My parents were at this huge party-ball-type thing. A gala I think it was called. Everyone had to dress all fancy and be sophisticated. None of the younger kids had to come along. By younger kids, I mean the kids younger than sixteen. So, Milo and Ivory, or any of the sets of twins or triplets- minus Lily since she was dating Lucas ( stupid exceptions). Everyone else, including the band's kids had to come. I honestly had no idea why we all had to come. There was no reason- I mean: are we being tortured?!

Sure there were other kids there too but, come on, when have you known me to have a decent conversation with people other than my family?

All the guys were wearing either really clean cut dress clothes or suits. Tyler and Lucas were, as many other teens, wearing clean cut dress clothes whereas the adults were wearing suits. All the girls had to wear dresses. I was wearing a black, sparkly dress that ended in a slant. It landed right above my knee on my right leg and on my left leg, it ended mid-shin. There was only one sleeve and it was a cold-shoulder type dress too. (dress on profile) I wore simple black strap heels with it.

Nikki went all out in the girlie department. Her dress was floor length and it was rose pink. It had tons of ruffles and had no straps. (Suck at descriptions so the picture is on profile)

Lily was wearing a simple blue dress that had a halter top and went to the floor.

Jessie was wearing a red dress that had off the shoulder sleeves and went to her knees.

Anyway, I was talking to Lily, Jess, and Nikki while Lucas and Tyler were chatting it up with some guys they met here. A waiter walked by and I grabbed a champagne flute, Nikki, Jess, and Lily joining in. As soon as I took a sip, I stopped and grabbed Lily's.

"Mm-mm." I shook my head at her, swallowing the fluid. "You are not having champagne."

"Why not? You're not my mom." She said, swallowing some champagne she was able to get before I flew in. (Pun intended)

"I don't want you to get drunk." I told her.

She narrowed her eyes. "For your information, I've done shots before- this is nothing." I gave her the drink and she continued to drink it.

We were all laughing and having a little bit of fun, just being ourselves. We got bored at one point and all sat down at a round table. A song came on that I absolutely adored and Ty came over to me. He held his hand out for me to take. I set my glass down and stood. I took his hand.

TPOV:

My parents made me and Nikki come to this stupid gala with the rest of the Flock and some of the kids and band members. I have no idea why we came…at first.

Max and Fang came over to me. Fang had his arm around Max's waist.

"Tyler," Max started. After a minute of silence, she bit her lip and shut her mouth. Max was never really good at saying what was on her mind- we all knew that.

"Mandy's favorite song is I Will Follow You Into The Dark by Death Cab For Cutie." Fang winked and they walked away.

O…kay, then. What was THAT about? I peered at Mandy from the corner of my eye and saw her laughing with Nikki, Jess, and Lily. Lucas came up to me.

"Dude." He said with all seriousness. I raised an eyebrow. Since when does Luke say Dude? "Request the song."

"Why?"

"Don't you want Mandy to fall in love with you?" He shrugged. "It's sort of the best way. Dance to her favorite song and then she'll love you."

"Why are you so supportive about this? You're her brother, you're supposed to threaten me."

He just laughed. "Just play the song." He went to leave but paused. "If you hurt her, you're dead." He left after that.

I casually went over to the DJ. I told him the song and paid him 5 bucks so he would play it next. The song came on right away and I went over to Mandy. I held my hand out to her and she took it after setting the champagne flute on the table. Nikki, Jess, and Lily winked at me, all mouthing the words "good luck."

I led Mandy over to the dance floor and I put my hand on her hip while grabbing her hand in my other. She rested her other hand on my shoulder. I held her close to me. She rested her head on my shoulder. We swayed to the music and I immediately relaxed.

This is Mandy I'm talking about. I mean, she wouldn't be disgusted by me if I say I love her…would she? What if she doesn't love me back? Aw, shit, what do I do?

"How did you know I like this song?" She whispered to me, a smile in her voice.

"A little birdie told me." I responded, smirking at my little pun. "I thought this would be a nice little gift to you."

She chuckled a little bit. "Why are you trying to spoil me? This isn't how you normally act." She pulled her head away from my shoulder to stare into my eyes.

"You deserve a little spoiling, Mandy. A lot has happened and I think you deserve some happiness." I told her honestly.

She started to lean up and I met her halfway.

Our lips met.

MPOV:

I kissed Tyler. I worked my lips slowly against his, loving the sweet taste of him.

I felt like something was wrong. Like I shouldn't be doing this. I mean, he was my best friend, for God's sake! I couldn't…I WOULDN'T love him. If anything happened, nothing would ever be the same between us. It would be awkward and we wouldn't be friends anymore. We wouldn't be able to stand each other.

So this is why I did it.

I pulled away from Tyler, getting out of his embrace. "No, I can't. Tyler, I'm sorry." I held back my tears. If this was the only way to protect him, then so be it. In order to maintain our friendship, I'll break my heart- and possibly his.

"Mandy?" He was confused, as upset as I was.

"I'm sorry, Ty. I just- I can't. I'm so sorry but don't think of me that way ever! We need to stay friends." I spun on my heel quickly and all but ran out of the building, leaving Tyler standing in the middle of the dance.

TPOV:

I had had my hand outstretched to her, wanting her to come back. I closed my hand and put it back to my side, walking off the dance floor and to the other exit with my head down. I passed Max and Fang.

Max put a hand on my arm. "Tyler…she's just confused. Don't worry." She gave my arm a comforting squeeze.

"Thanks, Max, but I heard what Mandy meant." I walked out. And I did know what she meant. She didn't want me nor did she love me. I guess there's nothing I can do to make her love me the way I do to her. I sighed and sat down on the stone steps outside the door.

I was playing with my tie when I heard sniffling and hushed voices. I strained my ears.

"Mandy, look, just go back in there and talk to him." Nikki's voice came clear.

"No, Niks! Alright? I can't go back there- I just broke my best friend's heart. I won't be able to look at him again!" Mandy was crying, I knew that much. "Not after what I just did."

"Mandy, he is your best friend and you are his everything. He won't give up because of that." Nikki paused. "If you love him, why did you reject him?"

"What makes you think I love him?" She asked, sniffling gone.

"Well, you're crying and you just broke your own heart when telling him you want to stay friends." She stated it as if it was obvious.

There was a hesitation. "I do love him- a lot." My eyes widened and my heart beat faster. "But I can't be with him." Well, thank you, Mandy! Way to rip my ecstatic heart out and stomp on it! "If I'm with him and something happens, we wouldn't even be able to be in the same room."

"But nothing will happen." Lucas' voice rang through. He was there now too? "I looked into Mom's head."

"And?" Mandy asked. There was silence for a while. "Ah. I see…well, I guess-"

"Hey, guys, what are you doing out here? There's a fight inside, come see!" Uncle Iggy interrupted. There was noise in the background, mostly because he was holding the door open.

What was she going to say? What did Luke tell her? Will he tell me? Ah, so many questions!!