After the bell

Forty

Jon hadn't been at school the past few days and I honestly didn't blame him, how could he explain the busted face?

I hadn't heard from him either and I was finding it extremely hard I miss him, and it's like my mom always says, missing someone is your hearts way of reminding you that you love them, and I do I love him.

Today was the Valentine's Day masquerade ball, the ball I hoped that I'd be able to at least speak to Jon at, but he isn't at work so the chances of him going would be slim, even if he did he wouldn't talk to me anyway.

"So you got your dress for tonight?" Lana asked me as we head home.

"No I'm not sure I'm going" I informed her.

"Oh what why?" She asked sounding pissed.

"Because I'm not in the mood to celebrate Valentine's Day. I'm also dateless"

"I know you and Jon are over but it doesn't mean you have to stop having fun"

"Well I'm choosing to be miserable right this second" I muttered walking to my car heading home.

Hours past and I was sitting on the couch watching tv when my dad walked in.

"Don't you have a ball to go to?" He asked me.

"Well I do but I'm not going I'm not in the mood for love hearts and teddies and cheesy Valentine's Day balls"

"Go Peyton you will regret it. You don't have to go and have fun, just go see your friends."

I go upstairs seeing the mask I had on my unit I pick it up nodding, my dads right if I don't go I will regret it in the future.

I then realized I didn't have a dress, I walk over rummaging through my wardrobe finding a dress that I hadn't seen in a while.

I walk downstairs heading into the living room looking at my dad.
"Can you give me a lift? I'm late as it is"

"Sure" he nods smiling "looking good by the way" he smiled.

I arrive at the school saying bye to my dad, I walk down the corridor entering the sports hall that had been transformed into an amazing Valentine's ball room.

I walk through wondering who was who as nearly everyone had a mask on.

I felt all eyes on me as I walk through the room heading for a table.

"I thought it was you mysteriously walking through here" I hear Lana say walking my way with Hayden.

"Yeah I came, changed my mind" I muttered "feels weird I've never been dateless before" I chuckled.

A little while later I sit watching everyone dancing I felt like a total idiot.

A blond hair guy comes up to me who I didn't recognize has he had a mask on
"Would You like to dance?" He offered holding his hand out to me.

"Sure why not" I smiled taking his hand.

I soon realizedwho he was after a while he was a guy from my maths class he was called Liam a bit of a nerd but he was kinda okay. If it wasn't for him I'd still be sitting on my lonesome.

As I slow dance with Liam I notice people start looking around I soon see someone walking through the crowds of people who was dancing.

"Who's that?" Liam whispered "whoever it is has everyone looking and talking" I look around seeing someone walking our way they was dressed in a black suit white shirt black mask.

When they got to us I knew who they was by the feeling I got from them, it was Jon.

Jon outstretches his hand to me I look at Liam who nods his head walking away from us.

I look up at Jon as I dance with him
"What the hell are you doing?" I whispered "if someone recognizes you"

"Relax" Jon said in my ear.

"Why you here anyway?" I asked quietly in his ear.

"I knew you would be here" he whispered "I needed to see you, I'm missing you"

"I miss you to, but us here, right now, is risky"

"I don't care right this second, pushing you away like that killed me" he whispered.

"It hurt but I can understand why you did it,"

"I did it thinking it was for the best, but it wasn't, it just made me feel like shit"

"You coming here telling me this is great, but us dancing I feel like everyone is watching us" I said worriedly in his ear.

"No one is watching" Jon reassured me "I love you Peyton, will you take this dumbass back"

I look up at him looking through the black mask he had on into his brown eyes "I don't think I can" I said shaking my head at him.

"I get I hurt you but don't push me away, give up on me, on us" Jon replied.

"It's not the fact you hurt me, it's the secrets the lies the sneaking. You breaking my heart it was the right thing to do" I said not sure where this was coming from.

"Don't do this Peyton" Jon begged

"I'm sorry but I want the kind of relationship that I can walk down the street holding there hand, being able to kiss them at my Valentine's Day dance"

"That will change when you graduate" Jon reminded me.

"I'm sorry, just go Jon" I said letting go of him Jon leans in kissing the side of cheek leaving me standing there on my own.