CHAPTER 10

"What part of 'keep her close' do you not understand?" Caine shouted as he paced across their dormitory. Drake rolled his eyes, knowing this was the beginning of one of Caine's painfully long and annoying speeches. If he was anyone else, Drake wouldn't put up with this, but it was Caine. He had to. "…breaking up with her is the exact opposite of what I asked you to do! We have a 3 bar on our hands, a 3 bar, we need as many powers as we can get Drake and you were actually going out with her-"

"We weren't going out." Drake muttered, interrupting him. "We just kissed a few times…"

"Did you not see her face when you ended it? She was gutted, you had her wrapped around your finger and you BLEW it! And why? I don't even know! All I know is that you're going to get her back. NOW." Drake's gritted his teeth and shook his head.

"No I'm not." He said quietly, dangerously. Caine glared.

"Um, what?"

"I said, I'm not. If you want her, go and get her yourself. I'm not going anywhere near that bitch again, except maybe to re-decorate her face." Caine stared at him disbelievingly. Drake didn't disobey him; no one did, except Diana. And if she was anyone else he wouldn't put up with it.

"Because, Drake." He said through gritted teeth. "I have a girlfriend." Drake shrugged.

"Well I don't, and I don't want one." Caine was fuming now as he raised his hand, palm outwards threateningly.

"Go and get her back or I'll make you." He said. Drake shrugged.

"You can't make me," He said coolly. "You can hurt me all you want, but you can't make me. Look mate, I'm not trynna go against you or anything. Well, not right now anyway. I'm just not doing anything that involves that girl. End of." Caine stared at him for a while longer, and then dropped his hand, defeated.

"Whatever." He muttered leaving the room. Drake had just disobeyed him and got away with it, he should feel triumphant, happy. But instead all he felt was an empty feeling in his chest where, if he concentrated more in Biology, he would know his heart sat.

Rose tried to keep from nodding off as she sat through their weekly assembly. Mr McLeary had been droning on what felt like the past hour and she didn't think she could stay awake for much longer.

"…So, in conclusion, a good student is an organised student. Make sure you always bring your homework and books to every lesson. Thank you." There was a patter of applause that came from the few teachers in the room. The students were all asleep or wishing they were. "Oh, and just to remind everyone of the annual dance on the last day of term. And also to say that if there is a repeat of the incident last year it will have to end early and the culprits will be in severe trouble…" What he said next was drowned out by the excited talking of everyone in the hall. Rose turned to Brianna, confused.

"The annual dance?" She asked, Brianna nodded.

"Yep, every year the school holds a dance in here, it's normally a lot of fun. Especially last year!" She chuckled and Rose raised an eyebrow. "Someone spiked the punch and everyone got very drunk, including a few teachers!" Rose smiled weakly but inside her heart sank. She didn't have anyone to go with! Brianna clocked on to her thoughts and placed a hand on her shoulder comfortingly.

"Hey, come on Rose, the guys ask the girls, you're definitely not gonna be short of offers, have you looked in the mirror lately?" Rose shrugged disbelievingly, Brianna rolled her eyes.

"Look, if there's one thing I've learnt from reading the amount of magazines I've read at meal times these past few years, its advice on bagging a boy. And rule no. 1? You've got to be confident, you're gorgeous Rose, believe it." Rose grinned at her tomboy friend giving her style advice but hugged her anyway.

"Thanks Bee and I'm actually looking forward to this dance." Brianna nodded encouragingly, and then Rose collapsed into giggles. "I'll get to see you wearing a beautiful frilly dress!" Brianna rolled her eyes, but smiled anyway and Rose noticed the girl sitting next to her, a black girl she knew to be called Dekka from being in the same Geography class, looking at Brianna interestedly. But then they were leaving for Period 1 and Rose turned away.

Rose got her first offer during French. She was doodling at the back, bored listening to Madame Renaud babbling on in gobbledegook when Sara passed her a note.

'Rose,

Voulez-vous aller à la danse avec moi ?

Raymond'

She frowned at it, and then nudged Sara.

"What does it say?" She whispered.

"Raymond wants to go to the dance with you." She whispered back.

"Which one's Raymond?"

"Front row, on the left." Rose looked over to where Sara had said and saw a fit guy with tanned skin and dark hair, Italian looking, sitting there. She raised her eyebrows. Oui oui, she thought to herself. Sara noticed her expression and shook her head.

"Um, no…next to Antonio…" She whispered, and Rose leant to the right slightly to see a nerdy looking boy, very small and weedy with too much curly ginger hair and watery blue eyes too close together. She wrinkled up her nose and scrawled at the bottom of the note:

Non merci xx

Then she passed it to Sara to pass back to Raymond. It's well enough having a load of offers Brianna, she thought to herself, but I would rather like to have one from an actually decent looking guy…

It was now Thursday, the dance was on Sunday, and overall Rose had been asked by 5 people to go to the dance. The first was obviously Raymond. The second, a large brutish kid called Panda. Then third was an overly confident 1st year, 5th and sixth had been an Asian kid called Qi which was quite appropriate as he definitely had a high QI, being number one student in every class Rose had with him, and a boy suffering from a severe acne problem called Gregward. Rose sighed as she stood with Brianna at her locker. Brianna was laughing as Rose had just told her her tale of woe. Brianna had had 2 offers, the first from a gag-worthy guy with an ego big enough for about 20 people. The second from a cute Irish guy in their year called Finn. She'd told the second yes.

"…I feel kinda bad going with Finn though," she admitted to Rose. "You know that girl Dekka? She looked seriously upset when he asked me. I think she likes him." Rose shook her head.

"Nah, I doubt it. He's not really her type. Anyway, she's pretty, I'm sure she'll bag a nice guy herself." Then she sighed. "I'm gonna end up going on my own, aren't I? Maybe I should have said yes to Gregward…he was the best out of the lot of them…" Brianna laughed.

"Umm, no. I think you're probably better off going solo than with him. Anyway, there's 3 days to go, I'm sure you'll get someone." She closed her locker as she said it and they walked off to Lunch. Just then Rose felt someone grab her arm. She turned to see a gorgeous guy with tanned skin and scruffy brown hair, conker-brown eyes and a cute smile smiling at her. He was a lot taller than her and she had to look up at him.

"Um, hullo?" She smiled.

"Hey Rose, I'm Talen. I'm in your History class?" Ah, History, no wonder she didn't recognise him. She'd been a bit, err, preoccupied in History. Still, she was surprised she hadn't noticed him, he was very handsome. "Anyway," He continued, she noticed he had a very nice voice, quite deep and soothing. "I was just wondering if you wanted to maybe go to the dance? Like, with me? I know you've probably already been asked by someone, I left it kinda late, I was just a bit shy about asking you…" He smiled humbly and Rose was amazed someone that good looking wasn't completely full of themselves. She smiled back.

"No, I haven't actually. And yes, I'd love to go with you." He grinned.

"Cool, see you then…thanks Rose!" And with that he walked off back to his friends who were standing close by. They all high-5ed him when he reached them and Rose laughed, turning to Brianna. Brianna was giving her the double thumbs up.

"Omg Rose! Talen Tatum? THE most beautiful and amazing guy, like, ever? Your pulling powers amaze me…" Rose smiled, blushing.

"I know me too…" And laughing, they headed off to lunch.

Drake scowled into his locker. Talen Tatum's locker was right next to his, so he had heard everything. Anger filling him, he decided that two could play at that game. If Rose was going to the dance with 'the most beautiful and amazing guy, like, ever', then Drake would have to find a pretty hot girl to compete. He thought a blonde would annoy Rose the most. Oh, and a cheerleader. He smirked, that wasn't a problem with him…