carefully picking it up. There's no one outside as I continue to look for anyone, but I lift it to my ear, listening for ticking just in case. I clearly watch way too much television.
   A note drops on the floor and I pick it up, twirling the note in my fingers as I close the door behind me. I breath deeply as I walk towards the dining room and I place the box on the table and I finally look at the piece of paper with hesitation, slowly opening the folded bit of paper.

Put this on and be ready by 8pm
no questions,
no is not an answer
and yes!
You have too!
N + N
xx

I smile at the note and shake my head wondering what the boys are up to. When I pull the ribbon and lift the lid off the box there is a black mass of material inside. I gasp when I pull it out and see it's a dress. The neck is high, covered in lace from the bust, it's sleeveless and the skirt poofs out - skater style with a black ribbon around the waist tied into a bow. The biggest smile crosses my face and I go upstairs with the box in my arms. Ready to pamper myself to be ready when they arrive.
   After showering and putting lotion on, making sure I use the aloe vera too that Nico gave me the other day, I curl my unruly hair into ringlets. I use the makeup I got for Christmas last year from Tori that I have never used and I worry I'm not sure I know what I'm doing. I use black eyeliner, a little blush and mascara, trying to remember the little tips and tricks Sophie taught me. I use the nude pink lipstick that she luckily made me buy yesterday, which I clearly no intentions of using while still in high school, but knowing I was dressing up for something, I just had to use it.
   I put on my boob tube bra so the straps won't show through the lace and climb into the dress, pulling it up my hips before sliding my arms into the sleeveless holes. When I go to zip the dress up I stop it half way - I can't reach all the way up and roll my eyes knowing that one of the Greysons will have to pull it up fully. I had no dress shoes because I didn't have clothing worthy of such pretty shoes, but my plain black Van's were just as comfy and went well with the dress. Plus trainers were like my trade mark, I had enough of them to last me a life time and that's where practically most of my money went to anyway.

Bang on 8pm the door bell rings and I grab my phone, taking one last look in the mirror before I head to answer the door. My stomach bolds over with nerves and I'm curious to what the Greyson boys have in mind. When I peer through the peep hole I see the backs of two familiar figures and smile to myself. When I open the door, only opening it a crack, they both turn simultaneously and look at me as I peep my head round the corner. They both smile, blue and grey eyes sparkling at me when they meet my stare.
   Nico is wearing a black suit with black shoes, a black shirt and no tie, just a few buttons undone that shows off a new tattoo he had done a few weeks ago. His hair is slicked back like always and his lip arches into a side smile at me. Nate is wearing a dark blue suit, a crisp white shirt and a matching blue tie with brown shoes. his unruly hair is tamed with a side parting and swept to the side out of his face. Both of them are holding a white box each and I look at them confused.

"Hey beautiful," Nate says with a smile.

"Princess," Nico says, still with a side grin.

"Hey," I say quietly, still hiding behind the door.

"Did the dress fit?" Nate says frowning at me.

"Errr... yeah but..."

"But?"

"I can't do the zipper all the way," I whisper embarrassingly.

"What?" Nico says with a smirk.

"The zipper," I roll my eyes thinking about how embarrassing this is for me and I just hope I don't have to explain myself again if they don't hear me this time, "the zipper? I can't do it up."

Nico walks towards the door, giving Nate the box he's holding, squeezing himself through the door and circles round me. I hold on to the side of the wooden door, not wanting to give him a peep at how I look as he takes hold of my hair, scooping it up in his large hands and draping my locks over my shoulder out the way. He holds on to the zipper behind me and pulls, closing the dress shut. His fingers, tickling the hairs on the back of my neck, grip the small clasp at the top of the zipper, clipping it close. When he is done he pulls my hair back, letting it cascade behind me in the curly waves I've made.

"There," he whispers, his lips brushing the shell of my ear, sending shivers down my spine. I feel my cheeks heat up from the contact, taking a few seconds to close my eyes and remove the tingles on my tanned kissed skin.

"Thanks," I say before I finally open the door revealing the outfit in it's full glory. Nico stands back with Nate and I really wish I had a camera. Nico twirls his finger - smiling, asking me to turn for him and Nate's eyes are wide, his jaw almost hitting the floor.

"You... yo-" breathless words leave Nate's lips, a look of shock on his face and I furrow my brows in confusion at his reaction. Guess I don't look as nice as I thought.

"It's fine Nate, I know I don't look that goo-"

"No!" he says, holding his hands up, "you look fucking gorgeous, beautiful."

"Breath taking princess."

"Here," Nate looks down at the boxes in his hands and a confused look is on his face, "...wait. Here... no wait, shit..."

"Top ones mine genius," Nico says and Nate hands him the box. When Nate opens his there's a blue rose inside and he grabs my hand, wrapping the band around my wrist. Nico opens his and there's a red rose in his box, he follows the actions of his younger brother, but his flower is pinned to my dress, on the left side.

"Ready?" Nate says holding out his arm.

"What are you two up to?"

"You'll see," he smirks. I walk across the lawn of our house and through to the grounds of theirs. One Greyson on each of my arm and they guide me into their house. We stop by a door, the door that leads to the basement and Nico pulls out a tie from his breast pocket.

"Put this on."

Nico goes to cover my eyes, but I pull back, looking at him like I'm pleading with him that I don't want it on my face. I shake my head no in protest and I watch as the confused angry face of Nico looks back at me. The last time I was blindfolded I was taken by Chris Mitchelle and James Ying to the janitors closet. Both my hands were tied and they pushed me into a room and locked the door. I was left there for three hours until the principle - Mr Cloones found me sobbing on the floor curled into a ball. I didn't know where I was till the blindfold was taken off but, having one of your senses taken away, everything turning to black scared me. No one knows that story except the people involved. I've never told any of my friends and especially the Greyson brothers. I couldn't even tell Mr Cloones what happened.

"I-I..."

"Do you trust us princess?" Nico says softly, bringing his knuckles to my cheek and caressing my skin softly. I nod, hesitantly. I trust him. I trust both of them with my life, but the memory was holding me back. "Let me put this on... your safe. I promise. We just have a surprise for you and we don't want it spoiled," I crack a small smile, nodding again, giving him the cue to put the tie on. He pulls the tie over my eyes and gently pulls it tight over the back of my head. I feel a pair of hands grab mine and another pair on my hips.

"We'll guide you okay?" I hear Nate say in my ear, almost whispering. I nod saying I understand and I'm pulled forward. "Step down... and again..." Nate says as I'm guided down some stairs.

"Wait!" I say with a panic and they freeze in place. "At least let me call my parents and tell them you guys kidnapped me so they can tell the police when I'm missing," I say, a slight smile edging at the corner of my lips.

"We called your mom already, she knows your with us for the night," Nate says behind me with a smile in his voice.

"Good, least they'll know who to look for if I disappear longer than 24hours," I say and I hear a chuckle from them both.

"You watch way too many crime documentaries," I hear Nate huff with a laugh.

We hit the bottom step, then I'm pulled forward and I feel a tug on the tie. Once the tie is removed I look around the room and I'm completely in awe. The few left over gym equipment that was left down here instead of being moved to the pool house is no where to be seen and there's a banner across the wall saying the words 'Prom Night'. There's a make shift dancefloor, strobe lights flashing, light music playing in the background and a table full of snacks and drinks in red cups. There's a punch bowl and I can only think of Nate's famous fruit cocktail, but this one probably has no alcohol in it.
   There's blue and black balloons everywhere and blue streamers draped around the room. They've decorated everything in my favourite colours and I gasp in a amazement that the two boys next door I call brothers did all this... all of this. For me. Looking over at the floor to ceiling mirrored wall, I see them behind me beaming a big smile as I step forward into the room and taking it all in.

"You guys didn't...?"

"We did," says Nate from behind me.

"You wouldn't go to prom so we're bringing prom to you, princess," Nico says and I hear a smile in his voice.

"You guys didn't have to do all this."

"They didn't! Half of my oxygen is in these damn balloons you know!" I hear Jackson say from the top of the stairs. I look up and there he stands with Sophie and Matthew looking down on me.

"What... what's going on?" I say speechless.

"We're going to prom silly," Sophie says. She's wearing a dark blue dress that is strapless and falls long down her body, with matching blue heels. She has a white flower wrapped around her wrist and I smile knowing that Jackson made the right choice. A safe choice, but the right one.

"But what about the real prom?"

"Who would want to spend a night with them dickheads when we could spend it here with you?" Matthew says with a chuckle. He's wearing a black suit with a white shirt and a thin black tie.

"Yeah... plus these two are way better looking then the dumb boys I see everyday," Sophie says pointing to Nico and Nate. They both smirk looking down with a smile before Jackson points out the obvious.

"You know I'm your date right?"

"I love you guys," I say running towards Sophie and hugging her then grabbing Matthew.

I had met Sophie on my first day of school. She was in the same math class as me and when she saw my gremlins t-shirt she laughed at the 'cute animal' she said that was on it. I laughed at her and then gasped when she had no clue what the cute furry animal was on my top. She wasn't the type of girl I would normally be friends with, she never had seen Back To The Future and I thought she must of lived under a rock when she didn't even know who Micheal J Fox was, but we sort of clicked.
   Sophie was blonde, tall, almost supermodel features with full lips and the brightest blue eyes you've ever seen. Well, except for Noah and Nico. We bonded over PLL and had our theories over who we thought the big bad A was, when she introduced me to her best friend Matt - who is her next door neighbour, we got on like a house on fire and the rest was history.
   Matthew has caramel skin, from his mothers Afro-Caribbean side and the most amazing hazel eyes. He had a dancers body from all the lessons he had taken since he was seven and was just as mad as I was when it came to films. I bonded with them both over different things and it made our connection with each other stronger. When Matthew wanted to see the horror film that just came out I was there while Sophie was too chicken to go with us. Then if Sophie wanted to see the newest chick flick and Matthew didn't, I would go with her knowing full well Matthew would of loved it. I loved them and through the many years of going to a school full of shitty people who hated me, the close circle of friends I had was cherished close to my heart.

"I blew up some of the balloons too you know!" Jackson said sarcastically.

"I love you too kid," I say while grabbing him for a hug in his grey suit and white shirt, looking just as handsome as the other three in their suits.

Jackson had changed over the years. He grew a few inches above me and had added some highlights to his dark hair, making it lighter. He still had his boyish features and lashes I still kill to have but, he was growing into a wonderful young man that my sister grew proud of - someone I knew Jack would've been proud of if he was still with us. He was popular at school, his grades were damn near perfect and he is even captain of the basketball team which surprised us considering he loved football just as much as my dad. Well, soccer I mean. He tried desperately to get the kids at school to stop teasing me, but it never worked. Even with his status I was still a target for the mean kids in my year.

"We getting this party started or what?!" Matthew says clapping his hands.

I dance with Sophie while the boys did the boy thing and stood on the side lines watching us dance to Lady GaGa. Matthew joined in sometimes, but neither Jackson or the two Greyson brothers danced with us, so it's mostly been a party for two. Nico went upstairs a little while ago and I walk over to Nate who is standing with a beer in his hand, pouring some of his mocktail punch in the red cups next to the bowl.

"Did you spike it?" I ask playfully.

"Hell no! Nic would kill me!"

"But you want to, huh?" My brows raised playfully with a knowing smirk.

"Wouldn't be prom unless someone did," he chuckles.

"Can I?" I say taking his beer. I take a quick sip when Nico reappears taking the bottle out of my hands before I can take another.

"No drinking!"

"You know... if I was still back in London I'd be legal to drink?"

"But your in America now princess," he smiles.

"But I'm legal somewhere."

"Not. Here."

"Come on Nic... you got totally wasted at you pro-" Nico's hands cover his brothers mouth and he narrows his eyes at him.

"Shut it."

"Come on, you wanted me to experience the full American style prom, right? I can have a little drink?"

Nico's eyes study me for a beat and he glances over to Nate, his eyes squinting, "fine... just a little, but not too much, I'm not explaining to your parents why you got drunk while with us," he grunts and I can't help but smile.

"Not too much," I repeat. He hands me his beer and I take a swig. Letting the heat of the alcohol burn my throat as I swallow the cool liquid. Ed Sheeran - Kiss Me comes on over the speakers and I see Sophie pull Jackson on the dancefloor reluctantly.

"Come on, you are my date so the rules state you must dance with me. I'm not dancing with Ryan all night Jack," Sophie says pulling him into the middle.

"But I can't dance to something this slow!"

"Just shift your weight from foot to foot, Jackson. It's not that complicated for gods sake," I hear her laugh as she adjusts his body to hold her waist.

"Guess that applies to us as well," Nate says. He grabs my hand pulling me towards Sophie and a very uninterested Jackson. He turns towards me and places my hand on his shoulder then he grabs my waist and cups his hand with my other, pulling me to his body. Slowly he moves from foot to foot, guiding me along with him to the rhythm of the music.

"I can't slow dance very well."

"That's why the man leads," he smiles as he pulls me out and twirls me around, bringing me back into his body. "I make you look good, beautiful," he winks. A small laugh escapes my lips and I look down at my feet, trying to follow his lead.

His finger tucks under my chin, bringing my gaze back up to his. A small smile is on his lips, "eyes up beautiful," he winks.

Smiling at him, I swallow the lump in my throat - Nate is looking handsome and it makes me a little nervous. I don't know if it's the song playing or dancing so close to him that makes me feel this way, but I know for sure that I'm happy I'm here. "Thanks for doing this..." I tell him as I wave my hand around the room, "you guys didn't have to, but I do really appreciate it."

"Anything for you beautiful. We're happy you could at least experience prom, even though it is fake."

"It's just as good as the real thing, probably even better."

"Definitely better, plus it's a chance for me to actually experience prom," he smirks.

"You never went to yours?" I say sounding shocked.

"Oh I went. Got myself a hot date, bought the tux, the flower, even paid for a limo. But when I picked her up I was more interested in getting to the end of the night so we never made it, instead we-"

"Stop! I don't think I want to hear the end of this story," I say holding my hand in his face.

"Oh, but it's such a good story."

"I bet it is but, I really don't wanna hear it. My virgin ears can't take it," I say shaking my head and looking away from him.

"Well, just to be clear... she had just as much fun as I did," he smirks with a chuckle.

"Ewww."

Most of the night I spend dancing with Sophie, Matthew joining in a few times while I had the occasional slow dance with Nate, but only one with Nico. He said he hated to dance but, he would have at least one dance with me as he was my date. Half way through the evening Nate set up a camera, facing towards the banner that read 'Prom Night' and we took turns taking pictures.
   Mine is with Nate standing in front of him holding my waist while Nico stood behind me in the same pose. I placed one hand on Nate's shoulder while the other rested on Nico's and that is my prom picture. Making sure Matthew didn't feel left out he took one with me and him then it was Sophie and Jackson's turn ending with a group photo of all of us together.
   I couldn't of asked for a more perfect night than this. I had spent the night with every person that had a jigsaw piece to my heart and the night was more than I could ever ask for. I couldn't believe the youngest two Greysons brother's did this for me and my only wish was that if there was another girl around the world who was teased or beaten like me - I hoped that they had their own version of Nathan and Nicholas. I knew that my life would of been hell if they weren't living next door to me.

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JUST AFTER 1am the party is over and Nate offered to give Sophie, Jackson and Matthew a ride home. He only had two beers and that was hours ago, so he said was okay to drive. Nico asks if he could walk me home, just like a gentleman would. With my arm draped though his we make the short walk to my house next door.

"Did you have fun?" He asks softly.

"I did... I had more fun tonight than I've had in a really long time. I can't believe you made me go to prom but, I'm glad I went. I think your version was better than what the real thing would of been."

"Anything to make you smile princess," he says, the pad of his thumb brushing over my knuckles. We climb the stairs to my front door, stopping outside. When I turn to face him, I have the biggest smile on my face.

"Honestly Nico... thank you so much for tonight. You and your brother mean a lot to me, you guys didn't have to do something like that but, you made me so happy tonight."

"Couldn't let you miss the experience of prom. I actually loved mine, plus Nathan never actually made it to his so it was kind of his prom too," he smirks.

"Yeah... I heard," raising my eyebrows, he laughs and looks down at me.

With him being 6ft 3in and even though I was tall for a girl at 5ft 10in, he still towered over me. He steps closer to me, his scent invading my senses while looking me in the eye. Blue orbs clashing with green, I tilt my head a little to gaze up at him. I see his blue marbles shift from my eyes to my lips, almost like he is asking for permission to kiss me. But that just sounds silly, he would never kiss me. Would he?
   Even if he did I don't know if I could kiss him back, I never have with anyone. I only knew what I saw in movies and I feel the nerves in my stomach float around. But all this could be in my head. Nico was like a brother to me, neither him nor Nate saw me that way. Or did they? I was too plain for either of them. I had seen women come to the house before - you know the type. The blondes with the longest legs you've ever seen, big boobs and bright eyes that twinkled across the street. I was like their sister, nothing more.

"Nico... I..."

"Shh," he says, stepping closer to me.

He cups my face, closing the gap between us. His other hand rests on my hip and he pulls me closer to him, I suck in a breath, biting down on my lower lip. With his tumb he realises it, tracing a line across my top lip and then back on my lower lip. I look down in embarrassment because I can't look him in the eye right now, but he only moves my gaze to him. I keep my hands pinned to my sides, not sure where they are supposed to be and I can't help but overthink every second of what's going on.

"Do I rest them on his shoulders? Hold his face like he's holding mine? What about his arms... should I hold them? Oh god, what if he kisses me and I'm really bad at it? What if I slobber all over him?!"

I'm so nervous that I'm holding my breath while he stares at me, the corner of his lip tugging at the side. "Breathe Ryan and stop thinking so much, I can hear every word in that pretty head of yours," he says in a husky whisper. My brows furrow in confusion.

"How did he know I was overthinking? Did I say all that out loud?" I think.

"It's written all over your face, princess. I know you too well to know when your overthinking," he says still whispering, while his thumb glides over my cheek.

"I-I... I've never..."

"I know," he smiles sweetly before he slowly lowers his head and our lips connect.

He slowly kisses me and I wonder how this tough man, this rough man is being so gentle. Closing my eyes I take in his kiss and press my lips into him. I feel his tongue teasing my lips, gliding softly over my skin. Feeling brave I move my hands up to his arms, holding his biceps in my grasps while his hand on my face moves to the back of my neck, caressing it while he deepens the kiss. I hold his arms tighter, scared I will fall from my weak knees before moving them to the back of his neck.
   I finally give in, opening my lips, thinking that's what I'm suppose to do. When he pushes his tongue into my mouth and I moan into his, there's hunger in his kiss, there's need in his kiss and I push my toes up, trying to push my body more into him. I'm flush against him and his hand on my hip moves to my back, holding my body tightly against his.
   He kisses me roughly, that strong man behind the kiss is now what I feel, the gentleness he started off with is now more intense, more hungered, more urgent. His tongue glides slowly with mine in a rhythmic beat, in and out, in and out - I do my best to keep up with him. I'm honestly only going by what I've seen in movies and I'm not sure if I'm doing it right until I hear him groan when I nip his bottom lip. A smile creeps on my lips in excitement as we continue to devour each others mouths - I made him make that sound. I made him groan in pleasure.

And I liked it.

There... on the top of my front steps, on the night of my 'fake prom' I experience my first kiss. And when he pushes me against the side of the house, fingers digging into my hip while he possessively holds the side of my neck... I have my first make out session, with Nicolas Greyson.

*word count - 4842*

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Awwwww.... they did all that for her! I really wanted Ryan to experience prom & it only made sense that they would do that for her.

Again, another long chapter but it was split into two only I thought it was better as one & we love a long chapter. 😋

Please let me know what you think, leave a comment & vote!

Hoping next update will be very soon but I wanted to get these ones out to you just so you get the idea of where it is going.

Stay safe...

Merry Christmas
&
A Happy New Year
CeeCee xox
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