Hillary's POV

I was starting to get really worried. If I didn't have a date to the dance, would I ever hear the end of it?

It was the last lesson, English, Jessica's favourite. She was in deep concentration, writing her story, while Hannah tried to make sense of the instructions. I was stuck in a daze. I probably would be confused too, if I'd been really paying attention.

Should I wait for someone to ask me out, or should I just ask a boy myself? Would that seem weird? Desperate? Probably both.

Suddenly the bell rang, interrupting my thoughts, and Jessica sighed, putting her books away. Hannah frowned, clearly still unsure as to what to do.

"Err, Jess? What's an onomatopoeia?"

"It means when you write a sound as a word, like woof or bang. Really, Hannah, we only learnt that last week!"

"Mmm." Hannah simply responded, chewing on her pen. She quite clearly didn't care.

I gathered my books and placed them in my bag. Mr Danvers, the old hoot who took us for English and really wasn't fit to do it, lay back in his chair asleep, oblivious to the fact that the bell had gone.

"Do you think we should wake him?" Hannah asked anxiously.

"I don't know," Jessica shrugged. "but I don't think he'll be very happy if we wake him."

She grabbed a sticky note from the teacher's desk and wrote 'bell went and we didn't want to wake you. We left for home. 7mp :)'

I laughed and grabbed my bag, before walking out of the classroom with them. Joining the flow of students was hard enough, getting out again was barely tolerable.

I opened to door, choking, and held it open for them.

"Oh!" I gasped, remembering something. "I left my Maths homework in my locker! Could you guys come with me?"

"Sorry Hillary, I've got a dentist appointment." Hannah shrugged, clearly not all that caring, but I didn't mind. It wasn't as if it was a big deal.

"I've got to go too, my sisters got her singing lesson. But I'll see you tomorrow, k?"

"OK," I told them, and ran off to lockers. I wasn't going to put up a fight - they had every right to not wait for me, it was time for them to go home.

Once I had my Maths book I had to be at choir in 10 minutes, and the trip there took 15. The only way I'd make it would be to go through the alleyway by the side of school.

I didn't know why I'd always been so afraid of the alleyway. Tons of girls passed through there every day, what was there to be afraid of?

Still, I'd always passed around because it always felt wrong, but what choice did I have now?

I approached the alleyway carefully and began to walk through the shadows. There were loads of girls chatting and shopping, so why did I feel so worried?

Suddenly there was a firm hand on my shoulder. I jumped in surprise and heard a tingly laugh behind me, not one of evil but more of amusement, and turned to see a man I faintly recognised as a boy from the boy's dorm. I felt my emotions change immediately from terror to excited, realising this guy was hot. And I me, someone get water, I'm catching fire hot.

"I'm sorry I scared you," he told me, and I couldn't help but shiver. How was he so handsome? I could see loads of girls watching him from behind, giggling. Who was he? How did I never notice him before?

He had wavy brown hair and chocolate eyes, skin which was pearly white, the palest I'd ever seen, and his features just all felt so... RIGHT.

He pushed his fringe back.

"Well, I'd best introduce myself. My names Jacob, and I believe you're Hillary?"

I gasped. How did he know my name? He was so mysterious and so strange... but I couldn't bring myself to step away from him. It was as if I was caught in some kind of power.

Suddenly, he picked a single white rose out of his pocket and held it out to me.

"I was wondering if with this rose you would take my invitation to the dance, Miss Hillary."

I breathed out harshly, overcome with different emotions. OK, so I'd never doubted boys liked me - but for a guy like him to ask me to the dance seemed just so impossible.

"I... OK?" I asked, as a question, as if unsure it was the right answer. He laughed. I felt a bunch of eyes on me and saw all the girls faces, green with envy.

"I will see you tomorrow night then?" I nodded as he walked away, and suddenly I could breath again.

Who was he? What had he been doing to me?

I looked down at the rose. I could of sworn I saw a glint of red on its surface, but when I blinked it was gone.

I felt the prod of my épée on my leg, unsure why my hand hadn't instantly moved to it when he'd touched my shoulder. Anyone else and I would of done so.

I'd got my épée the same day Jessica got her nunchaku, and Hannah got her fighting stick. They were weapons we'd bought ourselves in self protection, and they were weapons each one of us could wield well.

It was then i realised that I didn't have time to be thinking about all this. Why had I come down this alley in the first place? I needed to get to choir practice, before I was late.

***

Hannah's POV

Jessica and I were walking down the street on our way to the dorms to get our stuff, before we had to leave for our separate activities.

When we reached the door to our room I was shocked to see a note along with a single white rose outside the door. Jessica picked it up, and her eyes widened as did mine when she saw it wasn't for Hillary, but for her.

"Well?" I asked, as she just stood there, bewildered. "open it, Jess!" My curiosity was getting the better of me and I was desperate to know who the note was from.

She unfroze and opened the letter, reading the neat curly writing it held:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Jessica,

My name is Vincent, and I have sent you this letter to ask you if you would like to come with me to the dance tomorrow.

You have no need to know my appearance, if you will come simply wear the dress I have sent you and I will pick you out.

Please take the white rose as a gift.

Yours Sincerely,

Vincent

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jess stared at it for a second before muttering "D-dress?"

"Erm, if you don't mind my asking," I stuttered. "how exactly did a boy get inside the girls dormitory? And how do you know him, anyway?"

"Beats me," Jess shrugged. "And I've no clue who he is. Never heard of him in my life. Ur... where do you think this dress is?"

I put my key in the lock and opened it, and was about to answer when I noticed the small parcel on Jessica's bed.

"Um, there?" I pointed. Jess ran over and ripped open the parcel as I laughed. Jessica was childish in that any present, whatever it is, made her ecstatic. Once it was open, she pulled out one of the most beautiful dresses I had ever seen.

It reached down to the floor and went out. It was black, with a sort of navy blue triangle at the bottom, while the top had straps, followed by net sleeves and netting that went just up the neck. It also came with a choker, one that had little spikes coming off the ends.

"How exactly did he know I was a goth?" Jessica asked.

I shrugged. "Maybe he's a stalker? Great, this means I'll be all alone for the dance."

"Don't be such a sour puss," Jess purred, as if to emphasise her words. "Hey, do you think I should wear my hair up or down with this?"

I glared at her. "My problems here!"

"Oh, right, uh-hu. Well, I'm sure you'll be fine. Maybe you have a secret admirer too?"

And as it turned out, mine was a lot more eager to make a first impression than Vincent.

We were just about to leave when there was a knock on the door. I frowned going to open it - we never had visitors - and was shocked to see a handsome young man in
front of me.

He had shiny blond hair and baby blue eyes, and he had on the Cross Academy uniform. I was surprised - surely I'd of noticed someone so handsome before?

Wait... what was he doing here?

It was then I noticed the tons of girls surrounding him, inviting him to be their partner. Hmm what did this player want with me and to start with WHO THE HECK WAS HE?

"Madame," he reached down and kissed my hand, which shocked me so much I nearly fainted. I managed to keep myself upright and smiled at him.

"Um, is there any reason you came to us... today?" I asked, still stunned.

He smiled a heart-breaking smile and I could see all the other girls swooning. It was then I snapped out of it. I wasn't a boy obsessed girl, I'd never had any interest in boys.

Now, I needed to concentrate on the real things - who was he and why wasn't he at the boys dorm?

"Madame Hannah, I came to ask you if you would care to be my partner for the dance?" he asked, and I practically fell backwards. Did I know this guy? I didn't remember him...

"I.... um..."

He smiled, and I just totally melted. "yes".

Who was this guy? Why was he making me feel this way? I didn't understand anything but that everything was going in a blur... he was bowing and saying thank you, he'd see me tomorrow, and would I care to take the white rose? I took it and then he was gone, the crowd of girls trailing after him.

When he gone, I realised I wasn't alone.

This story is being edited. This chapter has been edited.