2:29 AM

Chapter Fifty-Six

It's Prom today. Greyson and I are getting ready. Christian and I haven't talked since our little talk. I think she loves Greyson. I can't tell him, just like I can't tell her that he loves her.

I'm getting ready in my room. I touch up my foundation and curl my eyelashes, applying a little bit of mascara. That's all I'm doing for makeup, so I strip down to my lacy peach panties and slip the dress on. It has a zipper up the side and padding in the chest since you can't wear a bra. 

I do my hair next, pulling it into a messy updo using bobby pins and hair clips. I leave my bangs and layers framing my face. I slip on my heels and apply a clear lipgloss. I grab my small silver clutch and someone knocks on my door. "Come in," I say. He pushes the door open.

"I got you a corsage," Greyson says.

"Thanks. Just one thing real quick," I say. He frowns. I shove him and flick his forehead, which is only kind of hard in my four and and a half inch heels. 

"Dude, she's going to be married soon," I tell him.

"Don't remind me," Greyson says. "If you're here to tell me it's wrong because she's engaged you can-"

"I'm telling you that you better act fast." He frowns. I flick his forehead again. "You better do something before it's too late."

"Thanks, Andy," he says, smiling. He slips the corsage on my wrist and I pin the other one to his suit. "Sorry I didn't get a limo," Greyson says as we walk downstairs.

"It's cool," I say. "It's a bit much. I'm pretty sure it only happens in movies."

We walk downstairs. There's a girl I don't recognize talking to Mrs. Huttner and Christian. She grins when she sees Greyson. "Mac, what are you doing here?" Greyson asks.

"I couldn't miss my little bro's prom, could I?" she asks. She smiles at me. "Hi, I'm Mackenzie, but everyone calls me Mac." I smile.

"I'm Andy," I say. It seems like Christian's going to the dance. She's in a dark red dress and has matching lipstick.

"We're going to go, now," Greyson says. Mac shakes her head.

"I'm taking pictures first," she says. Greyson shakes his head, knowing that his sister won't give up. Mac takes pictures of me and Greyson. "Christian, get in there," she says.

"Uh, no," Christian says. Mac shoves her forward and she stumbles into Greyson. He catches her, his hands finding her hips. I smile to myself and step out of the picture.

"Greyson, put your arm around her waist. Christian, lean into him." They do as Mac tells them. To me, it's entirely obvious that they're trying not to jump eachother, or let anyone else know that something's happening between the two of them.

Mac seems satisfied after a couple of pictures and lets me and Greyson go. We walk to his car. "You all good?" I ask. Greyson nods as we drive to where the Prom's being held. We get there a couple of minutes late because we kept getting lost.

Greyson and I walk in. "I'm surprised the school didn't cheap out on us," Greyson murmurs. I nod. It's being held in the ballroom of an obscenely expensive hotel. I take Greyon's arm as we walk down the steps leading into the ballroom.

I feel his eyes on we as we walk. I scan the room for Bryce and I find him. Oh, God. He doesn't look like he should be at a high school prom. He has on a charcoal grey three piece suit with a white dress shirt and a light grey tie. His hair is messy and slightly gelled. His amber eyes are striking against his suit. 

I sigh and look away. Greyson and I get to the end of the steps and walk over to a table. "So, uh, what do you wanna do?" he asks. I shrug, looking around. All of the girls are in short, tight, little dresses and have way to much makeup. Practically every guy, except Bryce and Greyson, is wearing a tux. People grinding against each other and teachers look bored.

Greyson's eyes are glued to the staircase and I see Christian walking down. Greyson shakes his head and looks away. He pulls a flask from his pocket and takes a drink. I hit him. "Give me some of that," I say. He hands me the flask and I take a drink. "Ooh, that's nice. What is it? Brandy?"

"Yep," Greyson says, taking a long drink and passing it to me."Let's go dance." I take a gulp and then hand the flask back to him.

"You can hold onto that," Greyson says, giving the flask to me.

"Thanks, buddy," I say.

We walk onto the dance floor. I see Colton. He's in a tux, dancing with some slutty girl who I'm assuming is his date. It doesn't bother me. Greyson and I start dancing.

The music switches to a slow song. Greyson puts his hands on my waist. "Can I cut in?" I look up, hoping it's Bryce, but it's Colton. Greyson looks at me. I shrug.

"Whatever, man," Greyson says. He looks over at where Christian is. "I'm gonna go get some more punch." 

Colton puts his hands on my hips and I put my arms around his neck. We stand a couple of inches apart. I'm not sure what to say. "You enjoying Prom?" I ask. Colton nods.

"Yeah. I'm in the running for Prom King," he tells me.

"That's good," I say.

"I'm sorry," he says. "For everything."

"It's okay. It's in the past, Colton," I tell him. He shakes his head.

"It's not, though. I said some really shitty things and I did some stuff I'm not proud of. And I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Andy," Colton says. I smile.

"Don't worry about it," I say. He smiles. The song ends and his date grabs his arm and drags him away. I walk back over to the table where I left my clutch and sit down. Greyson's talking to Christian, she's smiling and shaking her head. I smile to myself. They seem happy right now.

Colton apologized and I don't know what it means. It doesn't make anything any less complicated. It doesn't give me closure. Things with Bryce are still fucked.

Oh, Jesus. I need that Brandy. I pull the flask out of my clutch and take a long drink. I get up and walk to the bathroom. It takes me a little while to find it. I swear it's like a fucking maze. Eventually the urge to use the bathroom fades but I'm lost.

"Fuck," I mutter. I pull out my phone and I don't have any reception. I keep walking. Everything look the same. Marble floors, long hallways, large pillars. Jesus, it's pretty much hopeless.

I shake my head and sit down against the wall, crossing my legs. I take a sip of the Brandy. This is so great. I'm lost. I laugh to myself, taking another sip. I put the Brandy away, I don't want to be drunk. "Fuck me," I mutter.

And then Bryce rounds the corner.