I walked out the front door half an hour later, severely ticked off. I was wearing a black floor length gown with a slit up the leg. Whitney had plastered more makeup on my face than my mom had had in her room, and loaded my wrists, neck and ears with silver jewelry.

Gross.

The boys were just coming up from the bunker. Their eyes went wide as saucers, and mouths hanging open. Hi whistled.

They laughed as I flipped them off. Jason pulled up, and looked at the laughing boys.

The contrast was amazing. Jason, bright and gold in his tux, and my friends grimy from the day with cut off shorts and t-shirts.

It wasn't hard to pick which one I would rather spend tonight with.

But I still ended up in the car, speeding towards the Yacht Club.

Whitney was going to get it.

The inside was a disaster. Twinkling lights every where, waiters and waitresses toting trays of champagne flutes filled with apple cider.

The night wasn't going to get any better. I could see that as the Tripod walked over.

"About time you got here. We have to speak for you in about two minutes."

Jason smiled. "My fault, girls. I was late picking her up."

Madison's gaze turned sugary sweet as it transferred to Jason."Oh, don't be silly. I'm sure it wasn't your fault."

I rolled my eyes. "Where's your date Maddy? I thought they were mandatory."

She glared at me. "Yes, well – oh! Here he is now.

I turned, and nearly flared.

Ben.

Sweet Jesus.

"Yoo-hoo! Ben!" Madison trilled.

Yoo-hoo? Who the hell said "yoo-hoo?"

He walked over, looking highly uncomfortable in a tux. "Hey Tory."

"Um, hi." My eyes screaming what the hell?

Jason nodded tightly. "Ben."

"Jesse."

He sighed. "Jason."

"Right. Whatever."

He looked at my dress for a second, before turning back to Madison, who was dying to get his attention.

"May I have this dance?" Jason smiled slightly.

I nodded, allowing him to lead me to the dance floor.

After a few minutes of spinning and twirling, and feeling faintly nauseous, Madison had to welcome me as a junior debutante. Joy.

The two of us stood up there with our dates. Madison had to force the words out through clenched teeth, and I almost puked giving my speech.

I danced with Jason a couple more times, and with some other boys who were semi-civil. Not with Ben. Madison had him in a death grip like she never wanted to let him go.

Finally, it was over.

Well, for me anyways. Madison and the Tripod loved these things, so it was anyone's guess how long Ben would end up being here.

As I walked out, The Tripod ambushed me.

From bad to worse.

Perfect.

"Nice dress, boat girl. Where'd you get it, your fairy godmother?"

"Nope. Yours."

She rolled her eyes. "Whatever. It would be pretty, if that rip wasn't so high."

I glanced down in confusion. It wasn't that high. Not even halfway up my thigh.

Madison stepped forward and ripped it up to my ribcage.

I stared in shock, panic rippling through me. I couldn't afford this dress, no way. It was at least $2,000. Ashley stepped forward and ripped the delicate embroidery off the waist line, tearing it in the process. Finally, Courtney dumped a plate of caviar over my head.

I pulled the ruined dress around me, trying to cover myself, and pushed my soaked hair out of my eyes.

"Hey!" Two shouts. I looked up, and saw Jason and Ben running towards us.

SNAP

Shit. I turned on my heel, walking anywhere, trying to calm down so I could turn off the flare.

It didn't help that I could hear the boys chewing the Tripod out, and them trying to pin it on me.

Finally, I was able to shove the wolf away.

SNUP

Just in time. Footsteps pounded up the path behind me.

I didn't know who I wanted it to be less – Ben or Jason.

Until I turned around and saw Ben.

I didn't want him to see me like this. No, not just him. Hi, Shelton, Whitney, my dad. Anybody. And I just didn't want to see Jason right now.

Without a word, he offered me his jacket and walked to Sewee.

I followed without saying anything. There wasn't much I could say.

After firing off a text to Hi and Shelton, I snuck in the back door, changed, and walked down to the bunker. Ben was already there, playing fetch with Coop. I sat down in one of the chairs, curled up in pyjama pants and a tank top. We didn't say anything for awhile.

"How did you end up going as Madison's date?" I asked quietly. It's not like I cared or anything... Just curious.

Yeah right.

"She asked. I knew you didn't like going. Figured it might be easier with a friendly face." He sighed. "Guess not."

"Whitney's gonna kill me."

"What did you do to piss Barbie off this time?" Hi sauntered in, grinning.

"It wasn't me. Madison and company trashed my dress."

Shelton shrugged. "Just wash it."

"No, like completely trashed it. As in, ripped it to shreds. While I was wearing it. Not to mention the fish eggs they dumped on my head."

They grimaced in sympathy. "Maybe you can buy the dress. How much did it cost?" Hi said.

I sighed. "At least $2,000."

They all choked.

"Yeah, complete waste of money. Try telling that to Whitney."

We sat for a minute in silence. "I need to go. Whitney and Kit will be getting home from the movies soon."

"I'll come. Tell them you didn't wreck it."

"It's fine. She'll never believe they did it. They're 'proper ladies.'"

Hi snorted.

Pretty soon we were all laughing. The idea of the Tripod being proper ladies was too much to handle.

Finally, we returned home, Hi stalling as much as possible. After being out all day, Ruth was going to kill him. I walked down the water's edge, watching the dim lights from LIRI twinkle in the distance.

My neck prickled, and I whipped around. Nobody.

So why was I so freaked?

I got home, and ran up the stairs. On my desk was a note from Kit.

Staying at Whitney's for the night. Love you.

I sighed, then frowned. There was another piece of paper. Slowly opening it, I started panicking.

Red are roses,

Green is thyme,

I know who you are,

And you will be mine.

I ran to my Mac and pulled up iFollow.

One by one, the faces popped up in the corners.

Hi. "Sup buttercup?"

"Yo Tory." Shelton.

Ben just nodded. Man of many words, that one.

Wordlessly, I held up the note. As they read it, they started swearing.

"I know. Perfect timing, huh?"

"What do you mean?"

"If Ruth hadn't seen that guy following me, I would've thought it was a joke from Kit or one of you. But now..."

"Now we know someone's actually following you."

I sighed. "As if our lives weren't complicated enough