Chapter 10: Tonight Will Be The One To Set It Off

Autumn's POV

Homecoming

"Autumn!"

"I'm coming, Mom! Tell Zack to hang on!"

"It's not just Zack, but okay!"

Fuck. I wasn't even dressed yet. I'm digging around the bottom of my closet, trying to find my other black heel. Oh, did I mention I'm just in my bra and underwear?"

"God dammit," I whispered, coming up short again. I turn around, got on all fours, and started looking under my bed.

I guess I should catch you up on the last week and half. One thing, Alex and I haven't even kissed since that Monday at school. We've just kinda hung out as friends, but never alone. And I've spent a lot of time with Zack. We're still not officially dating, though.

"Autumn!" I heard Jack yell, and it sounded like he was close.

"Fuck," I whispered before calling out, "Hang on!" Times like these I wish I had a lock on my bedroom door.

"Autumn, open up before I do!" Jack yelled, banging on my door.

"Jack, I really can't yet," I said, moving another box and retrieving my shoe. "Finally," I whispered, pulling it out from under my bed.

"Why not?"

"Honestly?"

"Yes, please."

"I'm pretty much naked," I said, bluntly.

"That only makes me wanna open the door more."

"You open that door, I'm kicking your ass. That simple."

"You got ten minutes."

"Deal."

I stepped into my dress, pulling it up and putting the straps on my shoulders, then finally zipping it up. Thank God I could do it myself. I slid on my heels and ran a comb through my hair that was strait, but had some pieces curled and make-up to match. I was smart to do that first.

Guys really have no idea the things girls go through to look pretty.

With one last look in the mirror, I opened the door, eight minutes after Jack told me I had ten. He and Zack were leaning against the walls of the hallway by my room, opposite of each other.

They both look at me. Zack's eyes widened and Jack's jaw dropped. Jack cocked his head to the side and said, "Can I say something? Just as friends."

"Well, I'm friends with you, so, yeah," I replied.

"You look hot!" he said and hugged me.

I laughed, but felt myself blush a little as I hugged him back. "Thanks, Jack. You look pretty snazzy yourself."

He lets go and steps back. "Snazzy?"

Zack laughs as I nod and said, "Snazzy."

Jack's considers this. "I'll accept that. Now, I'm gonna go bug your mother and tell her to get the camera ready." He starts walking to the stairs.

"Jack, why the camera?"

"It's tradition!" He turned around and threw his hands down at his sides, but turns and runs down the stairs.

I shake my head, but smile at Zack. He smiles and hugs me. "You look gorgeous."

I felt myself blush, but said as I hugged him back, "Thanks. You look very gorgeous, too."

"Why, thank you." He steps back and takes my hand, leading me down the hallway and down the stairs.

We took pictures and then left in my car. It was actually working tonight, surprisingly. About ten minutes later, we were at the school. The homecoming was really cliché. Streamers, pop and rap music, the works.

Zack walked me over to Rian, who was talking to Kara. "Hey." She smiled at us, then said, "Well, don't you look good."

"Oh, and you don't?" I asked, but smiled. "Thanks, Kara."

"Yeah, you, too."

"Have you seen Alex?" Rian asked.

I shook my head and Zack tugged on my hand as a slow song came on, leading me to the middle of the gym. I put my arms around his neck and he put his around my waist as we started to sway to the music.

"Zack dances?" I asked, sarcastically.

He smiles down at me and shrugs. "I do occasionally." I smirked and rested my head on his shoulder and he rested his on top of mine.

We danced, hung out, watched the 'popular' people get crowned king and queen and then Alex showed up after about thirty minutes.

Zack and I were talking away from everyone for a minute. He looked over his shoulder at Jack, who was just leaning against the wall a few yards away. He looked back at me and says, "I kinda feel bad for him."

Furrowing my eyebrows, I said, "Why?"

Zack shrugs. "He doesn't have a date."

I look at Jack and thought a second. "I'll be right back." I walk over to Jack, taking his hand. He looks up at me, question in his eyes. I smile and tug on his hand slightly. "Come on."

"Where are we going?" he asks, as I walk with him to the middle of the gym.

"I'm going to dance with you."

"Why?"

"Because you have no date." Jack smiles at me and we started dancing together.

After about the third song. Alex came up and said the cliché thing, "Can I cut in?"

Jack looked at me and I shrugged. He said, "Okay," and walked away.

Of course, as soon as Jack walked away, a slow song came on. Alex smirked and put his arms around my waist. I rolled my eyes, but smiled and put my arms around his neck. "Hey, Autumn," he said.

"Hi, Alex," I replied.

Alex's POV

I pulled Autumn out of the gym and down a deserted hallway. "Alex, what are we doing?" she asked.

"Oh, you know." I pressed my lips to hers.

She pulls back and shakes her head. "Alex, I don't know."

"What do you mean?" I ask, confused.

Autumn looks up at me and sighs. "I'm sorry, Alex. But I don't want to do this anymore."

"Oh," is all I said, but I was thinking, What the fuck? This was her idea. I nodded.

She leans up and pecks my lips before walking down the hallway and back to the gym. I know it's because of Zack, and I guess that's okay.

But, damn, I'm gonna miss that.

Autumn's POV

After The Dance

We all went to our own house and my parents went out of town tonight, so I'm home alone. I changed into shorts and a tank top and headed down the stairs. I had just sat down and turned on the TV, when there was a knock on the door.

It was midnight, so I was a little freaked out. I grabbed my phone and a baseball bat out of the hall closet before opening the door, breathing a sigh of relief when I saw Alex.

He raises an eyebrow. "A baseball bat?"

"It's not everyday I'm home alone and there's a knock on the door at midnight." I set the bat up against the wall by the door and let him in and shut the door. He was still in formal clothes. "Why are you here?"

"Because..." He walks into my living room and sits on my couch. I follow after him, but stand next to the couch. "Just tell me one thing." Alex looked up at me and I nodded. "Do you like me as more than a friend? And be honest because I like you a whole lot more than I should."

I sit next to him and take this in. Damn. After a second I say, "Honestly?"

"Yes."

"Yeah. I do."

"So, why do you want to stop this?" Alex turns to face me.

"Because of Zack," I replied.

"But are you guys, like, official?"

I shake my head. "No." I quickly add, "But that doesn't mean we never will be."

"I never said that you wouldn't."

"Then, what are you saying?" I cut him off before he could say anything else.

"I'm saying that this doesn't have to end if you don't want it to and I know you don't want it to."

He read me like a book. "I'm not a cheater."

"It's not cheating if you're not exclusive."

"Yeah, technically, but it still is."

"So, look at it technically." He pauses. "Look, we're not exclusive and neither are you and Zack. If you and Zack do decide to make it official, we'll stop."

I looked up at him and said something I knew I would soon regret. "Okay."

"Really?"

"Yeah." I nodded. It's silent for a moment, but kissing Alex sent chills through me that I loved. So I took his face in my hands and pulled him close, kissing him.

He started pushing and had me on my back. All I could think about was him and, honestly, how much I wanted him. He slid his tongue into my mouth and one of my hands tangled in his hair. We were both kissing each other with so much passion.

Alex pulled back and looked at me. "So, you're home alone?"

I nod and he puts his forehead against mine. "For two weeks."

"We really shouldn't be doing this."

"I don't care." I kissed him again.

Maybe we shouldn't be alone together...