(unedited)
Why am I so emotional?
No, it's not a good look,
Gain some self-control.
And deep down I know this never works,
But you can lay with me so it doesn't hurt.
"Stay With Me" -Sam Smith
"Why are you still here?" Nate asked when he stepped out of his bathroom in his suit for the dance, to find me lying on his bed. "Shouldn't you be getting ready?"
I shrugged. "I don't know if I want to go."
"Aren't you going with Elena?"
I shook my head even though I knew he wasn't looking at me.
"Why not?" he asked, correctly assuming my silence as a 'no' to his previous question. "I thought you really liked her."
I stopped. Is it obvious? "I never said that," I replied, glancing over at him.
He gave me a flat look. "You think you're subtle about it?"
Fuck.
"Jacen asked her," I told him.
"So she's going with Jacen?"
As if I'd ever let that happen.
"Not exactly."
He raised an eyebrow. "What did you do?"
"What makes you think I did something?"
"Because I'm not the dumbass you think I am," he replied flatly, leaning against the doorframe of his bathroom.
"I punched him," I admitted.
Nate blinked."Did you ask her after, then?"
I didn't reply.
"Of course you didn't," he said, filling in the blanks himself. "Otherwise you wouldn't be here, you'd be getting ready."
I shrugged, knowing I wouldn't win with him.
"Ness will kill you if you don't go, you know," he remarked.
No, she'd probably kill Elena.
But, of course, I didn't voice that thought.
"Are you going with Keira?" I asked, changing the subject. As far as I knew, Nate wanted to and had tried to bargain with the police to let her out for just tonight. Well, really, let her out completely, but 'you know, baby steps' as he put it.
Nate's expression darkened. "She's free for a couple hours tonight, but they didn't clear her for the dance. Said it was too much of a risk. So I'm just taking her out to dinner."
What? "That doesn't make any sense." So it was fine for her to go out in public, but not to a school dance?
"That's what I said," he told me, turning to face the mirror and fixing his tie. "But they threatened to take it away altogether so I didn't argue."
Before I could reply, there was a noise from downstairs, the front foyer, I think. We both froze, staring at each other. Mom and Dad were still on their business trip, and all our staff, the maids, cooks, and such, had left for the night.
"You're the older one," I whispered to Nate.
"You're the one who punches people often," he replied. "And I'm in a penguin suit."
Sighing at his complete uselessness, I grabbed a baseball bat off from under his ground and crept into the hallway. I cautiously made my way down the hall, careful to keep my steps light. Then around the corner, I saw the shadow of a person and heard some rustling. I gripped the bat tighter and prepared to swing...
...Only to come face to face with Keira.
She was in sweatpants and a light jacket, a clear garment bag containing a dress in her hands.
I dropped my arms. "Oh, it's you."
"Yeah." She eyed the bat in my hands and snorted. "You guys are such losers."
"I knew we shouldn't have given you the key," I told her.
"Who is it?" Nate called.
"I almost sent your girlfriend into a coma," I yelled back.
Keira laughed. "As if you could."
Nate wandered into the hall, causing her to immediately shove the dress behind her back while stepping behind me as well. "I thought I was picking you up?" he asked her.
"My dad was pissing me off," she replied. She opened the door to the room beside her. "So I came here."
"Don't I get a greeting kiss?" Nate demanded.
"I have to get ready, and you can't see the dress," she told him, her voice muffled as she shut the door.
He pouted, but went back to his room.
I knocked on the door.
"I said you couldn't come in!" Keira sang teasingly from inside the room.
"I'm not Nate," I replied.
"Go get me a curling iron from your mom's room then you can come in!" she told me.
A curling iron?
"I don't know what that is," I said.
"It's like a big black tube with a handle and a cord. It's for my hair," she explained.
Okay, a black tube... Shouldn't be that hard to find. I headed down the hall to my parent's room, then crossed it to get to their bathroom. It took a while to find with all the cupboards there were, and even when I did find it, I wasn't sure which one Keira wanted since there were three that looked completely identical, but with different coloured handles. I picked one at random and returned to the room Keira had taken over.
Nate came out of his room just as she opened the door for me. "Come on!" he exclaimed.
I waved the... Curling iron? Or whatever the hair device was called in my hand. "I got this," I replied, laughing as I stepped into the room. I set the hair thing on the counter before taking a seat on the edge of the bed.
Keira had changed into her dress and was currently leaning into the mirror poking at her eyes with a black pencil. I wasn't sure if the dress was the one she had originally gotten for the formal or another one, though I suspected the latter, because it didn't look as fancy and glittery as the ones girls usually wore to dances.
"Thanks," she said.
"What'd your dad do to piss you off?" I asked watching her plug in the hair thing and turn it on, then set it back on the counter and go back to the black pencil.
"Threatened to leave me in jail," she replied, setting down the pencil and picking up some kind of small black tube and flicking the brush over her eyelashes.
"What for?"
She blinked, then swore. "What?" she repeated distractedly.
"Generally if someone threatens you they want you to do something, or not do something..." I trailed off, waiting for her to fill in the blank.
"He doesn't like the idea that I'm going into fashion. He wants me to help with his business," she replied, dabbing at her eyes lightly with a tissue. Then she picked back up the bristled brush she had before.
Do girls do all this on a daily basis?
"What about Jacen?" I asked instead of the question I was thinking. "Can't he join your dad's business?"
Keira scoffed. "Like I'd ever let that happen."
I wanted to ask what she meant by that, but before I could, Nate interrupted.
"Hey Ash!" he yelled. "Stop talking to my girlfriend and go get ready!"
"Hey Nate!" I called back. "Suck my dick!"
"Don't want to," he replied, his voice a little muffled. "But you could ask Elena to."
"You better not come in," Keira told him, raising her voice a little so he could hear from down the hall. "I'm getting ready."
"Ashton's in there," Nate complained.
"Ashton's not taking me out to dinner," she replied. "I want it to be a surprise."
"You look beautiful no matter what," he said.
I rolled my eyes.
Keira laughed. "Pretty words won't help you."
"Fine," Nate relented, sounding a little like a kid who had been told to go to the corner for quiet time- which he kind of was. "I'll go entertain myself, then."
"Don't accidentally take sleeping pills again!" she called after him.
"That was one time!" he yelled back.
"You and Nate are gross," I told her.
"You're the one who wanted us to date!" she exclaimed. She was leaning towards the mirror again, rubbing something over her lips. I wanted to say it was lipstick- the only makeup I knew for certain- but the thing she was using wasn't any shade of red or pink.
"I didn't think it'd be this nauseating," I said.
Keira glanced at me. "He's right, though. Why aren't you getting ready?"
I shrugged. "Don't know if I want to go."
"Did you not ask Elena after you punched my little brother for asking her?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
I gaped at her. "How did you find out about that?" Keira had been in police confinement at the time, with very strict rules about visiting. How the hell could she have found out?
She smirked. "I have my ways." She finally picked up the hair thing I had gotten for her and started twisting her hair around it. "But you didn't ask her."
"Of course not," I scoffed. "You know why."
It felt good not having to invent some random ass excuse as to why I hadn't "made a move" on Elena yet when I "so clearly" liked her. Keira was the only one who knew above what Vanessa was planning. Not all of it, but enough that I didn't have to lie when it came to this kind of stuff. Jacen and Vanessa knew too, of course, but I wouldn't be bonding with them at any time.
Especially not with Vanessa.
Though according to Nate, I really wasn't as subtle as I wanted to be.
"You should," Keira said. She dropped the piece of hair that was wrapped around the tube and somehow, it stayed a bit in its twisted position forming some sort of loose spiral.
I gave her an incredulous look. "That's basically giving her a green light!"
"You're about as subtle as a fucking elephant, Ash," she told me flatly. "You should've kept your anger in check if you wanted to keep your feelings a secret."
My fists clenched. "Jacen pisses me off."
"Because that's what they want," she shot back. "You know that."
I forced myself to relax. "It doesn't matter. I'm pretty sure she's leaving soon anyway."
"Then you might as well make the best of it and ask her."
I checked my phone. It was around five-thirty now. "I think it's a bit too late."
"Better late than never." Keira set down the hair thing and ran a hand through her hair, which was now all in loose spirals that had surprisingly stayed the whole time it had taken her to do them. "Didn't Skylar tell you to?"
"She mentioned it today..." I admitted.
"You want to face an angry Sky when you show up at the dance without Elena?" she asked.
I winced.
Keira caught my flinch and laughed. "Sky ships you too so hard, it's hilarious. You guys basically have your own fan girl."
I grimaced. "She doesn't know everything."
"So you're just going to let Vanessa win?" she asked.
I stared at her. "It's not letting her win. It's keeping Elena alive."
"If she's leaving, it sounds like she can take care of herself," she pointed out. "So make it work."
â¡ the trouble with love â¡
I had never really understood the point of dances.
It was standing in a circle and swaying or grinding against whoever you had chosen to go with. I didn't see how that was worth all the dressing up, wasted time and being unable to hear for several days later.
It was an excuse for grinding I guess, but if I really wanted to grind against someone, the last place I would want to do that was a room full of sweaty teenagers and adults who would break it up if it got too over the top.
Though there was one thing I did kind of like. Being able to kiss Elena in front of everyone and show them, yeah, she's mine. Not Jacen's. Teachers didn't care about that sort of thing during dances, it was only if you were basically fucking in front of everyone.
But even if the teachers rarely interrupted, there was another thing did.
The people I had chosen to be friends with.
"Whoa guys," Sky said as she pulled Elena back. "Don't get it on here."
"Cockblocked," Jace muttered, stifling a laugh.
I wanted to punch him.
"Come to the bathroom," Vanessa ordered, grabbing Elena's arm and dragging her away before I had the chance to protest.
The last thing I wanted to do was leave them alone.
Vanessa wouldn't do anything tonight, though... right? Not with all the people here, and definitely not with Nate so close. Not to mention, Skylar had gone with them so she had to be safe for now.
"Why do girls always go to the bathroom in groups?" Nate asked.
"How the hell would we know?" Jacen replied.
Nate raised an eyebrow. "Touchy."
"Not in the mood," Jacen shot back.
Before Nate could reply, he was approached by one of the science teachers, who asked for a moment with him to talk about the work he had missed over the past couple of days.
"You need to back off," I said to Jacen once they were gone, keeping my voice low so the people around us wouldn't hear.
"It's not my fault," he shot back.
I knew that but he was still pissing me off.
"It's whatever now. She knows how you feel since you played right into her hand," he added.
"Were the innuendos really necessary?" I demanded.
"I'm not letting my sister get convicted for murder," Jace said. "I told you before I feel jack about Elena. You're the one who won't believe me."
"Considering half the things that come out of your mouth are because she told you to say them, that shouldn't be a surprise." I had told Elena that I didn't want to talk about anything like this tonight, and here I was doing it anyway.
You're a hypocritical asshole.
"You believed her too at first," Jace pointed out.
"But I did something about it when I found out." I knew I would be going too far with my next words, but I said them anyway. "Unlike you who's trying to ignore it all because you're still in love with her."
He glared at me, expression hardening. "I hope you're habit thinking you know everything bites you in the ass," he spat before pushing through the crowd and walking away.
"What's with him?" I turned to see Sky standing behind me, eyes on Jacen shoved his way to the back of the room.
I shrugged. "I pissed him off."
She rolled her eyes. "Like that's anything new."
Wait.
Fuck.
If Sky was here, then Elena was alone with Vanessa.
"I thought you were with Vanessa and Elena," I said. I glanced in the direction of the bathrooms. There were too many people here for her to try anything... Right?
"I came out to talk to you," Sky said. Judging from her expression, there was no way I would be able to get out of this conversation unless there was some kind of nuclear bomb threat. "Why haven't you asked Elena to be girlfriend?"
I winced. "There hasn't been a good moment...?" It was the shittiest excuse ever, but I couldn't think of another one. It was because if I did then Vanessa was sure to do something, but I couldn't tell Sky that.
She gave me a flat look. "What would a good moment be? The apocalypse?"
"It's big commitment, okay?" Not really, considering Kaden would probably get her out of Hampton Hills soon, but I couldn't tell Sky that either. Not only because she'd ask why, but also in case she let it slip to Vanessa and Vanessa decided to move everything up.
"You practically already act like it," she said. "You have the jealousy part down for sure."
"I'm working on it."
I should've known she wouldn't settle for that. "Come on, Ash, this is like the first time you've ever liked a girl. Are you gonna let Jace steal her away?"
"I'll make it work," I tried to reassure her. "Don't worry Sky."
She pouted. "I just want my best friend to be happy."
I stared at her for a moment. "Are you okay?"
"Don't turn this on me!" she exclaimed, giving me a flat look. It took me a moment to realize what I should've figured out earlier. She had been asking me about Elena since her and Cameron broke up. I should've known this was a way to distract herself.
It was just matchmaking now... But last time it had started with minor stuff too. And that had progressed to random new hobbies... Then reckless shit like cliff jumping and motorcycles... Then pills and blades and there was no way I was letting it get to that point again.
I wracked my brain, trying to remember if I had seen or heard any hints of Sky adopting a new hobby, but with everything going on, I hadn't been able to spend much time with her and I couldn't be sure.
She hadn't worn a life jacket at the cottage, but she'd done it multiple times before so I wasn't sure if that counted. I tried to think of a somewhat subtle way to bring it up, but nothing came to.
"Any new hobbies lately?" I asked her.
Her annoyance was dead clear from the glare she gave me.
"Seriously Ash, leave it," Sky whispered harshly. "I told you I was fine."
Bullshit.
"And I told you not to lie to me," I replied.
"I don't want to talk about this shit tonight, okay?" She pushed away from me, before turning to a random guy near us and asking him to dance.
I sighed and dragged a hand through my hair, knowing that conversation was closed, at least for now. I'd have to figure out some way to talk to her about it later.
After noticing that a slow song was playing, I went to go look for Elena. It took a moment for me to find her dancing with Jacen.
Shit.
Knowing Jace, he was still mad at me for crossing the line earlier and he'd definitely put up some kind of fight if I tried to cut in. I turned and scanned the room.
Who can I bribe to cut in?
That wasn't really the problem though, who would accept the bribe. It had to be someone who Jacen would actually step aside for.
Then I caught site of Nate and Vanessa dancing.
Double shit.
But what could work...
I walked over and tapped Nate on the shoulder. He turned. "What's up, Ash?"
"Can you cut into Jace and Elena? She looks really uncomfortable, but if I do it he'll put up a fight," I said, hoping it would work. Killing two birds with one stone and that shit.
"I'm dancing with 'Ness," he replied.
I forced a smile. "I'll dance with her."
I'd rather scoop my eyeballs out with a rusty spoon.
"You okay with that?" he asked, glancing at Vanessa.
She looked at me with a small, part-amused, part-challenging expression, but it was subtle enough that Nate probably didn't notice. I only knew because I expected it from her. She turned back to him with a wide, innocent grin. "Of course."
"See you guys later," Nate said, slipping into the crowd. I took his position, glancing down at Vanessa.
"So," she said. "I can't even dance with him?"
I gave her the most taunting look I dared. "You know how over-protective I am."
"Oh yeah," she agreed, giving me a brilliant, wicked smile that probably looked innocent to everyone else. Or maybe it was innocent, but I couldn't see her like that ever again. Then again, with the venom in her next words, maybe not. "It was how we ended up like this after all."
I shrugged. "Oops."
"And you've definitely shown it with Elena too," she added sweetly.
I stiffened. I should've known better than to play this game with her. "Leave her alone, Vanessa."
She shook her head. "Can't do that, sorry."
"I will. We won't talk to each other again. You'll get your wish." I gritted my teeth. I hated practically having to beg her, but sacrificing a bit of pride was better than Elena's body in a coffin.
Vanessa tilted her head, like she was considering it for a moment, but the gleam in her eyes told me she was just playing with me. After a moment, she said, "No deal."
"You like her," I pointed out.
For the first time, her defenses dropped a tiny bit. But she covered it up quickly. "So do you," she replied. "It's a bit of a problem, isn't it?"
I struggled to find a response before the song ended. Petty as it was, I didn't want to let her have the last word. But she won anyway.
"Enjoy your last dance with Elena, Ashton," Vanessa said just as the last chords faded. She gave me an innocent smile, then turned on her heel and walked away.
Last dance?
Fuck.
I pushed through the crowd, searching for a flash of blonde hair or a glimpse of the blue-green dress she was wearing.
I couldn't find her.
Where the hell was she?
Had Vanessa already done something?
Enjoy your last dance with Elena. Vanessa had said.
Not something like hope you enjoyed your last dance with Elena. It hadn't happened yet so she had to be okay, right? Except for whatever Vanessa had planned.
I relaxed when I saw Elena part-talking, part-dancing with Nate, and walked over to them, tapping Elena on the shoulder. "So I finally get you back," I said as another slow song began.
She rolled her eyes at me. "It was one song."
"It felt like an eternity." If Vanessa had something planned, I wasn't letting her out of sight for the rest of dance.
"You're full of cheesy lines tonight, aren't you?"
"Just trying to give you the authentic high school experience." I considered taking her home, but that could've been what Vanessa wanted. At least here we were surrounded by people, and she wasn't stupid enough to try something. If we left, it would just be the two of us and a lot easier for her to do something.
She raised an eyebrow. "The one where the guy uses every pick up line he looked up on the internet to try and get into the girl's pants?"
"But that's not my end goal, promise," I replied, trying to keep my tone light so she wouldn't guess my thoughts. "That would end in my getting slaughtered by a very renowned and well-respected lawyer. I'm not keen on dying."
It seemed to work since she laughed.
And it wasn't as if I had never seen Elena smile before. I had. But most of the time it had seemed forced, or had just been a small one. She always kept herself careful around us, reserved. Knowing she was laughing because of something I had said felt pretty good.
"But in all seriousness, I'm glad Jacen picked out." The words slipped out before I could stop and really consider them.
"What?" She glanced at me, clearly startled by the change of mood.
"I'm sorry about how much this messed up your life." What the fuck are you doing, Ashton? "But I'm not sorry I met you."
"Ashton..."
I liked the sound of my name from her mouth.
Fuck it.
"And I know it's selfish-" Just spit it out. "Elena Evans, will you do me the honor of being my girlfriend?"
Then the worst thing happened- she hesitated. "Ashton..."
"Hampton Hills Police, everybody freeze!"
The police?
I had thought her uncertainty was the worst, but compared to this it was nothing.
The room went silent as everyone turned to stare at them.
I stepped away from Elena as soon as I realized they were coming towards us. This is what Vanessa meant.
It had to be.
"Ashton Sinclair," one of them said. "You are under arrest for the murder of Olivia Tunclet."
And, like the idiot I was, the only thing I could think as the cold metal locked around my wrists was;
Tonight it not my night.
-- â¡ --
Sorry this took so long! I'm horrible at writing guy's perspective omfg.
Qotc: Let's do a flip. Any questions you guys have for me about anything?
Next chapter is Info about the spinoff and a Q&A!