Page 49

I push a few locks of hair behind my ear and head toward the door. I need a minute to make sure Michael is fine, and then I’ll rejoin Cade. After all, I came here to dance and have fun. So far, I’ve done neither.

Outside the gym, I pause and consider where Sienna might have taken Michael. To the bathroom? Possibly. Or maybe the courtyard.

Deciding to check there first, I square my shoulders and walk down the hallway. The music still blasting from the gym drowns out my footsteps. The closer I get, the deeper my worry feels. Hopefully, Michael isn’t throwing up. It’d suck for Sienna to have to deal with that.

She looks beautiful tonight in her pink dress, her blonde hair down. I might not be her biggest fan, and yeah, I’m jealous of her connection with Michael, but I can’t deny she looks good.

I round the corner and instantly halt in my tracks, stumbling back as if I’ve been struck. My lungs seize up. I don’t remember how to breathe. As my knees wobble, I slap my hand against a cool wall to center myself.

I’m such an idiot.

She didn’t lead him to the courtyard. She didn’t take him to get fresh air either. No, the two of them found an empty hallway and are pressed up against each other.

His back is against the wall, shoulders slumped like he can barely hold himself up. She’s the one closing the distance, one hand behind his neck as she drags his face down to hers.

He doesn’t touch her. His hands hang uselessly at his sides.

But he doesn’t push her away either.

And that hurts more than anything.

I dart around the corner, out of sight, and press my back to the wall. I should leave, but my legs won’t move. The music from the gym sounds like white noise now, the sounds of their kisses somehow amplified. They’re loud and messy, accompanied by heavy panting. Every sound they make hammers another nail into my heart. I squeeze my eyes shut, but it doesn’t help. I can still hear them. And for some awful reason, I remain frozen.

It’s one thing for Sienna to have told me they kissed. Yes, it’s heartbreaking, but it’s nothing compared to witnessing it like this. The pain radiating through my chest is so sharp, I’m surprised I can still stand up straight. With tears blurring my vision, I hide my face in my hands, my whole body shaking. I’m ruining my makeup, I’m ruining everything, but I can’t even make myself care.

A pair of thick arms wraps around me and pulls me into a solid chest. I stiffen, ready to pull away, but when Asher speaks quietly, I slump against him.

“You were supposed to be in the bathroom.”

“I just… I wanted…”

He presses me closer and rests his chin on top of my head. “You wanted to do the same thing as me. You wanted to make sure he’s alright.”

“Yeah, and h-he’s alr-right.” I am not.

“How about I get you out of here? You don’t need to see this.”

I nod against his chest.

With gentle movements, Asher leads me away from Michael and Sienna. I’m lost in hurt, not even aware of where I am until cool air hits my face. With a breath stuck in my throat, I look around. We’re at the back exit of the school. It’s dark out here. Quiet, too.

I untangle myself from Ash and sag against the wall. My heart feels impossibly heavy in my chest, and I’m too weak to even stand straight. I wipe away my tears with my fingertips, trying not to think about how terrible my makeup probably looks.

“I’m sorry,” Asher murmurs. “I should’ve realized where you were going and stopped you. I hate that you had to see that.”

“You don’t need to be sorry.” I shake my head, looking down at my feet. “And he didn’t do anything wrong. I was the one who made a mistake. I should’ve known…”

“Do you like Michael?”

With a shuddering breath, I wrap my arms around myself. “Would I be crying in the hallway at my very first dance if I didn’t?” I raise my eyes to the starless sky and shiver. I want to call my dad and ask him to pick me up, but before that, I need to find Cade and apologize.

“Why haven’t you told Michael how you feel?”

“Because he doesn’t feel the same way. He doesn’t see me as anything more than a friend.” I pluck my phone out of my purse and turn on my camera to check the damage. “Oh my God.” I suck in a breath. “I look terrible.”

“No, you don’t.” Ash steps up to me and puts his index finger under my chin, gently forcing me to look at him. “You’re a beautiful girl, and a little mascara under your eyes doesn’t change that.”

“You’re trying to cheer me up,” I mutter, locking my phone’s screen.