- Dancing Heart -

When I arrived to my chemistry class, I sat at the first desk I saw that was empty. It should be pretty obvious at this point that I don't have many friends. Yes, I am extremely lucky to have Sam and Nick as my two closest friends, I also have a few other "nerdier" friends and some close dance friends as well. Other than that, I'm pretty much alone. I don't mind it that much. Sure other people strive for popularity and think that having more friends are better, but I'm happy with just having a few close friends.

My teacher, Mrs. Macker, came in right when the bell went and placed her black work bag on top of her desk that was at the front of the lab room.

"Hello Class. Welcome to Chemistry 12. I will be assigning lab partners this year so if everyone could gather their stuff and stand at the back of the room-" Mrs. Macker suddenly paused when she saw someone walk in. I, along with the rest of the class, looked to see who arrived late.

No. It can't be.

It's Cameron.

Seriously? Out of every class he had to be in mine? Amanda is going to kill me. At least if she does kill me, I will die young and not have to worry about my future.

I snapped out of my thoughts when Mrs. Macker acknowledged Cameron's presence.  "Oh, glad to see you decided to join us..."

"Cameron Miller. Sorry I'm new and couldn't find the class." Cameron replied back giving a stunning smile. I swear I saw all the girls swoon. Why doesn't Amanda threaten anyone of them? Why me? I'm definitelynot a threat.

"Well I expect you to be here on time next class then Mr. Miller." Mrs. Macker told him to stand with the rest of us at the back of the room. She then got out a list of the assigned lab partners and began reading out the names. All I could think of was how much I was hoping that I wouldn't be paired with Cameron. Anyone but Cameron would be great. Even with the guy that does absolutely nothing would be fine.

"Ben and Rachel"

"Carter and Joseph"

"Cassandra and Cameron"

Are you serious? This is the worst day ever. I slowly walked over to the desk that Cameron decided to sit at.

"Hey lab partner. I assume you will be doing most of the work?" He smirked at me once I sat down next to him.

I rolled my eyes and ignored him. It's better if I just don't talk to him.

"I was just kidding Cassandra." He looked at me and started laughing.

"Alright. Guess you don't want to talk. That's cool" He turned away from me and started talking to a guy that sat behind us.

He didn't mention the thing that happened at gym class, but I mean, why would he? It's not like he would care if psycho Amanda purposely hit me with the soccer ball. He laughed along with everyone else so he must also think I'm a loser. It's no big deal. Like what Amanda said, guys like Cameron don't pay attention to girls like me. I have accepted that so why am I still thinking about him and expecting something to happen? Luckily, Mrs. Macker was done assigning lab partners and began her introductions to what we should expect in this class.

Several times while Mrs. Macker was explaining the course outline and class expectation, I catch Cameron look at me. Maybe it was just my imagination but I couldn't help but also sneak a few glances at him. While carefully looking at his profile without being caught, I noticed that he really is gorgeous. I mean he could drop out of school and be a model any day with his perfect and soft looking hair, sharp jawline, gorgeous blue eyes, flawless face..wait, I need to stop looking at him. I slowly turn away from Cameron trying not to attract any attention and focus my eyes back on Mrs. Macker.  I can see why Amanda wants to keep him for herself, but seriously, I'm no competition.

After a few more minutes of listening to Mrs. Macker, she told us we had the rest of the period to do whatever we wanted. I was about to pull out my phone but before I could reach into the pocket of my cardigan, Cameron turned around to face me and smirked once again.

"You know, you should really be paying more attention in class instead of checking me out. I know I look amazing but please, control yourself. Some people are trying to learn."

I looked at him shocked. I was not checking him out! I was just admiring how he would be perfect with Amanda. That conceited, egotistical, arrogant, self centered -

"I get it, I'm too beautiful and just by looking at me, you're at a loss for words. I have that effect on people." Cameron added with that same smirk on his face. 

I'm not good at comebacks and I never can come up with good responses since never really needed to. So I just said exactly what I was thinking at the time.

I looked at him straight in the eyes and said, "Sorry, I don't talk to self-centered jerks."

I then turned away from him and pulled out my phone. From the corner of my eye I can see him still looking at me.

He leaned closer to me so that our shoulders were touching and whispered, "Someone's  feisty today."

I cannot believe I thought he was going to be a nice guy. In the morning he seemed sweet, but then throughout the day he completely changed. Maybe he really is perfect for Amanda.

I rolled my eyes and ignored him just like I did in the beginning of class. Luckily he left me alone and started to talk to the guys that somehow, out of nowhere, appeared in front of our desk.

I turned my attention back to my phone and while I was about to text Sam, I heard Cameron ask the guys around our desk if they were going to Amanda's party. Typical Amanda. Throwing a party on the first day we get back to school and not to mention a school night. I will never understand how some parents allow their kids go to parties, let alone throw one on a school night. Then again their parents most likely don't know and it's not like I have any experience with this kind of stuff. It's not a surprise that I'm not invited.

After that thought, the bell went and I quickly grabbed my things. Unfortunately I was not fast enough because as I reached for my phone that I placed on the desk while I was picking up my books, Cameron quickly grabbed it.

"So Cassandra, are you going to Amanda's party later?" He questioned as he turned on my phone.

Fortunately it was locked and unless he was going to guess my code correctly before I attack him, I had nothing to worry about. This boy is slowly driving me insane and it's only the first day of the school year.

"No, I wasn't invited. Now if that's all, please give me back my phone." I answered back in an annoyed tone.

He carefully put the phone back in my outstretched hand.

"That's too bad. You should show up anyways! I'll be there! I'll let you stare at me all you want!" He shouted to me while I walked out of the classroom.

Ugh. I can't stand him. I quickly walk to my locker to put away the books that I don't need and leave through the front doors of the highschool. Once I get to the parking lot, I see Sam waiting by my car.

"Have I told you that you look amazing today? You should really wear more dresses to school." Sam praised me while I unlocked my car.

I roll my eyes and put my bag in the backseat. "I'm guessing you need a ride?"

She smiled and climbed into the car. "Yes! You know me so well."

Once I managed to drive out of the crowded school parking lot, I started driving to the small ice cream shop near my house. Getting ice cream after the first day back to school has always been our tradition. Right now, ice cream sounds perfect after the day I had.

"Amanda is having a party tonight and since I'm on the cheer squad, she said it was mandatory that I go."

I know Sam doesn't want to go because pretty much the whole school will be there, which means Chris will also be there. The last thing she needs right now is to see him drunk and hooking up with every single girl possible.

She looked up from her phone and continued, "so I was wondering if you wanted to come along."

I quickly look at her in shock. "Did you just ask me to go to a party with you? You do know who you're talking to right? I don't go to parties!"

"Oh come on! It'll be fun! Nick said he's going too."

It's not that I haven't been to parties before, it's just that the last time I went to one, it ended terribly. It was the last week of sophomore year and my then boyfriend was at a party. I decided to go at the last minute to surprise him but instead, I found him having sex with some random girl. From then on, I haven't really been to anymore parties with my friends. All I can remember any time someone brings up the word "party" is all the pain and hurt he caused me.

Sam looked at me and sighed, "It's been a while Cas. It'll be good to get out and party with us."

She's right. My ex left the school after what happened so I haven't seen or heard from him in a while. With my job and dancing, I rarely get the time to hang out with Sam and Nick.

I give in and agreed. "Alright, I'll go."

"Yay! It's going to be so much fun. After ice cream, we'll get ready together." Sam clapped her hands together and focused her attention back on her phone.

- • -

Once we paid for our cookie dough ice cream, we sat down at one of the tables outside the shop.

"Slow down there Cas. The ice cream isn't going to jump out of the cone and make a run for it!"

I stopped eating my ice cream and explained to Sam that it has been a rough day for me and I deserve to eat my ice cream at whatever pace I wanted to.

"I wouldn't say having a cute guy talk to you a 'rough day'. It sounds to me that he's interested in you."

"No! You have it all wrong. He's not into me, he's into Amanda. I don't know if you somehow forgot but Amanda made it perfectly clear that I need to stay away from him." I reminded Sam of what Amanda said to me.

I ended the conversation about Cameron and finished up my ice cream.

- • -

After we left the ice cream shop, I drove back home to drop my school bag off and to let my mom know what I'll be up to.

Secretly I was kind of hoping for her to say no to the party since it's a school night, but unfortunately, she said I could go as long as I'm home by eleven. It's not like I have any homework or dance class today to use as an excuse to back out, so I guess I'm going.  I think my mom's glad that I'm actually out of the house and doing some normal 'teenager' stuff.

Once Sam and I walk out of my house, Desiree starts walking up the driveway.

"Hey Cas. Is mom in a good mood? I'm planning to ask her if I could go Amanda's party."

Even my younger sister has a better social life than I do.

"Yeah, I just asked if I could go and she said it was fine." After I answered her she started laughing.

"Seriously? You're going to a party?" She asked in disbelief when she saw my serious expression.

"Yes is there something wrong with that?"

"No no no...it's just...you at a party?" She started laughing again and with that, I got into my car and drove off with Sam leaving my crazy sister laughing in the middle of our driveway.

- • -

When we arrive at Sam's house, she literally dragged me up to her room. Sam obviously loves playing 'makeover' on me, so she quickly sat me down on a chair and laid out her makeup collection.

I eyed her suspiciously. "I didn't realize you thought I looked that bad."

"You don't look bad! I just love doing other people's makeup! It's going to be fun!" She was already reaching for her makeup brushes before I could protest.

After many minutes of various products being used on my face, Sam finally let me see the final product.

I have to admit, Sam is amazing good at doing makeup. It was not anything too dramatic, but it was definitely different than my everyday classic foundation and mascara look.

"Give me a second, I have the perfect dress for you to wear!" She quickly walked over to her closet that was overflowing with clothes.

"What's wrong with what I'm wearing now? You are being very judgmental today." I responded back jokingly.

Sam walked back out of her closet holding a black lace bodycon dress and a pair of black heels.

I stood up and backed away from her. "No way am I wearing that Sam!"

"Cassy you will look stunning in this dress! Please just try it on!" she begged me while pushing the dress closer to me.

Knowing that every girl at the party will probably wearing dresses that barely cover anything, gives me the push to give the dress a chance. The dress shouldn't be anywhere as revealing as what the other girls will be wearing and I probably will blend in better in a black dress than the blue one I have on now. There are definitely perks to having a best friend with good fashion sense who also is the same size as you.

Once I slipped the dress dress on, I look at myself in the full length mirror that Sam has in her bathroom. I look different. A more gorgeous, confident, version of me is staring back at me. People are right. Finding a perfect dress can really change how you look and feel.

I go back out to Sam's bedroom and when she sees me, she nods her head in approval. "What did I tell you? You look amazing Cas! You should just keep the dress since it looks way better on you then it does on me." She picks up the black heels off the floor and hands them over to me.

"Thanks Sam but I'm going to pass on the heels. I'm sticking to my flats." I push the black heels back towards her and grab my phone off of her bed.

- • -

When Sam finally finished getting ready, it was almost six. Even though I have to get home by eleven, which gives me about five hours to 'party', I have a feeling it's going to be a long night.

We hear the doorbell ring and Sam reaches for her black purse. "Nick's here! It's time to party!"

Slowly, I walk behind a very excited Sam. Part of me wants the night to be over so I can go back to the comfort of my bed, but another part of me is excited to party with my best friends again.

I see Nick standing against kitchen counter talking to Sam when I finally caught up with her.

"Are you guys ready to go?" I ask them.

Nick turns away from Sam and looks towards me. I see his eyes widen a bit and look me up and down. He coughs nervously and starts walking towards me. "Wow...you look amazing Cassy."

I feel my cheeks start to heat up "Thanks Nick...you don't look that bad yourself."

Sam looks at us weirdly after she sees Nick and I stare at each other. "Well okay...I hate to interrupt this weird friend moment but we have a party to go to and I don't want to be too late." She starts heading towards the door but looks back before opening it.

"Oh and Nick, thanks for only complimenting Cassy! You do know I'm here too right? For your stupid mistake, I will no longer be the designated driver. I hereby appoint the idiot Nick Towler as the new designated driver!" With a final wave of her arm, Sam walks out the door and leaving Nick our driver.

I try my hardest not to laugh at how dramatic Sam was being. Of course she was only kidding, but not about how Nick now couldn't drink at the party. I look next to me and see a sad looking face on Nick.

"Dammit...I was really looking forward to drinking some alcohol and let loose tonight."

"It's alright Nick. If it means that much to you to get wasted, I won't drink." I'm not sure why Nick even wants to drink tonight, but I'm not going to ruin his fun.

"Are you sure? It's your first party after..."

"Yeah I wasn't planning to drink anyways. You know me, always doing the right thing. Come on, if we don't leave now, I'm sure Sam will go without us."

"You're right we better go." Nick chuckled and walked past me to open the door.  "After you m'lady"

I curtsy and walk through the door. "Such a gentleman today Nick."

"I'm always a gentleman Cas." He starts laughing and I laugh with him.

Sam rolls down the window of her car and shouts to us, "Get in losers, we're going to a party."

- • -

A/N

I hope you enjoyed the longer chapter! The next chapter will be about the party! What are you're thoughts on Cassy and Nick? Will they be more than just friends?

Don't forget to comment/vote/share!

x leaving_forever