12. Jace
JACE
“Idon’t care if all your friends are doing it, no drinking in the limo,” my dad reminds us for what feels like the tenth time as we get ready to leave. He’s going to be there as a fucking chaperone—surprise, surprise—with the other teachers, so obviously I won’t be drinking.
We just spent over an hour taking pictures. We started at Liv’s house, then went to the country club where my teammate Tom’s dad is a member, to meet some of the guys on the team and their girlfriends for more photos.
Liv looks amazing in her light blue dress with sparkles. The combination immediately reminds me of Kieran’s eyes, and I wonder if she thought the same thing when she picked it out, but I refrain from asking. She still complains whenever I bring him up, so I’m trying to be better about not doing it.
I’m wearing a matching light blue vest under my black jacket.
We’re definitely the hottest couple in our group, and if we were seniors, I think we’d have a good shot at being voted prom king and queen.
People at school are always commenting on how we make such a great couple, and Liv said we were nominated for some “Most Likely to Marry Their High School Sweetheart” award in the yearbook.
I doubt we’ll get married, but it’s cool that people like us together.
“Alright, let’s go!” Tom yells as everyone piles into the party bus we rented even though I won’t be doing any real partying.
Leo has the aux cord and is blasting music, and I’m trying to hype myself up about going to prom, but for some reason, it all feels like I’m just here to perform. For my dad. For Olivia. For my friends.
By the time we get to the event venue our school rented for tonight, we have to wait in line for even more pictures before we can go inside.
How many damn photos do we need? Seriously.
Liv is commenting on other people’s dresses and who is here with who, when I glance over at who’s currently getting their picture taken ahead of us.
My whole body feels like it’s submerged in ice with how quickly I freeze.
Kieran is standing behind Danny Rodriguez with his arms wrapped around him as Danny holds onto his arms, looking up at him over his shoulder.
They’re both laughing as they hold eye contact for the picture.
They’re in coordinated navy suits because, of course, Kieran couldn’t be normal and wear black like everyone else.
His dark blue eye makeup matches his outfit, making his eyes look even lighter than they normally do, like the moon lit up against the dark night’s sky.
Or just like blue eyes; what the fuck was that thought?
I knew he and Danny had become friends since the shed incident backfired, but I haven’t heard if they are actually dating. Kieran looks so happy. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him smile like that, so free and open. His whole face is lit up, and I can’t look away.
They move into another pose holding hands and facing each other, still laughing the whole time. What the fuck is so hilarious? Kieran has never laughed at anything I’ve said, and I’m really funny.
“Ugh, Vanessa is wearing the same dress as me,” Liv says, pulling on my arm as she points toward the end of the line. I turn my head in that direction long enough to mutter “That sucks, but you’re way hotter” before turning back to face Sparkles and his boyfriend, but they’re already gone.
I don’t know why I hate the idea of them dating so much.
It must be because it feels like the ultimate “fuck you” that Kieran once again came out on top.
He must know Danny didn’t write that note, but he was still able to take what I did and use it to date the guy.
Pretending he didn’t care that we locked him in there was annoying enough, but to spin the whole thing into something that helped him? It’s infuriating.
Eventually, we make it through the line, pose for our own cheesy photos, and find a table in the ballroom to ditch our stuff.
There’s a buffet set up on the edge of the room, but most people seem to be ignoring it in favor of the dance floor.
Liv drags me out there toward some of her yearbook friends, and we join the crowd for a few upbeat, popular songs without incident.
“Isn’t this so much fun?” Liv smiles at me, and I nod before hearing a slow song start playing.
“Oh, we have to dance to this!” she pleads, so I put my hands on her hips as she wraps her arms around my shoulders and we sway to the beat.
But I hate it.
This is so awkward. Why do people like this shit?
I have no idea if I’m doing it correctly, and I’m worried I’ll step on her feet or bump into another couple.
And where the hell am I supposed to be looking?
Into her eyes? For a whole three-minute song?
No, thank you. That’s far too much eye contact.
I look over her shoulder at the other guys who are still dancing to see what they’re doing, but Kieran’s blue suit steals all my attention.
He and Danny are slow dancing.
In front of everyone.
“Are you okay?” Liv asks, looking up at me with concern. “Why did you stop?”
Did I stop? “Oh, sorry. I guess I was distracted.”
“By what?” she demands, sounding even more annoyed.
“Over there.” I nod in Kieran’s direction as I spin us so we can both see him to our left.
“Kieran is here with Danny. Look at how obnoxious they are, hanging all over each other like that. We get it, he likes guys, but do they really need to rub it in everyone’s faces like that?
” I scoff, expecting her to agree with me.
But instead of laughing along with me, she shakes her head, staring at me with furrowed brows and a disapproving look. “They’re here together. They aren’t being obnoxious. And you seem to be the only one who cares! Stop fucking staring at them,” she scolds in a harsh whisper.
“I’m not staring at them,” I insist in the same quiet tone as we continue our awkward slow dance.
“You’re always staring at him. Why do you even care if they’re dating?”
“I don’t,” I argue weakly, but I think we both know it’s a lie.
It’s only because he flaunts how different he is so openly—it’s got to be.
He shows up in makeup and clothes no other guy would wear, poses with his boyfriend in public in front of everyone, and does it all without a single ounce of shame. It drives me insane.
I hate it because he doesn’t care, and I can’t understand how that’s possible.
After a long moment of tension, she finally sighs. “Can we please just have one night where we don’t talk about him?”
“Of course,” I quickly agree.
But I really should know better by now—ignoring Kieran is never easy.
I do it, though. I manage not to talk about him for the rest of the night, even if he’s all I can think about. Every time my eyes wander to him, I bite my tongue. My thoughts circle on him and Danny and how frustrating their relationship is, and how obnoxious they look all cuddled up together.
They’re so annoying that I don’t even care when my dad insists on taking me home instead of letting me go to the party at Tom’s with everyone else. I’m aware Liv is pissed, but I’m not surprised by his demand.
My dad spends the drive commenting on how awful a dancer I am, but all I can think about is the way Kieran’s whole expression lit up when he was looking at Danny.
When I attempt to sleep, his face is all I can see.
Eventually, I give up and find myself in the office.
The rest of my family is asleep, so I don’t even bother with turning on the lights.
I just sit here alone, staring at his new Facebook profile picture.
He looks so happy, smiling with Danny. Have I ever looked like that?
The pending request still taunts me.