How did I get here?

Chapter 30

We walked into a night club and the party was in full swing. Loud music and bright lights, this is awful.
"I'll catch you guys in a few minutes," I say to Kenna and James and they nod.  I wander off hoping to avoid talking to people, unfortunately that was not the case.
"Hey your the girl who almost won," a boy around my age says to me.
"I have a name you know," I say and he shrugs and walks off. This same thing happened over and over again with all different people. People would say, 'it's the girl who almost won' or 'almost the princess, but missed it by just a smidge', thanks mom for making me do this I feel so much better. I go over and sit at the bar, wanting only to go home. I watch Kenna and James for a second and they look like they're having fun.
"Not big on partying?" I hear someone say behind me.
"What?" I say and turn to face a man who looks two or three years older than me.
"I'm Tyler Dobbs," he says holding out his hand and I shake it.
"Nice to meet you," I say, it was nice to talk to someone who wasn't telling me that I was the girl who almost won the selection.
"And you are," he says.
"Have you watched the tv recently," I say flatly and he laughs sitting down next to me. "A little fire in your attitude I like it. Of course I know who you are, but I wanted to give you the chance to introduce yourself." That was actually really sweet of him.
"That's actually really nice to hear after everything I've heard tonight, I'm America Singer."
"Nice to meet you, do you want to talk about what's happened?" He asked. I found it a little weird that he wanted to know, but at the same time it was sweet.
"I've just had so many different people come up to be and say 'your the girl who almost won the selection' and things like that. I shouldn't be troubling you with my problems though," I add that last part quickly, I shouldn't be laying all my problems on a random stranger.
"I'm really sorry," he says.
"It's okay, it's not your doing."
"What can I do to make it any better?" He says. Wow, this guy was really sweet, at least that's what I thought at the time.
"I appreciate the thought, but really you don't half to do anything."
He tapped his fingers on his lips as if he were thinking.
"Nothing I can't do anything for you," he asked.
"No, I'm really okay."
"Well just for the record, Prince Maxon was an idiot to let you go."
He had good reason to, I thought.
"Thanks, but it was kind of my fault."
"How So? If you don't mind me asking."
"Just mistakes I made is all."
He sat back on his chair and I could see the wheels turning in his head.
"If he can't handle a few mistakes then that's his problem."
"Why are you being so nice to me?" I asked honestly confused by his actions.
He shrugged his shoulders, "You just looked like you could use smile. Also, I never could pass up the opportunity to talk to one of the most beautiful girls I've ever met."
I blushed at that, he was actually kind of cute too.
"Aww So your a flirt?" I question.
He gives me a sly grin and leans towards me, "is that a bad thing?"
"I'll let you know," I say. I wasn't over Maxon and I don't think I ever will be, but it was nice to get back out there a little.
"Ms.Singer I think I could get in some serious trouble with you." He says.
"And would that be so bad?"
I felt guilty for flirting, but having many kind of affection from a man was making me feel better.
"I suppose not, can I take you out to dinner tomorrow?" He asked. I contemplated the thought, did I want to go on a date? Then I thought, it would make my family feel better and give me the chance to feel something.
"Why not," I say and take a napkin and a pen and scribble down my number and address and hand it to him.
"I plan on using this quite a bit." He says.
"Please do," I say.
"See you tomorrow," he says. He stands up and reaches for my hand and gives it a gentle kiss.
Soon after he left, Kenna comes right over.
"Who was that?" She asks.
"His names Tyler," I say.
"And," she presses.
"I'm going on a date with him tomorrow," I say.
"America that's great," she says giving me a hug.
"He just seemed really genuine and I need something to cheer me up," I say.
"Ugh I'm so excited for you," she says, as she bounces in her seat.
I had to laugh, her and May are both way to involved in my love life.
"We should head out," I say. I really want to get away from all the chaos. 
"Okay I'll go find James, also I'm ready to go I miss my baby." She says as she wanders off to go and find her husband. She is such a cute mom, I loved how she missed Astra. I caught Tyler's eye from across the room and he winked at me, which made me blush. I knew this whole thing was going to be lust and not love, but I couldn't help myself. Kenna comes back a few minutes later hand in hand with James, for a moment I was so jealous of their relationship, I still am.
"Let's go," Kenna says and she starts to gently pushes through the crowd towards the door. As we walked home I thought about tomorrow and wondering what I got myself into.