After Will dropped me outside I sprinted back towards my house hoping that Layla had headed that way. Luckily enough she did. She was sitting on the curb outside my house with her head in her lap. I walked up to her and rubbed up against her. She looked at me confused for a moment. I sat down next to her and shifted back to myself.

"Hey Hailey," she gave me a weak smile; she didn't even seem in the least bit angry. She sounded more relieved than anything.

"Hey, so you want to tell me what happened back there?" she shrugged. I highly doubted she did.

"Just Gwen being herself and Will being… someone else," she was devastated. I didn't know whether I should tell her about him and me talking. I didn't want any suspicions being raised. If I was going to be a good friend to her I was going to have to be honest, and tell her everything.

"Well he knows he was being an idiot now and he broke up with Gwen,"

"How do you know?"

"Cause I talked to him, he's not even going to the dance now," Okay… don't be mad.

"When did you talk to him?"

"His parents got home and I spooked. I shifted into a cat and jumped into his room," okay hurry up with this it's not starting so good. "I was looking for a way out when Will came upstairs. I told him he was an idiot, and then he snuck me out." She laughed a little.

"Why's that funny?"
"Just the way you put it," I guess it was a little funny. I smiled and looked at her.

"You want to go inside?" she nodded.

"Yeah," We went inside and got ready for bed. We slept side by side on my bed. We fell asleep shortly after laying down. Homecoming was tomorrow, which meant it was a long yet fun day ahead of us.

After waking up around nine thirty we got ready to go do some shopping, neither of us had gotten our dresses or anything else yet. We got ourselves ready and headed to the nearest mall. She ended up purchasing a long flowing green halter top dress. I myself found a knee length in the front full length in the back pink spaghetti strap dress. We spent the rest of the time we had picking out accessories and eating. Soon it came time to go home and get ready. We sat up in my room helping each other with our hair and talking.

"So I'm still really feeling badly about the whole Warren thing," Layla said. I shrugged as I applied some mascara.

"Whatever, besides I actually got a new date," she looked surprised. To be honest I was still a little surprised.

"Really? Who… and when?" she asked. Oh great here it goes… 'Sorry I blew you off last night and let you get humiliated by Gwen while I sat upstairs and made out with my ex,' okay… no, I'm crazy.

"Lash, and last night…"I said awkwardly.

"Ugh, Lash?!" well I guess I'd rather her be disappointed in me for who I'm going with than the fact that I was with him instead of her.

"Yeah well I made it clear to him we're not getting back together," she cocked her head sideways and raised an eyebrow. I didn't think she was buying it.

"And I'm going to be there the whole night making sure that you don't do anything stupid," I laughed nervously… like what? Hook up with him? "Oh my god! You already did!"

"Well that depends what you mean by stupid,"

"Well… like hooking up with him!" Oh crap. I laughed even more nervously. "Hailey! You didn't!" Now maybe she'd be upset about last night. I nodded. "What does it matter now if you're not getting back with him or not if you already gave it up to him?" Or not. I was beginning to like this girl more and more every minute.

"Okay you're making it seem like I slept with him…"

"You didn't… did you?" I glared at her.

"No! Of course not!" Not that I would have denied him given the chance. Wow, I'm horrible.

"Alright, well just make sure you watch yourself,"

I nodded, "make sure you watch me." She laughed. We finished getting ready, and off to the dance it was.

The gym was shining with decorations, although I hated 99% of the homecoming committee I had to admit I was impressed with their taste. Layla and I scanned the crowd for our group. Just as we were about to walk up to them Lash came up from behind me and tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around.

"Hey," he was wearing a typical long sleeved white and black striped shirt with a white vest over it. I raised an eyebrow and looked at him skeptically. "I can see you really stepped out of your comfort zone and dressed up."

Layla turned around obviously just noticing his presence. "Oh hey."

"Hey," he replied with a weak smile. Well… he was trying.

"Lash, this is Layla, Layla, Lash," they smiled at each other.

"You two look really nice," he complimented. We both smiled.

"Thanks, we know," I displayed my arrogance. Layla laughed. We walked up to Magenta, Zach, and Ethan who were standing by the refreshment table. Ethan froze when he saw Lash.

"Okay, if you're going to dunk my head in the toilet will you at least get it over with now?" he pleaded. Lash looked at me, I laughed a little.

"Relax Ethan, he's not here to dunk your head, he's my date," Ethan looked confused. Magenta looked at me, then Lash, then Layla. I knew in her head she was thinking about screaming some sense into me.

"Yeah, I'm not going to do any of that crap tonight," Lash added. I looked up at him.

"You know Lash, they might not be that afraid of you if you didn't harass them all year," I told him. Everyone laughed.

"Well you know Lash, you don't have to feel bad, all the guys at this school are jerks," Layla pitched in.

"Well thanks," we heard a voice say from behind us. Warren was standing there, hair combed (for probably the first time ever), wearing a tux.

"Warren, I thought you said you weren't going to rent a tux," Layla said. He shrugged.

"It's my dad's, he doesn't have a lot of use for it in solitary," he replied. Everyone laughed a little; the sad part is it was true. He glanced shyly over at me. I noticed him glance over at me then he finally noticed Lash. He looked confused but just smiled at me. Lash looked over at him and smiled. He offered his hand.

"Hey man, how's it going?" he asked. I was shocked that Lash was making the attempt. Maybe things will change. Warren looked down at Lash's hand and then over to me. I raised an eyebrow and smirked. He shook Lash's hand firmly and looked him in the eye. I half expected him to spark up and fry Lash. Surprisingly he forced a smile.

"Not a whole lot," Warren glanced back at me. I smiled slightly then shyly looked down. A slow song began playing; Lash grabbed my hand and pulled me out to the dance floor. Warren, Layla, Magenta, Ethan, and Zach moved their way to the edge of the room. I guess none of them felt like dancing. I glanced over at Warren who was starring at me and Lash. I pretended not to notice. I was just waiting for Lash and I to get torched. Lash looked down at me. His arms were wrapped around me and his hands resting on my hips. I had my arms wrapped around his neck as I twirled the tips of his hair around my finger like I had always loved to do. He smiled down at me and gazed into my eyes. I hated that, because no matter what I felt warm and safe, and even loved with him.

"So I'm really glad you said yes," he said to me.

"Well, you know, I can't say I didn't miss you," Wow, why did I just say that. So much for acting like I didn't want to be with him. Whatever, I can't change what I just said.

"You did?" 'No, I've secretly hated you this whole time idiot.' I thought. I smiled a little.

"Of course," I replied. He starred at me. I looked at him and smirked. He leaned down to kiss me. I turned my head so his lips landed on my cheek. He looked at me and laughed nervously. He leaned in to kiss me again. I backed up and pushed him away gently. What was coming over me, suddenly I didn't want him. I wasn't complaining it was a really liberating feeling, but still, it's so not how I expected myself to react. What made right now different from last night at the party? Could it be that Warren's here? That was it! It had to be. "Lash I… I can't…"

"Hailey but, last night, I thought, Hailey, I love you," What was happening to me. I felt sick. I had to get out of here.

"I… I gotta go…" I left the gym holding tears back. I leaned up against the wall and breathed deeply into my hands. I felt someone hovering over me. I looked up to see Lash. Before he even had the chance to say a word Warren walked up.

"You okay Hailey?" he asked. I looked and him. I wanted to run up and just bury myself in his arms, but I refrained from hugging anyone, or talking to anyone, or looking at anyone for that matter. After I'd had a minute I looked up at no one in particular. I sighed.

"I just want to go back in," I said. Lash looked at me with desperation.

"Don't,"

"And why's that,"

"Because… just please don't,"

"Not good enough Lash, later," I waved and grabbed Warren's sleeve dragging him towards the door. I pretended not to notice the smirk he flashed at Lash as we walked away. As we walked back into the dance I thought I heard Lash yell something about Gwen being a royal pain and ruining the dance, which of course I agreed with, but whatever, it didn't make sense why he would be saying something like that anyways. I shrugged it off and found the group again. Before we reached our friends Warren grabbed my arm and turned me around. I smiled at him. He hugged me. I buried my face in his shirt. I reluctantly backed away from him. I glanced behind him at Lash who was starring right at me. He looked angry. I watched as Penny and Speed joined him outside of the gym. I confused look flashed across my face. Warren held me at arms length away from him.

"Let's get back to the group," I suggested with a weak smile. He smiled back and kissed my forehead. I smiled and led him to our friends. Just as we were rejoining the group the Commander and Jetstream walked in. Principal Powers introduced them and introduced Gwen. I rolled my eyes. Just as I was about to make a wise crack about Gwen it hit me what Lash had said… well warned. By the time it clicked it was two late. Gwen was hitting the punch line.

"Today we honor the greatest super being the world has ever known… me!" A costume consumed her body and two electrical banners with the words "Royal Pain" written on them. The pacifier was hidden with in the podium. 'Royal Pain is right' I thought as I glanced around at my friends who had equally shocked looks on their faces. Time to think of a way out Hailey, no time, the Commander was a baby, and the rest of the crowd was on their way. We had to think of something, and fast.