-^Dani's P.O.V.^-

Flashback (eighth grade)

"Dani!" Someone called. I turned around. It was Jack.

"Yo, Dani. Going to the dance tomorrow?" Jack asked me. I blushed.

"Maybe. Why?"

"Will you come with me?"

"I-Sure!" I said "I mean, yeah. That's- That's cool." I turned back around and me, Beckett, and Myles walked off. Myles was scowling, looking absolutely furious. But I paid him no attention. I was going to the dance with Jack.

"Dani. You're going to get hurt." Myles warned me.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, he was probably dared to ask you out."

"What? Why do you say that?"

"Because this is only the second time he's talked to you. And the first time, he thought you were a guy."

"What? No. You're just . . . Jealous." He blushed.

"No, I just don't want to see you get hurt."

"Just leave me alone." And I walked forward, leaving Myles with a stunned and hurt expression on his face.

I sat on the porch swing and cried, not caring that my makeup was running, not caring that I was probably ruining Juliet's dress. I would apologize later. Just then, Myles and Beckett walked into the driveway, slightly out of breath. Probably from running all the way from the school. Beckett walked inside to explain, while Myles sat next to me.

"He's not coming, is he?" I asked.

"No. The filthy, lying, cheating . . ." He mumbled a few words under his breath that I couldn't hear. Probably a good thing, as I'm sure they would have to be censored. "We saw him with Christina." I knew her. Nice enough, I suppose. But definitely an airhead. She was blonde, with big blue eyes. She was the prettiest girl in school, but it still stung that Jack had ditched me for her.

"I guess I just wasn't pretty enough for him." I said. "I wish I was blonde." Myles grabbed my shoulders.

"No. Dani, listen to me. You are beautiful just the way you are. Way more beautiful than Christina. And you deserve someone way better than him. Just because he ditched you for some blonde bimbo doesn't change anything. He was dared to ask you to the dance. He told me you were . . . well, that's not important."

"What did he say?"I asked him.

"Nothing." I sighed.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing."

"Oh."

"I was too busy rearranging his face."

"Myles! You could get in serious trouble for that." I told him. "I don't want you getting suspended, or expelled, because of me!" He shrugged, unrepentant.

" Well, it was mostly Beckett . . . Besides, it doesn't matter now." His face was suddenly dark. "And nobody, no-bo-dy, insults you in front of me." I smiled.

"Thank you Myles."

"Well, like I said, Beckett helped. He held him down, but I punched." I hugged Myles, almost crying again

"Hey, less of the tears. Trust me, he was no loss." But he hugged me back anyway. He was wrong though. I was happy, not sad. I had two amazing, wonderful best friends. As for Jack, well . . . I'd tell you what I wanted him to do, but it would have to be censored as well.

"I'm sorry, Myles. I shouldn't have said those things yesterday. I really am sorry." He rolled his eyes.

"Dani, can you once, just think about yourself?" I smiled.

"Apparently not." He grinned.

"And anyway, I knew you didn't really mean it."

"You did?"

"Daniella Thompson. I have been your best friend for nine years now. Do you really think that I don't know the difference between when you actually mean something, and when you're just in denial?" I smiled.

"Lucky for me, I suppose." I shivered. He automatically stood up.

"It's getting cold out here. We should get you inside." I wiped the makeup off my cheeks. Thankfully, there wasn't much, as Juliet had a lot of waterproof makeup. And none of it had gotten on my dress after all.

"Okay. How do I look?" He looked at me and smiled.

"Beautiful. Now, let's go." He took my hand and pulled me inside my house.