Sky.

'This dress is far too poufy.' I said, shaking my head in the sea of black tulle. Jas nodded in agreement, spinning around in a white dress that looked more bridal than prom as Zoe and Tina danced around in their own sparkly numbers. Clare had kindly called a bunch of designers who had sent designs here for us to try, masquerade masks included, and it was like having our own glamorous party. I imagined this was what it would be like if I ever were to get married. Amy and Violet posed as Zoe snapped some photographs of us in our dresses. I grabbed another one off of the rack, this one silver. 'It has to be black or grey.'

'What's wrong with angelic white?' Jas asked but I could hardly explain the vision problem.

'Maybe I don't want to look angelic.' I said, simply.

Zoe wiggled her eyebrows. 'So have you and Zed broken up?'

'It's complicated.'

'Very. I found Nathan Smith here earlier.' Jas said with a cheeky smile and I threw a cushion across the room at her.

'Nathan Smith was here? What? Why?' Zoe's eyes widened. 'Are you dating him now?'

'What kind of girl do you think I am?' I frowned. 'Of course I'm not dating Nathan. He's a friend.'

'Why was he here?' Amy asked with amusement.

'Because he needed help writing a song.' I folded my arms across my chest. 'Even if I was over Zed, I wouldn't go out with his cousin. That's totally messed up.'

'So you're not over him?' Zoe quizzed.

'Of course not.' My voice cracked a little and I looked away. 'You can't just get over someone like that.' Not when you loved them and not when they were your soulfinder. That made things even more complicated than they knew about.

'Do you think maybe you guys could work it out?' Violet asked. 'Because you were a super cute couple and he's clearly not over you. He's been moping around all week.'

'I don't know.' I sighed, leaning against the chaise longue. Part of me wanted to but the other half was going to be reminded of betrayal every time I looked at him.

'What about this dress?' Tina asked and I was thankful for the change in subject. She held up a gorgeous black number with its matching mask.

'I think that may be the one.'

I can do this, I can do this, I can do this. I told myself as I looked in the mirror at my reflection the following Monday morning. In black riding boots with my uniform and a tight dutch braid across my head, I decided I looked fierce. I picked up my books and my new black handbag and headed to breakfast with Zoe and Tina as they chatted away with excitement about the upcoming ball. There would be no time that weekend for prep; a load of assignments were due Monday so that was how I was going to be spending the week and weekend- studying.

'Study party tonight?' Tina suggested.

'Sure.'

'Sky!' I turned on my heels to see Violet jogging towards me.

'Hello.' I smiled, aware that a few students were looking my way as they passed.

'I need a huge favour!' She said.

'Oh?'

'Will you come by the dance studio later? We're a dancer down for our flashmob at the ball next week.'

'I….'

'Please?' Violet pleaded. 'I'll owe you.'

'But aren't I behind in rehearsals?'

'Not at all.' She shook her head. 'We've not taught everyone the choreography yet so today is perfect.' I looked at Tina and Zoe, who gave me reassuring smiles. 'And I'm sure you'll pick everything up quickly.'

Too quickly, I said into my head. She had no idea. 'Fine, okay.'

'I love you!' She beamed, hugging me. 'Dance studio at four?'

'Sure.'

I turned around to face the dining room and sucked in a breath, trying not to respond to my heart fluttering at the sight of Zed sat with Drake and their friends. Drake looked my way and gave me a smile and then Zed did the same. I met his eyes, keeping my best poker face and then I moved towards the food, Tina and Zoe hurrying after me. I walked with purpose, training my eyes ahead of me as I grabbed some cereal and fruit, part of my healthy-eating routine I'd started the previous week. I then headed to the table where Nelson and Seb were already sat.

'Hello stranger.' Nelson grinned at me.

'Hey Nelson, hey Seb.' I said to my friends, who looked almost relieved to see me.

'We've missed you.'

'You have?'

'Yes.' Seb nodded. 'It's good to have you back.'

'Alright miss speedster.' Tina said, sitting down beside me after she gave Nelson a quick peck on the cheek. 'Cheers for leaving us back there.'

'I needed to get out of Zed's eyeline.' I mumbled.

'Easier said than done.' Zoe's eyes looked over my head and I knew that he was still watching me, his eyes burning a hole in the back of my head. 'I feel like we've jumped back a few months in time.'

'You and me both.' I said as Seb gave me a sympathetic smile. I tucked into my cereal, despite not feeling very hungry, as my friends studied me in their silence. A conversation was going on between them; not telepathic as they weren't savants, but they were exchanging looks like 'mere mortals' often did, the unsaid things hanging in the air with their expressions.

'You've lost weight.' Seb said softly. 'Don't waste away, will you?'

'I've just changed my diet and started working out a lot.' I replied. 'It's a good stress reliever.' And I'd dropped a dress size, but I didn't need to point that out.

'Be careful.'

'I'm actually healthier and stronger than ever.' I told him. 'Are you at dance rehearsals later?'

'Of course.'

'Then just watch.' I winked at him and downed my drink before standing with my tray. I held my head high as I walked to the cleaning station, passing Zed's table without even glancing his way once.

Zed.

Something had changed. Sky had lost weight for one thing, that much was obvious from the uniform she wore, which looked new, right down to her new long boots. But even the way she walked, stood up straight, was new. Like she was fearless and strong. It was the complete opposite from me. I felt weak and vulnerable and pathetic. I'd let my soulfinder slip out of my grasp and it had left me broken, but Sky… she almost seemed powerful. And she looked older, less fragile. I wondered if it was all a front or if she was the same on the inside as I was; broken and afraid. I found myself watching her in music class as she played the piano, the one thing that showed she was still the same person. She still played with passion and her face still lit up as she played and her body relaxed for the first time I'd noticed that day. I tried to slip into her mind, now that she was more relaxed but the barrier was still there, shutting me out. How had she learnt to have such a strong shield up? Before it had been weak and unstable and I'd been able to pick thoughts out of her head but now I couldn't even do that.

The bell rang, indicating the end of the day and I stood first, storming out of the room and past my peers. I couldn't have lost her. No way. I wasn't giving up that easily.

Sky.

Seb's mouth dropped into an 'o' shape as he joined me in the dance studio, no longer leaving me as the only person there. I sat on the floor in the splits, stretching and he shook his head.

'Did you take up gymnastics or yoga or something?'

'Something like that.' I said with a sly smile.

'Well Zed's going to be even more gutted when he finds that out.' He said, cheekily. He threw his bag on the bench beside mine. 'I've never seen him so cut up over a girl but I guess you're pretty special, huh?'

'Hardly.' I scoffed. I moved my legs together as I shuffled onto my bum and then I pushed myself up. I grabbed my water bottle from the bench. 'Is there always a flash mob at the ball?'

'It's only happened once or twice.' Seb replied. 'Here's to hoping we're dance partners again.' He knocked his bottle against mine and took a swig as Violet and Amy came in. We didn't have to wait long for the rest of the crew to arrive and we were soon sat around, stretched and ready for the girls to say something.

And then Nathan Smith walked in and the room went wild. I raised an eyebrow as I looked at him, wondering if he had started stalking me.

'Calm down guys.' Violet laughed, but she was just as flushed. 'Nathan is here as our final member of the dance crew.'

Seb shot me a puzzled look and then I realised Rhys was missing. Had he been kicked out from the team?

'Now, it's top secret knowledge but Nathan is actually performing at the ball next week.' Violet continued. 'And he wants a grand entrance so I thought we'd combine the flash mob with his entrance.' She grinned excitedly as I looped my fingers under my knees, lacing my hands together. 'We've choreographed a dance to Money and we'll dance up until the bridge where Nathan will start singing and he'll unmask himself.' She turned to the dancers. 'Amy, you're with Seb. Liza-Marie, you're with Greg. Sky, you're with Nathan…'

Nathan came towards me and pulled me to my feet. 'Fancy seeing you here.'

'Was this a set up?' I asked him, warily.

'It's an extra hour-thirty a day where you're safe.' He said simply with a smile.

'I can look after myself.'

'So you keep saying but I think we'll all feel better about it if we know you've got back-up just incase.'

'Does Zed know you're here?'

'No.' He looked awkward for a moment. 'Because he'd much rather be protecting you himself.'

My heart fluttered and I found myself speaking before I could stop myself. 'How is he?'

'He's not doing so good.' Nathan said, his eyes sad. 'He's completely torn up over the whole thing.'

Guilt overwhelmed me and I struggled to push it aside.

'Let's learn this routine.' Violet grinned, starting the music.

Of course, Nathan and I didn't need to learn it. Because, according to everyone else, we were 'naturals.'

Zed.

Two weeks of torture. That was how long it had been since I'd last held Sky in my arms. I stared at my music assignment and frowned. It was completely unlike me to pour my thoughts and feelings out in an assignment or in any capacity. But my assignment, about how music could evoke memories, was filled with emotion (and some important reading material of course). My mates would rip me to pieces if they read it, so I quickly put it into the envelope, ready to be handed in the next day. I looked at the photograph on my noticeboard of Sky and I on New Year's Eve dancing together and I sighed. It was my favourite picture of the two of us; we both looked so ridiculously happy and love and electricity hung between us, the chemistry clear. And now it was just awkward glances in class and hallways as we passed each other. I looked at the tuxedo and mask that hung from the back of my door, ready for the ball the following week.

Strangely, I couldn't think of a worst way to spend Valentine's Day; staring from behind a mask at the girl I just couldn't seem to have.

Sky.

Monday had been more flowers. Tuesday had been chocolates. And then Wednesday was when the love notes had started coming. One was delivered Wednesday morning and another one was delivered after dinner that evening. And Thursday. And then again Friday morning.

I sat on my bed after classes on Friday, Valentines Day, staring at the envelope in my hands. I was afraid to open it. Normally the notes were in smaller envelopes, little quotes, like the Moulin Rouge one I'd found on Wednesday: I will love you until my dying day.

But this envelope was larger. A love letter maybe? I sucked in a deep breath and carefully tore open the envelope and I started reading the letter, in Zed's surprisingly neat handwriting.

Sky,

I've spent hours contemplating the words to say to you but no combination of twenty six letters could ever accurately capture just how you make me feel and how it feels to be without you.

Love is more than words and it's more than a sentence on a piece of paper so I've written you a song. Please listen to it.

Yours always, Zed

I picked up the memory stick in my lap and turned it around in my fingers, contemplating the choice. I could not watch it, but then I'd always wonder what was on it. Or I could watch it and break down into tears. Where were Tina and Zoe when I needed them?

I sighed and took a risk; I picked up my laptop and slipped the memory stick into the USB port.

Zed came onto the screen immediately and my heart fluttered. He didn't say anything. Instead, he started to strum on his guitar and he closed his eyes as he sang.

'Waking up to kiss you and nobody's there
The smell of your perfume still stuck in the air
It's hard
Yesterday I thought I saw your shadow running round
It's funny how things never change in this old town
So far from the stars.'

His deep blue eyes opened to look at the camera and it felt like he was looking into my soul as he sang.

'And I want to tell you everything
The words I never got to say the first time around
And I remember everything
From when we were the children playing in this fairground
Wish I was there with you now

If the whole world was watching I'd still dance with you
Drive highways and byways to be there with you
Over and over the only truth
Everything comes back to you.'

It wasn't until the song ended that I realised I was crying. Zed turned the camera off, his eyes sad as he gave a small smile and my heart ached as the tears rolled down my cheeks. There was no getting away from it; despite everything, I missed him and without him there was a part of me missing.

'Time to get ready!' Zoe sang as she and Tina walked into my room armed with make-up bags, curlers and their dresses. Her face fell when she spotted me sobbing and she and Tina dropped everything, hurrying towards me to embrace me. They pulled me into a snug as I sniffed, finally, for the first time in weeks, letting my shield down.

Zed.

My eyes were red and no eyedrops could save them. I straightened my bowtie and tried to ignore the look of concern that Drake and Yves were giving me. It was the same sympathetic gaze they'd been giving me for weeks and it was starting to get on my nerves.

'What?' I hissed at them and they both looked away, deciding not to push me further.

I wondered if Sky had actually watched the song I'd written for her or if she'd put the memory stick straight into the bin. The thought made me wince. I drifted off to Sky's mind and was surprised when I found that the barrier wasn't there. She'd dropped her shield. And she was hurting. She was getting ready with her friends, her mind taking in the comments from Zoe and Tina, but she was still hurting.

I really hope Zed likes my dress. Her voice was soft and sad but the comment gave me hope. She still cared what I thought. But I didn't care if she was wearing a bin liner if it meant that I got to hold her in my arms again.

All in place. Victor said into my head. I frowned. I hadn't wanted my family there and I knew Sky wouldn't want that either, but my mother's vision hadn't changed. It was for Sky's protection.

Okay. I said. Let's do this.

Sky.

I looked at my reflection, amazed that Zoe and Tina had somehow fixed the puffiness of my face. Instead of looking blotchy, I looked fierce in my black silk dress that hung to my body in a mermaid fit and matched the black lace mask I was wearing. My eyelashes and eyes looked strong and bold, my red lipstick the same.

'He'll love it.' Tina said, squeezing my arm as if she sensed my doubt. 'Shall we go?'

I felt nervous as we reached the hall, and not just because of Zed; it suddenly dawned on me that this was the night from the vision and part of me thought that simply changing the dress I was wearing wouldn't be enough to stop the vision from coming true.

The hall had been decorated with monochrome décor, such as black and white ribbons and fabrics draped across the ceiling, accented with red hearts in contrast, reminding me that it was Valentine's Day. As I looked around, it was easy to see that the masquerade theme had been taken seriously once again, the identities of our classmates well and truly concealed. I fiddled with the silk of my dress and sucked in a deep breath as we walked inside. I spotted two figures I assumed were Karla and Saul Benedict by the punch stand, their eyes searching the room. Then another, dressed in all black, seemed to be Victor.

'You know how I said I didn't want some liquid courage?' I said to Zoe. 'Well, I was wrong.'

'I've got some.' Nelson held out a flask and I turned away from the guests taking a swig. I coughed at the whisky as it burnt down my throat.

'Thanks.' I croaked.

'Punch?' Zoe suggested but I shook my head.

'Not with Mr and Mrs Benedict over there.'

'We'll go.' Seb said with a smile. 'Nels?'

'Sure.' He pressed his lips gently to Tina's cheek and they headed off to the punch together.

'Are you okay?' Tina asked me with concern.

'I'll be fine.' I replied. 'Think he's here yet?'

'I can't see him but it's not easy when everyone is in a mask.'

Our eyes scanned the room for Zed but I was sure he wasn't there. I couldn't even feel his presence. Seb and Nelson returned with the drinks and I took one, happy to be drinking something that would get rid of the burning alcohol taste. The song changed to an upbeat one and Tina and Zoe each grabbed one of my arms.

'Let's dance.' They chorused and they pulled me to the dancefloor, allowing me to relax a little.

It wasn't long before the flash mob song started up and there was still no sign of Zed, which made my heart sink. The introduction to Money poured through the speakers and I knew it was time to get ready for the salsa routine.

'Hold up big baby look at you
Why ain't you smilin', why you so down?' I walked slowly towards the area we'd organised to meet in and suddenly the identities of my fellow dancers became clear.

'Don't let nobody kill your mood
Just come and give it to me right now.' I joined up with Nathan and we salsa-ed back and forth in time to the music.

'Whatever your doing don't stop
You look so expensive on top.' I spun in towards Nathan and we swayed in time to the music.

We moved through the steps with ease, switching from salsa to street at the end of the chorus and then back to our salsa steps and lifts. And then, when the bridge came in, Nelson passed a microphone to Nathan and I pulled off his mask, revealing his identity. The crowd screamed as he started to scream, making his way onto the stage and I threw the mask into the crowd, letting his fans fight over it. As Nathan finished the song, we applauded and took our bows, high-fiving each other for a successful flash mob.

Sky.

I turned around to find Zed stood in front of me, looking as gorgeous as ever in a tuxedo. I swallowed as I looked at his deep blue eyes through the eye-holes in his plain black mask.

I thought I'd forgotten how beautiful you are, but I haven't. His voice was hoarse and I blushed at the compliment as my heart fluttered in response.

'I heard your song.' I said, softly.

'I'm so sorry, Sky.' He replied. 'I should have told you but I didn't want to hurt you.'

'I know it wasn't your decision.' I said. 'Clare told me my father asked your family to help cover it up.'

Zed nodded. 'I still should have told you.' Zed reached for my hand and laced his fingers around mine. 'I've missed you so much.'

I swallowed. 'I've missed you too.' He squeezed my hand and then brought it to his lips, gently kissing it. To those around us, it would have looked like a scene between Prince Charming and the Princess in a fairy tale. 'Now why were you dancing with my cousin?'

'Because he's a good dancer.' I teased.

'He's a cheat.'

'So am I.' I smirked. 'You should have seen Violet's face when we picked up the dance straight away.' He didn't look amused so I squeezed his hand. 'Jealous?'

'Definitely.' He said, a smile creeping across his mouth. Kiss me quick started up and Zed's remaining hand moved to my waist. 'I think it's time for you to dance with me?'

'Oh really?' I raised an eyebrow underneath my mask.

'Really.' He moved in time to the music and we danced together as his cousin, an award-winning singer-songwriter, sang and played the music.

Nathan's set lasted about an hour and, as it finished, Tina and Zoe stole me for a bathroom break. I followed them reluctantly, leaving Zed with his promise to get us some punch.

'So are you guys back together?' Tina asked as we topped up our lipstick whilst Zoe disappeared into a cubicle.

I wobbled, feeling uneasy and I tried to compose myself, so that Tina wouldn't notice. 'I guess so.'

'Zoe? Zoe? Where are you?' I was calling out, running along in my black mermaid-fit dress. I kicked off my heels and ran across the wet ground. Where had she gone?

I turned the corner by the dorm and gasped. Zoe was being held up against the wall with telekinesis, unable to move and unable to scream. She looked at me with panicked eyes. I had to do something.

'Sky? Are you okay?' Tina looked across at me. 'You looked like you zoned out for a minute there.'

'Zoe, are you okay?' I called out.

'Sky, you know I can't pee when you're talking to me!' Came the response and I let out a breath of relief.

'Have you been dancing with anyone?'

'I wish.' Zoe said with a snort. 'I mean Seb offered but out of sympathy and I'm not going to be the girl that can only get a gay guy to dance with her. Now shut up and let me pee.'

Tina laughed as she applied some lipcote to stop her lipstick coming off. 'Here.' She said, passing it over to me. I applied a coat as Zoe came out of the cubicle and washed her hands.

'Traitor.' She said to me with a smirk. 'Not telling us about Nathan's performance.'

'It was top secret.'

'Jas will be gutted when she hears you danced with him.'

'Too right.' I smiled. 'I hope you got pictures.'

'And videos.' Zoe tapped her clutchbag, signalling to her phone. 'Ready?'

We spent the next hour dancing and I kept my eyes focussed on Zoe, watching as she danced with Seb and then a stranger I didn't recognise. I kept my eyes trained on them as was tense as I watched them together and I tried to work out who it was she was dancing with.

'You're awfully distracted.' Zed murmured as he twirled me. 'Something you're not telling me?'

'Just worried about the vision.' I replied, not mentioning which one.

'Well you're not wearing the same dress.'

'Far from it.' I replied. 'But that doesn't mean I've changed the future.'

'My family are here, you're perfectly safe.'

'And my friends too?'

'Of course.' He said, holding me closer against him as the slow version of Beyonce's Crazy in Love started to play. Zed stepped in time to the music, leading me and then gently twirled me. I relaxed a little as he leaned me backwards and then upright again as we waltzed around the floor. His eyes met mine in an intense stare and I swallowed as his face moved closer to mine. And then his lips were on my lips in a gentle, soft kiss, sending the familiar sparks and electricity through me. His arms pulled me closer, holding me protectively, as he smiled into the kiss and I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him back into the kiss. I knew the teachers would stop us if they spotted us, but I didn't care. It was easy to get caught up and lost in the familiar kiss, the one that had the power to make me feel whole again. Zed pulled away first, leaning his head against my forehead and smiling down at me, his eyes pleased and filled with love. He gently stroked the nape of my neck, where a few curls fell loose from my bun and I smiled at the irony as Still Falling For You came out of the speakers.

We went back to dancing and as Zed twirled me, my heart stopped; where was Zoe? She'd been there just moments before. My eyes scanned the crowd but I couldn't spot her ombre dress or her sparkly, feathered mask. 'I need to use the ladies.' I told Zed. 'I'll be right back.' He smiled and nodded and I pushed my way through the crowd. When I was sure he wasn't watching, I ducked out of a door and headed along the corridor, looking for Zoe, but she was nowhere to be seen and the classrooms were all locked. I picked up the pace, running now, desperate to keep my friends safe. I reached the outside door and the February chill hit me, making me shiver as my heart raced. I thought of my vision and where Zoe had been- she couldn't be there, could she?

I kicked off my shoes and picked up the speed into a run across the grass towards the girl's dorm.

'Zoe? Where are you?' I was in my vision but this time it was nauseatingly real. 'Zoe?' I heard a groan as I turned the corner and there she was, pressed against the wall and looking terrified. 'Zoe, oh my god.' I hurried to her, trying to move her, but it was an ability I didn't have.

'Sky, how lovely to see you.' A voice said from the shadows and I froze, turning around to look at the suspect. I saw the XX tattooed into the wrist before anything else and it made my stomach churn.

'I wish I could say the same.' I said, drily, as I narrowed my eyes. I met his eyes in the gap through his mask but it was impossible to tell who he was. All I knew was that he had a strong accent, one that I was not familiar with. 'Please let Zoe go.'

'But we were having such a lovely evening together.'

'Zoe has nothing to do with this.'

'You're right.' He released whatever power he had and she fell to the floor, exhausted. 'She's no use to me, just simply some collateral damage.'

'No.' I hissed, holding out my hand and letting a ball of fire spin around in my hand. 'She's not collateral anything Let her go.'

'Fire, how interesting.' The man observed with a smirk. I aimed it at him and it hit his suit, but he patted out the fire. Without thinking, I lunged at him, tackling him to the ground. He let out a puff of air as I winded him, having caught him off-guard.

'Zoe, run!' I screamed and she looked torn between helping me and running. 'Get Zed and Nathan and the other Benedicts!'

She took off in a run and I prayed she would get there before anything else happened to her. This time the man threw me off of him, proving he had some strength too. I tried to kick him but my dress was holding me back. I sighed at the thought of ruining a good dress before I tore it up the thigh, giving myself some room. I stood ready for him but then I felt my arms being restrained. I turned my head and a girl with jagged hair and piercings stood behind me, holding me in place.

'Get off!' I screamed, trying to break free of her grip, but then everything moved slowly. The man came towards me at a fast speed as everything else seemed to go slowly. A high-pitched screeching sound filled the air and then I groaned, falling to the floor and holding my head.

Everything went black.