I KNOW! It's been along while since I've updated, BUT I have good reason. I went back and went over all of the previous chapters and updated/edited them for you. So Now I can go on to provide new chapters because this story is not close to being done and I am back on track with it. Love you guys!

Chapter 26

Amelie emptied her dorm except for what she needed to get through finals. All of her music went home as did a good amount of her clothes, pictures—with the exception of the one on her desk with her and Reid—and other useless crap.

The sunshine split into the room in dusty rays. Next year this room would belong to some Freshman. Heart felt heavy at thinking about it. There were memories here and even though there weren't many, they still pricked her with nostalgia.

Strangely, she thought back to the beginning of the year and the day that some idiot had broken the school security. She never did find out who did it. She'd completely forgotten about it in fact. Aaron had been such and jerk and then there was Reid.

"Wow," Reid said from the doorway. "Bare."

Amelie stopped midsentence of her English Lit essay and swiveled around. Reid walked in and leaned down, pressing his hands to the edge of her desk, kissing her. Like every kiss, it was slow, and deep and dizzying. Like every time, she was left wanting more. A lot more.

"So is everything settled," he asked.

"Yes. Dad and Mom know you're coming to pick me up," she said.

"Good." He moved to the bed, lying back on the pillow.

"Don't you have class?"

Reid shrugged. Amelie shook her head and went back to her paper.

The Equinox was in a couple days and though she felt nervous. This wasn't some stupid charity event for her mother. This was for her, for everyone. Each time she thought about it her stomach rolled into knots.

"My parents won't be home so you can stay over," Amelie said, not looking up.

Reid's head turned to look at her. His eyes were widened, surprised.

"What about asshat?"

"Aaron…" Aaron hadn't divulged any plans to her. They quit talking.

Her eyes fluttered suddenly at feeling Reid play with her hair, pulling at the tail that poked out of her hair clip. An involuntary shiver moved down her spine and she half sighed and gasped at him kissing that spot right behind her ear.

"I have to finish this," she mumbled. Her hands had dropped from the keyboard.

"So nobody will be home…" he said, running his hands up her sides.

She could feel his grin on her ear.

"Nobody."

Turning her head, she met his lips with her own. Damn him. He pulled her up out of her chair and slammed the door shut with his foot as he moved toward the bed.

Amelie walked through the front doors and let out a deep breath. Finals were officially over. School was officially over. No more threats. No more assholes. No more…any of it.

In six weeks she'd be in LA living it up. She'd worked so hard for it, but tonight she wasn't working. Her fingers twitched with an ache to, but she ignored it.

"Wow, your house is big," Sarah said. She looked at Kate who was still taking it all in.

Amelie shrugged. That did make it easier to avoid Aaron. There were more avenues to take throughout the house so that she wouldn't have to see him.

"There are four bathrooms so we don't have to share to get ready," Amelie said.

Sarah's eyes widened even more. Amelie smirked.

"Thanks-" Gabriel said, breathing heavily as he came in behind them. "-for the help."

Three dresses, covered and on hangers were over his arms as well as four different suitcases that contained make-up, hair utensils, and other crap that Sarah insisted we needed. Gabriel dropped the bags by the stairs and set the dresses on the stair banister.

"Anybody hungry?" Gabriel offered.

"Food sounds good," Amelie said. "Pizza?"

She looked at Sarah and Kate. It had been agreed that they'd all eat before going to the formal. Amelie puffed her cheeks and moved to the couch as she pulled out her cellphone.

Kate and Sarah exchanged looks and then followed. Gabriel slunk out of the room. Amelie laughed under breath, knowing he did not want to be surrounded by fussy girls.

After eating, they all went upstairs. It was time to get ready. Halfway through her shower, Amelie contemplated calling Reid and telling him she didn't want to go anymore. Her nerves were so shaken. She turned the knob to make the water hotter. Her skin shaded pink to red. She dunked under the surface of the water and ran her hands through her hair as it flamed around her. It had grown quite a bit this year, reaching past the middle of her back. After shaving her legs, she got out of the tub, plucking plug and dangling it from the spigot.

Wrapping a towel around herself, she moved over to her iHome and pushed the button for the next song. She instantly relaxed and hummed to herself.

She took her time blow drying her hair, softening her skin with lavender shae, getting her face done; moisturizer first, then primer and then foundation. Tonight, nobody was going to threaten her. Nobody was going glare at her like she was the devil…she hoped.

She kept her face as close to natural as she could, brushing her eyelids with a dusting of silver and lining them with black eyeliner pencil. Her hair was clipped off to the side, similar to Rapunzel. For her lips, she settled on a pale pink.

There was a knock at her door. Amelie hadn't gotten her shoes on yet. She hurried to the door, expecting it to be Sarah needing help with her dress. Reid stood at the door, staring with an expression that Amelie had never seen before. His lips parted, but no words came out. Barely any air, brushed past them. Amelie bit the lower corner of her bottom lip. I look stupid. This whole thing is dumb.

She looked away, but Reid quickly tilted her face back.

"You look amazing," he said. "You're…I…am going downstairs before I ruin you."

A blush flourished Amelie's cheeks.

Downstairs, Gabriel offered Reid a beer, but he declined. He was not getting an ounce drunk. He didn't want a messed up head tonight. Not after he saw Amelie. He was going to remember everything tonight.

"I will be heading to H-U later on tonight," Gabriel said, eyeing him carefully.

Reid smirked and looked at Tyler who's nose flared and twitched, as he tried to not laugh. He knows we're having sex. How oddly satisfying.

He was one of the most important people in Amelie's life, so Reid didn't want to piss him off.

"Got it," he said.

"Hey!" Caleb called from the living room.

The girls were already downstairs. Tyler had managed to get a girl from H-U to go with him as his date. She was a sister at Cami's sorority. Each of the guys wore a tie, but Reid couldn't do it. The thing felt like a leash and while it would be fun to play with, he didn't feel like getting choked all night. Not unless that was something Amelie wanted to play around with and something told him that they would definitely be testing that out at some point.

Reid understood why The Equinox was such a big deal now, as he saw Amelie. Her smoky eyes didn't fall away from his. This was the final moment of Spenser Academy. This was the great goodbye.

Graduation was only next week. Reid swallowed hard. He'd thought about the future more and more lately.

God, she looks amazing. How do you say that without sounding cliche?

Amelie wrapped her arms around him, letting out a sigh. He smelled like chlorine. She smiled. He'd gone swimming before getting here. He did that when he was stressed.

Looking up, she met his eyes and he craned his neck, kissing her lightly.

Gabriel took a couple pictures of the group, trying not to make it super awkward. The request came from Amelie's mother to which Sarah prompted for copies.

They all filed out, Reid deciding that he and Amelie would take her car instead of the limo with the others. Amelie was grateful. He was driving. Once in the car, Reid took her hand and brought her fingers to his lips, not quite kissing them, just touching them. Her pulse quickened.

"I know this is something you probably wanted to do, so if you want to leave early we can," he said as they pulled up to Gallant Hall where The Equinox was held every year. The place was a castle.

"It's not that I don't want to go," Amelie said, leaning on the center arm rest. "I just never thought about it. I never needed to."

Reid smiled, giving her hand a light squeeze.

They got out and quickly took each other's hand, not liking that they had to let go. It was a little needy, but neither of them had gone to this big event. Neither really wanted to, but here they were. Inside, others from school had also transformed into swans. And they still gave smoky glares.

"They're just jealous of the sex," Reid muttered in her ear. Amelie rolled her eyes, elbowing him.

The ballroom was vast. An actual band was up on stage and they were pretty good…sort of. The corner of Amelie's mouth twitched whenever they missed a note. The lights weren't fancy chandeliers, but pale blue lights reminiscing the light of pale moonlight. Icicle lights hugged tall pillars and paper lanterns in the shape of starbursts scooped from place to place. The place looked like an enchanted forest.

Reid led Amelie out onto the dance floor that glimmered like crystal. He spun her around and her dress swished like the petal of a flower opening its petals. She wrapped her arms around his neck. His hands that rested on her upper arms moved over her shoulders down to her sides.

"I love this dress," he said. "Especially the back."

Amelie smirked.

"I thought you would," she said. "You have thing for my back.

"I have a thing for you," he clarified, flicking his eyebrows up once. His fingers tickled across a bare spot at her lower back, sending a delicious chill through to her stomach.

Song after song, Amelie let him lead her as she just melted into him. The night was perfect.

"Cutting in," Tyler said as Reid spun her.

Amelie was suddenly in the arms of The Simms. She looked around for Reid and saw him laughing off to the side as he made his way toward the table where Pogue and Kate sat.

"Not so bad, eh?" Tyler commented.

"Huh?" She turned back to the tall, broad brunette. Her eyebrows drew together with confusion.

"Reid," he said. "The guy can't dance for shit. He started taking a couple classes last month."

Couldn't dance? Amelie's eyebrows furrowed. He did a well enough job during Halloween…but then again that wasn't this kind of dancing. That was pre-sex dancing, foreplay. She laughed.

"Not so bad," she agreed.

"It's so weird that you two happen to be right for each other. You're both volatile," he said.

He wasn't wrong, but make-ups were worth it. Amelie let him talk, amused by it. And then suddenly Amelie was yanked harshly from the bubble they'd created and was dragged out to the lobby by the firm hand belonging to her brother.

"Oh shit," Reid muttered.

"Ow, what the hell?" Amelie snapped.

Aaron spun her around to face him.

"Is it true?" His eyes were lit with fury.

Amelie shook her head. What was he talking about?

"Is what true?"

'That you and Reid are only together to get at me," he pointed at his chest, furious.

Amelie blanched, swallowing hard.

"Hey." Reid came storming after them.

"Go back, Garwin before I beat your face in," Aaron snapped.

Amelie took an uneasy step back. He turned his anger back on her. His face turned deeper shades of re and the vein in his forehead pulsed.

"Well? Is it true!? Do you hate me that much that you'd fake date the person I hate the most?" Aaron grabbed her shoulders and shook her.

"Aaron," Amelie shook her head, not knowing what to say. Anytime, she could swing a great lie, but she was caught off-guard and one just wasn't coming to her.

He let go, pushing her and shook his head in disgust.

"It started out that way," Reid said. "but I swear, it's not like that now. I—"

Turning, Aaron swung his face, hitting Reid across the chin. Reid landed on his side. His bottom lip was split. A bead of blood pressed through.

"I would expect this from that piece of shit," Aaron pointed at Reid, "but I can't believe you, my own sister, would be a part of this. And, I suspected it at first. That's the worst part. I wondered, and you told me no. I believed you."

Aaron looked Amelie up and down with complete disgust then turned a stormed off. People coming in to catch the drama stared at the pair, whispering to one another.

"Oh go fuck yourselves!" Amelie shouted.

She knelt down beside Reid, taking his arm. He chuckled.

"I can't take you anywhere," he joked.

"Me?" She scoffed. "You're the one who got punched."

Reid met her eyes.

"I'm alright, if you were wondering," he said, quietly.

Amelie nodded. It was all she could do because she was wondering. Aaron could've torn him apart, but didn't. That was the most restraint she'd ever seen him have. That made her nervous.

"Hey," Reid brought her back from her thoughts. "Want to go?"

"Oh my god! I'm so sorry," Sarah exclaimed, her voice caught up and struggling to stay steady. She and Kate stopped next to them.

"We were joking about it and how you two were the worst and yet not-"

Reid gave her a flat glare and mutter inaudibly.

"Aaron overheard," Sarah finished for Kate.

Amelie shook her head and sighed. Of course. Fucktastic.

While the spectacle didn't bother Amelie, her mood was ruined. She nodded and helped Reid stand.

"Well, he knows now. Good thing we're graduating," Amelie said. "Go back. Enjoy your evening."

The girls hesitated, unsure, but disappeared back into the enchanted forest.

As Amelie turned for the exit, Reid held her wrist, stopping her. She looked back at him confused. Her entire body froze as he got down on one knee. Her eyes widened larger than a full moon. You've got to be fucking kidding me.

Reid moved for her heels and pulled the silver straps around her ankles down over her heels, slipping them off and did the same for the other one, relieving her of the torturous aches. Amelie let out a relieved sigh.

"Okay," he said.

He carried them for her. It was another gesture that she'd noted tonight.

"Careful," she said as they got to her car. "I'm starting to wonder if you've been invaded by pod people."

Reid scowled and tossed her heels to the back seat. He moved around the car to stand in front of her and pressed his hands against the car on either side of her. Amelie's hands moved up his chest, grabbing a hold of his jacket. She pulled him forward.

"Don't change on me now," she said under her breath.

"Not too much," he said with that knowing smirk.

They went back to the house. Amelie discovered that he'd already dropped his bag off here. Rummaging through it, she grabbed one of his t-shirts and went to get changed. As soon as the dress came off, pooling at her feet, she felt better. She put on a pair of shorts and Reid's t-shirt and then went back downstairs. Reid had already changed into his sweats and was settled on the couch.

She settled beside him, snuggling into his side. His lip had quit bleeding, but was swollen. Aaron had gotten a good hit in. Though the TV was on, she couldn't focus on it. Reid wrapped his arm around her, resting his hand on her thigh.

The touch was enough. Electricity surged up, coiling her stomach. They weren't going to lounge around the rest of the night. Not if she could help it. The stormy gaze in Reid's eyes was enough of an agreement.

He craned his head, pressing his lips to hers and soon enough, pressing her whole body into the couch with his.

"Wearing my clothes is certainly working for me," he said low, parting for only a moment.

Amelie kissed him back in response. It deepened immediately and Reid reached down, tucking his hands underneath her and lifted her effortlessly. Amelie grunted at her back being pressed to a wall.

He knew the way to her bedroom easily, but that's not where he went. When Amelie broke for breath she noticed they were in the parlor. A useless room. Nobody used it. Not until now anyway.

He set her down on the elegant chaise. His hands, tucked under her knees, he pulled her to met him, making her gasp. The spots were ticklish. That and the way he pressed down on her, tightening that coil in her stomach tightening even more. A fire burned in the fireplace.

Reid wasted no time moving up underneath her shirt-his shirt- and tossing it aside. The warm air coarsed goosebumps across her skin. It was bound to be a long night and certainly better than The Equinox now. Reid nipped at her neck, making her giggle hysterically. The giggles morphed into the a sudden moan when he moved lower over her chest causing her to arch up into him as she threaded her finger through his hair.

Tonight was going to be a long night.

Review because on some really deep level you've missed me? Maybe?