New Year's Ring

Chapter Eight - Worthy Of Me

Emma P.O.V.

I felt like a Princess, thanks to Darcy's help. She'd done my hair and makeup. Mom had bought me the most gorgeous dress and surprised me with it. I hadn't planned on attending Prom, but I kind of felt like I had to when mom presented the dress. She encouraged me to have a good time and sent me on my way. Now I stood in our decorated gymnasium, in a body-hugging sparkling red gown, dateless, and feeling like the third wheel. Anytime I visibly got the itch to bail, however, Darcy would come reel me right back in. I was ready to go home and curl up with a good book, but Darcy had mentioned an after-party. Yay, I thought unenthusiastically.

"Would you like to dance?"

I whirled around and faced the boy who had consumed my thoughts for months now. Darren Eldridge, looking finer than I'd ever seen him look, stood before me in a black tuxedo. He'd even combed his hair, which was really something. I almost missed his messy-hair look though. I didn't know what to do or say, so I simply placed my hand in his as he led me out to the center of the dance floor. As his arms came around me and he pulled me closer than necessary, I knew that I was in trouble. I could already feel the wall that I'd erected around my heart, starting to crumble.

"God, I've missed you." Darren said and buried his face against my neck.

"I, um, I've missed you too." I admitted.

"I hate that I've made you this rigid around me. You used to melt the second I touched you. You're stiff as a board, right now, and you won't even meet my eyes. I hate that." He revealed and my eyes flew to his. He cupped my cheek, saying softly, "There's my Princess."

"Darren...please, don't." I begged. I couldn't take much more of this or I'd break completely.

He stiffened at my words, "So you're still holding onto your anger?" He stopped dancing and let go of me. He rubbed the back of his neck before he spoke again, sounding pissed, "Emma, I've apologized for what I did. I haven't even looked at another girl, other than my three second fuck up with Vicky, ever since we kissed on New Year's Eve. I don't know what more I can do to prove to you that I'm worthy of you."

Before I could form a response, Darren turned and walked away. I watched him, until he disappeared out of the gym. I glanced around, conscious of the fact that I now stood alone, on the dance floor, with people staring at me. I was on the verge of tears as I made my way to the side. The sinking feeling in my gut told me that I had made a huge mistake tonight. Darren was right. He had apologized and I'd noticed, in the two months that we'd been apart, that he hadn't been seen with any other girls. Maybe he had changed for me and I'd just blown our last chance together.

"What happened?" Darcy asked as she and Evan joined me, once the song ended.

The tears that had been threatening spilled right over. "I'm so stupid. He has apologized to me and I never accepted his apology. Now, I pretty much just sent him running in the opposite direction and I doubt he'll look back this time. He said that he'd been trying to prove to me that he's worthy of me. He is worthy and I didn't tell him that. I just let him walk away thinking that I didn't care."

Evan winced, "If he thinks things are completely over between you, then we need to go stop him."

"Stop him from doing what?" I asked through my tears.

Evan looked sheepish when he stated, "He's been celibate for four months. I think that's the longest he's gone without since he started having sex over two years ago."

"He really hasn't been with anyone else since kissing me that first time?" I asked in wonder.

"No, he hasn't, but we need to get to Vicky's now!" Evan said and started for the door, with Darcy and I in his wake.