We're Not Related Anymore...

This Is What I Call A Sh!t Show

Maddie: Three Years Ago

I feel giddy as Jacob and I head back to the party. There's a slow song on and we both look at each other smiling sadly when we share the same thought. Even though we want to, we really can't dance together here. Imagine what everyone would think if they saw that. 

We find a table to sit at and people-watch. He looks over at me every once in a while but we don't say anything. I spot my brother out of the corner of my eye coming towards us and my smile fades. 

"Hey," I say weakly when he stops near us. He looks between us with narrowed eyes. "Where's your girlfriend?" 

"She's getting some air," he answers stiffly and looks over my head. "There she is now." I twist in my chair to see where he's looking and see Betty reentering the room from the same door we just came through. 

My eyebrows pinch together. There's no way she saw us, was there? No, I shake my head and turn back in my chair. I would've known if she was in the library or had seen us. Betty's got a big mouth and she wouldn't have wasted the opportunity to turn this into a three-act play. 

"You guys aren't together right now, are you?" Josh asks, his attention back on us and I roll my eyes. 

"I'm going to go find, Tessa. This vibe sucks," I say, standing up and collecting my things. I'm aware of Jacob watching me leave but I don't turn around, intent on finding my friend. 

I find her outside talking to Hudson while he smokes. The cloud of smoke disperses in the air between them and when he catches sight of me, he stubs the cigarette out on the back of his shoe. 

"Hey, you enjoying yourself?" He asks me, eyeing me appreciatively as Tessa turns to see who he's talking to. Her face breaks out into a relieved smile when she sees it's me. 

"Is it just me or is prom not really living up to the hype?" she asks. I laugh and shake my head. 

"It was fun showing off your dresses but it's been downhill from there." Well, almost all of it. The bit in the library was sort of fun, but I'm not saying that in front of Hudson. 

"Right? Is it bad that I want to go home so I can post how fabulous we looked on my blog? I've been waiting to share these designs with my followers forever and it honestly seems more fun than staying here a second longer."

"Please, I need to go too. These shoes are starting to kill me," I tell her, reaching down and undoing the straps. "When do you want your dress back?" I ask. 

Hudson doesn't seem annoyed that we're basically talking over him and sits down on the stone steps in comfortable silence. He leans back and looks up at the sky as Tessa shrugs her shoulder. 

"Keep it. I made it to fit you anyway so there's no point in me taking it back. Think of it as a reunion present."

"Reunion?" Hudson questions, looking back at us. "Who's reuniting?" 

We ignore him and share a smile. "Can I get a ride home?"

"Sure."

-

Somehow, Jacob and I arrive home at the same time. I wave back to Tessa as she pulls away and wait for Jacob to join me on the porch. 

"How was it?" I ask him as I open up the screen door. 

"Most eventful few hours of my life," he answers and I can't tell if he's being sarcastic or not. He holds the door for me and waits for me to enter. "You know it's only half past nine?"

"That's so early. I can't believe we're this boring," I tell him as I shrug off my jacket. "We're home!" I call to the house. Everyone still has to be awake at this hour.