Dedication- okay, this ch. Is based on true events that happened during my homecoming. So this is dedicated to the boy who (for this ch.) turned into Mackenzie. Also, I would like to congratulate him on becoming homecoming king later that night. :)

last ch. - The beautiful couple had arrived.

Confusion

My group and others in the corners continued to dance but around the doors they crowded around as Mackenzie walked in, holding Becka's hand.

He smiled at a few people and even waved at a boy that he recognized. They had to stop a few times when one of Becka's friends wanted a picture. Becka would tilt her head back, lean into Mackenzie and smile that venomous smile for these pictures.

I looked away. I did not want to see any of this.

Jessica had joined our group after flitting around to gossip about others dresses. She came over to tell us about Stacy, who had on the exact same dress that Jessica was wearing, except in hot pink, which, as Jessica explained to us repeatedly, was inferior to lime green in every way.

"Bella!" Someone interrupted Jessica's rant. "Bella!"

I turned around.

Mackenzie squeezed between two dancing girls who turned to look at him approvingly. He paid no attention.

"Hey!" I found myself yelling back over the pounding music. It was like a reflex and I did not even remember thinking about saying it. I do remember wondering where Becka had gone.

He smiled a real smile for the first time all week and put out his gloved hand toward me.

What was this. My mind reeled. Shaking hands? A high five? And why gloves? It was not that cold out today. Maybe it was some kind of peace thing. I finally decided. An agreement that we would be friends and only friends, maybe that's what the handshake symbolized.

So that's how it happened that I placed my hand into the trap that was his hand. His fingers closed tightly, allowing no escape.

"Bella Swan, as beautiful as ever." And he kissed the back of my hand softly with ice cold lips.

Too shocked to do anything allowed my limp hand to fall dumbly when he relinquished his grip. I do not even think I blushed.

He stared at me with the strangest expression, his blue eyes turning into a strange liquid. Jessica was suddenly at my side and it was

clear that she had seen everything.

"what about me?!" She huffed her lips pursed in her signature pouting expression.

"Umm..." He backed away suddenly unsure, and, giving me a regretful smile half smile, just like the sad one he'd given me earlier that week, allowed himself to be engulfed by the crowd.

Jessica crossed her arms over her chest. "Humph! What a jerk!"

But I could not help smiling. He was really sincere and such a gentleman. I finally found that a blush crept up my neck.

I closed my eyes trying to look normal. As in, not tomato faced or smiling like a freak.

I turned back to my group. All of them were staring at me like I'd grown a third eye. Angela raised her eyebrows questioningly but I continued to dance, ignoring them. I tried to think of something else, like the patterns of the dresses and the now violently flashing strobe lights. When my mind would wander to the boy now dancing somewhere in the gym I would feel unexplainably nervous and turn a more violent shade of red. My friends were still giving me strange glances and this made me uncomfortable. Actually the more I tried not to think about him, the more I did. I caught myself searching the crowd for any sign of his raven black hair that turned strangely blue, just like his eyes, in the lights. I allowed myself to look, discretely of course, pretending that I was just looking at my surrounding friends.

Then I saw Mackenzie in a small clearing in the dancing students.

Unfortunately Becka was also there. She looked enormously smug and was talking with her face dangerously close to his.

Suddenly someone's head blocked my view. When it moved again Mackenzie's head was level with her ear. He muttered something that would have been impossible to hear even if I had been standing right beside them. Whatever he said it made Becka happy. She smiled, not her normal 'I am queen of the universe' smile but a really sincere and genuine smile. Whatever Mackenzie had said made her feel truly relieved.

That was the last thing I saw be ore the head came back, blocking my view.

Suddenly the music changed, slower, calmer.

It had the adverse affect on the students. There was a mad rush as couples paired up and guys raced each other to their choice couple. Many people tried to move off the dance floor entirely so the outer edge of the gym was packed. I assumed I would be joining them until Mike touched my arm softly to get my attention.

"Dance with me?" His eyes were bright with hope.

I was going to say no, maybe later, but then i remembered one of the instructions Angela had given me in order to get through the dance with my friendship with Mike and my dignity intact. Courtesy said, I would have to dance with Mike at least once, so why not get it over with sooner than later? And at least it would keep me from thinking about Mackenzie...or more dangerously about the other person who should have been my date tonight, the person who I can barely think the name of.

"Okay." I agreed and stepped forward to place my arms around his neck knowing that I would regret this later.

Again, sorry about the shortness. I get impatient and end up turning everything into two chapters. :P

So anyway, Thanks to all the people who have been reviewing (reviews make me happy). Review if you love me...you know you love me ;)

Disclaimer - If you think I own Twilight you forgot to take your happy meds.