Chapter : 3

Seth 

"Where is he ?" Michelle muttered under her breath. "Where's who?" I asked, not out of curiosity, but just so I have something to do. 

"None of your business" she says, giving me a frustrated glare. "Fine," I shrug.

We are at the hotel where the prom is being held. Michelle had asked me if she could go to prom with me, I really don't know why I said yes but maybe it's because she said it was because she wanted to get someone else's attention, and maybe because I need to get someone's attention too.

It's true I used to think she was hot but not any more. Not after I found out what an annoying two faced liar she was.

 She also cheated on me when we were dating. She fucked one of the soccer players and the guy threw it in my face and bragged about it, his intentions set on damaging my pride. The only  reason I didn't break his nose right there and then was because it would compromise my position as team captain, which would damage my image further. 

I don't know why I dated  her in the first place anyway, except for the fact that she was good in bed. Looking at her now, teetering on her toes trying to spy on whomever she was looking for, I can't remember why I even agreed to go with her to prom. 

"There he is. . . " Michelle purrs as four people enter - Stacy, Derek, Spencer and Ava.

 My heart leaps when I see Ava looking stunning in red. But then I see Spencer next to her and I realize that he's her date. 

I can't help but feel the anger seep in. It was common knowledge that Derek was going with Stacy and I knew Spencer had a date but I didn't know it was Ava. He hadn't told me and I hadn't asked, so I can't blame him for it. And at the same time I hadn't told either of them about my feelings for Ava. If I even have feelings for Ava that is.

I haven't figured it out myself yet. And after Mitchelle's betrayal I don't even know how long it will take me until I can trust someone again. And yes, I know Ava is not Mitchelle, she is so much better, kinder, funnier, And I know this because I look forward to the time I spend with her during chemistry class; But she may not feel the same way about me like I do about her. And I am not ready to have my heart broken again. So maybe a little bit of time is what we need.

But now seeing that she's with Spencer . . . I can't ruin that if that's what both of them want. And so I put a leash on my anger.

Michelle's outburst brings me back to the present-"what ? ! He's with her !'' she practically growls.

" Who, Derek ?" I ask, tearing my eyes away from Ava to see him lead Stacy toward the dance floor. They both look happy.

"No, Spencer !" says Michelle, stomping her foot dramatically. "you're after him ?" I ask, amused, but she just ignores me. 

I turn my attention back to Ava who is laughing. Probably at something Spencer said I realize with another surge of anger.

"That bitch!"  Michelle growls again before stomping away without any explanation.

 I sigh. Well, so much for prom dates.

I watch Mitchelle make her way through the crowd toward Spencer and Ava. I know I said I wouldn't ruin things for Spencer and Ava, and I won't, but that didn't mean I would go out of my way to stop Mitchelle from doing it. Not when a small part of me wanted Mitchelle to do it.

I push the thought away and decide to walk out to the garden and get away from the crowd. This is definitely not how I wanted prom to go. I can't help but think how the night would have gone if Ava had been my date : by now I would have asked her to dance, we would be having fun, I would have offered to get her drinks, I would have taken her out to the garden, maybe we would sneak out in my car, get ice cream and just talk, her smile would have made me smile, and maybe I would kiss her under the starlit sky- 

"Seth, watch out!" someone says and I'm roughly pulled back, stumbling as I lose my balance. When I regain my balance I turn to see Irene having a tight grip on my upper arm "you okay ?" she asks. If she hadn't pulled me in time I would have walked straight into one of the large arched windows that lined the full length of the hall.

"yeah, I'm fine" I say and she releases her grip, smirking at me "what ?" I ask a bit defensively. Nothing good ever comes out of that annoying smirk of hers. 

"daydreaming about Ava ?" She asks. Damn, she knows me too well. "no" I reply curtly and walk away because her smirk only grows wider. 

Thankfully she doesn't follow me to tease me more about it. Irene is one of my closest friends but sometimes she can be annoying. Especially when she gets along with my sister-  . Both of them seem to always find great joy annoying the hell out of me, making me always dread the next time they are going to be together. 

I step out from the large open double into the garden and the refreshing cold air fills my lungs. I didn't realize it until I came out but the crowded room full of hormonal teenage scents was making me sick.

I walk away from the building and toward the labyrinth of tall hedges. It is a cloudless night and the moon bathes the garden in a sliver glow. Except for the soft trickling of water from the fountain a little distance away and the muffled sounds of music coming from inside the silence is bliss.

Two people walk out of the door a few feet away from the fountain - Stacy and Derek.

At first it was a bit uncomfortable about Derek having a thing for Stacy. "you're too protective of everyone you care about," said Irene when I confessed to her about this. Having known Irene since we were kids I knew I could trust her and she would understand where I was coming from. And she's great at giving advice. "you're Derek's friend, you must have some idea about his intentions - if they are bad or good," she said. 

And I knew they were good. He even asked me if I didn't have a problem with it if he asked Stacy to prom, which erased any of the doubt I had on him. And Stacy can handle herself. Honestly there have been a few times where I have been terrified of her when I got on her bad side.

I watch as Derek and Stacy leisurely stroll deeper into the garden until they are swallowed by the tall hedges and their voices fade. Only their scents lingering in the air, indicate that they had been there a few minutes ago.

Then someone else walks out of the hall, carrying a sweet but soft and fresh scent of lavenders - Ava. Her red dress glows in the silver moonlight making her look more like a heavenly angel ascending from hell. She walks towards the fountain and I notice that she is alone.

And before I can stop myself I walk toward her.