A/N:OHMYGOD!THISISTHEFIRSTTIMEI'MNOTSTARTINGMYA/NOFFWITHANAPOLOGY!Todaywasanawesomeday!MyparentsareinOkinawaforbusiness,I'meatingahugetuboficecream,andIFINISHEDTHISCHAPTERINANHOUR!YAY!Igotsomanyreviewslasttime!Well,inmyopiniontheywerealot.Oh,andifyouguysarewonderingaboutMaryTodd,she'llcomelater.You'llsee*laughslikeamaniac,endsinahugecouchingfit.*Thissuckishchapterisdedicatedtoallofmyreviewers!Cece,TheBrazilianGirl,Sugar,Ronnie,andRandomPerson!Thankyousomuch!

"You're sure that's the right one?" Destiny asked, frowning at the metallic tube of crimson in her purse.

Hope leaned on the window of Destiny's emerald green Porsche, a groan threatening to rise up her glossy lips.

"Yes, Destiny! That is the exact same shade I applied! Jeez, why in the name of all that is wonderful do you care so much?" Hope crashed against the car's leather seats, her eyes automatically shutting as nervous yet excited thoughts swirled around her head.

What if she fell down? What if she tripped over her dance partners feet? What if shedidn'tgetaskedtodance? Oh Lord. What if-whatifVikramaskedhertodance? What if she threw up on him or what if-

"YO! Earth to Hope Cahill? Don't ignore me! "Destiny was leaning over Hope, grasping her shoulders and shaking them with all of her might. Hope's entire body shook violently.

Hope pursed her lips, and haltingly scooted away from her friend. "I'm not ignoring you," she stated simply, her intelligent eyes widening slightly of their own accord.

Destiny snorted, and wriggled back to her own seat. "Anyway, you were asking me why I cared so much,"

"I was?" Hope moaned, earning a glare from Destiny.

"Uh, yeah, I think so," she answered, crossing her legs and tapping her left shin with her right heel.

"You sure?" Hope asked wearily, not looking forward to hearing another one of Destiny's exaggerated rants, which would possibly mean nothing but gibberish.

Destiny rolled her eyes, and twirled the edge of her silky braid on her finger. "So I wanted the exact shade of lipstick, 'cause when Dominique kisses me, and my lipstick is like all over his face and stuff-won't he look adorable?- then if two different colors are smeared all over his face, then everyone will think that after he kissed me he made out with another chick! And Dominique is, like, sosweet! He would never cheat on a girl! Like, ever, and-"

Destiny's mouth closed as she saw the bewildered expression on Hope's face. Hope often had this expression on her face, and it usually was code for "Destiny, you idiot."

"Dez?" Hope wavered, massaging her temples. "I highly doubt that Dominique will /keep/ the lipstick smudge all over his face after you guys make out. If you make out. Somehow, I doubt that will happen."

Destiny eyes which had been glazed over dreamily for the past few minutes, were replaced with a fierce blue flame. She was about to open her mouth to retort, when the car rolled to a stop in front of the school.

The hired chauffeur (apparently Destiny refused to have her father drive her) rolled down the privacy screen, and angled the rearview mirror so that he could see them.

"We're here," he stated dryly, his hawk like grey eyes glinting in the mirror, as he looked Destiny sternly in the eye. Hope noticed Destiny shift around nervously for a moment. The apprehensive glance Destiny shot her didn't go unnoticed either.

"'Kay, thanks. Let's go Hope," she said cheerfully, no sign of agitation on her features.

Destiny hopped out of the bright-colored car gaily, Hope right behind her. The two of them walked through the doors of the school, Destiny shooting a flirtatious smile at every good-looking senior she saw, and Hope turning her head the other way whenever she spotted a guy checking her out.

When they walked into the gym, the entire place seemed like an entirely different place. Twinkling jewel-like lights in colors like lilac, jade, and topaz hung from the ceiling, reflection on the shiny silver paper the walls had been covered in. The floor seemed sparkly, and loud, upbeat music played throughout the entire area.

Destiny immediately spotted Dominique, and ran up to him, grinning animatedly, but Hope gulped, dreading the event of dancing with someone. Her dance partner, whoever that would be, would go home with sore toes that night. Very sore toes.

"You look stunning," a voice that had complimented her one toomany times said, snapping her out of her reverie. Oh crap. He had to speak to her now. Stupid life.

Hope turned around to see Eisenhower Holt smiling at her. Just kidding. It was actually Vikram, dressed in a black and crimson silk tie, looking so gorgeous Hope could have kissed him. No wait. That was an exaggeration.

"Thanks," she murmured quietly, "But right now, I would like to be anywhere but here!"

Vikram chuckled, and gave her a cocky grin. She hadn't seen that grin for ages. He glanced from side to side and looked back at her, only his smirk wasn't as blatantly arrogant as before, and he looked slightly worried.

"What's wrong?" Hope blurted, sensing his worry. Her green eyes were met by Vikram amber ones, and he seemed to be more worried than before.

"I'm fine," he coolly replied. "Dance with me, Hope," he held out one hand, and gestured to the dance floor with another.

Ohsnap, Hope thought her eyes darting nervously to the dance floor, where couples were now slow dancing.

"I d-don't dance," Hope replied, tucking a red curl behind her ear. "Actually, I d-do, but I don't know if I can in these shoes, a-a-and I-well-I'm scared I'll throw up on you or-or maybe I'll faint, or-" Hope babbled, but was interrupted by a soft laugh.

"It wasn't a question Hope! Let's dance!" Vikram said playfully, but there was a hint of worry in his voice.

Hope studied him with wide eyes for a moment, debating with herself whether or not she would dance with him, but she finally gave in.

Placing her slender hand in Vikram's larger one, she said "Why are you so worried?"

Vikram didn't answer, but gently guided her to the dance floor. When Hope's arms encircled his neck, and his arms were snugly around Hope's waist (this involved much blushing on Hope's part, I assure you), Vikram leaned in slightly. Hope found her herself leaning in as well.

Just as Vikram opened his mouth to say something, Hope gently pressed her lips to his. For an entire minute, lips moved in a synchronized pattern against each other, and soft groaning sounds were heard from the two teenagers. The Hope gently pulled away, embarrassed, to see Vikram smiling at her, his cheeks just as red.

"Finally," he drawled. "You kiss me for a change!"

Hope lowered her head, and she felt like her skin was on fire. What was she thinking? "I thought you wanted me to kiss you," she mumbled inaudibly. "You were leaning in and I thought-I thought-"

"I wasn't planning on kissing you yet," Vikram smiled, the crimson of his cheeks slowly fading. "I was waiting for a more private and romantic location. A garden perhaps."

Hope looked at him in surprise, and he laughed at her expression.

"I was leaning in to tell you something," he lowered his voice, and pulled Hope slightly closer to him, "my father is receiving reports from his field agents that-"

Suddenly, the lights went out, and the loud BANGof a gun was heard. Only later did Hope realized that if they hadn't kissed-if shehadn't kissed him. They could have prevented the next few events which would change the pair's futures. Forever.

Oh no! What's gonna happen! And no, they will not be held hostage by the you-know-whos. Kinda, but not really. The lipstick conversation is one I just had with my best friend's sister last night! She was screwed in the head. The kiss was just for you, Cece, if you're reading this! Reviews would b awesome! CC even better!