𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 (𝐂𝐅)

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐧𝐞- 𝐃𝐞𝐛 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟐

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"He's not picking up." I pace up and down panicking. It was nearly time for the debutants to be introduced and James was nowhere. "Ellie I'm sure he's here he's probably in the back." Belly tried to calm me but I've seen everyone walk through and no James.

"I have to look outside I'll be two seconds." I leave the room heading down the grand stairs and to the entrance I rush outside scanning the parking lot, he wasn't anywhere. I wanted everything to go perfect, I couldn't go on the stage by myself.

I let out a stressful breath heading back inside. "Any luck?" I shake my head to Nicole. "Belly's right he's probably with the other boys, don't worry, and if he isn't I'll step In his place." Shayla hugs me from the side. "Thanks guys I just need to stop panicking." I calm myself down.

"Right girls I'm gonna read out your name and this is the order you need to line up in!" Rachel says as she calls our names out, Belly was before me and Shayla was three before her. Why was I this nervous? It was just a stupid Deb ball, but it felt more than that, like I was about to go out in front of thousands of people and be stood up by some boy. Okay thousands is an exaggeration but my family would be there, my friends family.

I shake my head and take a deep breath. Stop stressing. "Ok cue music." Rachel signals to a guy who starts playing snow on the beach by Taylor swift, immediately calming me. This was going to be okay, even if I was by myself, I was doing for Susanna, she could at least see me in a white dress.

Slowly the line went down as the girls went out on stage. Shayla was called it took me everything not to clap for her, she was met with Steven on stage who couldn't stop smiling at her. The other girls go before belly's name was called. She gives my hand a squeeze before going on stage meeting with Jeremiah, I couldn't take my eyes off them, they were so in love.

Now it was my turn, the nerves were creeping up on me as heart bested right through my chest.

"Next up is Ellie Conklin, daughter of Laurel park and John Conklin, escorted by Conrad Fisher." My feet felt stuck did I hear that right? "Ellie what are you doing? Go!" Rachel nudges my back pushing me to the stage and that's where I see him walking to the middle, I quickly regain consciousness as I walk over to him standing in front of him, completely dumbfounded, holding his gaze for as long as I could. He smiles putting his arm in mine, as we turn walking to the steps.

"Ellie Conklin has helped raise over £4,000 for cancer research and helped three years ago with cousins beach litter pick up." We walk down the stairs holding on to his arm for support as we make our way over to our table. Conrad goes to untangle our arms when I pull him away from the table and into the corner of the room.

"What are you doing?" I whisper as he looks confused. "James had to go back home for a family emergency, so I stepped in." Should I be annoyed because I felt annoyed? I had been panicking for no reason.

"And forgot to tell me?" I raise my eyebrows. "I told my mum not to tell you, I thought you would want it to be a surprise."

"We'll I guess you don't know me at all." I walk away from him. "Sorry everyone I need to go to the toilet." I excuse myself heading out the door. Was I overreacting? It wasn't even that it was a surprise it was more why was he doing this? After everything we've been through this summer all the fight all the heartbreak just for him to take me to the Deb ball. Was all that just him making me feel worse for what I did with Jeremiah?

"Ellie wait." I hear him call after me as I open the doors the entrance. "Why are you mad?" Maybe I was overreacting, I didn't know what to think my brain felt fuzzy, my whole body did. "You told me you didn't love me anymore, you told me we can't be together, why are you here?" My words didn't mean to come across so harsh but I think my questions were valid, my confusion and frustration were valid.